41 years ago
Larry Holmes vs Marvis Frazier
Date: 25th November 1983
Venue: Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas
Title: 12 Round Heavyweight Contest
Promoter: Robert Andreoli
Referee: Mills Lane
Larry Holmes
(
44
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 219 lbs
Marvis Frazier
(
10
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 200 lbs
Larry Holmes faced Marvis Frazier on November 25, 1983, at Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada, in a fight that proved to be as one-sided as anticipated. With an unblemished 44-0 record and 31 knockouts, Holmes entered as a heavy 4-1 favourite against the vastly less experienced Frazier, who held a record of 10-0 with six knockouts. The fight was broadcast live on NBC, drawing a crowd of about 4,000. Although Holmes was the reigning WBC heavyweight champion, the organization refused to sanction the bout because Frazier was not ranked among its top 10 contenders. Nevertheless, Holmes' lineal and Ring Magazine world heavyweight titles were at stake.
The action was brief and decisive. Holmes showcased his superior skill and power, dominating from the opening bell. Midway through the first round, Holmes dropped Frazier with a crushing right hand. Frazier managed to rise to his feet by the count of eight, but Holmes wasted no time capitalizing on the opportunity. Backing Frazier into a corner, the champion unleashed a relentless barrage of right hands, forcing referee Mills Lane to step in and halt the contest at 2:57 of the opening round.
The aftermath of the fight was as significant as the outcome itself. Holmes faced mounting pressure from the WBC to fulfil his mandatory obligation to fight top-ranked contender Greg Page. Dissatisfied with the $2.55 million purse offered by promoter Don King for the Page fight, Holmes chose to relinquish the WBC title in December 1983. He instead aligned himself with the newly formed International Boxing Federation (IBF), which recognized him as their inaugural heavyweight champion.
The Holmes-Frazier bout exemplified the gap between an all-time great in his prime and a young, unproven challenger. For Frazier, the fight highlighted the challenges of living up to the legacy of his legendary father, Joe Frazier. At the same time, Holmes further solidified his dominance in the heavyweight division, albeit with controversy surrounding his relationship with the WBC. The bout remains a footnote in the career of "The Easton Assassin," a champion who consistently fought on his terms, even when it meant defying convention.
Larry Holmes vs Marvis Frazier on YouTube
