Not at all ... in Hauser's book, his quote from Holmes goes something like: he went back to his corner after a few rounds and told Giachetti that Ali had nothing left, but didn't want to punish him. Richie told him the most merciful thing was to end it quickly - after that, Holmes was all business. I won't say that there weren't a few times when he may have backed off a hair because it was getting almost sadistic - the shots that made Ali scream and cover up in the ninth were horrific - but overall, he was measuring and tagging Ali with serious intent. Anyone else would have folded, but Muhammad's damn pride and chin didn't know how.
At first I thought Larry was just being cautious in the early rounds (and that fits LH's modus operandi). But yeah, I think Larry wasn't big on taking Ali out early on. The ninth round showcased a fed-up-with-Ali's-psychological-warfare Holmes at least aiming more toward consummately finishing what he'd started. The only problem I have with people saying Larry was trying to stop Ali is that 9th round. We all know what Larry does when he's finishing, he starts measuring with the left (sometimes throwing a solid hook to the body) and going crazy with the straight and overhand rights. Larry didn't do that against Ali, and after Ali screamed he could have stopped the fight imo. He didn't do that...I think he felt a little ashamed at having hurt him like that. I could be wrong, no offense to differing opinions.
No offense taken by me, and hopefully nobody else; we all have our view on what happened, and ultimately the only one who knows for sure what DID is Larry Holmes ... not sure if he's ever addressed this?
He was in tears when Cosell interviewed him in the dressing room afterwards ... what ultimately cheered him up, believe it or not, was visiting Ali in HIS dressing room. From the Sports Illustrated article covering the fight: Within half an hour, Holmes and his brother Jake came to the suite and went into the darkened bedroom. “Are you O.K., champ?” Holmes asked. “I didn’t want to hurt you.” “Then why did you?” Ali asked, laughing softly. Holmes hesitated; then, “One thing is really bothering me. They say I thumbed you. The referee came over in the third round and said your corner said I was thumbing you. Now don’t jive me. Did I thumb you?” “No,” said Ali. “You didn't thumb me. I don’t know why they said that. I don’t know, Larry, something was wrong with me. Either I was too old or I was too light.” “Both,” said Holmes. “Now I want you to promise me one thing: that you will never fight again.” In the darkness Ali began the low chant that had been heard so often in the weeks preceding their bout: “I want Holmes! I want Holmes! I want Holmes!” “Oh, Lord,” said Holmes, laughing. “Jake, let’s get out of here.”