After easily defeating Tyrell Biggs on October 16, 1987, Mike Tyson agreed to fight ex-champ Larry Holmes on January 22, 1988 at Atlantic City Convention Hall. Don King had tried to coax Holmes into a bout with Tyson for a year, but Larry finally agreed to a date, and a purse of 3.1 million dollars. Even though I loved Larry, I gave him very little chance of defeating Holmes.
In the pre-fight build-up prior to their fight, Holmes said “Even Tyson gets lucky and beats me, he’s going down in history as an SOB, while I’ll still be legend. In a few years, the kid is gonna destroy himself.”
As I drove over my sister’s apartment that Friday night in January, I was nervous to be honest. Larry was now 38 years old with his best days behind him, while Tyson was only 21 and his future ahead of him. When the first round began, Larry kept his left arm extended to keep Tyson at bay. It was an uneventful opening round, and I hoped that the ex-champ could just go the 12 round distance.
Rounds two and three saw Mike the aggressor, and landing powerful shots from time to time. While Larry stayed on his feet, there was no way he going to win the fight to me. In the fourth, Holmes came out dancing on his feet, and flicking left jabs at Tyson. After about 30 seconds of that, he sat back down on his heels, tired from the burst of effort. A minute into the round, a cannonball of a right hand put Homes on the canvas. Not long after, Larry went down again, but got up and continued. Finally Mike knocked Larry down and out along the ropes as the round ended, and it was all over.
I went home sick in my stomach that night, knowing one of my favorites had been knocked out in brutal fashion. It didn’t endear Tyson to me any more, especially since I didn’t like him in the first place. I just hoped that some heavyweight would come along and get rid of him sooner than later.
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
LISTEN TO MY PODCAST ON SPOTIFY AT kensoldtimeboxinchat
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
