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Before I read his autobiography I didn't like Larry Holmes at all. I respected his career and talent, but I didn't think much about him as a person. It went back to his remarks about Rocky Marciano not being able to carry his jockstrap and my own Italian heritage. But after the book and reading more and more about him I found out what an accomplished person he was outside the ring as well as I'm, and what a great family man he is. Stumbled across this article today and it reminded me of all that.
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It's funny, back when he made those remarks about Marciano, I think a lot of people felt the same way. Back then, trash talking wasn't the norm outside of Ali who used it as showmanship. Larry was always outspoken and I always respected him for that. He wasn't charismatic enough to be an effective trash talker and he said what he did out of anger and frustration after he felt he was robbed against Spinks. I eventually gave him a pass for it. He was smart with his money and the people of Easton PA admire him.
Today, comments like Larry's about Rocky are unfortunately the norm for every trash-talking, overrated, cherry picker in the sport. At least Larry never ducked anyone and gave his all in every fight. -
Recently Mike Tyson said he actually beat Don King up... or something like that. larry sofened King up for Tyson... Larry won, King was hellbent on bankrupting Larry, to King if a fighter held on to anything he had not been properly fleeced... right up until "Im going to have my halfwit son manage you he gets 30% or whatever it was... Larry walked away from boxing with his guts, his nuts and his brains. Like Andre Ward and Regis P, Larry repped and invested in his hometown community.
Great fighter, great man. And Larry was the first fighter to actually achieve human flight Lol.... Anyone remember that one?
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That was a good read, thanks for posting.
I felt the same way about Holmes myself. Always thought he was a bitter kunt ever since I was a kid, he rubbed me the wrong way. But the older I got, the more I realized Larry is just as real as it gets, nothing fake about him whatsoever. Now I have the highest level of respect for Larry, the fighter and the man.
Really love this interview he did a few years ago. This is only a small part of it, but the entire interview is worth watching, if you haven't already seen it.
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Larry certainly knows how to make a buck. That guy stamps his name to everything and anything.Comment
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I rate Holmes highly and certainly he had tremendous will to win but when I see him winging roundhouse right hands over and over against Witherspoon, Norton and Shavers I see a fighter who would be knocked unconscious by sharpshooters such as Louis or Dempsey. No chance could he try that against a prime ATG and not get blasted.Comment
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Very amateurish. Appallingly so, no matter the circumstances. Leaves himself open for every punch under the sun and there is no reason for it.Comment
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