Holmes waits for big Coetzee payday

Press, 28 November 1983, Page 40

Holmes waits for big Coetzee payday

NZPA-NYTNS Las Vegas, Nevada The World Boxing Council heavyweight champion, Larry Holmes, says he is “semi-retired” and only a meeting with the rival champion, Gerrie Coetzee, would make him fight again. “There will not be any more fights for Larry Holmes,” said Holmes, aged 34, after his one-round embarrassment of Marvis Frazier. “I am retired if that fight does not come off. Gerrie Coetzee will override anything I want to do.” Holmes, undefeated in 45 fights with 32 knockouts, and considered among the best heavyweights ever, has defended his title 17 times in 5% years. If a bout with Coetzee, the South African who holds the World Boxing Association title, does not

materialize by March, “I’ll quit,” he said at a news conference attended by Coetzee’s South African promoter, Cedrick Kushner. If Holmes holds to his statement, there would be no mandatory defence against Greg Page, a fight for which Holmes has signed but for which he is unhappy with the money offered him. If he fails to fight Page, the W.B.C. may announce at its annual convention next month that the top-ranked Page will meet Tim Witherspoon, the No. 2 contender, for the title. Holmes kept joking with Kushner, who is a “joint promoter” for Coetzee with Don King. The champion kept raising his price for a Coetzee bout, as if he had a meter running. “It’ll be 100 milliomand 27 C

dollars and 25 cents,” said Holmes for starters, then wound up with ‘TOO million 67 dollars and 22 cents.” A Coetzee fight could probably earn Homes SNZ7.S — 15 million. The champion said he was unsure if he would be willing to meet Coetzee in South Africa, because of that country’s racial policy, which Holmes has often criticised. Coetzee, who was at the Caesars Palace Sports Pavilion ringside for the Frazier fight on Friday evening, said that fighting in the United States “would take a lot of pressure off both Larry and me.” Frazier, the first son of a world champion to get a title shot, seemed to be living out his father’s fantasy. The challenger, aged

23, wearing the same-style trunks and robe that Joe Frazier wore when he beat Muhammad Ali in a 1971 title bout, was child’s play for Holmes. Marvis, in only his eleventh professional fight, fell for a left-jab eint and was nailed by a straight right to the chin. He was up at the count of eight, but Holmes battered him into a corner and the referee, Mr Mills Lane, stopped the bout at 2 minutes 57 seconds. “Fighters like that are made for me,” said Holmes. “I don’t have any problems with fighters coming to me, or who stand in front of me. They’re face fighters, and you don’t drop your hands with a man who can throw a jab 100 miles an hour.” Marvis dropped his hands after slipping a few jabs, and taunted the champion. 1

Holmes was in no mood for that. He grabbed the 200pound Frazier, who was giving away 19 pounds, and threw him into the ropes. Before the action, the two .had adjoining dressing rooms, and through the thin walls Holmes said he could hear the Frazier clan disparaging the champion who was favoured at 4-1. Holmes does not believe in sparing the rod when punishing a disrespectful child. Marvis, saying “it’s more pride — I’m not physically hurt,” was soothed by the champion on Saturday. “Take your time,” Holmes told him. “I waited until Muhammad Ali and your father and George Foreman were out of the picture before I made my move. You’ve got lots of time. Greg Page is over the hill already. Coetzee, he’s going

in his next fight, and anyway, every time he hits something, his hand falls off.” “I would say from last night, I would take the champ’s advice,” said Joe Frazier. The former champion, aged 39 said he had “no regrets at all” about having matched his son with the champion. “What happened on Friday night could happen to anybody,” he said. “We don’t have no excuses. We just didn’t plan for that right hand. “How many seconds were left in the round, two, three? I’ll bring a bell with me next time. I usually come prepared. Let’s see, I had the referee, the judges, the rings, but I forgot that bell.” Marvis said he would rest “two months, four months, six months.”