Foreman Says Holmes Fight 'Is Off!'

They talked a good fight but the proposed bout between ex-heavyweight champions George Foreman and Larry Holmes never got any further than that.

The 12-round match, scheduled for Jan. 23 at the Houston Astrodome, was called off Friday, according to Foreman's brother.

"George says it's off," Roy Foreman told The Associated Press, adding that promoter Roger Levitt did not meet the deadline for paying Foreman the remaining $9 million of his $10 million purse.

"They were supposed to have the money last week and they didn't have it," Roy Foreman said. "George gave them an extra week and they still didn't have it."

Holmes hadn't been told that the fight was off.

"I don't know what's going on," he said.

The match, scheduled for two weeks after Foreman's 50th birthday, was to carry a $39.95 closed circuit television price tag. Holmes, who was 49 on Nov. 3, had promised it would be worth the money.

"I appreciate George giving me the opportunity to whip on him a little bit," Holmes said, when the fight was announced in September. "He says the same thing about me, so you got to buy a ticket to see it. "

George Foreman would have been 50 years old on the Jan. 23 fight date. (AP)

"This will be a classic, it's history. It's two men who over the decades never fought. Two men with lots of pride. Two men will give it all and only one will win. I'm sure that it will be me and George thinks it will be him."

Foreman, who became the oldest heavyweight champion when he regained the WBA crown at age 45 by knocking out Michael Moorer on Nov. 5, 1994 seemed anxious for the fight.

"Larry Holmes was a second-rate fighter sparring for (Muhammad) Ali when I had my original career," he said. "This is the only time this fight could be made. This is the only time it is important."

At 99, the combined age of the fighters was believed to be the highest in boxing history. Holmes' career record is 66-6 and Foreman's is 76-5.

"I don't care if we're 900 years old," Holmes said. "You got two old guys almost the same age that are going to fight. We might not fight like young guys today, but we are going to fight."

That was if the money was in place.

The fight ran into trouble a week ago when one of its major backers pulled out. Levitt claimed a replacement backer had come forward.

On Thursday, the promoter said he was going through "financial machinations" with the two fighters and that the letters of credit would be deposited by Monday.

"We had an extension for the letters of credit until the close of business Los Angeles time (Thursday)," Levitt said. "We might need another extension."

Foreman wasn't waiting. He received a nonrefundable $1 million deposit and Holmes keeps a $400,000 down payment on his $4 million purse.

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