How many fights did Larry Holmes ALMOST lose?

**Mr. Nightmare** · 05-19-2006 08:50 PM

Before he finally lost to Spinks, how many close calls did this guy have? I read the post in here about Snipes almost KO'ing him. Who else almost beat him? Didnt he almost get KO'd a few times?

**Jody Lane** · 05-19-2006 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Nightmare

Before he finally lost to Spinks, how many close calls did this guy have? I read the post in here about Snipes almost KO'ing him. Who else almost beat him? Didnt he almost get KO'd a few times?

Yes, like any fighter, there were times Holmes was pushed to the brink of disaster while he was undefeated. Ernie Shavers knocked him down in 1979, and Holmes was so hurt he promptly got up and walked into the ring post. Tim Witherspoon rocked him several times in 1983, and off course Snipes dropped him. The fact he rallied back to win showed he had heart. It wasn't until he reached the age of 35 that the losses finally started coming.

**bigragu** · 05-19-2006 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by LuciferTheGreat

Originally Posted by Mr. Nightmare

Before he finally lost to Spinks, how many close calls did this guy have? I read the post in here about Snipes almost KO'ing him. Who else almost beat him? Didnt he almost get KO'd a few times?

Yes, like any fighter, there were times Holmes was pushed to the brink of disaster while he was undefeated. Ernie Shavers knocked him down in 1979, and Holmes was so hurt he promptly got up and walked into the ring post. Tim Witherspoon rocked him several times in 1983, and off course Snipes dropped him. The fact he rallied back to win showed he had heart. It wasn't until he reached the age of 35 that the losses finally started coming.

OK now for some reality...when he fought shavers, shavers was 34. Snipes was 25 entering only his 23rd fight and Holmes was going for his 39th fight....Tim witherspoon was only going into his 16th pro fight when he fought Holmes.....Holmes always fought guys before they hit their prime or after.......Spinks was in his prime sure...but he was a light heavyweight.....I'm not saying Holmes wasn't a good boxer...I'm just saying i think his career was well orchestrated....of course he was managed by DON KING!!!

**Mr. Nightmare** · 05-20-2006 03:15 PM

Thats nonsense. Holmes was a great boxer. And regardless of who he fought, when you get knocked down and are wobbly when you get up, and still manage to win the fight, and in some cases KO your opponent, it shows a lot of heart.

**LBSCFC** · 05-20-2006 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Nightmare

Thats nonsense. Holmes was a great boxer. And regardless of who he fought, when you get knocked down and are wobbly when you get up, and still manage to win the fight, and in some cases KO your opponent, it shows a lot of heart.

well said. who else would have got up from that shot against shavers

**Violent Demise** · 05-20-2006 04:58 PM

Snipes, Shaves, Witherspoon, Nortan and I think Williams gave him his hardest fights

**Bigcat** · 05-20-2006 09:10 PM

Snipes gave larry a scare because the massive cash fight with Cooney relied on him winning.

Shavers cracked Larry and his eyes almost popped out of his head, that was a lucky one..

Witherspoon was a young upstart who did give an content Larry a hell of an active night.. Larry was at the point of turning away in round 9, he just hung in and proved how much a champ he really was by overcoming this to get the win.

Carl the truth deserved a draw at least by out hustling an over the hill Holmes.. It was a fight that almost looked like a Young version of Holmes fighting the aging version of himself...

Larry was a great one though.. all respect..