LARRY HOLMES, 63 and filthy rich, is convinced his fighting career will be the death of him but he's open to another comeback. Proof, if it was needed, that there is no cure for the boxing bug. The former world heavyweight king has seen several of his rivals, like Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton, fall into ill health but Holmes believes that he could come out of retirement and sock it to current leaders, Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko.
Today, those guys dont know how to fight, says Larry. You give me a good six months [to prepare] and Ill beat the Klitschko brothers. Theyre strong but theyre not going to hit me with the stupid shyt they do. They hit all these guys with all this stupid shyt but theyre not going to be able to hit me with it because Im not going to be there to let them hit me with it. Even at my age, I would give those guys the fight of their life.
Holmes claimed his first belt, the WBC title, in 1978 when he outscored Norton in one of the finest heavyweight fights of a decade. But that violent era left its mark on many of the soldiers who fought there. Holmes is one of the lucky ones. He remains quick witted and full of life but hes certain his mind will eventually collapse from the strain of his 29-year career.
Its going to f*** me up but what the hell, Holmes says. Whats done is done, I cant do nothing about all those punches, all that boxing. I wish I could. Listen, Im 63 years old and its going to happen. I dont want it to happen but I think it is, so Im not going to really worry about it.
Even if his career is ultimately unkind to him, a happiness surrounds Holmes that hasn't always been there. For a time he was a grumpy middle man, his role in history to transport greatness from Muhammad Ali to Mike Tyson. But now, many years after his peak, he is rightfully recognised as one of the finest heavyweights of all time.
I know that I was one of the greatest fighters, Holmes barks. I know that. People dont have to tell me that. If they say Im not, so what? It dont matter. I know I was. I could fight.
Im proud of myself you know, I never had anything. All I had was me and my ability, I didnt have anything else so I had to take that and run with it. Thats all I had, my ability. And thats what made me become the heavyweight champion of the world because I had ability.
"With my left hand alone, my jab would beat these guys. Just the jab, the Holmes Hammer. Nobody had a jab, Muhammad Ali couldnt hit you like I could hit you with his jab. I hurt you with my jab, Ali couldnt do that.
Holmes and his jab - perhaps the finest lead in heavyweight history - beat an ageing Ali in 1980. Holmes first met Ali when he joined his camp as a sparring partner in the 1970s.
When I first started [sparring him] he kicked my ass but then I grew up, Holmes recalls. [After that] I thought I got the best of him every damn time we went in there because he hardly did anything. He lay on the ropes and what not, I thought I did pretty good working with him. But, he was Muhammad Ali.
And Larry Holmes is Larry Holmes. Despite the fears of brain damage and threats to hammer Ukrainian giants, the wise old master is happy to take each day as it comes, and occasionally glance back with wonder.
Drink a beer, have fun and say thank you Jesus because we dont know what we gonna do the next day, or the next day, or the next day. Dont worry about what people say or what people think, you just do what you gotta do, be proud of what you've done, and make sure you enjoy the rest of your life.
Larry Holmes: Give me six months and I could beat Wladimir Klitschko | Boxing News Online
he beat Froch in Atlantic City.
..fukk outta here but at least the right person won
shiming got KOed and they couldnt show that live in china