Larry Holmes vs. Mike Weaver, 1979 (Article)

[bluemurder]

In 1979, Mike Weaver was so lightly regarded that no major network would broadcast his challenge of Larry Holmes. He nearly pulled off a massive upset in a lost heavyweight classic.


https://hannibalboxing.com/shoot-the...i-mike-weaver/

[HOUDINI563]

It was an interesting fight over its last 4-5 rounds. Holmes tired and Weaver caught him with heavy shots here and there that hurt. It’s really a testament to Holmes greatness that he ****** it up and landed the KO blow that ended the fight.

[billeau2]

Weaver had an au****ious beginning. It is alleged that while in the army, in a canteen/bar drinking, he got into a kerfuffle with another, punched the guy and Knocked him out. turned out that the guy he Koed was the Army heavyweight champ!

[Granath]

In 1979, Mike Weaver was so lightly regarded that no major network would broadcast his challenge of Larry Holmes. He nearly pulled off a massive upset in a lost heavyweight classic.


https://hannibalboxing.com/shoot-the...i-mike-weaver/

Of course Weaver was lightly regarded. 19-8 and hadn't ever beaten anyone good. His signature win was against Bernardo Mercado for the Nevada State HW Championship.

When he finally gets a win (how in the world did he get to fight for the WBA Championship with that record???!!?) against John Tate he somehow won. And Holmes wouldn't give a rematch, instead fighting Leon Spinks and Parkinson's Ali. Then Weaver lost the title 2 years later to Dokes who lost it 4 months later to Coetzee. Who held it for a year and couldn't get a fight with Holmes and then lost it to Greg Page...who promptly lost it to Tony Tubbs...who promptly lost it to Tim Witherspoon...who promptly lost it to Bonecrusher Smith...who promptly lost it to Mike Tyson.

No one wanted to keep that WBA title in the mid-80s.