Mark Holmes versus John Collins, Long Lost Middleweight Mystery Fight
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
From time to time, this reporter leaves the present, and goes back in the historical time machine to understand the past. On August 3, 1985, Mark Holmes battled John Collins in Scranton, Pennsylvania, for the vacant USBA Middleweight title. It was to be the most significant bout for both men, as both careers went on a tailspin from that point forward.
The scheduled 12 rounder on NBC Sports never made it past the second round.
Mark Holmes versus John Collins on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVmvEVNNE18
Mark Holmes was then the 32-0 brother of the 48-0 world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. At 80-0, the two brothers had combined for the most lethal brother and brother professional record in the history of professional boxing, in terms of their representation in significant but different weight classes. Unfortunately, Mark would lose his bout with Collins. Afterwards, Larry Holmes lost two 15 round decisions to Michael Spinks, and then got stopped by Mike Tyson. From 8-0, the two brothers went 0-4 in world class matches.
Mark Holmes got dropped three times in the second round by John Collins, and the late great referee Frank cappuccino automatically weaved the bout to a halt. Larry Holmes and his trainer Richie Giachetti. The late great promoter Cedric Kushner embraced Collins, whose corner weaved the Irish national flag in the ring.
The career of John Collins ended seven months later in March 1986 at the outdoor arena at Caesars Palace Las Vegas with a first round loss to Robbie Simms, the half-brother of Marvin Hagler. Cedric Kushner Promotions later went bankrupt. Kushner died in January 2015 of a heart attack.
Had the careers of either Mark Holmes or Irish John Collins survived this televised event,
They would have faced middleweights like Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Mustafa Hamsho, Bobby Czyz, Gerald McClellan, Julian Jackson, Iran Barkley, Dennis Milton, Tony Sibson, Fulgencio Obelmejias, John ‘The Beast’ Mugabi, Juan Domingo Roldan, Herol Graham, Chris Eubank and the meat of the middleweight division at that time. Given the scope of the abilities of Mark Holmes and John Collins, it is not likely either man would have survived these higher level matchups back in the day.
In the replay in slow motion, Collins timed a counter right hook over the top over Holmes low left, which was not upraised. Holmes was unable to regain his senses after getting up, and fell twice more. The second knockdown came from two short left uppercuts to the chin.
A straight right and a left hook sent Mark Holmes on rubbery legs hanging onto the ropes, whereupon a Collins right put Mark Holmes on his back for good. “Mark is a good boxer, he’s fast but he has to dedicate himself with discipline,” Larry Holmes tried to explain to Dr. Ferdie Pacheco doing the post bout ring commentary, after the bout ended. “John Collins is not the boxer Mark Holmes is, because I’ve been around Mark Holmes since he started his career.” Collins was the better boxer, despite Holmes trying to appease his younger brother after the loss. Collins knocked Mark Holmes out and ruined him.
The way the bout was won was not spectacular. It did however exposed the limited defense of Mark Holmes in his first major step up fight. The NBC Sports World telecast lasted 125 seconds. Mark Holmes had a goal when he entered the ring which superseded money or winning a world title. He wanted to be known as Mark Holmes, and not as the brother of Larry Holmes. That goal was never accomplished, and he never escaped his brother’s shadow. After losing to Collins, Mark Holmes faded into forgotten obscurity forever.
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