Keith Holmes

Keith Holmes, the former WBC middleweight world champion, enjoyed a boxing career that spanned over 19 years, from 1989 to 2009. He retired from professional boxing with an impressive record of 41 wins, 5 losses, and no draws or no-contests. Holmes won over half of his fights (25) via knockout, reflecting his hard-hitting style and his ability to finish fights early.

Holmes started his professional career with a win against Kilpatrick Mitchell via a unanimous 4 round decision when he was just 20 years old in 1989. After winning six consecutive fights (two via stoppage), Holmes got his first world title opportunity at the age of 26 in March 1996, following 29 professional fights. In his first world-title bout, Holmes defeated Quincy Taylor via a 9th round technical knockout (TKO) to become the WBC middleweight champion of the world.

Holmes cemented his status as a world-class fighter with his first title defense against Richie Woodhall, winning via a 12th round TKO. Overall, Holmes held two world titles at middleweight, and he defeated some of the best fighters in his era, including Quincy Taylor, Hacine Cherifi, Richie Woodhall, Robert McCracken, Paul Vaden, Jason Papillion, and Andrew Council.

Over the years, Holmes suffered five losses, two of which came in title battles and three in non-title fights. Notably, he never suffered a knockout defeat, and all his losses came via decision. In his second professional fight, he lost to Ronald Hammond in a unanimous 6 round decision on July 20, 1990. For more details about Holmes' defeats, check out "All of Keith Holmes' Losses."

In June 2009, Holmes fought his last professional fight against Willis Lockett, whom he defeated via an 8 round unanimous decision. His retirement records include 41 wins, accompanied by 25 knockout wins, and two title victories.

Keith Holmes was an impressive boxer throughout his career, but two fights stand out from others. His first world-title bout against Quincy Taylor in March 1996 saw him win his first world title against Quincy Taylor via a 9th round TKO. Holmes showed his exceptional boxing skills, devastating punching power, and exceptional conditioning that night, as he outlasted his opponent to become the new champion.

His second memorable fight was against Richie Woodhall in October 1996, in which he successfully defended his WBC middleweight title. The fight went on for 12 rounds, as the two warriors battled for the championship. In the end, Holmes won via a 12th round TKO when the referee intervened, ending the fight to protect Woodhall from further punishment.

Keith Holmes was a well-rounded boxer who possessed excellent offense and defense skills, but he was also known for his vicious punching power. This made him a challenge for other fighters in his weight category, who had to be careful around him to prevent being knocked out.

Due to Keith Holmes’ impressive boxing career and achievements, he remains a legend in the boxing world. Experts and boxing enthusiasts alike, still remember his incredible performances in the ring as he impressed more often than not. With his exceptional skills, devastating punching power, and great conditioning, he remains a favorite of both boxing enthusiasts and casual fans many years after his retirement.

Keith Holmes Fight Record