On April 24, 1999, Keith Holmes and Hacine Cherifi met again in a rematch.
Holmes came in to the fight on a 2-fight win streak with a 62% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 18 days. Cherifi was on a 2-fight win streak with a 56% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 6 months and 14 days.
In the rematch, Keith Holmes stopped the champion via TKO in the 7th round of the 12-round world-title fight, and is crowned the new WBC middleweight champion. Holmes improves his record to 34-2 (23 KOs), while Cherifi adds a loss to his record at 26-4-1.
On March 16, 1996, a 26-year-old Keith Holmes (28-1, 18 KOs) got a shot at the WBC middleweight title held by 32-year-old Quincy Taylor (26-3, 22 KOs).
Holmes came in to the fight on a 21-fight win streak with a 62% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months. Taylor was on a 11-fight win streak with a 75% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 6 months and 26 days.
Keith Holmes stopped the champion via TKO in the 9th round of the 12-round world-title fight, winning the first world title of his career, and is crowned the new WBC middleweight champion. Holmes improves his record to 29-1 (19 KOs), while Taylor adds a loss to his record at 26-4.
On October 19, 1996, the 27-year-old WBC middleweight world champion, Keith Holmes (29-1, 19 KOs), faced a 28-year-old English boxer Richie Woodhall (21-0, 13 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Holmes came in to the fight on a 22-fight win streak with a 63% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 7 months and 3 days. Woodhall was on a 21-fight win streak with a 61% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 8 months and 19 days.
Keith Holmes stopped Richie Woodhall via TKO in the final round of the 12-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC middleweight title. Holmes improves his record to 30-1 (20 KOs), while Woodhall adds a loss to his record at 21-1.
On April 29, 2000, the 31-year-old WBC middleweight world champion, Keith Holmes (35-2, 23 KOs), faced Robert McCracken, in a title defense fight.
Holmes came in to the fight on a 4-fight win streak with a 62% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 7 months and 5 days.
Keith Holmes stopped Robert McCracken via TKO in the 11th round of the 12-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC middleweight title. Holmes improves his record to 36-2 (24 KOs)
On December 5, 1997, the 28-year-old WBC middleweight world champion, Keith Holmes (30-1, 20 KOs), faced Paul Vaden, in a title defense fight.
Holmes came in to the fight on a 23-fight win streak with a 64% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 year, 1 month, and 16 days.
Keith Holmes stopped Paul Vaden via TKO in the 11th round of the 12-round world-title fight, and successfully defended his WBC middleweight title. Holmes improves his record to 31-1 (21 KOs)
On September 24, 1999, Keith Holmes and Andrew Council met again in a rematch.
Holmes came in to the fight on a 3-fight win streak with a 63% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 5 months.
Keith Holmes defeated Andrew Council via unanimous decision in the rematch and successfully defended his WBC middleweight title. Holmes improves his record to 35-2
On April 14, 2001, the 32-year-old WBC middleweight world champion, Keith Holmes (36-2, 24 KOs), faced a 36-year-old Bernard Hopkins (38-2-1, 28 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Holmes came in to the fight on a 5-fight win streak with a 63% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 11 months and 16 days. Hopkins was on a 12-fight win streak with a 68% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 4 months and 13 days.
Bernard Hopkins defeated Keith Holmes via unanimous decision and unifies the WBC middleweight titles. Hopkins improves his record to 39-2-1, while Holmes adds a loss to his record at 36-3.
On May 11, 1994, a 25-year-old Keith Holmes (20-1, 12 KOs) and Kelcie Banks met in the ring.
Holmes came in to the fight on a 13-fight win streak with a 57% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 1 month and 3 days.
Keith Holmes stopped Kelcie Banks via TKO in the 3rd round. Holmes improves his record to 21-1 (13 KOs)
On February 6, 1999, a 29-year-old Keith Holmes (32-2, 21 KOs) and Alex Lubo met in the ring.
Holmes came in to the fight on a 1-fight win streak with a 61% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 2 months and 24 days.
Keith Holmes stopped Alex Lubo via TKO in the 1st round. Holmes improves his record to 33-2 (22 KOs)
On April 10, 1995, a 26-year-old Keith Holmes (25-1, 16 KOs) and Kenneth Kidd met in the ring.
Holmes came in to the fight on a 18-fight win streak with a 61% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 21 days.
Keith Holmes stopped Kenneth Kidd via TKO in the 1st round. Holmes improves his record to 26-1 (17 KOs)