Larry Holmes Quotes

I never tried to be a mercenary or a killer but a hard working fighter.

I came from a dirt farm, now I'm filthy rich.

All fighters are prostitutes and all promoters are pimps

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.

This is the lying thieving mother who cut me $500,000.

There is no quit in me.

Mike Tyson always had a big heart, but one of his problems is that he's short. And he's got kind of a personal attitude. But that don't make him a great fighter.

[My] worst habit: Drinking too much Budweiser when I get angry.

Now I'm free of him and I'm light as a feather. There's no weight holding me down; I'm ready to spread my wings and fly.

It wasn't about Larry Holmes, if I would have fought a brother I wouldn't have gotten the money I got. Give me 10 black guys and I make eight dollars. Give me Gerry Cooney and I make $10 million.

If you don't follow Don King, you get stepped on.

It's hard being black. You ever been black? I was black once - when I was poor.

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 don't owe Don King anything. I got things with my own sweat and blood. I don't know if I'll be associated with Don but I won't be a slave or puppet for him.

Everyone still wants to see [Floyd] Mayweather and [Manny] Pacquaio fight. When the talks start though, it always seem like it is all about Mayweather, and I think the people hate that.

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.

Kenny Norton hit me so hard that it still hurts. Now there was a case of two fighters who did not like each other.

Don King doesn't care about black or white. He just cares about green.

My fans know the name Larry Holmes and that he always gave it his all.

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.

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.

Muhammad Ali 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.

Everybody knows that I am one of the greatest fighters of all time and I would beat all those guys.

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.

You can't put those guys like Marciano or anyone else in with today's class of fighters.

Tyson is a lot better than I thought, a lot better. People can talk about Spinks all they want... Tyson is the true champion.

I'm happy with my career but I could have been happier if I could have been treated like a champion should have been treated because management and fighters take advantage of fighters.

My actions speak louder than my words.

When you constantly hear people talking about going the distance, going the distance, you can't help but wonder about it. I learned a lesson: next time I will fight my fight without that doubt.

Mike Tyson is a sharp puncher. Earnie Shavers was a PUNISHING puncher. There was a difference between the two. Because when Shavers hit you, you feel it all the way through your body.

Mike Tyson does a lot of things that shows he wants to win. He might hit you after the bell, he might hit you a little low, but he wants to win the fight. I think if he controls himself, he's okay.

That guy [Floyd Mayweather] is throwing his money around like there is no tomorrow.

I have learned that promoters can love you, hate you, then love you again.

I make appearances, but I really want to spend more time fishing. That is what I really enjoy doing with my spare time.

Earnie hit me harder than any other fighter, including Mike Tyson. He hit me and I was face down on the canvas hearing saxophonist Jimmy Tillis.

Don King is a hip exploiter, an intelligent flesh peddler

Don King ain't a bad guy. He cut my earnings, but I don't hold any hard feelings toward him.

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.

The guys today are just too strong and back then they would take many hard punches to land one.

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.

Don King was good to me through my years as champion, but I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. He's a wheeler dealer and you've got to be careful. He's a great con artist.

I still feel that I am in my prime right now but I think my best fights were in my thirties.

When the bell rings, your trainer can't help you.

I think gambling can be a good thing if you don't take it too seriously. Take it and have fun with it, and don't lose what you can't afford to lose.

Oliver McCall was someone who I never really got to know too well, and he had some well-publicized problems.

Tex Cobb would call me every day after we fought, I got sick of talking to him. I liked him a lot as a fighter, and as a person, and feel that sometimes he was misunderstood.

I'm tired. I am old and I have never quit pursuing my goals. I am heavily involved in real estate right now, but I am trying to get out of it altogether, I am just tired.

The media loves to take things like that [Rocky Marciano couldn't hold my jockstrap] out of context. There was no harm meant when I said that, but plenty of harm came from it.

I always enjoy myself fighting in Mississippi. I enjoy myself fighting anywhere.

I don't think Mike Tyson's a bad guy. I think the people, the media, makes him out to be a bad guy.