Quite a few boxers get their start in smaller venues. The heavyweight champion Larry “The Easton Assassin” won 9 of his first 15 fights at the Catholic Youth Center, in Scranton, PA.

Holmes in March 21, 1973 made his professional debut defeating Rodell Dupree, 2-2, of Jersey City. On May 2nd he won his second fight stopping Philly’s Art Savage, who was debuting in the 3rd round. On June 20th he stopped Curtis Whitener, 0-2, of Boston in the first round at 2:14.

On August 22nd Holmes defeated Philly’s Donnie Branch, 1-6, over 6 rounds. In his sixth fight he defeated Jerry Judge, 14-3-1, of Margate, NJ, over 6 rounds. On April 24th of 1974 in his 8th fight he stopped Philly’s Harold Darlington, 1-18, in the 4th of a 6.

Holmes on May 29th he stopped Bob Mashburn, 7-6-2, of NYC in the 7th of an 8. On December 11th he stopped Joe Hathaway, of Atlantic City, NJ, in 2:47 of the first round in his 10th fight. In his first scheduled 10 rounder he stopped Philly’s Obie English, 15-5, in the 7th round in his 15th bout.

That’s 9-0 in 9 fights in Scranton in Holmes first 15 bouts scoring 6 stoppages. His final record was 69-6 with 44 stoppages.

The other world champion was WBA Light Heavyweight Mike “Jewish Bomber” Rossman, of Turnersville, NJ, who was 6-0 in the CYC.

In Rossman’s fifth fight on November 14th of 1973 he stopped Philly’s Nate Dixon, 0-1, in the 3rd round in his first 6 rounder. In his 7th fight he stopped Philly’s Elwood Townsend, 4-8-2, in the 2nd round of a 6.

On February 9th of 1974 in Rossman’s 8th fight he stopped Dominican Maximo Pierrt, 2-4-2, of NYC. On March 20th he stopped Joey Blair, 6-32-1, of Akron, Ohio, in the 6th round in his 10th fight. On May 29th in his 12th fight he stopped Walter Riley, 2-5-2, of Binghamton, NY, at 2:01 of the first round.

Rossman was 6-0 in Scranton, in his first 12 fights. His final record was 44-7-3, with 27 stoppages.