Larry Holmes is my favorite fighter and I have watched most of his fights dozens of times. This fight, right after Ali and unquestionably during his peak, is a bit of anomaly. The champ definitely had trouble with the challenger, surprising many fans by not knocking him out and overall looking frustrated and angry through most of the fight. I have a theory on this, but first please allow me a necessary digression. I realize Berbick probably isn't much liked, however imo he was actually a very good fighter; proving himself a champ later and only getting ruined by Tyson because....well, heck, there wasn't anybody capable of beating Tyson at the time (Mike was a freaky force of savage nature whose intensity was unmatched by anyone before or since imo). That said, I think we old guys all thought very little of Trevor at the time, and were forced to respect him after the Holmes showing (no one likes being corrected and forcefully made to see someone in a different light) . Grudging respect is the term I was looking for here. I think what happened is Holmes got pissed. Berbick relentlessly taunted him in the first several rounds, despite taking at least three right hands that would have floored anyone else in the division. The sight of Larry shoving Berbick after the first round (and hapless Mills Lane getting knocked over, helped up, and profusely apologized to by Berbick) might be the most memorable part of the fight. From that round on it seemed Larry's face changed, not into that look of extreme determination we saw against Norton and Ali but more one of frustrated vengeance. Against Ali (who lost to Berbick shortly thereafter) Holmes experienced a similar frustration by taunts, however, being that Ali was Ali and obviously a much more decorated opponent Larry trained supremely hard for that fight and it was easy going for him to fight past the anger provoked by Muhammad's mouth to victory. Mike Weaver had already exposed a bizarre tendency in Larry to at times undertrain and underestimate certain opponents. Bizarre because, had he trained for fights against opponents like Weaver, Berbick, and Snipes the way he did for Ali and Norton he would have had a pretty darn breezy time with them and been able to go home earlier. What I mean is, I don't think any of those challengers would have gone even 7 rounds with the Larry Holmes in the shape and during the age of his big fights (that goes for Tyson, too, but that's going to be another thread I'll start soon). I think that this shoot-himself-in-the-foot underestimation, plus his susceptibility to mouthing off, might have been his two biggest weaknesses (probably even moreso than his inexplicable stand up style and relative lack of head movement). All that said, it was a good fight to watch (barring a couple of the usual nap-time rounds, but we all expect that during a long fight); and of course Larry made several extremely impressive performances after it. I should mention, the fact that Berbick's favorite fighter was Ken Norton didn't help matters for Larry, who struggled with unorthodox styles pretty much his entire career (Witherspoon, Spinks, and even the first couple of rounds against Leon). So there were several factors working against him with Berbick. Okay, I guess I exposed myself for the unabashed Holmes-sycophant that I am lol. Interested in what others thought about this fight, and I hope everyone has a great week!
I don't go for Holmes being undertrained etc for Berbick, Weaver and Snipes. Holmes had an immense chip on his shoulder in those early days and was never going to give a sucker an even break. He was one determined man as seen by his desire in the ring on numerous occasions. He often had to struggle past guys. He didn't possess big power and wasn't always going to get them out of there without a bit of a struggle at times and contrary to some opinion he was never the out and out boxer pre exile Ali was. He was however a damn good fighter with enormous determination and desire. This as much as ability had him coming out on the winning side in fight after fight after fight. Sure he was talented too, superb handspeed, great jab and a good right hand. He had that heart for battle tho and when push came to shove and the going got tough he got going. His stones got him home in plenty of battles. Berbick was prime, determined and very awkward. He was a very good heavyweight when he had his head together. Big punchers could get him out of there but against the most others he was a tough hombre. Holmes struggled somewhat but still beat him handily. It was a good performance in the wash up.
