What boxers did Larry Holmes consciously and deliberately avoid, if any?

Being asked if you want to fight someone is not in the same neighborhood as being offered a fight and turning it down. Did that happen?

The fact is you could have asked Holmes 2-3 times a year during a fairly long period of time if he’d be willing to fight the other champion — because it was a revolving door and the other champion never held it for long.

Pinklon had one of the longest reigns of any ‘other champion’ during Holmes’ reign because he actually made ONE successful defense.

To make a unification, there has to be a demand for the fight. There has to be enough money to satisfy both parties. That just never happened because none of those guys held on to their belts long enough to create that demand.

In Thomas’ case, Holmes fought David Bey (who had beaten Greg Page, which people want to say he ducked but if he fought Page then he’d be ducking the guy who beat Page — he fought the winner, not the loser) and I think Bonecrusher … and then he lost to Spinks.

After losing to Spinks, the only fight Holmes would have or should have been interested in was a rematch with Spinks. Seems that Thomas would have wanted to unify with the new champ but nobody brings that up.

 

Yeah, I don't think so.

 

He would not and I mean absolutely would not and still has not gone anywhere near the great John L. Sullivan. Because JLS had begun to stink by then, is my understanding. Understandable. I don't go anywhere near the guy either. It's not "my bag" as the kids say.

 

What if he'd given Carl Williams an immediate rematch?
Larry lost of course in his next bout to Spinks.
Maybe, just maybe, We may have seen Carl the Truth, become the lineal champ.

 

I don't think he could of beaten the version of Larry that cameback and outclassed Mercer and gave Holyfield a long night. Perhaps an in shape version of Greg Page would have been the only threat.

 

Ok fair enough.
I don't think Holmes was concerned about those fighters Page, Dokkes or Coetzee. Somebody helped me out here...when did Larry break from Don King? I know Holmes validated the IBF as it was a brand new organization.

 

I know Foreman didn't want to fight Holmes in the 90s. Larry wanted that one badly.

 

Who promoted those guys? Page, Dokes?

 

The Truth would have given any standup boxer who didn't have Earth shattering power some trouble. He probably gives prime Lawrence a good tussle. Williams had a sweet jab.

 

He did. If he'd had had a chin like Ali, then who knows what could have happened!

 

If Truth had been around in the late 70s I doubt Ali would have done as well as Holmes.

 

Holmes and Foreman actually did sign to fight in the 90s, but financing fell through.

That would have been something. The old man battle for the ages.

 

He parted with King after the Tex Cobb fight (end of 1982) but did fight for him again on a per-fight basis some because King held promotional rights to some of his opponents.

 

Is it this quote after the Bey fight you're thinking of?

"That's it," Holmes said after he earned $1.525 million in raising his record to 47-0. He had been saying for weeks that Bey would be his 18th and final title defense. However, he has given the world's promoters until June 9—the seventh anniversary of his 15-round decision over Ken Norton, which won him the WBC title—to come up with enough gold to change his course.

"I want a lot of money and no more of those big hitters like Tim Witherspoon and Mike Weaver," said Holmes, narrowing the field to almost nobody. "I've paid my dues, and if they want me back, they've got to give me little people I can beat on without getting hurt."

The 35-year-old champion suggested that $3 million would entice him out of his rocking chair in Easton, Pa. to fight Michael Spinks, the light heavyweight champion. And, grinning, he said, "Only $2 million for either Tommy Hearns or Marvin Hagler."

https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Larry_Holmes_vs._David_Bey

 

That makes sense. Larry was abused, used and taken for granted by King for years. Including being threatened to have his legs broken. Short notice fights etc. At the same time Lawrence was a businessman and would deal with Don if he had to but I don't think he would be signing anymore blank contracts with options tying him to King.
If Larry Holmes ducked anything it was those blank contracts.