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.
