“They Got No Skills!” – Larry Holmes Doesn’t Hold Back On Today’s Heavyweights

[GhostofDempsey]

Interesting take Holmes has, except he may have forgot he took quite a few punches himself.

Former heavyweight champion, Larry Holmes, kicked off in the sport in 1973 and hung the gloves up for good in 2002. It turns out, he’s not a fan of what he’s been watching ever since.

Holmes most notable victories include those over Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney, and Tim Witherspoon. He had a lethal left jab and retired from the sport with a quite incredible record of 69 wins from 75 fights. The hall of fame beckoned, of course.

What does one of the all-time greats think of his successors? It turns out, not very much.

“The fighters today are not the fighters when I fought. We fought the top ten, we didn’t duck nobody. Look, Ernie Shavers, Gerry Cooney, Kenny Norton – all them strong guys. Today, these guys don’t want to fight.”

The man who handed Muhammed Ali the only stoppage loss of his career, albeit when Ali was 38 years old, reckons that today’s heavyweights are nothing compared to how they were in his day. Asked about Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder specifically, ‘The Easton Assassin’ was scathing in his review.

“They don’t have no skills! They don’t know how to throw one-twos, and move out to protect yourself.”

“Listen, you gotta give punches, you shouldn’t take punches, and that what he [Fury] does, he takes punches. I guess that’s what he wants to do to prove to people that he can take a punch. The game of boxing is hit and don’t get hit.”

Fans will form their own opinions on how Holmes sees the skill level in today’s division, however it’s hard to argue about his first point in . That is something everyone who loves boxing can get on board with.

[QueensburyRules]

- - Funny how the now morbidly obese 300+ Lar fergot all the WBA guys he ducked.

Of course he gonna deny he have a record of 0-6, 0 KO against standing champs holding a title won in the ring.

I guess getting knocked down by a smirking Butterbean in his last moment of boxing still have him in Faerie Star Dust LaLaLand.

[JAB5239]

- - Funny how the now morbidly obese 300+ Lar fergot all the WBA guys he ducked.

Of course he gonna deny he have a record of 0-6, 0 KO against standing champs holding a title won in the ring.

I guess getting knocked down by a smirking Butterbean in his last moment of boxing still have him in Faerie Star Dust LaLaLand.

Sure he ducked the WBA champs. All 7 of them with a grand total of 3 successful tile defenses. None of them could hold on to their belt long enough to make a fight with him.

[QueensburyRules]

Sure he ducked the WBA champs. All 7 of them with a grand total of 3 successful tile defenses. None of them could hold on to 0Ktheir belt long enough to make a fight with him.

- - 7 Champs he coulda stepped up and fought first title defenses, but didn't. Thanks for the reminding us.

Do that make him 0-13, 0 KO against champs winning belts in the ring.

Busted his old record, he did!

[Rockin']

Interesting take Holmes has, except he may have forgot he took quite a few punches himself.

Former heavyweight champion, Larry Holmes, kicked off in the sport in 1973 and hung the gloves up for good in 2002. It turns out, he’s not a fan of what he’s been watching ever since.

Holmes most notable victories include those over Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney, and Tim Witherspoon. He had a lethal left jab and retired from the sport with a quite incredible record of 69 wins from 75 fights. The hall of fame beckoned, of course.

What does one of the all-time greats think of his successors? It turns out, not very much.

“The fighters today are not the fighters when I fought. We fought the top ten, we didn’t duck nobody. Look, Ernie Shavers, Gerry Cooney, Kenny Norton – all them strong guys. Today, these guys don’t want to fight.”

The man who handed Muhammed Ali the only stoppage loss of his career, albeit when Ali was 38 years old, reckons that today’s heavyweights are nothing compared to how they were in his day. Asked about Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder specifically, ‘The Easton Assassin’ was scathing in his review.

“They don’t have no skills! They don’t know how to throw one-twos, and move out to protect yourself.”

“Listen, you gotta give punches, you shouldn’t take punches, and that what he [Fury] does, he takes punches. I guess that’s what he wants to do to prove to people that he can take a punch. The game of boxing is hit and don’t get hit.”

Fans will form their own opinions on how Holmes sees the skill level in today’s division, however it’s hard to argue about his first point in . That is something everyone who loves boxing can get on board with.

