Larry Holmes' Grandson Ready to Fight

Larry Holmes has been around boxing for most of his life.

As such, the former world heavyweight champion knows the toll the sport can take on people.

"A lot of guys I worked with, they didn’t take care of themselves," he said. "And age 51, 53, they’re gone.”

It's those sort of fighters who are on Holmes' mind as he prepares his grandson, Jeffrey Dorsey Holmes, for his first professional fight in the Lehigh Valley.

On June 6, Dorsey Holmes will face off against fellow Easton boxer Marquis Prince during the first-ever Fight Night at SteelStacks in Bethlehem.

He and his grandfather spoke to members of the media Tuesday at Larry Holmes' gym on Easton's South Side.

Jeffrey, a Pennsylvania Golden Gloves champion, was soft-spoken when addressing reporters, even as he promised to be "one of the best."

This will be his second professional fight. Larry Holmes praised his grandson's commitment to his sport.

“He’s dedicated. He’s here every night when I come by," he said.

He said his mentorship isn't just about getting Jeffrey to win. He wants him to be able to someday leave the sport with his mind and body intact. Holmes said he thinks about Jeffrey's daughter, who sat nearby, playing games on a tablet.

“She doesn’t want to grow up to see her dad, all crawling, can’t talk and walk," he said.

On Tuesday, however, Jeffrey was a blur of legs and fists, sparring with trainer Frank Pintabone before the press conference.

He said he hopes his speed can outmatch Prince's strength in the ring.

"He's a slugger," said Jeffrey, who graduated from Easton Area High School in 2006. "I'm going to have to get him tired out."

While the fight's happening, Larry Holmes joked he'd be "hiding in the back."

But in that joke hid a bit of truth: "It's hard to watch someone in your family fight."

Tickets for Fight Night at SteelStacks are available at www.artsquest.org and 610-332-3378, and range in price from $25 to $60. The $60 tickets give you a chance to meet Larry Holmes and fellow former heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney.

A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $100 each and include a photograph and autograph session with Holmes and Cooney prior to the event, as well as a dinner buffet and a private area in the Musikfest Café’s balcony.