“Would Send Much of the Younger Boxers Straight to Sleep”: Larry Holmes Showing Off His “Legendary” Jab in a Resurfaced Clip Leaves Fans Awe-Struck

Published 11/04/2023, 4:55 PM EDT

Even years after his retirement, Larry Holmes is one of the biggest names in the history of boxing. Throughout his career, Holmes had dominated the heavyweight division. He even defeated ‘the Greatest’ Muhammad Ali, though people’s opinions about the bout tend to differ. He held the WBC heavyweight title for seven and a half years, which is one of the longest championship reigns in the history of the division. His consistent success against top-ranked opponents was a testament to his status in the heavyweight class.

Even now he is still remembered as the boxer who possessed one of the best jabs in the history of the sport. Recently, a video of Holmes explaining the different types of jabs resurfaced on the internet. The clip is from his appearance on the Johnny Nelson show. In the clip, the boxing legend showcased remarkable speed even at the age of 64 years old. Sky Sports Boxing shared the video on YouTube, garnering attention from fans around the world.

An old clip of Larry Holmes draws the attention of fans

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As the video of Larry Holmes displaying such a high level of athleticism surfaced on social media, fans were left awe-struck by the boxing legend. One fan was quick to share his admiration for Holmes and wrote, “Arguably the greatest jab ever.” Another fan advised others to watch the former boxer in action stating, “I advise you to go watch Larry Holmes legendary jab.” Meanwhile, a fan pointed out the extraordinary speed behind his punches, and added, “Still has lightning fast jab.”

Someone else chimed in and shared their wonder at the former champion’s athleticism despite his age. The fan claimed, “Woah even at 64 he looked like he would send much of the younger gen boxers straight to sleep lol.” Another fan shared his admiration for Holmes, however, he also brought up his historic bout against Ali. The fan wrote, “Man I respect the dude so much. Only one thing I don’t like about his history is how he pounded Muhammad Ali like that.”

The time Mike Tyson fulfilled his promise to Ali

Mike Tyson knocked out Holmes when the two met face-to-face in a bout that is still fresh in people’s minds. This pivotal moment allowed Tyson to fulfill a promise he had made to his hero, Muhammad Ali. In 1988, a 21-year-old Tyson defended his heavyweight title for the fifth time, securing a brutal fourth-round knockout against Holmes. Although Tyson’s 91-second victory over Michael Spinks and his triumph over Trevor Berbick to claim his first title are considered iconic, his win against Holmes stands out significantly in retrospect.

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Tyson’s knockout of Holmes took place when the “Easton Assassin” was 38, leading many to view it as a young Tyson defeating an aging legend. However, Holmes experienced a late-career resurgence after his loss to Tyson, winning 21 of 24 fights. Notably, Tyson’s feat remained unmatched. Despite facing formidable opponents, only ‘Iron Mike’ managed to stop Holmes so spectacularly in his 75-fight career.

Tyson’s motivation extended beyond holding world titles and achieving knockout victories. As a teenager, he and his mentor Cus D’Amato watched an aging Ali suffer a one-sided beating from Holmes. Moreover, D’Amato called Ali after the fight and connected Tyson with his idol. Tyson reassured Ali, “When I get big, I’m going to get him for you.” Eight years later, he fulfilled this promise.

What are your thoughts about Tyson taking revenge for his idol? Do you think he only won because of his age? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by:

Chirag Radhyan is a Boxing Writer at EssentiallySports. He has authored over 300 articles and loves to talk about the animosity between athletes, leading up to a fight. His coverage of the off-court drama between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury received widespread appreciation from readers.

Edited by:

Gokul Pillai

“Would Send Much of the Younger Boxers Straight to Sleep”: Larry Holmes Showing Off His “Legendary” Jab in a Resurfaced Clip Leaves Fans Awe-Struck

An old clip of Larry Holmes draws the attention of fans

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The time Mike Tyson fulfilled his promise to Ali