Come on man. Was he Ali, no. Could he fight? Hell yeah he could. Was he flashy in the ring, not really but that man certainly had one sharp jab. I remember watching his defense against Cooney. And the beating that he put on Cobb. His dismantling of Renaldo Snipes. I heard that Snipes' trainer had cut Snipes while cutting the wraps off, was that after the fight or a different time, place and planet?

Anyway, you must admit that the man could fight. I didn't see his fight against the Bean so I can't comment on that.
But he beat him as any former champion should. How old was Holmes when he beat the 'Bean'?

I fought on a card with the Bean. I'm 5'10" and the Bean was shorter. Holmes must have busted him up with his jab something viscious and precise. Can't say that the Bean didn't have heart and you could never say that about Holmes either. Did he have the greatest pool of elite boxing to chose from for his defenses? No, he did not. But he held that title a long time, in a tough sport, fighting the biggest men on the planet.

You have to give him credit.

And todays pool of talent is extremely low in the states. Yes, there are well trained sharks in the water but nothing like before the drought.................Rockin'

[GhostofDempsey]

Come on man. Was he Ali, no. Could he fight? Hell yeah he could. Was he flashy in the ring, not really but that man certainly had one sharp jab. I remember watching his defense against Cooney. And the beating that he put on Cobb. His dismantling of Renaldo Snipes. I heard that Snipes' trainer had cut Snipes while cutting the wraps off, was that after the fight or a different time, place and planet?

Anyway, you must admit that the man could fight. I didn't see his fight against the Bean so I can't comment on that.
But he beat him as any former champion should. How old was Holmes when he beat the 'Bean'?

I fought on a card with the Bean. I'm 5'10" and the Bean was shorter. Holmes must have busted him up with his jab something viscious and precise. Can't say that the Bean didn't have heart and you could never say that about Holmes either. Did he have the greatest pool of elite boxing to chose from for his defenses? No, he did not. But he held that title a long time, in a tough sport, fighting the biggest men in the planet.

You have to give him credit..................Rockin'

I like Larry, I just find it interesting he is criticizing Fury for taking punches, as if he is intentionally taking them on the chin. Fury does use upper body movement and footwork, and while I am not a Fury fan, I don’t think he should be bundled together with AJ and Wilder. Holmes had one of the all time best jabs, great chin, and heart. I would pick him to beat any of the top HWs today.

[JAB5239]

Come on man. Was he Ali, no. Could he fight? Hell yeah he could. Was he flashy in the ring, not really but that man certainly had one sharp jab. I remember watching his defense against Cooney. And the beating that he put on Cobb. His dismantling of Renaldo Snipes. I heard that Snipes' trainer had cut Snipes while cutting the wraps off, was that after the fight or a different time, place and planet?

Anyway, you must admit that the man could fight. I didn't see his fight against the Bean so I can't comment on that.
But he beat him as any former champion should. How old was Holmes when he beat the 'Bean'?

I fought on a card with the Bean. I'm 5'10" and the Bean was shorter. Holmes must have busted him up with his jab something viscious and precise. Can't say that the Bean didn't have heart and you could never say that about Holmes either. Did he have the greatest pool of elite boxing to chose from for his defenses? No, he did not. But he held that title a long time, in a tough sport, fighting the biggest men on the planet.

You have to give him credit.

And todays pool of talent is extremely low. Yes, there are well trained sharks in the water but nothing like before the drought.................Rockin'

To have as many title defenses as he had shows incredible focus, even if some of the comp was overrated. Look at the WBA titlists of that era. None could hold on to their title. Focus is an attribute of greatness in my opinion.

[Willow The Wisp]

- - 7 Champs he coulda stepped up and fought first title defenses, but didn't. Thanks for the reminding us.

Do that make him 0-13, 0 KO against champs winning belts in the ring.

Busted his old record, he did!

The only champion between Muhammad Ali and Michael Spinks was, of couse, Larry Holmes; by virtue of his wins over Ali, Neon Lean (the last two real champions), and Norton, in a battle between no.s 1 and 2. The best of the contenders who ducked their appointment with a Holmes beating by hiding behind the paper WBA title, was Weaver; who had received his KO beating prior to driving WBA tourney winner Tate face first into oblivion... Taking any meaning behind the Bandito title with him. Silly man.

[markusmod]

Holmes is always highly critical of current boxing and current boxers.

[Bundana]

Has a former champ ever said something positive about the current crop of fighters?