Listen to the full and frank interview above via the podcast
It was a professional career that spanned 30 years and the era of many of boxing's greats.
From 1973 when he made his pro debut all the way to 2002, Larry Holmes went toe to toe against some of the most iconic names in boxing.
From beating Muhammad Ali in 1980 to taking on Mike Tyson in 1988, Holmes went on to win 69 of 75 fights and multiple heavyweight titles in the process.
And tonight, he joined us on Off The Ball to talk about his life and career, highlighting some of the lessons learned from a long career in the ring and also revealed that he did not get the credit he deserved during his career.
"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. They don't really give fighters what they deserve," said Holmes, adding that the promoters make all the money and that he sees the same issue cropping up in MMA. And had he started his career today, the 64-year-old would have done things quite differently.
"I would promote myself and hire my own people. I would hire my own people to do the leg work and everything else. When I fought Gerry Cooney they took 50 per cent of my money. He took 50 per cent of the money and then he finished his career, the government took his 50 per cent. You get $10 million and you're lucky if you're left with $4 million out of the deal."
He also spoke about the satisfaction he got from winning heavyweight titles under the nose of his detractors, saying: "So many people said I couldn't do it. They said my legs were too small, I couldn't punch and I was just a copy of Muhammad Ali - that I had no heart, no guts and I would not make it!"
Holmes also detailed the poverty and fatherless household he grew up in and how his mother played a key role in his rise, which began with a WBC heavyweight title earned by beating Ken Norton in 1978.
Two years later Muhammad Ali came out of retirement to fight him and he revealed the shadow Ali had cast over his career.
"I made money fighting Muhammad Ali and got a thorn out of my side because everybody always said Muhammad Ali everywhere I go. 'You can't beat Muhammad Ali. He's the greatest,'" said Holmes, who described Ali as a "great guy". Having fought both Ali and Tyson, he explained why he felt that neither can be compared directly, although he believes "Mike Tyson was over-rated" due to the fact that his heavyweight era was not as strong as the time of the Alis, Fraziers, Nortons and Foremans.
Holmes also spoke about why he believes he did not suffer any health issues after making a return to the ring in the 90s, and also touched on Ali.
"The game of boxing is the game of get hit or don't get hit. Muhammad Ali wanted to show everybody how strong he was. He wanted to show people that he could take the punches. He took punches and you can burn the candle at both ends and something is going to give in the middle. Muhammad Ali burned the candles at both ends!"
The Georgia-born fighter also discussed why he lost to Michael Spinks in 1985 and 1986 and why just falling short of Rocky Marciano's unbeaten record did not bother him greatly.
Holmes also spoke about the personal appearances he makes and the way he and his former opponent Gerry Cooney have attempted to help former fighters back on their feet with the Fighters' Initiative for Support and Training.
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