Boxing great Larry Holmes has shared the ring with the who’s who of his generation on his way to becoming a dominant champion.
From Holmes knocking out Marvis Frazier to facing his friend Muhammad Ali, ‘The Easton Assassin’ had an incredible heavyweight legacy.
Considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, Holmes did not avoid any of the top contenders in the division. However, Holmes revealed that there is one former champion who would not accept to fight him.
Larry Holmes claims that Riddick Bowe would not accept a fight with him
In a 2022 interview with Tru School Sports, Holmes revealed that Riddick Bowe would not accept an offer to fight him when they were both active athletes.
When Bowe was brought up to the former champion, Holmes said, “I tried to fight him, and they never accepted the fight.”
Holmes was then asked how a fight between him and Bowe would have gone, to which he replied, “And still the heavyweight champion of the world, Larry Holmes!”
In terms of a reason as to why he feels he would have been victorious, Holmes said he felt as if he had a stamina advantage over Bowe, who had a bizarre career.
Larry Holmes and Riddick Bowe both fought Evander Holyfield in 1992
Although Holmes and Bowe did not meet each other inside the ring, they did share a notable common opponent in 1992.
Holmes fought through an injury to face Evander Holyfield in June 1992. Holyfield was the defending, unified champion as Holmes was looking to reclaim a world title for the first time in seven years.
It was not to be for Holmes, who suffered a unanimous decision loss to Holyfield.
Holyfield would be dealt the first defeat of his career five months later. Facing Bowe, the challenger earned a decision victory over the champion.
Bowe and Holyfield would have their rematch interrupted by a paraglider. However, Holyfield would earn a revenge victory over his opponent.
In a trilogy fight in 1995, Bowe would score a TKO win over his rival.