Holmes: Ali was Frankly the best

Frank Skinner is a big fan of Muhammad Ali so it is perhaps no surprise his one-off BBC special on Thursday fails to land a knockout revelation.

The show, a year after the death of The Greatest, is still highly watchable, with Frank chatting to Ali’s neighbours, brother and first wife. But opponent Larry Holmes offers the most insight.

He sparred with Ali and later beat him in the ring when Ali was past his prime. Holmes, who cried after their fight, says: “I knew he didn’t have the weapons when he signed the contract.

“I hit him with open hands. He would not have quit. You would have had to kill him and I knew I was hurting him. I had 75 fights and Ali is the best guy to fight.”