The biggest problem I have with Holmes is his remarks about Lennox Lewis. What he went through during the 80's, people not giving him credit for his achievements, made him unhappy. For him to say about Lewis "who has he fought" is double standards. Holmes hasn't got a good word to say about Lewis. It's not as if Holmes beat many greats himself.
Agreed! Holmes doesn't seem to have much good to say about any fighter for that matter. And, based on this latest Holmes interview in The Ring Magazine, Holmes is obviously still a wee bit jealous of George Foreman. Saying that all George has is a ranch with a bunch of animals on it is pretty pathetic for Holmes to say in terms of comparing his own wealth to Foreman's. Larry has to brag about his own investments and businesses, while at the same time trying to knock George Foreman's wealth - which is undoubtedly ten times that of Holmes' wealth. Holmes was a damn good fighter, and he accomplished a lot. But the guy still seems to have a giant chip on his shoulder, and the jealousy that seems to ooze out of his every pore is remarkable!
Yeah, it seems to me Larry has one big complex. It has improved slowly, but some of this **** he should have been over years ago.
Holmes is like a child crying for something they want. Ignore a child's crying and it will eventually stop. Regarding an "adult" like Holmes, don't give him any venue to ***** and his cry's won't have any ear to hear them, or eyes to read them... the guy will never change!
Any chance the interview can be reproduced here, or elsewhere online? We don't get Ring magazine here anymore.
Read it. Holmes is a man who means what he says and says what he means. Holmes said he let Foreman do whatever he wanted to get the fight.
I like how everyone just assumes what Larry said. You can only read what the media puts out, but I've seen it done in person to Larry, first they get him all worked up on the subjects and when he trys to go off and talk about the kids and stuff, they jump right back on the same subjects. Larry says what's on his mind, and if you don't like it, then why ask? That's his attitude. He's not jealous of Foreman in the least, he's just bitter that they never fought. That is the one fight where he didn't care about money with.
I disagree. I think Holmes is jealous of Foreman. It's one thing to be upset about the fight with Foreman not coming off; it's an entirely different thing to bash Foreman at almost every turn. I mean, in practically every interview - in print or in person - Holmes seems to have a giant hatred for Foreman. He ridicules him for being a phony; he bashes George's grilling machine, and he's always talking about how much better he is than Foreman, and how Foreman was/is scared to fight him. And maybe that's true. But it doesn't help anything for Holmes to continue to go off on George like he does. I mean, what's the point? George is still waaaayyyyyy more popular than Holmes will ever be, and he's got a total net worth that I'm sure dwarfs Holmes' holdings. I think Larry feels that he was always the better fighter and was never treated or accepted as well as he should have been by the boxing world. And then George Foreman - a fighter not on Holmes' level ability-wise - launches a comeback and not only becomes a folk hero/living legend in the process, he regains the heavyweight championship and makes gazillions in the process. I'm sure that just annoys the hell out of a guy like Holmes.... Just my thoughts!
Its all the right connections and who you face. Holmes had to deal with Holyfiled(So did Foreman) Foreman at least got a lesser champion in Moore in a later try of couse for the lineal title. Its all connections and luck and all that.
I thought it was genuine too, so what? He comes off like a cad and has far too often in the past. I read Ring in a bookstore so my memory may not be completely accurate but Holmes placed heavy emphasis on money as his motivation and showed no regret for "taking the Tyson fight on short notice" (whether its true or not). A man that age saying things like "M-O-N-E-Y" as if its the end-all be-all strikes me as no better than those goofy rappers who wear dollars on their hats. He should be commended for having the foresight to ensure a stable retirement; so perhaps he is a "winner" in your book. But he's often a tactless jerk in mine.
He's terrified of being poor again. It's what drove him in boxing. He grew up poorer than Tyson did, and in just as bad an area, he was just smart enough to get out of the crowd where as Tyson often created the crowd. He has hundreds of millions, and is well aware of how lucky he was to get the chance to earn it. You don't make 10 million more than expected in a buisness deal by being an idiot. He's not out to please, he's out to make money, but he is also a great guy and is willing to saccrifice for the communities sake. His gym is financial suicide, and he basicaly pays all of St. Anthony Youth Center's bills. Think about it, how many nice guys are there in the buisness world? Don't say Foreman, he's very shrewd in buisness as well. If you met Larry on the street, and didn't know who he was, you'd figure he was just some happy, normal, down to Earth guy.
A bit too direct a command for me to appreciate there, Z. Seems fairly obvious from those who have read the interview, and commented on it, that Holmes hasn't matured enough to hold another boxer in high esteem... other than himself, of course. He also suffers from "jockstrap" and "black ass" in mouth disease. Not that I'm knocking him for being mad/upset at times, but he would have always benefitted from a course which dealt with appropriate public speech If Holmes said this, it must be gospel. Simple fact of the matter is, he may have stated the truth with this. Holmes is, always will be, an ATG HW, so I don't really doubt he wanted to fight Foreman. Holmes needs to work on areas of his personality other than this.
I have friends with the same personality. They are friends, but they have no tact. No one should mind me. I am old-fashioned. I prefer the class and humility you see in interviews of fighters 60 years ago to the "being real" crap and the egomania that has been sweeping American culture for so long. I get even more bothered when old men like Larry sound like Floyd Mayweather who strikes me as stunted at 16 years old.
Good point! In today's society, especially in America, there is so much disrespect and attitude that has permeated everyday life. I'm not old enough to remember the "good old days" - I'm 33 - but I can imagine things have changed considerably over the course of the last 30-40 years. With all this rap/gangsta crap floating around, and with kids looking up to spoiled rich athletes with bad attitudes and coked out teen idols, it doesn't bode well for the future generation!