Boxing greats share positive message with OKC students
Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney, who once dominated the boxing world, visited U.S. Grant High School and urged teens to follow the right path in life and dream big.
They were there last week as guests of the Oklahoma City Police Athletic League, a nonprofit that provides athletic programs while fostering relationships between police and youth.
Holmes and Cooney, highprofile prize fighters of the 1970s and 1980s, spoke of their own struggles during a student assembly in the Grant auditorium. School administrators rewarded students who achieved a 3.4 GPA or higher with the presentation.
From 1978 to 1985, Holmes held various heavyweight boxing titles, although few predicted it.
“I was told my legs were too thin and I couldn’t do it,” he told the teens.
“People didn’t give me a chance. They said I just wanted to be like Muhammad Ali. I wanted to be better.”
For years Holmes was the sparring partner of Ali, the legendary boxer who died last year. Holmes went on to be one of the few boxers to defeat Ali.
Holmes lost his title in 1985 after many years of being on top. One of his title fights was in 1982 when he beat Cooney in 13 rounds. The decisive 13th round video was shown during the assembly. He told students of his success and urged them to go after their goals in life.
He also had fun with the crowd, singing and rapping on stage.
Cooney, who fought from 1977 to 1990, also asked the students to aim high. He urged them to stay in school and not partake in drugs or alcohol.
He told them to recognize and take advantage of rare opportunities. He said he always regretted not going to Colorado Springs in 1976 to possibly be part of the U.S. Olympic boxing team. Later, he said, he had an opportunity to put away famed boxer Ken Norton during a prize bout in 1981, but didn’t do it.
“I was drinking and smoking cigarettes and engaging in self sabotage,” he said. “Don’t do it.”
He’s left that lifestyle behind and has a new goal.
“I want to help people,” he said.
He had advice for students needing direction or facing difficult decisions.
“Ask a teacher or counselor,” he said. He made one more point. “Please know that all of this goes by fast,” he said. “I remember hearing that when I was 18. I couldn’t believe it then, but that was 42 years ago.”
Oklahoma City police officer Sgt. Matt Sites of the Police Athletic League said he was glad they were able to speak.
“We like to get the guys in front of the kids and give them their positive message,” he said.