LOUISVILLE, Kentucky --
Larry Holmes is one of the most unappreciated heavyweight champions in boxing history, if not the most underrated. The 66-year-old hall of famer is a kind, articulate man who’s often misjudged for one comment -- “Rocky Marciano couldn’t carry my jockstrap” -- which he said after his controversial loss in his first fight with Michael Spinks in 1985. Holmes later apologized, but it stuck to him like a stain.
Holmes and Ali fought on Oct. 2, 1980. It was a fight for which Ali came out of a two-year retirement. Holmes became the only fighter to ever stop “The Greatest,” as Ali’s trainer, Angelo Dundee, told referee Richard Greene to end the lopsided fight after the 10th round.
Caesars Palace in Las Vegas constructed a temporary 24,790-seat outdoor arena for the fight. The live gate was $6 million, a record for that time. The Nevada Athletic Commission had real concerns whether or not Ali should have fought. Part of Ali’s physical was a requirement to be examined at Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic as a prerequisite to obtain a Nevada boxing license.
By then, Ali was a shadow of himself. For the fight, he weighed 217½ pounds, his lightest since he beat George Foreman on Oct. 30, 1974. Holmes dominated the fight from start to finish. There were no knockdowns, but Dundee and Ali’s corner knew enough to stop it. Holmes himself tried, pleading with Greene to intervene.
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Holmes was there Friday in Louisville for the funeral and celebration of “The Greatest.”
“This is a sad day and a happy day,” said Holmes, who handed Ali one of his five defeats. “I’m sad because Ali is no longer with us here. I’m happy because it was so hard seeing him through the years like that, fighting [Parkinson’s disease].
“I love the man,” he continued. “My fight with him was terrible. I didn’t want to fight him, but when someone offers you millions to fight, that’s hard to say no to. That fight still bothers me. I was his sparring partner for four years, and he taught me everything I knew. I hung with him and traveled with him. I didn’t want to fight him. I didn’t want to hurt him. I knew what he had and I knew what he didn’t have. I told him during the fight that I loved him. He told me, ‘Why are you beating me up then?’
“Look at all of these people,” he added. “They love him. He would have loved this. He’s at peace now. That’s what is important to me. My friend is with God now.”
Joseph Santoliquito is the president of the Boxing Writer's Association of America and a frequent contributor to Sherdog.com's mixed martial arts and boxing coverage. His archive can be found here.