This was one of the more comical WWE moments for the sweet science, when Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick engaged in an impromptu rematch of sorts, not in the ring however, but in the streets of Hollywood, Florida just over 25 years ago.
It was April 7th 1991 and Holmes had just knocked out Tim Anderson. It was the former heavyweight champs first fight in three years, having been stopped by Mike Tyson in his 1988 bid to regain the heavyweight title. Holmes was staging a comeback, and at the post fight press conference, he was asked about future opponents. One name to come up was Trevor Berbick, a near-forty year old fighter that Holmes had beaten easily 10 years prior. Berbick was also a former heavyweight title holder though his reign was short, lasting just eight months and ending with his first defense; also a knockout at the hands of Mike Tyson.
When asked about a Berbick rematch, Holmes said no way. He’d beaten him once already and plus, he just didn’t like his “attitude”. Berbick, who was in attendance, didn’t care for the reply but his response strayed from the topic of a boxing match. He accused Holmes of sabotaging his personal life, his marriage, and even his children’s well-being.
The exchange continued, with Berbick vowing to ‘break every rib in his body” if Holmes wanted to street fight. The two finally made their way outside, fighting in front of the Diplomat Hotel. While some footage of the encounter exists, most of the actual exchange wasn’t caught, but an eyewitness claimed that Holmes had kicked and punched Berbick and Berbick tried to run away. Berbick can be seen on film shouting “Larry Holmes kicked me and punched me”. Holmes is then seen leaping off the top of an automobile onto Berbick with the two being separated by police.
Looks like Holmes won the “rematch” too.
Below is video footage, provided by The Eight Count Boxing Hour via TheBoxingGuru on YouTube.
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