Larry Holmes getting all but neatly KTFO in the amateurs

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by IntentionalButt, Aug 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM.


  1. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    Two hard knockdowns and then a wobbling via right hook prompted the ref to step in, but it looked in all honesty like Holmes was saved from a seriously brutal ending with over a minute left on the 1st round clock.

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    Nick Wells is the only man to ever kayo "The Easton Assassin" besides the far more well-known "Iron" Mike Tyson (who like Wells also happens to be five inches shorter than Holmes at 5'10") - and Wells did it twice.

    In the video above is their rematch in July of 1972, effectively ending Holmes' aspirations toward an Olympic medal. Four months earlier, Wells would dash Larry's national Golden Gloves dreams - stopping him before he could even reach the medaling stages. Ironically, in both the 1972 GG semis and the finals of the Olympic trials, Wells would in turn be knocked out by Duane Bobick.

    Despite being a very well regarded amateur with an insane KO ratio for the headgear era, the Ft. Worth southpaw didn't eke out much of a professional career to speak of. In fact, he's sufficiently obscure that I can't turn up a single frame of footage of him in the pros - and that's even with having fought a handful of "TV" contenders like Jeff Sims, Eddie López and Tony Fulilangi.
     
    IntentionalButt, Aug 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM
    IntentionalButt, Aug 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM
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  2. Rubber Glove Sandwich

    Rubber Glove Sandwich A lot of people have pools Full Member

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    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Aug 25, 2025 at 8:01 PM
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Aug 25, 2025 at 8:01 PM
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  3. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    Wells fought at regular (not super) heavyweight in the amateurs - so under 201lbs - and in the pros usually weighed between 210-215, absolutely highest being 226.

    You kind of have to wonder if he would have benefited from a cruiser and/or bridger division existing in the seventies.
     
    IntentionalButt, Aug 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
    IntentionalButt, Aug 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
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  4. ThatOne

    ThatOne Boxing Addict Full Member

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    What amateur fight was Larry in that Ali was watching with Howard Cosell and Cosell said to Ali that he fights like you?
     
    ThatOne, Aug 25, 2025 at 8:06 PM
    ThatOne, Aug 25, 2025 at 8:06 PM
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  5. Skins

    Skins Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Wow. You don't see Holmes bounced around like that every day
     
    Skins, Aug 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
    Skins, Aug 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
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  6. cuchulain

    cuchulain Loyal Member Full Member

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    Looks like Larry got better...especially his chin.
     
    cuchulain, Aug 26, 2025 at 7:55 AM
    cuchulain, Aug 26, 2025 at 7:55 AM
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  7. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    Good question, took some digging! :thumbsup:

    It was against Duane Bobick.
     
    IntentionalButt, Aug 27, 2025 at 10:10 AM
    IntentionalButt, Aug 27, 2025 at 10:10 AM
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  8. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Lmfao out of all the boxing knowledge I didn’t know…How am I finding out today Larry Holmes was stopped by a little 5”10 white guy
     
    Gazelle Punch, Aug 27, 2025 at 10:35 AM
    Gazelle Punch, Aug 27, 2025 at 10:35 AM
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  9. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    2x!
     
    IntentionalButt, Aug 27, 2025 at 10:48 AM
    IntentionalButt, Aug 27, 2025 at 10:48 AM
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  10. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I’ve been laughing at all the stupid arguments I’ve had for years with people here who said Marciano would get whooped so bad no chance yada yada and this footage was around the whole time. Needed this laugh
     
    Gazelle Punch, Aug 27, 2025 at 11:03 AM
    Gazelle Punch, Aug 27, 2025 at 11:03 AM
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  11. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    In fairness, Wells walloped like a mule (and given his own shaky chin, if they'd ever met in the pros I'm sure a matured Easton Assassin would have gotten his revenge in brutal fashion) - but yeah, it would probably have made Holmes happy if this footage never again saw the light of day. :sisi1
     
    IntentionalButt, Aug 27, 2025 at 11:41 AM
    IntentionalButt, Aug 27, 2025 at 11:41 AM
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  12. Pat M

    Pat M Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I don't think Holmes tried to hide what happened in those fights. He apparently mentioned the fights in his book. Holmes admitted having a difficult time fighting a southpaw. I don't know if he ever learned to fight one, as far as I know, Wells was the only one he ever fought. In those days, southpaws were rare.

    This was on Reddit, apparently from the Holmes book.
    "By 1972, I'd won several eastern titles and was invited to Minnesota to compete in a tournament that was said to figure heavily in the selection of the U.S. boxing team. I made it all the way to the finals there, only to run up against a left-handed slugger named Nick Wells.

    It marked the first time I'd fought a lefty. It threw my reactions off. I was hesitant and ended up being an easy target for Wells, who had good power. Good enough to give me the worst beating of my career and stop me in the third round. My first-ever defeat.

    The way things unfolded, I had another opportunity against Wells in a later tournament in Texas. This time I managed to find left-handed sparring partners to get ready for him. Guess what? It didn't matter. Not one bit. The guy Wells had my num- ber, and he beat me again. Badly".

    Source: Larry Holmes: Against the Odds
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2025 at 12:54 PM
    Pat M, Aug 27, 2025 at 12:35 PM
    Pat M, Aug 27, 2025 at 12:35 PM
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