Floyd Mayweather has picked Larry Holmes as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. The undefeated all-time boxing great made this surprising choice during a chat with Fat Joe, picking Holmes over the widely-favored Muhammad Ali.
Mayweather, known as "Pretty Boy" and "TBE (The Best Ever)," retired from professional boxing without a single loss. He won 15 major world championships across five weight classes, from super featherweight to super welterweight. His superb defensive abilities, quick thinking, fancy footwork, and precise punching led him to victories over big names like Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, and Oscar De La Hoya. Mayweather's list of best wins includes other notable fighters as well.
When Fat Joe asked Mayweather to name the greatest heavyweight ever, he didn't hesitate to pick Larry Holmes. Mayweather explained his choice:
"Larry Holmes beat everybody in his era. He had the basic fundamentals. He had the jab."
Holmes, nicknamed "The Easton Assassin," had a boxing career that lasted more than two decades. He started out as Muhammad Ali's sparring partner before becoming a champion himself. In 1978, Holmes won the WBC heavyweight title after a tough 15-round fight with Ken Norton.
Holmes defended his title 20 times, beating big names like Muhammad Ali, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney, and Tim Witherspoon. He first retired in 1986 but came back to face Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, losing to both. Holmes hung up his gloves for good in 2002, ending with an impressive record of 69 wins (44 by knockout) and just 6 losses.
Mayweather's pick might surprise many boxing fans who often name Muhammad Ali as the greatest heavyweight. But Mayweather's respect for Holmes' fundamentals and his perfect record against his contemporaries shows why he holds "The Easton Assassin" in such high regard.
