Ali was a guy that had a lot of discipline. If you hung around him, you'd be able to get some of that discipline that he had. And I learned from that. He was a sweet man.
All fighters are prostitutes and all promoters are pimps.
As for the Klitschko brothers, I do feel that they are coming along pretty good but they have a lot of learning to do.
Bob Arum and Don King can do their thing but if I fought for those guys and they put the money up like they are supposed to then I don't have a problem.
Everybody knows that I am one of the greatest fighters of all time and I would beat all those guys.
Fighters today are much bigger, stronger and quicker and not only that but referees, judges and doctors back then were very strict and if your head got busted up the fight would be stopped.
George Foreman is easier and has the bigger name and have you noticed that Foreman never calls me out or ever mentions my name? He is afraid of me like most fighters are and most people want to forget about Larry Holmes, like he never ever existed.
I always felt good about myself. I was just an average person. I always felt I could do anything anyone else could. If an average person makes up their mind to do something, they can.
I am still quick at 250 to 260 lbs and I am smarter.
I appreciate the support that the fans have given me all these years and especially fans like yourself throughout Canada.
I came from a dirt farm, now I'm filthy rich.
I don't feel that I ever got the chance to show my very best. I felt like I was lacking something. I don't think I showed my best.
I don't really make plans and I just want to be happy and continue with my business and take care of my wife and kids. I want to sit back, relax and enjoy life.
I don't think Joe Louis could take the punches today fighting in this era.
I have a lot of friends and fans in Canada and as a matter of fact I met a fan from there that came down to my office. It was nice and we took pictures and had a nice talk.
I have the experience, ability and I punch very hard and my legs are still good so all that helped me in the Ray Mercer fight.
I never tried to be a mercenary or a killer but a hard working fighter.
I still feel that I am in my prime right now but I think my best fights were in my thirties.
I think Ali was a fan of mine, even though he never said it. A lot of fighters thought I was pretty good. Nobody every really spoke different on that. But a lot of fighters thought I was good so.
I think George Foreman must have gained about 350 lbs and is slow as ever.
I was probably the best that ever walked this earth. And I could take a punch. I could deliver a punch. I didn't have the hardest punch in the world but my punches were sharp and they were crisp. And if you took too many of them, you would be knocked out.
I won't say I won't fight again but I don't think anyone wants to fight me so I am finished and I will just continue with boxing exhibitions.
I would think about the outcome. Visualize sometimes. Because it never comes out the way you want it to. Fight the way I know how to fight. Whatever comes up, comes up.
I'm not in the K-1 tournament. We thought about it but they really don't want me as they feel I might get hurt so that's fine with me but I do see a lot of guys out there that I feel I can take.
It's hard being black. You ever been black? I was black once - when I was poor.
Joe Louis was a good Heavyweight, good boxer but he was kind of in the same boat as Marciano, weighing about 190 to 200 lbs.
Michael Dokes could have given me problems had we fought because he was a boxer like me as well but guys who were not pure boxers never gave me problems.
Mike Tyson would have been a good sparring partner for me and Muhammad Ali because Tyson was a fast fighter and he could punch and throw good combinations.
Muhammad could take a very good punch. He was slick, he could move, he could hit, make you miss, good hand speed and combinations and one of the greatest fighters of all time in my opinion.
My fans know the name Larry Holmes and that he always gave it his all.
One of the best ones out there was a guy named Howard Cosell. He was the best.
The guys today are just too strong and back then they would take many hard punches to land one.
The thought of being broke scares me. It doesn't last forever so people need to manage their finances properly and plan ahead.
Then I decided on fighting - to make some money for my family. I had those goals. To become heavyweight champion came later.
Those guys were made for me and Muhammad because they come straight in and don't back up but you had to watch out for his punching power but if we could have neutralized that then we would have been fine.
We put our life on the line to fight for them, put on a show and these guys take our money so whatever happens to Bob Arum, Don King or anyone else is fine with me.
When I was over there they tried to poison me and I wasn't feeling good anyway but I really felt I beat him but didn't get the decision.
With a record of 75 fights and 6 losses, some of the losses were very questionable including Brian Nielsen when we fought in Denmark. I knew I won but they didn't give me that fight.
With my boxing skills, long jab, good right hand and long legs, I could withstand a lot of what they have. K-1 would have to pay me a lot of money to compete and get kicked.
You can't put those guys like Marciano or anyone else in with today's class of fighters.
Holmes autobiography, entitled Against the Odds, was published in 1998.
Holmes had a reach of 81 inches.
Holmes' final fight was in 2002 when he won a 10 round decision over Eric "Butterbean" Esch.
Holmes is 6 feet, 3 inches tall.
Holmes' nickname was "the Easton Assassin."
Though born in Cuthbert, GA, Holmes moved to Easton, PA in 1957 and has resided there ever since.
Holmes successfully defended his heavyweight title 20 times second only to Joe Louis.
Holmes won 48 consecutive fights to begin his career which was second in ring history to Rocky Marciano's 49.
In 1988, Holmes returned to the ring after a two year absence to face Mike Tyson and was knocked out in the 4th round.
Holmes' trademark punch was the left jab which was regarded by most ring experts as one of the best in boxing history.
Holmes had 44 knockouts among his 69 career victories.
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