One day, while Al was training in a makeshift gym near the half built camp, a 22 year old amateur fighter from nearby eastern Pennsylvania named Larry Holmes showed up, eager to meet his idol.

One of 12 kids raised by his mother, Flossie, in publi housing on East and South Side.

Holmes at first boxed for hot dogs and sodas in the city's Wednesday night bar fights.

At just ten years old, when I left school, I was in the seventh grade.

It was either quit, we get thrown out before I decide to go.

You know, I worked in a car wash.

I will shine shoes.

I do whatever I can do to help bring in money to the house.

And then I met a guy by the name Ernie Butler.

Teaching kids how to box.

And I are learning how to box.

By the time Holmes arrived at Deer Lake, he was hoping to make the Olympic team.

Ali put up his dad and he said, let me see your jab.

And Larry's doing that, so that's good.

And I said, I already have your boxing stuff.

Yeah, I have it.

At least a good I need a good workout.

So we go down and they spar and Larry got his shiner and I said, Larry, let me put some ice on this.

No, no, no, I'm going back to East and I'm going to tell all the people, Muhammad Ali, put this here.

I'm so proud of this.

And then I invited Larry to our training camp.

I will come in here and wash dishes.

The kitchen.

I will sit in the dressing room, talk to him and ask him questions.

And you know that he probably got tired of me to asking a lot of questions.

But I did it anyway.

The quickness and the mobility that he had, he could duck or away from punches and stuff, not pick.

Couldn't hit him.

Hello again everyone.

I'm Howard Cosell along with Muhammad Ali, bringing you the Olympic boxing trials, an you'll be seeing Larry Holmes.

A lot of the stuff that Ali did, I copy out of Trenton, new Jersey.

Everybody say you're a copycat.

Okay, so.

And what's next?

He reminds me of myself in footwork waves constantly moving.

So I'm going to learn from the best.

This man is the best I'm going to do.

I'm copy it.

Done left my home.

If I can't get it, at least I gave it a shot.

But I've worked it out pretty good.

Holme failed to make the Olympic team, but continued training with Ali at Deer Lake, eventuall beginning a professional career that would one day lead him back to his mentor.