EASTON, Pa. — A crowd flocked Saturday afternoon to Easton Public Market to see one of the city’s native legends enshrined in chocolate.
A sugary celebration of the Easton Assassin Larry Holmes was unveiled at Chocodiem.
Easton chocolatier Milan Stevens spent almost two full days making the sculpture featuring a bust of Holmes and two boxing gloves.
“He’s an Easton legend."Milan Stevens, chocolate artist
Made entirely of chocolate, it weighs 16 pounds.
Stevens, whose previous chocolate sculptures are displayed at Chocodiem, said she made the pieces as a tribute to Holmes’ career and enduring legacy in the city.
“He’s an Easton legend,” Stevens said.
An appearance by Holmes highlighted the event at the market, where he was given a heavyweight championship belt — also entirely made of chocolate.
Holmes’ bust is the heaviest sculpture Stevens has made.
“He’s the heavyweight champion; you have to give him the heaviest weight,” she said.
Hometown hero
Jared Mast, executive director of the Greater Easton Development Partnership, on Saturday called Holmes a “local hero.”
Holmes was born in Georgia in 1949, but his family moved to Easton five years later. He picked up boxing at 18, and the rest is history.
“A lot of people don't know the things behind the scenes that Larry does. His not-for-profit, Heart of a Legend, is constantly giving back to the community, year after year after year.”Easton Vice Mayor Ken Brown
He launched his professional boxing career just over half a century ago after almost two dozen amateur bouts.
Holmes won his first fight against Rodell Dupree in March 1973 — and his next 47 professional bouts.
He was undefeated for a dozen years before notching his first loss against Michael Spinks in 1985.
Across his storied career, Holmes — and his renowned left jab — won several heavyweight titles and took down some of the sport’s legends, including Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers and Mike Weaver.
Holmes retired in 1986 after losing a rematch with Spinks but made several comebacks.
His final record stands at 69 wins — including 44 by knockout — and six losses. Holmes also participated in eight exhibition bouts, boxing for the last time in January 2004.
Holmes often is included in lists of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time.
“Who would have thought, of all the accolades that he had received, that he would be made out of chocolate?” Easton Vice Mayor Ken Brown said Saturday.
Brown kicked off Saturday’s event by paying tribute to Holmes and his community work since hanging up his gloves.
“A lot of people don't know the things behind the scenes that Larry does,” Brown said.
“His not-for-profit, Heart of a Legend, is constantly giving back to the community, year after year after year.”
