40 years ago

Date: 25th November 1983

Venue: Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas

Title: 12 Round Heavyweight Contest

Promoter: Robert Andreoli

Larry Holmes
( 44 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 219 lbs

Marvis Frazier
( 10 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 200 lbs

Holmes vs Frazier was not sanctioned by the WBC, for whom Holmes reigned as world heavyweight champion, due to Frazier not being ranked in the organisations, top-10 heavyweights.

Fought at Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada before a crowd of about 4,000, the fight was a mismatch. Holmes entered the bout as a 4-1 favourite with a 44-0 record compared to Frazier's 10-0.

Holmes dropped Frazier in the 1st round and when the younger man rose, the champion backed him to the ropes and pummeled away until referee Mills lane called the bout off at 2:57 of the round.

Due to his mandatory obligation to face WBC No1 contender Greg Page and his displeasure at the $2.55 million purse offered by promoter Don King, Holmes relinquished the WBC title and accepted recognition as world champion from the newly-created International Boxing Federation in December 1983.