HOLMES-ALI WAS INSTEAD ALI-HOLMES
Holmes-Ali Poster
San Francisco, CA– It doesn’t happen happen all the time in boxing or combat sports as the “true” champion or even if he’s just a paper champion doesn’t get announced usually gets top billing. But as was the case a fortnight ago, Julio Cesar Chavez got top billing over “true” champion Sergio Martinez, Larry Holmes got the short end of the Holmes-Muhammad Ali buildup as the aura of Ali and his three previous title wins (one stripped, one lost, one retired) made the October 2, 1980 15-round fight Ali-Holmes and not Holmes-Ali. In the case of Ali, I, and Larry Holmes too I believe, could go with Ali-Holmes, but Chavez Jr. (chuckle) is no Ali.
ALI-HOLMES LIKE DEATH IN THE FAMILY
I don’t like to associate the words anniversary and death, so I try my best not to. Thirty-two years after the fact, Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes share a portion of boxing history as they engaged in what would be a mismatch of heavyweight proportions held outside on the tennis courts at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. With the exception of round seven, I believe, when Ali got up on his toes and looked as had something to offer but didn’t. Outside of a 30-second stint with Ali in motion, Larry Holmes beat on him like a heavy bag.
WITH ALI & HOLMES THE FOLLOWING DAY
On the morning of October 3, 1980, a press conference took place in a Caesars Palace, one in which Muhammad Ali showed up wearing sunglasses. I was in tears, not because he lost as I anticipated the younger Holmes to prevail, but the realization is nobody stays young forever. Fighters get old faster than normal people, and lastly, Muhammad Ali was mortal! Three decades and two years later, I can tell you that I think Larry could have beaten any heavyweight on any given night.
HOLMES & ALI TODAY
Seeing both Larry Holmes and Muhammad Ali attended the funeral of Ali’s first slayer Joe Frazier late last year, both have gone down different streets of life. Ali, although muted by Parkinson’s and the residual effects of boxing, is frail and looks bad. Holmes, who recently had some benign polyps removed from his throat, has all of his faculties, not that Ali doesn’t, but he can’t express himself. Holmes has the gift for gab, is engaging, articulate and controversial when he wants to, enjoys good health. Larry is living the good life, Muhammad is just living.
Pedro Fernandez