Larry Holmes among Boxing Hall of Fame inductees

Larry Holmes, shown here in 1992, posted a record of 69-6 with 44 knockouts in 75 fights.

Canastota, NY  - Former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes headlines the 2008 class for the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Holmes, who held the heavyweight crown for nearly seven years, will be joined by 11 others selected by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.

“It’s a tremendous honor because so many great athletes are already in the Hall of Fame and it’s an honor to be among that group,” said Holmes. “It’s a pleasure for me to be among the greatest fighters of our world.”

Holmes posted a record of 69-6 with 44 knockouts in 75 fights. He beat Ken Norton in June 1978 to first claim the heavyweight crown, then made 20 successful title defenses — including a 1980 triumph over an aging Muhammad Ali.

The “Easton Assassin” won his first 48 fights and was one victory shy of Rocky Marciano’s perfect mark of 49-0 when he dropped a unanimous decision to Michael Spinks in September 1985. After losing a rematch with Spinks seven months later, Holmes retired.

A big payday and a title shot at Mike Tyson lured Holmes back into the ring in 1988, but Tyson knocked him out in four rounds. It marked the only time Holmes lost by knockout.

Three years later, Holmes was back at age 41 and he won five fights against unheralded competition before beating Ray Mercer in February 1992 to earn a shot at Evander Holyfield’s title. In June 1992, Holyfield won a unanimous decision and Holmes continued to fight steadily over the next five years, losing another title bout against Oliver McCall in April 1995.

At age 52, he stepped into the ring for the last time in July 2002 and won a unanimous 10-round decision against Eric “Butterbean” Esch.

The other living inductees include junior welterweight champion Eddie Perkins, promoter Mogens Palle, promoter Frank Warren, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Dave Anderson and journalist Joe Koizumi.

Posthumous honorees are middleweight Holman Williams in the Modern Category; light heavyweight Len Harvey, middleweight Frank Klaus and welterweight Harry Lewis in the Old-Timer Category; trainer Bill Gore in the Non-Participant Category; and Dan Donnelly in the Pioneer Category.

The 2008 inductees will be officially enshrined on June 8.

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