I recommend it. Holmes tells it like it was/is. There is some good stuff on Ali, Cooney, and Don King. Holmes also talks about why he did not fight Page. Hint-hint, he got 1.5 million more to fight Frazier. Other topics in the interview are the Politics in boxing, the decline of the American black heavyweights, PPV boxing, Foreman, and more.
Titan1, read the interview. Its good stuff. Holmes has not changed much. Holmes also said if he could do it over again he still take the Tyson fight as it was about the M-O-N-E-Y. Holmes did say Don King was supposed to get him a warm up fight before Tyson but failed to deliver. In fact, Holmes said King called him recently about a comeback! There also some stuff on Coetzee there. Holmes vs Coetzee almost happened. King had a man in Texas come up with a million for Holmes to sign, but could not come up with a million for Cotezee.
Thats not an adequate exuse. He knew Frazier would be a much easier fight than page which is why he took it. He avoided greg page to take an easier fight. Greg Page won the Mandatory right for holmes to face him when he won the WBC final eliminater over snipes.
Well that's funny, because the 3 months leading up to the Tyson fight he said he was training hard and was motivated to get respect by beating Tyson, not collecting a paycheck. And he was trying to get that fight for several months, not a tune-up. Don King did a lot of bad, but he has himself to blame for that.
Dr. Z, it seems like your trying to use "Money" as an exuse for why holmes fought this guy and that guy. I think there is more to it than that.
SuzieQ, I am simply quoting Holmes. Holmes was always about the money. This is nothing new. If you were a prizefighter, would you take 3 million to fight Frazier or 1.5 million to fight Page? Give me an honest answer. As for Frazier, he was not much of a challenge in hindsight, but coming into the match, he was un-defeated with wins over Bugner and USA Olympian Broad. A famous last name did not hurt either.
Larry also virtually takes back his mea culpa about the jockstrap comment... I thought he came off the way he always has and it simply validates the general distaste that so many have for him. He's a "FTW" kind of guy and those guys don't have many friends. Nor should they. Their middle finger is their flag. At his age, you'd think he'd have a bit more depth than making everything about "M-O-N-E-Y". Later in the interview he laments how modern fighters should fight for pride and glory. Huh?
That is not what he said. He said fighters do not fight solely for money, the pride and glory matters too. As far as heavyweight champions go, most of them end up broken men. Holmes has his marbles, the same wife, and several successful businesses. He became a winner and stayed a winner. I thought the interview was genuine.
Interesting. I will buy the new Ring when it comes out in the UK. Holmes always has a few stories to tell. No doubt much of the interview will be based on his induction into the IBHOF. Holmes' needs to forget about the first Spinks fight. I hope I'm not reading about that all over again.
I've got 5 or 6 Holmes interviews. I might get active thru the week and post some comments in this thread, bearing in mind i am "simply quoting Holmes".