Larry Holmes: Against the Odds

by Larry Holmes, Phil Berger

In a moving autobiography, the former boxing champion describes his rise from poverty to the heights of the boxing world and shares his views on boxing in the 1990s, Mike Tyson, Don King, and today's top boxers. 40,000 first printing.

Genres: Biography

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 1998

Reviews

[John Allen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Larry Holmes was a great champion as a fighter, but time has proven him to be a bitter, unforgiving, insulting guy.

First he goes after George Foreman for knocking out Michael Moorer the way he did ("Mohrer was beating him up!", he protested on Ringside), then he doesn't shake Butterbean's hand after Butterbean was just beating him up in parts of that fight, and is content to sit on his hands and let posterity sing a song for him (and for Muhammad Ali, who at times he writes about as if he really hates him).

His comeback--putting himself in the ring with Mike Tyson at the age he did--and just generally his willingness to fight anyone should have been enough. Boxing doesn't bring everything home to the right people. I'm surprised he hasn't just staged something incredible to feel better about himself.

[Anita Dawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone to be truly admired. Even though he didn't have the education and was not always supported by the boxing community, Larry Holmes has turned into a successful businessman. The trials and tribulations that he faced and have overcome were phenomenal...

[Cwn_annwn_13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff about dealing with Don King, being in Ali's camp when he was coming up and his life and boxing career. Holmes has always been an honest guy that speaks his mind which made this one of the better boxing biographies I have read.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

An under-appreciated autobiography from one of boxing's most underrated and under-appreciated champions.