Parade of champions

May 10 2008 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

THE self-styled world’s most under-rated heavyweight boxer will top the bill as three men who once fought Muhammad Ali meet up at Dunston Federation Brewery on Tuesday.

Larry Holmes, Earnie Shavers and West Hartlepool’s Brian London will be the special guests at the European Boxing Federation’s show at the Lancastrian Suite.

Holmes, like Shavers, beat Ali and was one of only two men to also face Mike Tyson, but does not believe he was ever rewarded with the recognition due to him.

“I think it is fair to say I am the most under-rated heavyweight champion the world has ever seen,” he said. “I reigned for seven years and won 48 straight fights and that is some achievement. I don’t think I have ever been given the total credit that was due, except for by real fight fans who know their boxing. The man on the street, he doesn’t know how good I was.

“Ali was the champion in his era. Tyson was the champion in his era. I beat everybody there was to beat. Nobody stood in my way. I was a late starter but a great finisher.

“I never ducked anyone. That’s what gets me about some of today’s fighters. They can get a lot of money and prestige and yet they have never fought anyone, or they always avoid the best. That is not boxing. That’s not why I went into the sport. I went in to prove myself the best and that’s what I did, time and time again.”

Local fighters Paul McGreevy and Paul O’Hagan will be boxing for British titles on a four-fight card at the dinner.

A limited number of tickets are still available, priced £38, by calling on 07950 180922. Any remaining tickets will be available on the door, although organisers are expecting them to sell out in advance. There are no more VIP places available.