14.05.08 – by James Slater: Heavyweight great Larry Holmes was in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear in the north of England last night, engaging in an after-dinner charity event. Helping to raise money for The NSPCC, the former heavyweight king was the guest of honour at the event and was on hand to not only talk about his legendary boxing career, but to also sign autographs and pose for pictures with his fans. This writer was lucky enough to have been one of those in attendance last night.
Larry, now pushing 60 years of age, appeared in great, if slightly portly shape. Looking a million dollars in a snappy blue/grey suit, “The Easton Assassin” was joined by members of his family, including his beloved wife. Smiling pretty much throughout the entire evening, Larry was in fine spirits. After dinner, the man who was heavyweight champion of the world from 1978 to 1985 climbed into the ring that had been erected in the middle of the floor for a session talking to the crowd on the microphone..
Struggling a little bit to squeeze his huge frame through the ropes upon entering the ring, the evening’s M.C joked how it had “been a while,” as in it had been a while since Larry had been in the ring. Both the audience and Holmes himself laughed good naturedly. Larry then shared some of his boxing memories with his attentive fans.
Larry began by telling us how tough life was for he and his big family (Larry has ten brothers and sisters) in the early days of his life in Cuthbert, Georgia.
“We never had anything [in those days],” Holmes began. “My mother worked as best as she could and my father did the same thing. Then one day, my dad moved us, all eleven of us, to Eastern Pennsylvania and it was then that my father decided to keep on going with another woman. He did that and my mom was left behind and we struggled through life. But with the grace of God, and with my mom’s determination, we all turned out all right.”
Larry then moved on to his amateur start in boxing.
“I started my amateur boxing really early,” Larry continued. “I started when I was like 12 or 13. I never really had any desire to box, but I always liked the game of boxing. One day, I dropped out of school and I had to do something athletic because I didn’t have the education. So that’s when I turned to boxing. Ernie Butler was my trainer back then – he passed [away] about two years ago – and he got me into amateur boxing really good. And after I lost in the Olympics to Duayne Bobick in 1972, he turned me pro. I had a four round fight with a guy named Rodel Dupree, I won the four rounds and it was a great start for me. I got a whole lot of money for that fight – $63.00 was real good (laughs).”
Of course, as fans know, Larry went on to become one of the best and most resilient heavyweight champions in history. Larry shared with the group his memories from some of his biggest fights. The Earnie Shavers fights, the first one in particular, remain a constant in Holmes’ mind.
“I grew up around Earnie Shavers as his sparring partner. I always knew how hard Shavers could punch. I stayed away from him [in sparring] because I didn’t want to get hit with any of his punches. I never thought I’d be in the ring fighting Earnie Shavers and I had to learn kind of fast. And when they put me in the ring with him I knew I had to stay on the outside and box. Back then, the knock on Shavers was that after 5 or 6 rounds he would get tired. But guess what? Earnie Shavers did not tire that night (laughs). But that fight (a points win over 12 rounds) got me in the top ten and in position to fight for the heavyweight title.”
Holmes’ recollections of his world title fight with Ken Norton followed.
“That was fifteen rounds of non-stop fighting. Kenny Norton was a very tough guy, especially as six days prior to the fight I’d pulled a muscle in my left arm. I knew I had to keep it a secret and make the left arm work like never before. I’m known for have the left jab, and in training when people watched me I had to pretend I was just working on my legs, and that was why I wasn’t throwing the left jab.”
Holmes prevailed with a close points win and was then to keep his title for over 7 long years. One of the most memorable defences came against the great Muhammad Ali, a fight Larry is still saddened about today.
“It was kind of hard fighting a guy you grew up with, learned to love and respect and who gave you the opportunity of a job. Ali gave that to me. To then go in the ring with him and beat him up – even though people told me he didn’t have anything, even though they were wrong because Ali still had something with his pride – it was hard. I had to do what I had to do. I jumped on Ali hard at the opening bell. After 5 or 6 rounds, when he was still there I asked him why he was taking this. He called me all the names in the book, and some that weren’t even in the book (laughs). He said he was gonna knock me out, and I banged him hard and asked him what he thought then. Finally, the ref stopped the fight at the start of the 11th round.”
Larry also shared with us what happened after the Ali fight had finished.
“After the fight my wife and I went to his room to see Ali. He was lying down getting his feet rubbed and I told him I loved him. He said, “if you love me, why did you beat me up like that?” We had to laugh, and I told him if he ever needed anything from me….., and he said “I will return.” I want Holmes!” Ali and I never had any hard feelings.”
Time was somewhat short by now, but Larry finished off by giving his thanks for the life he’d been given.
“I know what it is to be hungry, I know what it is to be punched in the mouth, I know what it is to be locked up for a few hours, I know what it is to have your car broken into. I’ve done all of that. But you know, before I close, I’d like to say thank you to everybody. God’s blessed me and my family and he’s blessed all of you people here tonight.”
Deafening cheers drowned out whatever else Larry said, but he had said more than enough.
Larry Holmes, one of the true greats indeed. It was a privilege and a pleasure being in his company last night in the north of England.