June 2011
Have you ever heard of a man named Larry Holmes? The last time I asked that question, I was in a room full of people and only a few hands rose. When I asked if they knew who Mohammad Ali was, all hands shot up. The fact that the legendary boxer's last fight occurred nearly thirty years ago makes his popularity all the more remarkable. I suppose it's hard to forget about a man who was nicknamed "The Greatest," especially when he gave it to himself!
If you were to ask people what they know and/or remember most about Mohammad Ali, you would surely get a variety of answers. Some would recall his epic boxing matches, which spanned three decades. Others would remember how Ali changed his name from Cassius Clay and refused to be conscripted into the U.S. military. What I remember most about Ali was his gift for gab and his ability to trash talk opponents with poetic precision.
So, for all you movie lovers out there, forget "What About Bob!" Inquiring minds want to know the answer to this burning and itching question: What about Larry? Like Mohammad Ali, Larry Holmes was also a World Heavyweight Boxing Champion. Both fighters had a lot in common, standing tall in the ring (Each 6'3) while using their long reach, quick hands and dancing feet to keep opponents at bay.
If you simply analyze the numbers, fans of Larry Holmes would insist that he had the superior boxing career. He won more fights (69 to 56), knocked out more opponents (44 to 37) and fought longer as a professional (29 years to 21 years). He even beat Ali in the ring on February 10, 1980. Holmes was second all time to the great Joe Louis in title defenses (20) and second to Rocky Marciano in consecutive victories to start his career (48). Ali fans would argue that their fighter rocked the ring against many of the greatest sluggers of all time, including Sonny Liston, Archie Moore, Floyd Patterson, Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Ken Norton. They would also have an issue with the head to head match, because Ali was well past his prime at age 38 while Larry was at his peak (30). Regardless of which corner of the ring you're in, the $80 million question (Ali's net worth) still needs to be answered, "What about Larry?"
Why do so many of us know Mohammad Ali while so few remember Larry Holmes? Because Mohammad Ali was the undisputed champion of self promotion. Early in his career, Ali borrowed a page out of professional wrestler George Wagner's book. Ali met Wagner, better known as "Gorgeous George" at a Las Vegas radio station when he was just 19 years old and fresh off his Gold Medal victory in the 1960 Olympics in Rome. "Gorgeous George" became famous during the 1940's and 1950's as "The man you love to hate," by antagonizing wrestling fans with his exaggerated effeminate behavior. He grew his hair long, dyed it platinum blonde and wore gold-plated bobby pins. This outrageous character would enter the ring wearing an elaborate robe, adorned with sequins and escorted by his ring valet "Jeffries," who would carry a silver mirror for George to primp and carry on over while spreading rose pedals at his feet! What a spectacle. These outrageous antics caused arena crowds to swell in size and ferocity as fans turned out to heckle and root against George. His credo was "Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!" He would go on to become the most famous wrestler of his time while becoming one of early television's most watched characters.
During George's radio interview, the wrestler shouted on air, "If I lose to Classy Freddie Blassie, I'll crawl across the ring and cut my hair off! But that's not gonna happen because I'm the greatest wrestler in the world!" Ali recalled, "I saw 15,000 people coming to see this man get beat. And his talking did it. I said, 'This is a good idea!'" After the interview, the 46 year old wrestler gave his young protégé some advice that had a major influence on Ali's future: "A lot of people will pay to see someone shut your mouth. So keep on bragging, keep on sassing and always be outrageous." You may be wondering how this information can improve your lot in life. After all, chances are good that you're not a professional athlete or an entertainer. Whether you're a business owner or working for a company, if you want to reach your potential, you have to do more than just be great in your chosen field. You don't have to put on a show like Ali or "Gorgeous George", and by all means do not cheat! But, you do need to have the courage to stand out and be different while letting the world know how great you are, then repeat that message over and over and over again. In the battle for net worth, talk isn't so cheap after all. It really pays to be remembered, with Ali winning by a knockout ($80 million to $18 million). Being the greatest at what you do is never good enough, because there's always someone else who's doing a lot more than just fighting to be "The Greatest." But don't take my word for it…go ask what's his name!
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