Holmes, known as "The Easton Assassin," held the world heavyweight title from 1978 to 1985. He defended his crown 20 times and was famous for having one of the best jabs in boxing history. His list of wins includes big names like Tim Witherspoon, Trevor Berbick, and Muhammad Ali.
But it's his fight with Ken Norton that Holmes sees as his biggest challenge. The two went head-to-head on June 9, 1978, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Holmes won by a split decision after 12 tough rounds, grabbing the WBC heavyweight title in what turned out to be a career-defining moment.
In his talk with TMZ Sports, Holmes made it clear:
"No, my toughest fight was Kenny Norton."
When asked about Mike Tyson, who many might have expected to be his toughest opponent, Holmes explained:
"I fought Tyson when I was kinda over the hill a little bit. I had retired then come back and fought Mike Tyson and I wasn't really in shape for it, but you know what, I did what I did at that time. But if I had to do it all over again I would have taken more time and done it right."
Holmes' pick of Norton might surprise some fans, given the other big names he faced in his career. But it shows just how tough that fight with Norton really was. The battle between Holmes and Norton was a close one, with both fighters giving it their all until the final bell.
By choosing Norton as his toughest opponent, Holmes gives us a glimpse into the challenges he faced in the ring, beyond what we might see in the record books. It's a reminder that in boxing, it's not always the most famous names that give fighters their hardest tests.