ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604220045
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: BAY ST. LOUIS, MISS.
SOURCE: Associated Press|
THE 46-YEAR-OLD FIGHTER doesn't have the gift of gab that got other fighters, like Ali and Foreman, lucrative deals out of the ring.
Larry Holmes spent seven years as the heavyweight champion of the world, polishing off the likes of Ken Norton, Muhammad Ali, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney and Ray Mercer.
That was back in the days when he was packing them in at Caesars Palace, beating the top contenders and pocketing big paychecks.
He's spent most of the last decade in places like Casino Magic, a gambling mecca in a tiny Mississippi backwater that caters largely to senior citizens, pounding on boxers with nicknames like ``Bigfoot'' whose records were run up against even more obscure fighters.
``I bring in the gamblers,'' Holmes said. ``People still want to see me. I'm still a draw, so they're willing to give me a paycheck.''
The value of Holmes' paychecks has dropped along with the caliber of the boxers he faces. His latest fight, a decision over a boxer who was 10 when Holmes won the heavyweight title, earned him less than $200,000.
Holmes says it's strictly business. He fights because he wants the money, although he admits he's financially secure, counting a couple of office buildings and other property among his holdings. And he acknowledges that after paying expenses for his trainer, sparring partner and others, the net isn't great.
``I stayed in it for the money,'' Holmes said. ``I don't need it. I'm not broke. But I like earning a paycheck. I have things I want to do, and I've never been one to go into debt.''
And earning those paychecks lately has led him to places like Bay St.Louis, where he's fought seven times since 1993, and Galveston, Texas, where he knocked out Curtis Shepard in January.
If only Holmes had been able to turn a phrase the way he could pound an opponent, things might have been different.
Had he been as quick with a quip as he was with his fists, he might be hawking mufflers on television like George Foreman instead of battling guys 20 years younger.
``I never had that gift of gab,'' Holmes said. ``I thought just being a hard worker and a good fighter were enough. But look what it did for Ali and George. They both talked their way into a lot of things they wouldn't have had if they'd just boxed.''
Holmes knows he never won the public's devotion as Ali did and as Foreman has now. He knows it was his boxing ability, not his charisma, that drew fight fans.
``I always told the truth and said what was on my mind,'' Holmes said. ``And people don't like that. I was just a master boxer who could make people look bad in the ring. Ali was a guy who talked a lot and boxed a little bit. I wasn't like that and a lot of people didn't like me because of it.''
Holmes has no illusions about his career these days. He's 40 pounds heavier than he was when he beat Norton in a brutal 15-rounder on June 9, 1978, for the WBC heavyweight championship. He's slower now, and his work habits are not as solid.
``I used to have speed and finesse and never get hit,'' Holmes said. ``Now I'm flat-footed and take some punches. But I still have a good jab and I still hit hard. And I still like it. It's still exciting.''
At 46, Holmes is still good enough to keep adding victories. His record is 64-5 with 41 knockouts.
He's been knocked down only three times in his career. Quinn Navarre, his latest opponent, a 28-year-old boxer with a 17-4-1 record, thought he knocked Holmes down during their match April 16, but it was ruled a slip. Navarre lost on a narrow decision.
``I'm not worried about damaging my reputation,'' Holmes said. ``I built that a long time ago and it's always going to be there. If I lose to one of these guys, what's he going to say? `I beat Larry Holmes when he was 46.'''
Holmes says he's only going to fight once more - his 70th match, a nice number to end on, he said. And it would wrap up a career that started 23 years ago.
Of course, Holmes has retired several times before.
``I've been hearing that for 15 years,'' Holmes' wife, Diane, said. ```One more, just one more.' That's what he's always saying.''
He's not sure where the next fight will be, maybe in Mississippi, where he's started feeling at home.
He knows where he would like it to be, however.
He'd like to return to Caesars and the limelight one last time. He'd like to go out against Foreman, boxing's other old man.
``We're the same age. We're from the same time,'' Holmes said. ``I think people would love to see it - the `Geezers at Caesars.' It would be great. Foreman won't do it, though. He's afraid of me. But it would be some show, wouldn't it? And the winner could take on Tyson.''
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. Larry Holmes says he has remained in boxing for theby CNBmoney. ``I don't need it. I'm not broke. But I like earning a
paycheck. I have things I want to do, and I've never been one to go
into debt.''|