Page "Larry Holmes" Paragraph 16

On June 11, 1982, Holmes defended his title against Gerry Cooney, the undefeated # 1 contender and an Irish-American.

The lead up to the fight had many racial overtones.

Holmes said that if Cooney wasn't white, he wouldn't be getting the same purse as the champion ( Both boxers received $ 10 million for the bout ).

Although Cooney tried to deflect questions about race, members of his camp wore shirts that said " Not the White Man, but the Right Man.