Larry Holmes adds star touch to fight night

Former WBC and inaugural IBF titlist Larry Holmes turned up to watch the Ultimate Warriors show at the Conference Suite on Thomas Street,

'The Easton Assassin' is the third most fighting champion in the division's history, making 20 defences of his various belts.

Only Joe Louis (25) and Wladimir Klitschko (22) have put up their honours on more occasions. Holmes is also the only man to have stopped Muhammad Ali in a pro contest.

Despite not taking up boxing until he was 19, he competed in 97 fights amateur and pro, with 22 unpaid. The last was a disqualification against Duane Bobick in the 1972 Olympic trials.

He then spent nearly 20 years as a pro, debuting in 1973 before finally calling time in 2002. He featured 75 times, with 69 wins and 44 inside the distance.

He lost six contests, with an on-fire Mike Tyson the only man to remove him before the final bell. He halted a 38-year-old Holmes in the sixth round on 22 January 1988.

Now aged 67, the man considered to have possessed one of the best left jabs ever is a double legend, having been inducted into the International and World Boxing Hall of Fame.

Holmes posed for photographs with fans before getting in the ring to give a speech, then stopping on to watch some of the action.

He said: "I want to say thank you for the invitation to come here and this is what it's all about, meeting the fans and having a good time. I love them all.

"I've met a lot of people since I've been over here on tour, for over a week now, and it's been a really good experience. "

Bouts that featured on the bill included bare knuckle boxing, thai boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts cage fighting.

Ring girls 'the Warrior Angels' added a touch of glamour to the event, which was staged in conjunction with Showfighter.