"I Don't Get My Just Due"

[sport historian]

Between the late 70's and mid 80's, I would go to a book store that had a magazine stand and buy 2-3 boxing magazines at the first of every month. I still have many of them and was looking through them the last few days.

Every time that then-Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes was quoted in these magazines, he was complaining of a lack of recognition. "I don't get my just due," or "I don't get the respect I deserve." In most articles on Holmes, the writer in one paragraph would say that Holmes is unappreciated, while in the next would call Larry Holmes a great fighter. This was the theme in practically every story on Holmes in the boxing magazines. A question if I may, Does Wladimir Klitschko ever complain about a lack of recognition?

On June 11, it will be 27 years since the Holmes-Cooney fight. I think I will make a post about it in a few days with a historical perspective.

 

[StarWars]

Most people I know don't even know who Wlad or Vitali Klitschko is, but know Tyson, Foreman, Ali, and others. no doubt a product of the media. I hate how black athletes can go pro without actually getting a college degree and can get away with whining so much. Klitschko is a heavyweight champion, a kickboxing champion, an Olympic champion, and has a phD. All Tyson did was fornicate with women.

 

[Maple Leaf]

The show must go on. Many black athletes complain, and insult in public. If they are not worshipped and idolized then they feel they are being treated unfairly. The tennis witches only drink whine, Mayweather Jr. acts like a child everywhere he is praised, Holmes wanted to be on every cover of every magazine Ali had been on and be treated like Ali. I expect this behaviour to go on until professional sports fades away.

 

[The Hock]

I think Holmes had a legitimate complaint. He was an excellent boxer and a very good champion, a family man who stayed out of trouble. That formula just didn't do it for the post 60's Ali worshipping media, so Larry didn't get fawned over the way Ali did. Holmes was just a blue collar no nonsense guy who lacked the sense of humor that might have won over more of the media.

 

[GiovaniMarcon]

One well known fact about Holmes, though, is that he never respected Rocky Marciano. Homes said -- and I'm paraphrasing here -- that "Marciano couldn't carry my jock strap."

This was in response to media accusations that, since holmes lost his 49th professional fight and therefore could never match Marciano's 49-0, or Marciano's perfect professional record, he could not be ranked as high as the Rock.

Holmes also said that Marciano fought "old men" where as he (Holmes) fought young men.

I say that Rocky fought everyone who was put in front of him, and never ducked anyone. He fought lots of all time greats who were still dangerous.

I could be wrong, but other than having his a$$ handed to him by a young Mike Tyson and having to go all out to overcome a very game Gerry Cooney, I don't really remember Holmes fighting anyone of Joe Louis' caliber.

Again, I could be wrong, and some people may disagree, but I think Holmes' claim that he's better than Marciano, and that Marciano wasn't fit to carry his jock strap paints Holmes as a bitter racist and quite full of himself.

 

[sport historian]

One well known fact about Holmes, though, is that he never respected Rocky Marciano. Homes said -- and I'm paraphrasing here -- that "Marciano couldn't carry my jock strap."

This was in response to media accusations that, since holmes lost his 49th professional fight and therefore could never match Marciano's 49-0, or Marciano's perfect professional record, he could not be ranked as high as the Rock.

Holmes also said that Marciano fought "old men" where as he (Holmes) fought young men.

I say that Rocky fought everyone who was put in front of him, and never ducked anyone. He fought lots of all time greats who were still dangerous.

I could be wrong, but other than having his a$$ handed to him by a young Mike Tyson and having to go all out to overcome a very game Gerry Cooney, I don't really remember Holmes fighting anyone of Joe Louis' caliber.

Again, I could be wrong, and some people may disagree, but I think Holmes' claim that he's better than Marciano, and that Marciano wasn't fit to carry his jock strap paints Holmes as a bitter racist and quite full of himself.

It has to be said that Holmes fought and defeated anybody put in front of him for years. During his younger days, boxing people weren't that high on Larry Holmes. Duane Bobick had beaten him in the Olympic trials in 1972, You can find the Bobick-Holmes fight on you tube. Holmes looked timid against Roy Williams in 1976, but won the fight.

Holmes beat Ken Norton on a split-decision to win the WBC title that had been stripped from Leon Spinks in 1978. After a tough win over Mike Weaver and a knockdown while stopping Earnie Shavers in 1979, many thought Holmes was spent, but he hung on for several more years. Holmes lasted longer as champion than the fight crowd expected.

I just watched the Holmes-Cooney 1982 fight again. Cooney won at least 4 of the first 10 rounds with one even (while being knocked down in the 2nd round) as Holmes fought cautiously. As I wrote above, I'm going to make a post about this fight in a few days.

The comment by Holmes, "Marciano couldn't carry my jock strap" came after losing the title to Michael Spinks in 1985. Holmes had a habit of saying the wrong thing in addition to whining about a supposed "lack of respect." I have been reading boxing magazines of the period the last few days and found that Holmes apologized the next day.

 

[jcolec02]

Holmes is also the only famous black athlete I have ever heard say that Muhammad Ali was overrated

 

[DixieDestroyer]

Holmes is also the only famous black athlete I have ever heard say that Muhammad Ali was overrated

Holmes was correct to state that, but inaccurate in his own aggrandization. He too was overrated & would have been (in his prime) summarily destroyed by Wlad & Vitali!