"George Foreman is easier and has the bigger name and have you noticed that Foreman never calls me out or ever mentions my name? He is afraid of me like most fighters are and most people want to forget about Larry Holmes, like he never ever existed"

Larry Holmes voices deep frustration and a sense of being overlooked by the boxing world. He draws attention to George Foreman, one of the most renowned figures in heavyweight boxing, suggesting Foreman presents an easier challenge in the ring and is more well-known among the public. Yet, Holmes points out a telling absence: Foreman never publicly challenges or even mentions him. Holmes interprets this as fear, not respect or indifference. He perceives that Foreman, perhaps much like other contemporaries, avoids engagement with him deliberately, possibly as a way to protect his own reputation or legacy.

Holmes’s commentary highlights the isolation and neglect he feels as a significant but underappreciated champion. Despite beating some of the era’s best fighters and holding the heavyweight title through the late 1970s and early 1980s, Holmes often felt overshadowed by bigger personalities and more marketable opponents. There’s a recurring bitterness in his reflection: Holmes sees himself as perpetually fighting not just opponents in the ring, but also for recognition and remembrance beyond it.

The comment that “most people want to forget about Larry Holmes” rifles with resentment but also sorrow. Holmes regards himself as an essential chapter in boxing history that the sports community seems intent on skipping. His legacy, in his own eyes, is one actively ignored, as if he “never ever existed.” This raw confession reveals how champions can still struggle with invisibility, regardless of their achievements. Holmes’s words serve as both a critique of boxing’s fickle memory and a plea for acknowledgment. By bringing up Foreman’s silence, Holmes asserts his own importance, he frames himself not merely as an afterthought, but as someone significant enough to inspire avoidance by giants. His tone oscillates between defensive and confrontational, but at its core, it asks for the respect and validation he feels he deserves.