Holmes & Cooney Remember Fight That Divided America

Gerry Cooney had just lost two points for hitting low, and both Larry Holmes and the desert heat had combined to sap his strength. Now, as the 10th round began, his manager leaned into the corner and urged him to fight even harder.

Amid the din of 25,000 people in the parking lot at Caesars Palace, Dennis Rappaport was playing the last card he had.

"America needs you," Rappaport told his fighter.

He wasn't far from the truth.

Back in Cooney's dressing room, a phone had been specially installed. The president of the United States was going to be calling to congratulate him if he won.

There was no phone in Holmes' dressing room.

"I was that close to getting that phone call," Cooney said, chuckling at the thought. "I might have become the vice president, who knows."

It was 25 years ago on a blisteringly hot night in Las Vegas, and Holmes was defending his heavyweight title against the big-punching Cooney in the richest fight of its time. The fight was an intriguing matchup of puncher versus boxer, but that wasn't why each fighter was making $10 million...More?

source: mmmanews.com