'Underappreciated' Holmes voted to Boxing Hall of fame
CANASTOTA, N.Y. -- He had a boxing résumé that could stand beside the greatest in his sport. Yet, Larry Holmes always seemed to have to justify himself as a champion.
There were no explanations needed Tuesday.
Holmes received the ultimate validation when he took his place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Joining him in the 2008 class were 11 other boxers and ring personalities chosen by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of boxing historians.
He will be enshrined as the longest-reigning world heavyweight champion in history, holding the title for nearly seven years (1978-85). Holmes' 20 successful heavyweight title defenses were surpassed by only Joe Louis with 25. He was on the verge of matching Rocky Marciano's perfect 49-0 mark when Michael Spinks gave him his first loss.
"I think there were some people who shortchanged me … not the fans," Holmes said by telephone from his business office in Easton, Pa. "Sometimes the critics try to make you think you are less than what you are."
"I feel good about myself. I'm not going to let people put me down. I worked hard. I worked hard," said Holmes, who is 58 but just five years removed from his last fight.
Holmes will be inducted June 8 along with junior welterweight champion Eddie Perkins of Chicago. Middleweight Holman Williams will be inducted posthumously. All three are in the hall's modern-era category.
Middleweights Len Harvey and Frank Klaus, and welterweight Harry Lewis were honored in the old-timer category, and 19th-century Irish heavyweight Dan Donnelly in the pioneer class.
Holmes compiled a record of 69-6, with 44 knockouts. But there always seemed to be questions about just how good he was, Hall of Fame executive director Ed Brophy said. Holmes defended his title against contenders of varying quality: For every Muhammad Ali, Ernie Shavers and Leon Spinks, there was a Lorenzo Zanon, Scott Frank and Ossie Ocasio, Brophy said.
"Larry Holmes was probably the most under-appreciated heavyweight champion in history," said trainer Emanuel Steward, a 1996 Hall of Fame inductee. "He should be right there with Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis, an all-around fighter. He would have been a major problem for any heavyweight champion of any era."
Holmes said the most emotional night of his reign came in October 1980 when he faced Ali, his friend and mentor. The aging Ali was returning to the ring trying to win the heavyweight title for an unprecedented fourth time. Holmes dominated the fight, finally causing Angelo Dundee to throw in the towel after the 10th round -- the TKO was the only nondecision loss of Ali's career.
"Emotionally, it was a tough fight," Holmes said. "I love the guy. He was 38 years old, and they were calling him an old man and washed up. So if I beat him, so what? I was in a no-win situation."
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Associated Press/ 1978 file photo
Challenger Larry Holmes, right, lands a blow to the head of heavyweight champion Ken Norton during their title fight in Las Vegas on June 9, 1978. Holmes won the WBC title that night in a 15-round split decision. Tuesday, he was named to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.