He admitted to being lazy in the gym for all three of the fights I mentioned (plus had a bad case of the flu for Weaver). But hey, I think you have a more than valid point regarding Holmes' peak: he was the boss and was determined to prove it over and over (and we both know what the primary motivation was: ridiculous amounts of disrespect due to coming after perhaps the greatest boxer who ever lived). I also agree that Larry's heart had one HECK of a lot to do with his successes; I always point to the 9th round of the Witherspoon as well as the Norton fight as showcasing just how truly great he was. His heart seemed to know no bounds (you could even say that about his Tyson fight, now that I think about it. Each time after the knockdowns he got up and fought back as hard as he could). I don't think you meant to do this, but being a Larry nut I feel you might have slightly minimized the aspects of Larry that were really great. His jab was unparalleled in the heavyweight division imo, and his right (especially but not just after following the jab) was great, not good. It just wasn't supernaturally great like Shavers, Louis, Tyson, or Foreman. His overhand right was heavier than Ali's, and his right uppercut was one of the most devastating in the division at the time. In fact, I'd go as far to say his right uppercut was the one punch that did on occasion hang with the big punchers, even though he unfortunately missed with it a lot more than the other names mentioned above. But +1, really good post! Thanks for humoring an old guy
Berbick was very durable and Holmes had average power. Thus, Trevor lasted the distance. The one round blowout loss by Berbick to Bernardo Mercardo was probably an anomaly. I agree with John Thomas - after the fact theorizations about Holmes lack of training, etc. are simply finding excuses for Holmes. Berbick, Weaver, Witherspoon were simply very good fighters who were underrated at the time they faced Holmes.
Yet Holmes did say after each of those fights he underestimated and under trained for those challengers. This makes twice on the thread I was thought to be theorizing when all I was doing was quoting what Larry himself said. So tell him he's theorizing. All respect for both of you but I'd listen to the champ first.
Tell Weaver and Evangelista Holmes had average power. I do completely agree with the rest of the above.
Interesting post. I think Berbick is somewhat underrated on this forum (maybe cause he was beaten so easily by Tyson and Mercado). But Berbick beat 3 very good, near-prime boxers, - John Tate, Greg Page, and Pinklon Thomas, with no controversy. Very few of 80's champions have that kind of resume. As for that fight, I had Holmes winning 11-4, but he had to give it all. Holmes really struggled in some rounds, and the fight was very competitive, yet still clear win for Larry.
Trevor was definitely a good fighter, and that fifteen round loss to the third greatest heavyweight of all time (especially one at his definitive peak) only reinforces that (plus as you mentioned it was a competitive fight, more than I can say for someone like Tex Cobb). Berbick just wasn't anybody's favorite fighter.
I thought Berbick did a good job of blocking the punches.Holmes was not abe to establish his left jab in the manner he usually did. At thhe end Berbick was just too slow and wild with his punches.
Larry definitely didn't have it all his own way. Mad Trev was a strong, strange guy. A true character.
I revised my opinion of this fight a bit...this fight was a really great example of Holmes' jab in all its glory. I often watch it JUST to get an eyeful of that left. I only gave Trevor 3 rounds.
Berbick didnt win a round on my card. He was tough, awkward and one of the more durable fighters of that era but was outclassed all the way
Personally i thought Berbick had plenty of good moments but they weren't consistent enough to win more than a few rounds. He gave Holmes multiple of awkward moments while never having him in serious trouble but Holmes was winning the rest. Berbick landed quite a few good right hands and never remotely looked like he might be stopped. He forced Holmes into exchanges at various throughout the fight but Holmes won plenty of these as well. Berbick didn't have the pop to be a big danger in such exchanges and Holmes was just too good overall. Berbick's spirited challenge can be summed up just by watching the last round which is quite a good one with both fighters giving a good account of themselves. Berbick comes flying out letting punches fly high and low (this is round 15 mind you) before Holmes finds some distance and starts boxing. Then there's a bit of mauling, Berbick lands an excellent left hook and then Holmes goes to work in close landing a couple of ripping right hands, Berbick lands a good hook, Holmes busier and more effective/classy in there, Berbick still going at him but Holmes landing cleaner and Berbick swing all the way to the final bell. Whilst Berbick has some nice moments and lands some nice punches Holmes simply lands more and his class wins the round. Lots of rounds like this. You can score it, say, 13-2 but it's a far far better fight than that. Berbick was big, strong and awkward and if you didn't have a homerun punch he was going to give you a hard nights work which he did for Larry.
Or Weaver after their second fight as old men -- Holmes one-shotted him. Or Marvis Frazier. Holmes wasn't a top tier puncher but he was certainly above average.
I've always had an odd fascination with Trevor Berbick. His career was so hit-and-miss. I mean, he gave a prime Larry Holmes a good fight and beat two prime, undefeated titlists in Pinklon Thomas and Greg Page. But he also got KO'd in one round by the unremarkable Bernando Mercado and dropped decisions to Renaldo Snipes and S.T. Gordon, who were very much middle-of-the-road fighters. Strange guy, that Trevor Berbick...
