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A Tribute to Larry Holmes The Heavyweight Champ of Easton While boxing is plagued with too many organizations handing out titles, none is as prestigious as the lineal heavyweight championship. Rather than being decided by a governing body, the lineal champion is simply “the man who beat the man.” In the history of boxing, only 38 men have held claim to the title of lineal heavyweight champion. One of them, Larry Holmes, also happens to be one of Easton’s most legendary residents. Known as “The Easton Assassin,” Holmes held the lineal title for nearly five full years. He won it by defeating Muhammad Ali in a fight that signaled the end of Ali’s days among the elite. Holmes, who regarded his adversary as a hero, shed tears after the fight. He went on to defend the title 12 times before eventually losing a decision to Michael Spinks, the first loss of his professional career. At one point, Holmes’ fame was such that The Sunburst Band, a local funk group, had a minor hit with a tribute to the champ, fittingly titled after his iconic nickname. Holmes’ hall-of-fame career took him to the heights of stardom, but he never lost touch with his Easton roots. “I met a lot of people throughout my travels, my fighting. I got to meet people that I thought I would never meet,” he said at a celebration honoring the 40th anniversary of his title win. “But I never get a thrill like I get when I come home.” Throughout his life, he’s been a constant force for good in our community with his Heart of a Legend organization and other charitable and business endeavors. Today, you’ll find a statue of Holmes in Scott Park, right off of Larry Holmes Drive. These tributes testify to his impact on Easton in particular and the Lehigh Valley in general. Though feared for his thunderous power, Holmes is revered just as much for his kindness of heart and the warmth of his gap-toothed smile.
Not many places can say they’re home to a lineal heavyweight champion. We think it’s pretty dang cool to be part of that list.
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