Larry Holmes, the legendary heavyweight champion, thinks Anthony Joshua could have held his own in Holmes' era of boxing.
Holmes, known as "The Easton Assassin," started his career as Muhammad Ali's sparring partner. He went on to become the Ring Magazine and lineal champion in 1980. Holmes won the first IBF title and held it for two years from 1983. He was famous for his powerful jab and had an impressive 48-fight winning streak.
During his career, Holmes beat notable opponents like Tim Witherspoon, Gerry Cooney, Leon Spinks, Trevor Burbick, and even Muhammad Ali. His first loss came in 1985 to Michael Spinks. Holmes also faced defeats against Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield before retiring in 2002.
In a recent interview with GQ, Holmes was asked if Anthony Joshua could have survived in his era against fighters like Ali, Frazier, and Foreman. Holmes' answer was a clear "Yes."
"Yeah, I do. Do you know why? Because he's 6ft 6ins, 240lbs, and he's a big tough guy. He just needs to get that jab of his right. When I did my jab, it was fast – whap! Whap! Whap! They don't teach fighters that these days. If Joshua gets that right, he could be great. And if an old man like me can still do it, why can't he?"
Holmes pointed out Joshua's physical attributes as a key factor. He also suggested that Joshua could improve his jab technique, which was Holmes' own signature move during his fighting days.
Joshua, a former two-time world champion, is currently recovering from an elbow injury. The Sun reports that this setback follows a devastating knockout loss to IBF champion Daniel Dubois.
Looking ahead, Joshua might face Tyson Fury in a legacy-defining showdown, but that depends on whether Fury comes out of retirement. This potential fight could be Joshua's chance to prove he's as tough as Holmes suggests.
