In 1991, Hall-of-Fame heavyweight boxer Larry Holmes staged a successful comeback, but the evening also included a dramatic confrontation with another former champion.
Holmes had retired following a TKO loss to Mike Tyson in 1988, but felt he still had unfinished business in the ring. This led him to a bout against Tim Anderson at the Diplomat Hotel. The multiple-time world champion proved too much for Anderson, stopping him with body shots and a right hook just two minutes into the first round. This extended Holmes’ impressive career record to 49-3.
However, the real action was yet to come. Trevor Berbick, a former opponent of Holmes, showed up at the post-fight press conference and claimed the boxer had been involved in the break-up of his marriage. When word reached Holmes about Berbick’s comments, “The Easton Assassin” immediately went looking for him, eventually finding his old foe at the front of the hotel.
Eyewitnesses reported that Holmes rushed in and began attacking Berbick. The altercation then spilled onto the street, with Holmes continuing the assault. At one point, Holmes reappeared, running across two nearby cars, and then delivering a powerful kick to his rival before police intervened and separated the two.
Despite the dramatic confrontation, which was partially captured on video, police made no arrests, and the two men went their separate ways. A rematch between Holmes and Berbick never materialized, though both continued to compete in the ring for several more years.
In a later interview, Holmes commented on the tragic end to Berbick’s life, saying, “God don’t like ugly… Let me forget about that guy, because it’s a sore subject. His soul is resting. I don’t know if it’s in peace or not, but his soul is resting.”
Unlike many fighters, Holmes wisely invested his money and is today a multimillionaire, as well as a beloved figure in his hometown of Easton, Pennsylvania.
