What were your thoughts going into Ali-Holmes

I was just a very casual fan at that time. There was a lot of hype. Many felt Ali would pull off another miracle. even those who favored Holmes did not think it would be that one sided. Ali apparently declined markedly between the second Leon Spinks fight and the holmes fight. I thought Ali had a chance. I was an 11 yr old casual fan who hadn't seen any of Holmes' fights.

 

It was not a dark period overall. The overall quantity and quality was high. Yes there were a few black eyes.

 

I had the SI issue that Ali on the cover with Stacie and head gear.

 

There was another SI cover leading up to the fight With Ali. It had him saying something like "He's Only Larry Holmes, he's no Liston, no Frazier, no Foreman, only Larry Holmes"...... I forget the rest

 

Didn't want to see the fight....being the physical deterioration questions re: Ali were showing up more and more via print & reporter media.

 

Remember Tyson's last fights.

However bad he looked in the last outing, his management could just put out a rumor that he was really hitting the gym, and people would just buy into it!

 

I was 11, I remember watching Ali regain the title against Spinks, my uncles were wrong and mom was right, so we both rooted for Ali vs Holmes.

I cried.

 

Was 14 yrs old when that fight happened. But was wise enough to know Ali at that stage of his career had no chance against Holmes. Even though the media claimed Ali was In good shape. Spinks fight showed me at least Ali's time had past even though he won the 2nd fight. A fighter (Spinks) Ali would've absolutely destroyed 6-7 yes earlier.