Holmes To Retire, Really
Former world heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, who has retired about a dozen times - at least twice on national television - is retiring from boxing. He really means it this time. Positively.
He will make the announcement today during a national telephone conference, which he also will use to promote his next fight, scheduled for next week on USA Tuesday Night Fights. Actually, said Holmes, who will be 47 in November, “I’m going to get out after my 70th fight.”
After which USA Network broadcaster Al Albert quipped: “Did Larry say he was going to retire after this 70th fight or after his 70th birthday?”
Holmes, who has been in and out of the pro ring for 23 years, who won the heavyweight title in 1978 and didn’t give it up until 1986 after 20 straight successful defenses, who won 48 in a row before losing for the first time at age 35, who beat Ken Norton and Ernie Shavers, who lost to Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson, and who has accumulated a 63-5 record, is making this new retirement a promise.
“Two more fights and that’s it for me,” he said. “I promise.”
In Winston-Salem, N.C., former WBC heavyweight champion Oliver McCall was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana.