MACON, Ga. — It's been over 20 years since Larry Holmes competed in the ring. The heavyweight champion put the gloves down to speak up and share his experience with other boxers.
"I can't make it if I don't try. Imma give it my best shot," Holmes said.
Holmes is a legend in the boxing world. He held the heavyweight champion title from 1978 to 1985. James Hand is a supervisor at the Macon-Bibb United Boxing Club and is one of Holmes' biggest fans.
Hand wanted Holmes to speak to his boxers to give them hope.
"A lot of our kids they've got bad backgrounds and then a few of them trying to box. Larry can give them hope because Larry didn't have the best upbringing himself and so that what we give. We give people hope and that's what it's all about," Hand said.
Holmes said he might have dropped out of school in seventh grade, but said he has a "PhD in common sense" and knows to keep the fighting in the ring.
"I'm a boxing executive. I tell these guys these people that is trying to learn how to box, learn how to fight — but not on the street, because that's going to cost you," Holmes said.
Holmes was born in Georgia but was raised in Easton, Pennsylvania where he earned the nickname "The Easton Assassin."
Holmes doesn't hesitate to label winning his first heavyweight champion title over Ken Norton as his favorite moment in his career.
Holmes used people's negativity and doubt in him as motivation. He says it helped him earn his heavyweight title.
"So many people said to me 'You ain't going nowhere. You gone get beat up. You ain't nothing. You can't fight.' I said well watch me," Holmes said.
Jermaine Randall is a coach and boxer. He thought Holmes' mindset was inspirational.
"Because he had that belief that he could do it. Just a little bit that was enough for him to takeoff with it," Randall said.
Holmes got to watch the boxers train, show off his famous left jab and advise the athletes about boxing. He also offered this piece of boxing — and life — advice to the fighters of the next generation.
"Don't take no punches. You don't prove nothing to nobody. Prove them you're a good fighter and you can get away with a lot of stuff," Holmes said.