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

[BattlingNelson]

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

On point! They never do. From Gunboat Smith, to Joe Louis, to Larry Holmes and many many more.

The only one I can think of who MAY have said something good is George Foreman, but it's only a guess.

[QueensburyRules]

On point! They never do. From Gunboat Smith, to Joe Louis, to Larry Holmes and many many more.

The only one I can think of who MAY have said something good is George Foreman, but it's only a guess.

- - Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis were very respectful of other fighters and champs save when Joe put down Ali who was making a fool of himself. Rocky also very complimentary. Prob other lesser knowns also. Never heard George bad mouth anyone. Guys like Lar and Lewie very insecure about their status in boxing. Never heard the Ks badmouth fighters not that any of these guys couldn't say something bad about some really disagreeable fighter.

[BattlingNelson]

- - Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis were very respectful of other fighters and champs save when Joe put down Ali who was making a fool of himself. Rocky also very complimentary. Prob other lesser knowns also. Never heard George bad mouth anyone. Guys like Lar and Lewie very insecure about their status in boxing. Never heard the Ks badmouth fighters not that any of these guys couldn't say something bad about some really disagreeable fighter.

Both Louis and Rocky badmouthed Clay/Ali. Lummox always badmouted the Klits. True that the Klits havent talked bad about anybody. I deliberately didn't mention them as it's still comparatively early days.

[QueensburyRules]

Both Louis and Rocky badmouthed Clay/Ali. Lummox always badmouted the Klits. True that the Klits havent talked bad about anybody. I deliberately didn't mention them as it's still comparatively early days.

- - Rocky was very supportive of Ali during the Liston phantom punch troubles during "expert" panel discussions. Dempsey wasn't antagonistic, but he weren't supportive either.

After their computer fight where they did some sparring, Rocky one of the few legendary names painted on the boulders surrounding Ali's Deer Lake training camp. Ali slipped Rocky's widow some money at the funeral knowing nobody knew where Rocky buried his money. Maybe they found it eventually.

[Willie Pep 229]

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

Na, they never do. Except maybe Dempsey.

[The D3vil]

Holmes is a definitive top 5 ATG HW, but man is he always so negative.

He's negative about Ali, he's negative about Tyson, he's negative about Marciano.

Dude legit hates everybody

[JAB5239]

Holmes is a definitive top 5 ATG HW, but man is he always so negative.

He's negative about Ali, he's negative about Tyson, he's negative about Marciano.

Dude legit hates everybody

At least he's consistent.

[Willow The Wisp]

Larry B. Bitter. Always was. One of the greats. Larry gets more respect than he thinks. Always has. Old champs always asy disparaging things about the young breed. Always do. Good post.

[them_apples]

- - 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.

Larry might be touching 400.

he’s right though they don’t have any skills. And while he’s guilty of being tagged huge by shavers, his defense was good if we are going by the ratio of dangerous blows that came his way. He was in some pretty big firefights with a lot of leather being thrown. You can see his defensive savvy in his fights with Mercer and Holyfield. Both whome he beat (he beat Holy). Holmes slipping and rolling shots, parrying, using angles and head positioning. Resting in the clinches and throwing hard only when the oponent has been lulled to sleep (pace slowed down purposefully).

[them_apples]

On point! They never do. From Gunboat Smith, to Joe Louis, to Larry Holmes and many many more.

The only one I can think of who MAY have said something good is George Foreman, but it's only a guess.

thats cause George is a sociopath he is constantly living in sarcasm so deep nobody can detect it. It’s like he’s playing reverse psychology 24/7. We can all remember him saying he was “terrified” of Joe Frazier - then watching the replay of the calmest heavyweight champion swagger back to his corner all in the same interview. I understand the workings of the mind and he could have been very nervous secretly. He has to know what he’s displaying to the public when he talks like that though.

he picks other fighters to beat him. And hell say it in interviews. I wouldn’t want to fight him, no sir” “this man is much stronger than I ever was”

I think it was Atlas that called him a “big phony”

I remember in his book he said he never says anything bad about anyone in public because it will turn around and bite you in the ass.

just remember, George was in the hurting business and he was quite good at it lol.