By John F. McKenna (McJack): Former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes still thinks a Pacquiao – Mayweather fight will happen. Holmes is seen by many boxing pundits as one of the most underrated heavyweight champions of all time. Holmes had the misfortune of following the great Muhammad Ali, who is high on everyone’s list as the greatest heavyweight champion of all time. But Holmes, who held the heavyweight championship from 1978 to 1985, was a great heavyweight champion in his own right. Holmes was second only to the immortal Joe Louis in title defenses with 20.

However as is the case with so many fighters who followed great heavyweight champions, Larry Holmes never received his just due. Going all the way back to the great John L. Sullivan who was the first heavyweight champion of the world, the fighter who has the misfortune of following such a champion is often relegated to being a mere footnote in boxing history. James J. Corbett, Sullivan’s successor was greeted with animosity by many of Sullivan’s hardcore fans. The same was true of Gene Tunney who followed the legendary Jack Dempsey. Many boxing fans of today would be hard pressed to remember that Ezzard Charles was the heavyweight champion who followed Joe Louis, despite the fact that Charles was a very good fighter.

Many boxing historians however have now belatedly acknowledged that Holmes was indeed a great champion. Holmes in an interview with Gulfnews.com had some interesting comments about the impasse that has kept the two superstars of boxing from fighting each other. During the interview Holmes had the following to say:

“If they never fight it won’t be Pacquiao’s fault. Every time they come round to fighting Mayweather puts his excuses in. Pacquiao did all he can. He did all I would have done. I think Mayweather just got a little too scared if you ask me. If he thinks Pacquiao is taking drugs so what. He should just say: ‘You take it your just going to kill yourself that isn’t going to help you, because with my talent and ability I can still beat you. But he was scared to take that challenge.

“At the end of the day when you’re the champ you’re the champ. Pacquiao was the one going up a weight class for Mayweather not vice – versa, and Mayweather is the one who can’t earn a big price unless he fights Pacquiao, not the other way around. Pacquiao is a good fighter, the greatest of all time. People have always paid big money to watch his fights and they always will.”

As for whether the huge Mega Bucks fight will ever happen, it appears at this point that it is highly unlikely. Even hardcore boxing fans are becoming jaded at the prospect of negotiations which wind up in failure.