The Turning Point: Larry Holmes vs. Earnie Shavers I

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In his first big test, undefeated heavyweight contender Larry Holmes has his coming out party against big puncher Earnie Shavers. They trade big shots in the opening rounds, with Holmes stunning Shavers at the end of the first but Shavers battling back to win the second. Holmes wobbles Shavers into the ropes in the fifth and lays some hard right hands on him, cutting Shavers under the left eye. After a good give-and-take eleven rounds in which Holmes rallies to win almost every one, he buckles Shavers' knees in the twelfth and nearly has him out when the bell rings to end the fight. Holmes takes a wide unanimous decision and looks toward his first title shot against WBC Champion Ken Norton.