Holmes Starts His Comeback With a First-Round Knockout

Larry Holmes came back from a layoff of more than three years Sunday night and needed 123 seconds to get the job done.

The 41-year-old former heavyweight champion stopped Tim (Doc) Anderson at 2:03 of the first round after knocking him down twice.

Anderson, 32, had been the fourth comeback opponent for George Foreman in 1987 and lasted into the fourth round against Foreman, now 42, who will challenge Evander Holyfield for the heavyweight title April 19.

“I’ve got determination,” Holmes said before the fight.

Holmes hurt Anderson with four right hands to the body 55 seconds into the fight, then knocked him down with two right hands to the body at 1:28.

The end came when Anderson was knocked down again from a right to the body, a right to the head and a right to the body. He got up at the count of five but referee Eddie Eckert stopped it. A ringside doctor said Anderson suffered probable broken ribs on the left side.