Legend Holmes calls on second chance for Fury
Boxing legend Larry Holmes believes disgraced former heavyweight champ Tyson Fury should be allowed to fight again.
Fury faces a British Boxing Board of Control hearing later this month that could strip him of his fight licence after he tested positive for cocaine.
The controversial Manchester puncher has also vacated his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles.
But ring king Larry – one of only five men to beat Mohammad Ali – hopes troubled Fury gets a chance to win back the belts.
Larry – who charmed his Scottish ring fans at a £85-a-head dinner at Motherwell’s Dalziel Park Hotel last week – said: “Tyson’s a good guy. I’ve watched him fight and he’s a good fighter.
“He’s still learning and has a lot to learn. I think he’ll be a good fighter if he does the right things.
“A lot of times they become champion then get a big head and forget about it. I just wish him luck and I hope he can keep going.
“Everybody can make a mistake but Fury should be allowed to fight again if he gets himself together.”
Larry, 67, is one of the greatest ever and was world heavyweight champ for 20 straight fights between 1978 and 1985.
He hung up his gloves in 2002 with a record of 69 wins and six defeats.
The American revealed the sport saved him from his own brush with drugs.
He said: “I don’t know nothing about cocaine. When I was young I used to smoke marijuana and I said ‘Man, oh help me God’. I prayed and I got out of it. I started boxing real good and I never did that stuff no more.
“I don’t recommend that anybody in sport do drugs because it might make you feel good one minute – but the next minute it makes you feel bad. And eventually it will kill you.”
The Sunday Mail revealed last week how legend Larry planned to use his first visit to Scotland to hunt for UFOs at Bonnybridge.
Larry also hoped to catch up with troubled Scots boxer Ken Buchanan during his first visit to Scotland. He said: “I don’t know too many boxers from Scotland but I know Ken.
“I thought Buchanan was a great fighter. I used to love to watch him fight but I didn’t like the way he took punches.
“When he fought Roberto Duran, they were great fights. “Buchanan was the man back then.
“I’ve met him at Madison Square Garden but I’d love to do it again because I respect him.
“I’m sorry to hear he’s had problems but that’s the way it us sometimes.
“I’ll do whatever I can do for him and we’ll talk more in future.”
Larry’s still reeling from the death of his boxing friend Ali, who succumbed to Parkinson’s Disease earlier this year.
The boxing favourite has his own health battle with diabetes and was hospitalised early last month.
But he insisted he’s on the mend and said: “My health is great. I’m having a good time.”
Fury should be allowed to fight if he gets himself together and I wish him luck