An African Adventure of A Warrior

Chapter 31 Desire to Avenge An Old Hero

13 June 1980

3 days ago Lincoln Loud saw the worst thing he could ever see in his career a terrible exit from the ring from one of his heroes and Mentor Muhammad Ali.
You see Ali retired last year after winning the WBA version of the Heavyweight World Title an unprecedented third time and the world thought he would never return but sadly he did return to challenge the new WBC World Heavyweight Champion and former sparring partner Larry Holmes and hope to regain the title an unbelievable fourth time, the real reason Ali came back was money he was financially struggling and what's worse he was no longer what he used to be as a fighter, Lincoln knew this and tried to talk Ali out of the idea of fighting Holmes but the man who was the greatest didn't listen to him or any of the former champ's friends for months and continued to train The Nevada State athletic commission  forced Ali to check in the Minnesota's Mayo clinic on February 18th (Lincoln and Brandon accompanied him since Lincoln was done with his scenes in his movies Popeye and Superman 2) a prerequisite to being granted a boxing license, no one knew  his neurological exam except for the two louds and the doctor they were never released until after the fight his problems were he seemed to kind of miss when he tried  touching his finger on his nose, he had trouble coordinating his muscles used in speaking and he did not hop on one foot with the expected agility of fighting fit athlete his protege tried again to talk him out of fighting stating that those results were not good and Ali only responded by saying he's still the greatest and Lincoln should stop worrying he got this. However Dr Howard declared him fit to fight, the report was sent to the Nevada State athletic commission and on the basis of that report he was given a boxing license by the State of Nevada, Larry Holmes fought Scott LeDoux 2 months earlier stopping him in the 7th round but the fight many were talking about was the previous Holmes fight were he faced number 1 contender The undefeated Bruno Martin for the WBC Title at Yankee stadium on March 13th Holmes was knocked down 3 times in 3 three different rounds (1st, 7th, 15th) in the entire 15 round fight and won a very confidential and highly disputed Split decision ending Martin's undefeated streak, many people say Martin won the fight.Larry Holmes won his title from one of Ali's old rivals in Ken Norton on June 9th 1978 by a 15th round split decision, and he's still undefeated, Ali weighed in at  217 1/2 pounds the lightest he's fought since he beat George Foreman in 1974. The fight finally happened on 10 June 1980 at Caesar's palace in Las Vegas Nevada after a few seconds into the opening round it was a one sided beatdown as Holmes dominated Ali for a full 10 rounds Ali all he could do was stay standing he couldn't even fight back It was hard to watch for everyone who loved Ali and many fans, commentators and other personal including other past fighters who fought Ali and even Holmes himself were screaming for the ref to stop the fight if you can even call it a fight more like boxing's version of suplex city Lincoln was shouting at and begging the ref to stop it finally before the 11th round of this torture chamber would commence Ali's long time trainer Angelo Dundee finally and mercifully stopped the fight by throwing in the towel making Larry Holmes the winner by a 10th round Technical knockout it was the worst thing Lincoln could ever see and he saw Muhammad as more than a friend or hero he saw him as a real father to him Larry for days after the fight would say he didn't want to fight saying he knew Ali had nothing left he knew it would be a horror and started crying on Lincoln's part he didn't buy Larry's bullshit yes the part Ali not having it anymore and that it would be a horror was true but saying he never wanted to fight Ali and constantly crying like he didn't have a choice when he had a choice pissed him off, he did visit Ali in hospital and Ali tried making excuses of why he lost and wanted him again Lincoln just told him
Lincoln: Relax and retire Champ let me beat him for you if you let me I promise I will
And Ali agreed
From that day onwards Lincoln vowed to himself that he would beat Larry Holmes at any cost the day they meet in the ring for doing what he did to Muhammad Ali.

24 June 1980

4th ranked Lincoln Loud fought 6th ranked Marty Monroe at the Waterbury Municipal Stadium in Waterbury, Connecticut, both fighters were coming off wins heading into the contest Monroe was coming off a 6th round knockout of Lynn Ball 3 knockout wins 1 the first round knockout of the very same Ball and the second a 4th round knockout of Stan Ward the third the most important a 12 round knockout of Veteran contender Jimmy Young, the fight was supposed to be held at the Giants Stadium but the deal fell through now Promoter Bob Arum had to work fast to save this fight by finding a location quickly he found it and although it was small it had to do both fighters were paid 2 million for this bout After 6 rounds of back and forth action Loud caught Monroe with a picture perfect right hook to the side of the head near the ear and knocked him out in the 7th round
reporters flocked in at the post fight press conference they asked him many questions and he answered well but one was especially enticing
Reporter: Lincoln who do you want to face in your next encounter?
Lincoln: The Champion!
Reporter: You mean The WBC Heavyweight World Champion and new WBA Heavyweight Champion Of The World Larry Holmes? Lincoln answered like this
Lincoln: I want Holmes, he knows he's beatable he got a gift decision against Martin despite the fact he got his ass kicked, well I'm gonna kick his damn ass when I meet him

The papers had their headlines many people wanted to see Holmes and Loud go to war for the title but they hoped they would meet next year as everyone was busy with Duran/Leonard right now

Luan was all to aware of what happened some months after she bumped into her long lost brother she called Lori about it and told her everything

Flashback
30 November 1979
Luan: Yeah, And that's how I ran into Lincoln
Lori: So let me get this straight you were on a movie Lincoln was rumored to be auditioning for and once he saw you he quit
Luan: Yes...
Lori: Way to go Luan, you probably  ruined our chance of meeting our brother!
Luan: But It wasn't my fault how could I know that he was there?
Lori: Even if you didn't know the second you saw him you should've disappeared before he sees you and you should've literally waited until he was cast in that movie before letting him see you that way he couldn't easily avoid you
Luan: ( sighs) I'm sorry and It wasn't my last encounter with Lincoln
Lori: Say what now?
Luan: Yes I auditioned for 2 roles on the movie Popeye, Olive Oyl and Cherry They told me They already chose Shelly Duvall to play Olive but I had a good chance to get cast as cherry but apparently most of the cast and crew didn't want me in the movie infact it was divided and guess who was the deciding vote
Lori: (Sighs) Lincoln
Luan: Correct and he played the character of Ham Gravy and even threatened to leave the movie if I was cast in it, so they called me back and told me this and said they must choose someone else and the director Robert Altman promised to bring me aboard his next picture (she shed some tears)
Lori: Damn Luan clearly little bro is still very mad us he actually threatened to leave a movie just to get away from you
Luan: Yeah, but it's not like we didn't deserve it
Lori: Yeah hey your right
Luan: I'll see you later bye
Lori: bye
Today
Now as the actress heads off she has to finish a few scenes on Raging bull then she's finished her movies for the year And she really hoped things would turn around with Lincoln because whether he likes it or not she's here to stay in the film industry

AN: Done as you can see Lincoln is on a warpath looking to beat Holmes after he beat an old Ali now will Lincoln get his wish and What do you think of Lincoln's threat to leave the movie Popeye if Luan got cast would he followed through and do you guys think these two will ever work in a movie together? please leave me some comments and thoughts bye see you on chapter 32