Larry Holmes, the former world heavyweight champion, has taken a jab at George Foreman's boxing skills. In a recent interview, Holmes claimed that Foreman "can't fight" and suggested that the Olympic gold medalist ducked him during their careers.
Holmes, known as "The Easton Assassin," shared his thoughts about Foreman in a conversation with Sky Sports Boxing. The ex-champ, who held the world heavyweight title from 1978 to 1985, didn't pull any punches when describing Foreman's abilities.
"George Foreman's too big. Too big, too strong, he can't fight, because he's too big, hands up like this real slow," Holmes said. "That's how slow he is, you got time to get outta the way. But if he hits you with that, it's all over."
Holmes' career spanned nearly three decades and included notable victories over Trevor Berbick, Leon Spinks, and Muhammad Ali. He lost his championship to Michael Spinks in September 1985 and failed to reclaim it in a rematch six months later. After that, Holmes made three more unsuccessful attempts at the heavyweight title.
Foreman, nicknamed "Big George," started his professional career in 1969 after winning Olympic gold in 1968. He took a 10-year break from the sport from 1977 to 1987. Upon his return, Foreman made history by becoming the oldest world heavyweight champion in boxing.
Despite both fighters being considered among the greatest heavyweights in boxing history, they never faced each other in the ring. Holmes claims this wasn't by chance, stating that "everybody knew" Foreman didn't want to fight him.
The comments from Holmes have left boxing fans wondering what might have happened if these two legends had squared off during the golden era of heavyweight boxing.
Foreman's career was marked by significant achievements and a remarkable comeback, but according to Holmes, he was simply "too big, too strong" to be an effective fighter.
While Holmes acknowledges Foreman's power, saying "if he hits you with that, it's all over," he maintains that Foreman's size made him slow and predictable. Whether this assessment is fair or not, it's clear that the rivalry between these two boxing greats continues long after their fighting days have ended.
