Ring Observer Boxing by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Do you know Muhammad Ali once stopped Larry Holmes at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas?
Yes it really happened, but not exactly how you expect.
Greg Gonzales, the nephew of former tennis great Pancho Gonzales told me the story…
Gonzales would attend a lot of Vegas fights and training camps with his uncle Pancho as they both lived in the fight capital of the world.
“One time we were at the fights and Muhammad Ali walked into the small fight stadium which was really the four court indoor tennis facility at Caesars when Larry Holmes was fighting, just before becoming champion. I think it was Holmes against Ibar Arrington (in 1977). Usually when Ali would arrive to watch the fights, everyone would go crazy for Ali, this time everyone was looking over to Ali walking in and for a moment Holmes and his opponent stopped and looked over. My friend couldn’t believe that. I’ve never seen it happen since.”
Only the larger than life presence of Muhammad Ali could stop a fight.
So, technically speaking, Muhammad Ali actually did once, unofficially, stop Larry Holmes!
(Ali oil painting by Scoop Malinowski)
