42 years ago

Date: 22nd June 1979

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA

Title: WBC World Heavyweight Title

Promoted by: Don King Productions

Tv: HBO

Larry Holmes
( 30 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 215 lbs

Mike Weaver
( 19 - 8 - 0 )
Weight: 202 lbs

In the third defence of the WBC world heavyweight title, he won from Ken Norton a year earlier, Holmes, who was a big favourite going into the bout, had to dig deep to keep his title as Weaver (19-8-0) turned the fight into a war.

The crowd of 14,136 at Madison Square Garden were treated to an exciting battle that went back and forth until Holmes felled the challenger with a big right uppercut in the final moments of the 11th round.

Although Weaver came out for the 12th, he was easy prey for the champion who pinned him on the ropes and pounded away until referee Harold Valan stopped it at 0:44 of the round.