HARSH WORDS

 

Larry Holmes vs Michael Spinks #1 Post-fight Press Conference

 

Sept. 21, 1985

Las Vegas, Nevada

 

   Just hours after one of boxing’s most unexpected upsets, dethroned heavyweight king Larry Holmes stepped up to the microphone and expressed his thoughts. He had just lost the precious IBF heavyweight title which he held with an iron grip for over 7 years. It was his first loss as a professional, leaving him just 1 win short of tying the 49-0 record compiled by the great Rocky Marciano.

   As great as he was, few boxing experts really thought that undisputed Light Heavyweight champion Michael Spinks would be the man to dethrone the heavyweight king. It was a razor thin, but unanimous decision on scores of 145-142, 143-142, and 143-142 in favor of the new IBF heavyweight champion – Spinks.

   At the post-fight press conference, Holmes stepped up to the microphone and unleashed a calm and controlled, but obviously angry monologue aimed not at the man who dethroned him, but instead, his target was the late Rocky Marciano.

Larry Holmes: "…7 years, the heavyweight champion of the world. When most people like Howard Cosell, Gil Clancy, Cus D’amato said Larry Holmes would never be heavyweight champion. I went wrong somewhere and I became the heavyweight champion. I went wrong by beating every challenger that came. I went against all odds and became the heavyweight champion of the world.

   Coming into the last days of the fight I was kind of upset because of things that I was hearing from the Marciano family, especially his brother, kind of upset me. I think he’s back in the back. I never like to take anything away from a fighter, and I think his family owes me a great deal for bringing this man back to life – like I did - for years - I did. Not knowing anything about Rocky. Not trying to put him down but I would, and it’s so easy for me to do it. In spite of what anybody say, I do what I want, and this is probably why I lost. Because I say it like it is, and I will continue to say it until the day I die. I’m 35 years old fighting young men, and he was 25 years old fighting old men, I can easily put him down. And I can easily say – his brother in the back – he fought him. I mean, if you really, really want to get technical about the whole thing, Rocky couldn’t carry my jock strap."

   After a few more words, the ex-champ then aimed his anger at Rocky Marciano’s Brother – Peter Marciano who was in attendance.

Holmes: "If I hurt you back there Sonny, is your name Sonny? (he answered “My name is Peter”) Peter? If I hurt your feelings back there, So F***ing what? (Marciano tries to say something from the crowd) Wait, hold it, this is my show, and you have been invited by Caesar’s Palace. You are freeloading off of your brother even after he’s dead. Now, if it wasn’t for me, Peter, if it wasn’t for me, you would have never have been invited to Caesar’s Palace where all of your expenses are paid. You, (Peter Marciano shouts something back) no-no-no, face the truth you can go back to Boston, and wherever you come from with Steve Marantz and all the other people in Boston who I think are racist, and shove Boston up you’re a** because you can never do what I have done!"

   Holmes went on to say that he did feel Marciano was one of the greatest fighters of all time.

Holmes: "Let me explain to you all what I have said, try to explain to you, what I have said about Rocky. I say Rocky was one of the greatest fighters of all time. I says he probably - for anybody to accomplish a record with 49 fights, if he fought all bums, had to be somebody. I said, but some people question his record because of some dispute with his brother’s exhibitions in Massachusetts. I says but he had to be one of the greatest fighters of all time to accomplish a record as such."

   This is where you could sense a change in Holmes’ tone.  You could almost feel the anger leaving him as his words turned more respectful.

Holmes: "And also I said. When Marciano was fighting. I wasn’t even a thought in my Father’s Penis. (A remark was heard from someone nearby) No, it’s true Ritchie. When he was fighting, I wasn’t even a thought. And, therefore, I didn’t know what kind of fighter he was. And just last year or two, I started finding out a little bit about Rocky Marciano. But, to leave you with a sense of relief. I think your brother was a great fighter. I think your brother went a long way, and I would have loved to have met him. And then, I’m sorry if you took that out of the wrong context. But I didn’t mean no harm by doing it. I wish I could have met him, and this is one of the reasons why I brought a forgotten fighter to work with me – in Archie Moore. Because when people get in that position, they’re forgotten about. And I didn’t want Rocky Marciano to be forgotten. And if I thought he was not a great fighter, his pictures wouldn’t be all over my walls in my hotel and my house. And I respect the man. And that’s what I’d like to say to you. And, if I hurt anybody’s feelings, I’m very sorry for doing that. But, I was giving my people something to look forward to in our lifetime. Thank you for listening to me, and I’m very sorry if I hurt your feelings."

   ESPN’s Jim Gray was there to cover the press conference, and he asked Peter Marciano about what was just expressed by the beaten champion.

Jim Gray: "With me right now is Peter Marciano. Larry Holmes sounded quite bitter in the speech he was making about your brother, and he really had offended you and your family earlier in the week hadn’t he?"

Peter Marciano: "Yeah, he… the way I feel about it is, I have no hard feelings towards Larry. I just think that Larry never really knew about Rocky Marciano."

   They then paused to listen to a few more words from Holmes. They continued to take questions from the audience as Gray continued to interview Rocky’s brother.

Gray: "Peter, let’s continue on that thought. He really had hurt your family’s feelings?"

P. Marciano: "Yes he did. He hurt my family terribly. I think it’s through a lack of knowledge. He seems to speak like Rocky fought a hundred years ago. He’s saying things like- some of Rocky’s fights were not legitimate, and that’s not true. I feel that if a man is going to respond or talk about someone, he should read about him and know about him, and that’s all I’m saying."

   It was a speech that started out stinging, but ended on a more respectful note. Unfortunately, what was spewed by the media was the line about not being able to “carry my Jock strap”.  The final words of praise given were hardly even mentioned in newsclips or reports.

   It was not even close to a retirement speech either.  Holmes went on to fight 26 more times, A full career for many pro fighters!  Going 21-5 after his first defeat against Michael Spinks.  His 5 losses in that stretch were all attempts to regain a world heavyweight title belt. He fought at a high level until his final fight (a victory) at age 53.

   Even though Holmes continued on with his Hall-of-Fame career, the remarks of that night in 1985 have followed him.  In 2007 Holmes told Reuter’s Steve Ginsburg: “All these years later, people just can’t forget that.” He went on to say: “It still haunts you. After all these years, people won’t let go.”