Former World Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes graced Gallagher's Steak House in midtown Manhattan with his enormous presence the other day as the guest of honor at the Gallo's Geezer luncheon.

The "Easton Assassin," rated as one of the greatest of all time, defeated Muhammad Ali in October of 1980.

“I knew I was going to be the heavyweight boxing champion of the world,” recalled Holmes, “because Ali, Joe Frazier, Earnie Shavers…all those guys out there, were all four or five years older than me. So as soon as they got out of that sport, I was going to be on top.”

While Ali was one of the greatest of all time, Holmes always wanted to be his own man. “I never wanted to be like Muhammad Ali,” he says. “I wanted to be like Larry Holmes. I wanted to do my own thing and I did.”

“But,” added Holmes, “Ali did teach me a lot when I was his sparring partner. That helped me later in my career as I ascended the ranks.”

Holmes compiled a glittery 69-6 career ring record, with 44 victories coming by way of knockout, and downed the likes of Ali, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, and Leon Spinks during a career that spanned four decades.

“It’s always good to come back here to Gallagher’s where we had press conferences for every championship fight,” recalled Holmes. “These are memories that I’ll never forget.”

Holmes still follows boxing, but his current interest is the real estate business.

Alongside that he makes many appearances, and his hometown of Easton, PA will be erecting a statue of him on a street named in his honor later this year.

Famed New York Daily News Hall of Fame cartoonist Bill Gallo hosted his monthly luncheon with upwards of 120 die-hard boxing fans on hand. Famed boxing trainer and ESPN "Friday Night Fights" commentator Teddy Atlas was also a featured speaker, all three delighting the crowd in attendance.

 

Gallo recounted the story of the Holmes victory over Ali for the audience: “Larry Holmes that night used the left hand like nobody I saw since Joe Louis. He has a marvelous beautiful left hand. Poor Ali could not get away from it. Thank God the ref stopped it. There was humanity in the fight.”

 

Atlas spoke of his charity, The Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation, which is named in memory of his beloved father and humanitarian. The foundation’s programs aim to help people in tough situations that may not be able to afford help themselves.

 

Ultimately the day was about bringing together boxing fans with their heroes. Atlas explained why boxing is such an exceptional sport. “On one given night, a guy with a heart as strong as mine can be a champion, can even the playing field,” he said. “He can be the champion of the world, and that’s something very special.”

 

“On any given night a boxer can even the playing field. It doesn’t matter how many times he’s turned down, or been told he wasn’t going to make it. On one given night, a guy with a heart as strong as mine can be a champion, can even the playing field. He can be the champion of the world, and that’s something very special about this sport.”

More on the Atlas Foundation and its programs are below.

 

The Horowitz Scholarship

The George Horowitz Scholarship, named to honor the memory of a former school teacher who became CEO of Everlast, is given each year to an amateur boxer attending or about to attend college.  The Atlas Foundation works in conjunction with the Horowitz Family to assist a student who has benefited from the discipline and good values promoted by boxing and who is looking to further him or herself through higher education.  In this way the scholarship combines two of its namesake’s passions, boxing and education.  $5,000 is awarded annually to be used for tuition, room, board and books.

The John Garand Rowan "Admiral" Scholarship

The Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation presents an annual scholarship in the name of John Garand Rowan, a founding member of the Foundation and our first Treasurer. John was a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, who served during the Gulf War and later became a practicing attorney. John left us at the age of 38, in 2003.

The "Admiral" Scholarship of $5,000.00 total, is awarded yearly to one male and one female graduating Senior from Curtis High School, who have distinguished themselves in the various facets of academic achievement, community and school service, and also have financial need. Special attention is given to applicants who are involved in the Curtis Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Program (NJROTC) to honor John Rowan's naval career and background.

Each awardee receives a one-time payment of $2,500.00 at the Senior Awards Night payable toward tuition at an accredited college or university. The selection is made by the Curtis principal, college advisor and the faculty advisor for the NJROTC Program. Further information may be obtained from the Curtis High School, attention to the College Advisor, 105 Hamilton Avenue, Staten Island, N.Y. 10301, 718-273-7380.