Holmes stays in seclusion

Press, 22 January 1988, Page 36

Holmes stays in seclusion

By

JOHN PHILLIPS

NZPA-Reuter Atlantic City, New Jersey Larry Holmes failed to appear yesterday at the last scheduled news conference before his heavyweight boxing title fight in Atlantic City tomorrow against the champion, Mike Tyson. In Holmes’ absence, the promoter, Don King, resorted to a comedy routine of addressing questions to an empty chair. “Larry, do you think you have a chance?” king said to the chair. Then, to the laughter of the crowd, he tried to imitate Holmes, “Yes, I do. I’m going to shock the world.” The former champion, aged 38, who will be

fighting for the first time in 21 months — since losing for the second time to Michael Spinks — stayed at his Easton, Pennsylvania home and training camp rather than come to the gambling resort where he is an 8-1 underdog. Holmes, whose ring record is 48-2, has refused to talk with reporters before the scheduled 12-round bout. Tyson, aged 21, who has a 31-0 record, told the news conference that he was glad Holmes did not show up. The title-holder promised to take the fight “right to him” and brushed off a question about his possible victory against Holmes being cheapened because it would come

against a fighter whom many consider to be washed up. “I’d rather take the criticism for beating Holmes than the criticism for losing to him,” said Tyson, who refused to shake Holmes’ hand at a news conference last month. In an interview with the “New York Post” published yesterday, Holmes said that he planned to pursue Tyson throughout the fight. “I gotta stay right on top of Tyson from the get-go. It ain’t gonna be a cat-and-mouse thing. I gotta be right there for four to six rounds, staying inside like I did at times against Ken Norton 10 years ago. I gotta get Tyson drunk, then I gotta mug him,” he said. “I’m not crazy. I’m not

looney. I’m coming back because I can win. I’m not old Joe Louis fighting Rocky Marciano.” Holmes said he knew how to beat Tyson and pointed out how Tony Tucker rocked Tyson in round one of their title bout last August. “All of his opponents were fighters, . just fighters, not great fighters,” Holmes said. Holmes said that there was no comparison between the Tyson bout and his 1980 fight with the former threetime world champion, Muhammad Ali. “Don’t compare us at the same age. Ali took a lot of punishment in the gym, especially the last few years. Me, I never let myself go. I’m serious. That’s why I stayed home,” Holmes said.