Holmes Beats ‘The Truth,’ Faces Consequences

The excitement that attends Larry Holmes’ career these days is approximately the same excitement of “Beat the Clock.” Will he make it or won’t he? Monday night, as in bloody nights past, he once more beat the clock. But it was close enough this time that even Holmes had to hear the tick-tock of an expiring career.

He won a unanimous decision over Carl (The Truth) Williams, won it easily on all three of the judges’ cards. Yet the spectacle of Holmes suffering one jab after another, the sight of Holmes bleeding from the mouth, his left eye blown to the size of a golf ball, well, it was not a picture of a great champion. It did not look like a man who could confidently pursue the so-called “Quest for Glory.”

Holmes, still the International Boxing Federation champion after his 15-round decision over a game Williams before 6,046 at the Lawlor Events Center, is only two fights shy of breaking Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record. However, even Holmes had to downplay the record after the fight. What about the next two fights? “I’ll go home and think about it,” he said.

And well he should. Williams (16-1) seemed able to reduce Holmes (48-0) to a one-armed fighter, blocking those huge right hands that had flattened 34 of his 47 previous opponents. And what is Holmes known for if not a sharp left jab? Yet Williams, who had only the experience of 16 previous fights, was the quicker with the stick.

Time does that to a man. The passing years allow for the memory of greatness but not the greatness itself. Said referee Mills Lane, who refereed Holmes’ ascent to the title in 1978: “The man who beat Kenny Norton some years ago was not the same man tonight. Thirty-five is 35.”

Holmes has been extremely cautious in the choice of his opponents the last two years, finding one inexperienced heavyweight after another. Williams fit the mold of preferred opposition except that he was bigger and stronger than actually wanted. Williams, 215, of White Plains, N.Y., pushed back. And Holmes, 222 1/2 yielded some. And if he only had one punch, the jab, he was effective with it.

Williams, who received $150,000 out of NBC-TV’s payout, agreed that he had lost, “no question.” He did think the judging was a little out of line. “At least, I thought it was closer than it was.”

Only judge Jerry Roth thought it close, scoring it 143-142. Judge Paul Gibbs had it 146-139 and judge Al Rothenberg scored it 146-139.

Williams admitted that Holmes hurt him to the body--one hook to the liver in the ninth round doubled Williams over--but said he outdid Holmes in every other department. Except possibly in the area of experience. “The one thing he has,” said the 25-year-old Williams, “is an educated jab.” Williams was referring to Holmes’ sharpshooting after the third round when a cut on his left eyelid opened.

“It took me a while to notice what he was doing with the jab,” he said, “and then I realized, hey, he’s cutting me.” Williams claimed Holmes was dragging his laces across the cut, roughing it up, causing his vision to blur. In any event, Holmes certainly was aiming at that eye.

Holmes’ experience certainly paid off and, although the Truth hurt from time to time, he was smart enough to carry the fight into the final five rounds, which is traditionally championship time. Going to the body more and more, Holmes won all five of those rounds, however closely, to preserve his title and his undefeated record.

Holmes did not stick around afterward to enjoy his victory but raced back to his hotel where, according to trainer Eddie Futch, his “few contusions of the eye” would be treated. Immediately after the fight, though, Holmes alluded to the difficulty of being both promoter and fighter. “It’s hard to get up for a young man when you’re at the table negotiating,” said Holmes, who paid himself $2.3 million. Also, he said, “I’m not taking anymore crash programs. I took this on three weeks notice.”

Futch felt that Holmes may actually have overtrained. “He was believing what he heard on TV,” said Futch, “and he worked too long. Not harder, just longer. Some of the sharpness was left in the gym.”

So Holmes will go back to Easton, Pa., and think about it and, sooner or later, he will persuade himself that there is a less dangerous, a smaller young lion out there who will help grease his path to glory. And he’ll come back for more.

Whatever happens, you may want to remember the advice of one of those young lions. Said Carl Williams: “In my opinion, it’s time to pack it in.”

The undercard was an attraction all unto itself with veterans Randall (Tex) Cobb and Bobby Chacon showcasing their peculiar talents.

Cobb, whose career as an actor appears to be flourishing while his career as a heavyweight boxer wanes, once more delivered the winning press conference. He was not so able in the ring, however, losing a 10-round decision to Eddie Gregg and suffering the first knockdown of his career.

Gregg, who hopes to be added to the list of Holmes’ future opponents, set great store by the ninth-round knockdown. Cobb, however, dismissed it out of hand, saying it was quite obvious the force of the blow had not done it.

“Anybody thinks I can’t get off balance doesn’t have eyes,” Cobb said.

Anyway, he clearly wasn’t hurt. “You noticed I resumed my original game plan right away, which was to stumble forward and get hit in the face.”

Cobb, who long ago made his place in fight history by retiring Howard Cosell from professional fight coverage, smiled from his newly scoured face. “I sincerely believe Eddie did my career as a Vogue cover boy no damage,” he said. “In fact, I should thank him for adding character to my face, although any more character will surely be wasted.”

As to whether he would devote the rest of his life to acting--he is to be a regular on the “Riptide” TV series--Cobb was evasive. “This may or may not be the last time I lace up gloves. But I’ll always leave ‘em laughing.”

As for Chacon, the other outstanding rogue in boxing, there is question whether he’ll ever leave. Now 33, with 100 years of boxing behind him, the two-time champion said he will continue until he is 40, or until all his “brains are scrambled.”

He was properly encouraged by his eighth-round knockout of lightweight Davey Montana, who was taken out, according to Chacon, by either a left foot or knee. Montana seemed to be on his knee when Chacon delivered a hard left.

Chacon said he didn’t look as good as he’d like to have, but added that he has been troubled by a messy divorce and an upcoming parole violation hearing.

He promised, however, to dedicate himself “a final time” to boxing.

“I’ve got three babies, and I want to make money for them,” he said of his teen-age children. “I don’t care about me. I don’t need money. I’ll keep boxing until they don’t let me anymore. And then I’ll go to Mexico and fight.”