BOXING: Just no face like Holmes!

9:13am Saturday 17th May 2008

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FOR a man about to be inducted into boxing's International Hall of Fame, former world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes seemed genuinely excited to be in Swindon this week.

The "Easton Assassin" bounded into the De Vere Hotel with a spring in his step and a smile on his face leaving nobody in any doubt that "the champ" had arrived.

Holmes had been booked to appear at a charity auction in support of Prospect Hospice and the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, which was organised by KM (Keith Mayo) Promotions.

And the jovial American seemed eager to share his memories from a stellar career that spanned 76 fights and three decades in the ring.

"If you want to rate me as one of the greats then I appreciate that, but I'm just an ordinary guy trying to do my thing and make a living," said the 58-year-old, who successfully defended his title 20 times.

"I didn't want to be the greatest of all time like Muhammad Ali, but I wanted to be the greatest of my time.

"I know deep down in my heart that I am one of the greatest fighters, but there were so many - Ali, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis.

"I don't want to be compared with them. It's all opinion as to who was the best. But in my mind, I was!"

Holmes looked destined to make history when he won his first 48 professional bouts, only to fall one short of Rocky Marciano's record after a controversial points defeat to Michael Spinks in 1985.

To this day Holmes insists he did not receive the recognition his performances deserved, although all that will change next month when he enters the Hall of Fame.

"No they didn't really respect me because I was coming up behind a guy by the name of Muhammad Ali," he said.

"So many people said I would never become the heavyweight champion, but I proved them wrong when I beat Kenny Norton in 1978.

"My record speaks for itself even now and I'm very proud to be going into the Hall of Fame because a lot people said I would never get there."

Holmes was once famously quoted as saying "all boxers are prostitutes" - a view the fighter still holds today.

He was tempted out of retirement three times before finally hanging up his gloves aged 52, a decision he has no regrets over.

"When I fought the likes of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield I was not in my prime," he recalled.

"I could have beaten both of those guys but I only had two months to get ready for the Tyson fight after I had retired.

"Then I fought Holyfield with one eye because I had a detached retina. But there was $10 million on offer.

"If Holyfield and Mike Tyson were fighting at the time I was fighting in my prime, you would not have heard of them. We were fighting 15 rounds back then and some of these guys can't even last 12."

Today, Holmes has entrepreneurial skills outside the ring, with a nightclub, a gym and real estate all part of Larry Holmes Enterprises.

He also travels the world as a motivational speaker on behalf of charitable organisations.

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