Friday, Aug. 8, 1980 | midnight
It was fun games and pure hype of the first order Thursday out there in the hot parking lot at Caesars Palace.
Technically it was billed as the official groundbreaking of a new 24,000 seat arena, the planed site of the Oct. 2 world heavyweight championship fight between reigning champ Larry Holmes and former three-time titleholder Muhammad Ali.
Fight promoter Don King – he of the starched hair – claimed it will be the biggest fight ever, a $50 million gate.
"We're having 45,000 tickets printed up," he said proudly.
No one ever explained how 45,000 persons are going to fit into a 24,000-seat arena.
The groundbreaking was billed as a media event and the television, radio and newspaper folk of Las Vegas were there in force. They rarely turn down a free lunch and a touch of spirits.
Holmes arrived at the parking lot first along with King and was immediately besieged by photographers. A gentle soul, he patiently answered all questions, no matter how idiotic.
Ali, in his usual humble manner, made his grand entrance scowling all the way across the hot asphalt, attired in a natty white suit.
They finally got the two together in front of the microphones and cameras.
Holmes couldn't resist getting in the first shot.
"All those who think Ali will win, holler aye." A lone aye was heard from the direction of Ali.
A symbolic jackhammer, complete with red ribbon, was stuck in the ground. Behind it was a frontloader that everybody, for some reason, called a bulldozer.
The pics were taken, first of the jackhammer, then the frontloader-bulldozer.
The jackhammer didn't jack. The bulldozer didn't bull. Despite this, there was plenty of bull thrown around.
Ali kept mumbling something about how he was still the greatest and would massacre Holmes. Holmes merely smiled and got in a few licks of his own – especially when he lifted his shirt and showed a lean, muscle-streaked stomach, then challenged Ali to do the same.
The former camp did and displayed a portly package that indicated he better start laying off the mayonnaise.
During the luncheon, Holmes told one and all, "This will give me a chance to get out of the shadow of Ali. This is my time, he's had his time. This is my time. I'm gonna do what I gotta do."
He claimed he would take Ali by the third round.
Ali countered, in his usual modest style, "I'm out to conquer immortality."
Referring to Holmes as "my ex-hired hand" he warned the champ, "You'll never be recognized till you stomp Ali." Muhammad claimed he'd have Holmes clobbered by the fourth round.
The luncheon was good. So were the cold spirits.
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