I have been asked about the big boxing matches we have had here in Vegas and did Sinatra go to them. The person asking wanted to know if Sinatra was a big fan of boxing.

Yes, he was. He followed it and was very knowledgeable about it. In fact, I would say an expert on it. He talked about the big fights he has seen and it seems he has seen them all.

During the Sands years, I remember Sinatra going down to the Thunderbird to watch Liston train. Frank talked about that. Also when Clay stopped by Liston's training camp and caused a stir. The whole town talked about it.

Liston was the most feared man in boxing at the time. Some guys in Vegas had some pieces of him so there was a lot of interest in him. All the guys in the casino were talking about Liston killing Clay if they would ever fight. Liston was at the time training for another fight.

The guys were talking about Clay coming to Liston's camp and making a fool of himself.

Frank went with it all, but later with very few around he tells us in the pit. "You know, I saw them together, this kid Clay is as tall or taller than Liston. I mean he's bigger than him and he ain't afraid. This kid thinks he can win."

The rest is history.

Sinatra went to most of the big fights at Caesars Palace. I believe he really like good boxers. He liked anyone with superior skill in any area. He love talented people, liked to be around them. He talked like these were special people.

He loved the people with talent and hated the critics who liked to tear them down.

Some times he is involved in someone's feeling getting hurt.

I'll tell you one.

One afternoon I go over to Caesars Palace to see Sinatra. He is in town just before a big fight at Caesars. It is Holmes vs someone. In the 70s these guys trained in the large metal building in the very back of Caesars. It is past the outdoor tennis courts. The building was first built to hold indoor courts for tennis. They then started holding events in there and had to build outside courts.

This building is the one you have all seen on TV when you watched all the great Ali fights from Vegas. It was the success of these Ali fights that moves the tennis out of the building.

So I go over to Caesars and up the tower to Sinatra's suite and I see him coming down the hall. He has about 6 people with him. They going to watch Homes do his final workout. I am invited to come along.

Sinatra and all of us, Frank in front, as usual, walking through the casino toward the pool. I figure he will go to the left and around the back but he is in a great mood and walks right toward the pool area. We are all following.

He walks right into the pool area, through the people. Those who are sunbathing are jumping up. I love watching this. Hearing the people "Hey, it's Sinatra" and "Hi Frank" and "How you doing Frank." They do love him. He smiles to all of them. Some are just amazed it is happening.

He heads toward the back tennis courts and as we pass the first court, there is Pancho Gonzalos, the really great player, giving a tennis lesson to someone.

Pancho sees Sinatra coming towards him and smiles and stops to look. As Sinatra get close, he too stops and bows in respect to Pancho. Pancho is very touched and bows back to him.

Two great talents, two legends in their own fields, stop and acknowledge each other. A nice moment.

We continue on to the back and to the old tennis building, a large metal building where Holmes is working out and the place the fight will be.

Sinatra goes in and looks the scene over. Holmes is in the ring doing 3 minute drills and there are about 30 people watching. Mostly sports writers.

Sinatra sits down on one of the front seats to the side of the ring. The sports writers see him and go over to talk to him. He is in a great mood so he starts talking to them.

I am sort of moved out of this by the crowd, so I stand back and watch it all. I move up to a higher place in the bleachers and watch all the sports writers leaving the ring area and going over to Sinatra.

I see Holmes notice all this and watch him feel so bad.

You, see Larry Holmes is a great fighter. He defeated Ali and now is the champion and had defeated everyone who has fought him. But he can never get the admiration and respect that Ali got. He just can't. An Ali workout would have 200 or more people there. Holmes know this because years earlier he was a sparring partner for Ali.

Holmes just wants to be recognized for the great fighter he is. But he wants it too much.

He sees all the sports writers and everyone else all moving over to be around Sinatra. He is very upset.

I'm sitting watching him and I see him wanting to show how upset he is, but there is no one to even show it to. He puts on his robe and leaves the ring. Ends the workout.

Rough, so rough. I mean he is such a great fighter. The guys in Vegas, who know this game, say Holmes is the best. He will beat everyone around. There is no one who can defeat him.

But I've been around Holmes a lot, I've watched him.

Larry Holmes knows he is the best and he is — and he feels like a champion — until an Ali or a Sinatra walk into the room.