By Geno McGahee
In 1980, the undefeated heavyweight champion, Larry Holmes, was seeking the respect of the public. Considering he was living in the shadow of former champion, Muhammad Ali, it was natural for the former champ to be brought out of retirement to pass the torch. Ali took an 8 million dollar payday to step back into the ring in a bout against both defending champion, Larry Holmes and Father Time, and the end results were disastrous.
ESPN Films does an incredible job at presenting sports-related documentaries and the viewer gets a great look into the pre-fight and post-fight events that made the bout one of the most memorable contests in boxing history. Directed by Albert Maysles and Bradley Kaplan, 30 FOR 30: MUHAMMAD AND LARRY brings never before seen footage and a great overview on the fight.
Going into the fight, there were many factors that are covered quite well. Ali was still the biggest name in boxing despite his absence. Promoter Don King knew he could sell the fight and had troubles pushing Holmes as a marketable heavyweight champion. Prior outings with Ali were money-makers. He represented a time in history and became more than a boxer and more than a man. Many could not image Ali losing to Holmes because they thought that he was on a divine path that was pre-determined. It brought him to victory over George Foreman, an unbeatable foe, they thought, and it would bring him to victory over Holmes.
Holmes, a former sparring partner for Ali, made his way and won the title against all odds. He would beat everyone there was, but the respect for him just wasn’t there. He wasn’t exciting and he didn’t have the ability to captivate the masses with his personality as Ali was able to do. Beating Ali could exorcize the ghost that haunted him.
The footage is really amazing to see. Ali was in fighting shape on the surface, but thyroid pills were taking its toll. He was getting beaten in sparring daily, but many thought that it was the “rope a dope” strategy in play. Ali was formulating a plan to upset the younger champion, but it wouldn’t turn out that way. What the people were seeing was the older former champion, well beyond his prime years, and not physically right for the fight. He could have easily been killed in the ring.
Holmes and Ali speak prior to the fight and “The Greatest” speaks with his typical bravado and convinces his sparring partners and hanger-ons that he is going to win the fight. Former physician for Ali, Ferdie Pacheco, was against the fight and noticed the slurred speech and reaction times of his former fighter. He knew that the bout was an execution, not a match, but he could not convince the team or Ali to stop the fight. There was millions of dollars on the line.
As most great champions, Ali had to face the young lion and leave the fight game without seeing the final bell. A vicious beating took place and the great chin of Ali made it all that much worse. The fact that Holmes was a good puncher, not a great puncher, made the end results that much more terrible. Ali got battered to the head and body with regularity over the course of 10 rounds before not getting off his stool to see round 11.
After the fight, it was interesting to see Holmes cry. He did what a champion had to do and won the fight, but his love for Ali hit him harder than any punch. Ali’s physical condition was worsened and his brain damage from the beating and other beatings throughout his career.
Years later, Holmes reflects on the fight and on Ali as well. It seems that he never did receive the respect he so craved and it has made him bitter to the game that he gave so much to. Holmes is one of the greatest champions in the world, but boxing is business and he just didn’t sell the tickets like an Ali or Mike Tyson did. It doesn’t mean he was a lesser fighter. In fact, he was arguably a better one.
30 FOR 30: MUHAMMAD AND LARRY is a great documentary. If you are a boxing fan, you will find this to be a real treat. ESPN once again knocks it out of the park.
Rating: 8/10
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Great review Geno!!
thanks man!!!