67-year old former heavyweight boxing champion Larry Holmes has said that current champion, Anthony Joshua will be one of the greatest boxers of all time if he keeps going in the direction he's currently heading.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the former world champion who had a career spanning three decades, said that he was impressed by the 27-year-old's current form. On October 28th, Joshua will be defending his heavyweight title against Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria in Cardiff.
Holmes observed that Joshua was already a champion at 27-years of age, while he achieved the same feat at 30.
Holmes said that if Joshua maintained his hunger, self-confidence and the right attitude, he has a great opportunity to become one of the greatest boxers of all time.
He also advised Joshua not to mind what people thought about him, but continue climbing higher up the boxing ladder.
Joshua vs Pulev
In less than two weeks, Joshua steps into the ring to face it off with Kubrat Pulev with his IBF, WBA, and IBO world heavyweight titles on the line.
Joshua goes into the title fight as the clear favorite with a 19-0 record, against Pulev's 25-1. While boxing pundits have predicted that Pulev will not cause major problems at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, some have cautioned that he is an experienced boxer who should not be underestimated.
Joshua' s last fight was in April against the then-defending champion Wladimir Klitschko. Joshua knocked out Klitschko in the 11th round to take all three titles. Months later, Klitschko announced his retirement from professional boxing.
On the day of the fight, two other titles will be on the line as WBA super-flyweight champion Khal Yafai will defend his title against Sho Ishida.
While WBA lightweight champion Anahi Esther Sanchez will fight it out against Katie Taylor.
Holmes predictions
The boxing legend who is one of only five boxers who managed to beat Muhammed Ali thinks Joshua will beat Pulev. But said if Joshua was to meet WBC champion Deontay Wilder, that fight would be too close to call as both fighters were strong and punched well.
Holmes, who ended his boxing career in 2002 with a 69-6 record, is ranked as one of the greatest boxers of all time and has been inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame and International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Known for his hard left jab, Holmes held the WBC heavyweight title from 1978-1983 and managed 20 successful title defenses. He is the only boxer who managed to defeat and stop Muhammed Ali, on 2nd October 1980.
