Mark,
Here is an account of the Foreman-Lyle fight which took place on 1/24/76. Nowhere could I find any indication that he ever fought Larry Holmes. I do remember that Larry had a knock down drag out fight vs. Ernie Shavers, who looked, punched and fought very much like Ron Lyle. Anyway, here it is:
"A crowd of 4,100 witnessed a battle royal at Caesars Palace between George Foreman and Ron Lyle. George tipped the scales at 226lbs for the fight and was to receive $250,000, Lyle weighed 220lbs and was to get $140,000. Both fighters looked as if they were not in the best of shape.
Lyle started the bout fast, tagging George with a good left hook to the jaw in the 1st round, Ron didn't follow up and let the ex-champ off the hook. The next 2 rounds Lyle looked good hitting George with lead rights to the head, Foreman kept on coming, looking to land the one big blow to end the bout. The second round was shortened to 2 minutes by an error in the ABC TV timer. The 4th round was the biggest of the contest with 3 knockdowns. Foreman was on the deck twice and Lyle once as both fighters gave it their all. George beat the count as the bell sounded for the end of the round. Foreman was decked by a left-right combo to the head, he knocked down Ron with a wild left hook which also knocked out Lyle's mouthpiece. The 5th was going to be the last as the crowd sensed that neither boxer could go much farther. Foreman came out with this in mind and opened up a two-handed attack that again knocked out Lyle's mouthpiece an put Ron down for the full count at 2:28. This fight was the debut of Foreman's new trainer and manager Gil Clancy."
Franco |
