Larry Holmes is An American heavyweight fighter. Throughout his lengthy, decades-long boxing career, he won numerous titles. He is renowned for his aggressive strikes and strong defense. He won the heavyweight title of the World Boxing Council in 1978, which he later successfully defended multiple times.
Holmes began his career as a street fighter before switching to amateur boxing. He was doing extremely well and, at the age of 24, he made the decision to go pro. His extraordinary boxing talent and ability were evident from his career’s many victories.
Quick Facts
Celebrated Name: | Larry Holmes |
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Real Name/Full Name: | Larry Holmes |
Gender: | Male |
Age: | 72 years old |
Birth Date: | 3 November 1949 |
Birth Place: | Cuthbert, Georgia, United States |
Nationality: | American |
Height: | 1.91 m |
Weight: | 115 kg |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Marital Status: | Married |
Wife/Spouse (Name): | Diane Holmes (m. 1979) |
Children: | Yes (Kandy Holmes, Larry Jr. Holmes) |
Dating/Girlfriend (Name): | N/A |
Profession: | Former professional boxer |
Net Worth in 2024: | $20 million |
Larry Holmes Biography
Larry Holmes was born in Cuthbert, Georgia. Larry Holmes was one of the 12 children his mother Flossie raised along with his Gardner father, John Holmes. The family relocated to Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1954. The family relied on welfare to get by.
When Larry Holmes was thirteen years old, he quit school early to help his family. He was a quarry worker, a dump truck driver, and a mechanic for car washes. If someone crossed Larry Holmes in the street, he was not averse to starting a fight. When the streetfighter made the decision to take up boxing as a profession, he developed into a superb boxer.
Larry Holmes’s Age, Height, Weight
Larry Holmes was born on November 3, 1949; He is 72 years old as of 2024. He stands 1.91 meters tall and weighs 115 kilograms.
Career
Larry Holmes received his first boxing instruction from retired professional fighter Ernie Butler. He helped hone his abilities, eventually rising to prominence as an amateur boxer, winning 19 of his 22 bouts. He made the decision to go pro in 1973.
He changed trainers, receiving advice from numerous others, including Don King. However, he refrained from fighting in high-profile fights and routinely sparred with legendary boxers like Mohammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and Jimmy Young.
He was in the spotlight when he defeated Ernie Shavers in March 1978. After that, he won a notable fight against Ken Norton in a decision after fifteen rounds. He held onto his WBC title until 1983.
He then won the IBF championship, which he successfully defended three times to give him a 48-0 career record. He was, however, defeated by Michael Spinks in a 15-round decision in September 1985 and again with the same result six months later.
This loss served as a warm-up for victories against Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Oliver McCall in subsequent fights. With a career record of 69-6 and 44 knockouts, he ultimately called it quit in 2002.
Honors and accomplishments:
Larry Holmes defeated the hard-hitting Ernie Shavers, which was his first notable accomplishment.
- He won a title bout against Ken Norton in June 1978 in Las Vegas. In a thrilling rematch in September 1979, Larry Holmes prevailed over Ernie Shavers to become the undisputed heavyweight title.
- His 1980 fight with the legendary Muhammad Ali unmistakably demonstrated his class.
- Induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame for Larry Holmes took place in 2008.
Larry Holmes’s Net Worth In 2024
Larry Holmes’s net worth is projected to be $20 million as of February 2024. His fortune has come from numerous battles, including high-profile title defense matches against legendary boxers.
His boxing profession was the main source of his income. However, he has since made investments in a number of businesses, including eateries, nightclubs, and office buildings, where he has hired over 200 people. He co-hosts a TV program as well. All of the aforementioned brought in a consistent income and increased his net worth significantly.
Larry Holmes is a tough boxer who developed his early desire for a brawl into a successful career lasting more than two decades. During his lengthy career, he overcame the legendary Muhammad Ali while successfully defending his heavyweight world title.
His life and career serve as a living illustration of how a person’s lowly upbringing and early setbacks cannot deter them from following their goals if they are actively motivated to do so.