[Yiddle]

If Ali had retired after the 3rd Frazier fight would don king have spotted Holmes as his best bet to keep hold of the tittle and moved Holmes quicker. Or would he of gone for another fighter perhaps shavers thinking it was to early for holmes

 

[Chatty]

From what i remember from his book, Holmes said King wasn't keen on getting behind him pretty much until he became champ so probably not. He would have likely jumped on the next champions heels until Holmes was ready

 

[GazOC]

I think it was too early for Holmes at that point. King, who was still pretty new to the sport and no great talent spotter any way, probably had him down as "just" Alis sparring partner.

 

[Yiddle]

I think it was too early for Holmes at that point. King, who was still pretty new to the sport and no great talent spotter any way, probably had him down as "just" Alis sparring partner.

So would we of been looking at norton,foreman,shavers and Lyle. Do you think young would of been black balled as not box office enough

 

[bask]

You should check out The Life and Crimes of Don King, I haven't read it for a while. Might even have a pdf file of it somewhere...

But from what I remember, King got a stake in Shavers early '73. In time to see him dispatch Jimmy Young.

Excited by the prospect of a future champion, King went about gaining control of Shavers.

He quickly began creating turmoil between his long-time backers. King sacked Shavers trainer, Archie Moore, prior to Quarry fight and all around disturbed Shaver's camp. When Shavers lost to Quarry, King dropped all interest.

Shavers was meant to receive $75,000, instead King paid him... $3,000.

(That was King's very first dealing with a boxer. Sounds familiar anyone?)

There's a whole chapter on Holmes in there. That'll hopefully give you plenty of information to help you with any type of conjecture.

 

[Yiddle]

You should check out The Life and Crimes of Don King, I haven't read it for a while. Might even have a pdf file of it somewhere...

But from what I remember, King got a stake in Shavers early '73. In time to see him dispatch Jimmy Young.

Excited by the prospect of a future champion, King went about gaining control of Shavers.

He quickly began creating turmoil between his long-time backers. King sacked Shavers trainer, Archie Moore, prior to Quarry fight and all around disturbed Shaver's camp. When Shavers lost to Quarry, King dropped all interest.

Shavers was meant to receive $75,000, instead King paid him... $3,000.

(That was King's very first dealing with a boxer. Sounds familiar anyone?)

There's a whole chapter on Holmes in there. That'll hopefully give you plenty of information to help you with any type of conjecture.

Thanks I will try to pick up a copy next month when hopefully I will have finished one of the books my daughter got me for Christmas

 

[ThinBlack]

If Ali had retired after the 3rd Frazier fight would don king have spotted Holmes as his best bet to keep hold of the tittle and moved Holmes quicker. Or would he of gone for another fighter perhaps shavers thinking it was to early for holmes

Probably Norton, Lyle, or Foreman. Larry wasn't a proven commodity yet.

 

[DB Cooper]

Perfect segue for some Larry Holmes quotes >>>


"Don King is an equal opportunity scumbag. He screws everybody."

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

"All fighters are prostitutes and all promoters are pimps."

"I came from a dirt farm and now I am filthy rich."

 

[p.townend]

Perfect segue for some Larry Holmes quotes >>>

"Don King is an equal opportunity scumbag. He screws everybody."

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

"All fighters are prostitutes and all promoters are pimps."

"I came from a dirt farm and now I am filthy rich."

Good stuff!
I don't think Holmes would be the fighter king looked at to take over as number1 at that point. Probably knew he could be a big name down the line but the other guys were better known at the time, foreman,Norton etc.