Larry Holmes opposition

It was strictly the promoter who called the fight off. He couldn't come up with the money needed.

I think you're being a bit critical of Holmes and his "fear." Holmes's entire career stats show that he took the fight that gave him the most money. Holmes got $2 million more to fight Marvis Frazier than he would have gotten had he fought Greg Page, for example.

The only fight that I know of that Holmes was fine with fighting for less than originally promissed was when George Foreman finally agreed to fight Larry in 1999. Foreman was supposed to get around $10 million (I think) and Holmes around $5 million (again, not sure on these numbers) but then the promoter realized he could not pay them that much, and Holmes agreed to the pay cut and George backed out of the fight.

I do not believe any of the all time great champion's were afraid to fight anyone. Some were just more concerned with the amount of money they would get rather than how their records would be being debated 30 years later.

 

Ehh, I don't think I'm being overly critical . It just sucks that money is used for an excuse not to take a fight. I'm not taking anything away from Holmes' record it speaks for itself,but the excuse of the money wasn't right is bull****. He is not the only one guilty of this.That's the pro game though and it just pisses me off a bit. I do consider Holmes an all time great but he would have been thought more highly of,I'm sure if he would have taken less money for some fights to show that he could beat whoever whenever he wanted . That's not saying that he would have won if he was to have fought Page or Bobick or Williams ,it would add to his legacy for sure though.

 

Just look at it from his perspective. He knew he would've been getting ripped off if he fought Greg Page for $3 million, yet he was able to fight Marvis Frazier and Scott Frank for $5 million.

If it were a small amount of difference I could definitely side with you more on the money issue, but $2 million is a lot of money, especially for the early to mid 80's.

 

I don't think Larry was afraid of anyone. But I think he's cynical and perhaps felt if the public didn't respect him, why should he respect them? I prefer fighters who are motivated by wanting to be the best, not by the money, though they are very rare. Larry could've done more with his reign. I also think he allowed the IBF to gain credibility and in the long run that has only weakened the sport even further.

But I'll add that I think prime HOlmes probably beats prime Ali, Lewis, Foreman, Louis, etc.. Seriously, I think so.

 

prime holmes was a head to head monster. only sixties+seventies ali (all rolled into one) could be definitively favoured to beat prime holmes.

 

Anybody have the financial details of the proposed Larry Holmes vs Greg Page bout.
If I recall, there was not a big fight purse offered.

 

December 1983,

Larry Holmes has refused a $2,500,000 pay day to defend his title versus the
WBC mandatory challenger Greg Page.

Larry Holmes states, 'That I will be dictated to by nobody, except Larry Holmes, and
my wife Diane. I was paid $3,000,000 for my fight with Marvis Frazier. Why should I take less for a fight with the #1 contender, it makes no sense. I can fight whoever I want
and wherever I want.'

'The Greg Page fight should be $5,000,000, and we are hearing offers of $10,000,000
for a fight with the South African. With that kind of money being offered, I will fight
Gerrie Coetzee anywhere.'

'I have two offers from a Japanese promoter, who is willing to give me $8,000,000
to have '2' fights there, and against anyone I choose. He's even willing to give
me a restaraunt in Tokyo, as part of my fight purse. Now why wouldn't I take that deal.
I should just say no, so I can fight Greg Page for a measly $2,500,000, of which
maybe I might get $1,500,000 from the promoter, who will come up with some
fancy deductions.'

'No, I think not. I'm my own businessman. I just might try to work with Gerrie Cooney,
and get him ready for another blockbuster. I'll set him up with '2' tune-up bouts, and
Boom, and there will be another $10,000,000.'

 

Cobb was not credible opposition, he had one win over an old Shavers and thats all.

 

I love the fact that Holmes calls 2.5 million measly . If the Page fight was so intriguing to the boxing world then why were promotors not offering up the money? After all Page was the WBC mandatory challenger . My theory is Holmes was the the Champ and could pull certain strings with certain promoters ,and he didn't want to fight Page ,so the promoters offered less money for the Page fight (which Holmes obviously IMO felt a matchup issue with) instead they offered more money for a non title fight with a less seasoned ,less expierenced Marvis Frazier. C'mon

 

Two big money fights Larry Holmes was hoping that would develop in 1984,
Frank Bruno and a Gerry Cooney II.

There was no need for him to risk big $$$ fighting Greg Page, even if it meant
losing his title by the World Boxing Council Board.

Lets not forget, in March 1984, Greg Page was a blubbery 239 lbs. when he looked like a
soft whale fighting Tim Witherspoon.

His training habits, ice cream, soda and Twinkies.
His answer to the boxing journalists who questioned his physical condition,
'I've never been beaten by a Twinkie.'

Larry Holmes would have had very little difficulty with Greg Page.
Most likely winning a solid decision over 12 rounds.

For the wishful few, Larry had a scheduled April 5, 1984 bout in Reno with John Tate.
A bout, in which every National Televison Network and HBO turned down.

 

frank bruno was suposed to beat bones smith then get a crack at holmes but smith did not read the script, he beat bruno and took his place.

 

Many of you are forgetting that Holmes said King more often then not did not even give him the agreed upon purse that was in the contract. He estimates King shorted him by 40% on what he should have gotten. Larry touched on it in the short article in another post with "deductions" etc.

Chris Byrd had this same problem. I am sure a lot of other fighters did also but never discussed it probably out of fear/embarrassment.

 

The Greg Page fight was all bull****. In June 82 on the Holmes / Cooney undercard Page was thrashed all over the ring by Trevor Berbick ... he really got his ass kicked by a man Holmes had diced up easily not much earlier ... in March and August of 84 Page was beaten by Withersoon and Bey .. Holmes beat Witherspoon in 83 and Bey in March of 85, right after he busted up Page .... In between these two periods of loss Page fought four times, beating two club fighters as well as Renaldo Snipes by uninspiring decision and fringe contender Quick Tillis .. my point is thta not only was there zero demand for a Page fight but Page did nothing to distinguish himself as a marketable contender ... in addition, no one favored the over rated Page to win anyway ... just nonsense for Holmes nay sayers like Bummy to chew crud about ...

 

Because they were trying to rip Larry off. Larry didn't ditch Don King because he got bored one day. He saw the BS, saw that he could get more money with other options, and he took them.