Legendary former heavyweight world champion, Larry Holmes, has revealed which heavyweights from todays crop could mix it in his era – and it’s none of them.
Holmes dominated the blue ribbon division in the first half of the 1980s, holding the Ring Magazine and lineal titles from 1980-1985, the WBC world championship from 1978 – 1985 and the inaugural IBF belt from 1983 – 1995.
And ‘The Easton Assassin’ told All Out Fighting that todays heavyweights such as Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder “couldn’t do it” in Holmes’ day – simply because they would have to take on all comers.
“They wouldn’t have made it in our era. With me on the top? They couldn’t do it.
These guys are good fighters. But we had to fight everybody, we didn’t get no breaks.
They ain’t fighting each other.”
Holmes’ comments will no doubt resonate with boxing fans, who are growing ever more frustrated with boxing’s top division, where the best rarely face each other. The inability to agree terms for an undisputed world title showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk was the final straw for some.
After months of negotiations fell apart for the historic fight this spring, news emerged from Queensberry boss Frank Warren last month that his charge Fury and Usyk would also not be facing off in Saudi Arabia in December, as had been reported.
‘The Gypsy King’ instead will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou – who has never boxed professionally – on October 28th in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
News of the crossover fight hasn’t been well received by the majority of traditional boxing fans, though the event will still no doubt be a big commercial success and pave the way for future clashes of a similar nature.