The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Holmes turned professional in 1973 after winning 19 of 22 amateur fights. Quick of foot and hand, Holmes was an excellent boxer with a very good left jab but not much of a knockout punch, though he scored many knockouts by wearing his opponents down.

Holmes won the WBC heavyweight championship on June 9, 1978, with a 15-round decision over Ken Norton in Las Vegas. He defended the title 17 times through 1983, then abruptly gave it up because of a dispute with promoter Don King and was recognized as IBF champion.

He defended that title 3 times before losing it to Michael Spinks on a 15-round decision on September 21, 1985. Spinks won a 15-round split decision in a rematch on April 19, 1986, and Holmes then retired. He made a brief comeback attempt on January 22, 1988, but Mike Tyson knocked him down three times in the 4th round to win by a knockout.

However, Holmes came back once again in 1991 and had two more title fights. He lost both on 12-round decisions, to Evander Holyfield on June 19, 1992, and to Oliver McCall on April 8, 1995.

Holmes won 67 of his 73 professional fights, 43 of them by knockout.

                       

Courtesy of: http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/holmeslarry.shtml