Former Heavyweight Champion of the World Larry Holmes has dismissed the current crop of heavyweight boxers as nothing more than ‘big and strong guys who don’t know how to fight.’

Speaking to Setanta Sports News Holmes said:

“If you want to prove yourself as a champion, you have to fight everybody and anybody who comes up and gives you that challenge. You have to prove yourself worthy of being Heavyweight Champion of the World.

“Fighting Mike Tyson, I was out of my prime a little bit. I retired, I came back. He beat me. But, you know what? It was a good fight from me, it was a good fight from him and it put a whole new grudge on it. And that’s what really makes a champion.”

A career highlight for Holmes was his WBC Heavyweight title bout against Ken Norton, where the pair battled it out toe to toe for 15 rounds. He said:

“Fighters don’t do that anymore. They don’t fight 15 rounds, they barely fight ten rounds. We were in terrific shape, we had a great time out there and I became victorious that night.”

Holmes is confident that if Great Britain’s Joe Calzaghe gets to fight Roy Jones Jnr, there will only be one winner. He said:

“Roy Jones doesn’t take the best punches anymore, but he still has quick hands and he still punches well. If he [Calzaghe] lets Roy’s clowning and showboating get to him he’ll be in trouble. But if he goes in concentrating on what he’s got to do, he hasn’t got a problem.”

Yusuf Mack vs Daniel Judah

Yusaf Mack (24-2-2) comeback continues at Light Heavyweight on the 4th of June at the Aviator Sport Arena, Brooklyn, New York taking on Daniel Judah (20-2-3) in a 10 round contest, Daniel the brother of Zab Judah is moving down to Light Heavyweight from Cruiserweight for this fight. Mack is gunning for the top guys in the division after moving up to Light Heavyweight following the problems to make the Super Middleweight limit. On speaking to Yusaf he has said “He called me out earlier in my career and it’s great that we have finally managed to get it on, I am so much stronger at the new weight and my new trainer John Tandy has whipped me into the best shape of my career, I have never felt this good and people are going to see the new me, I am very confident of getting the win and putting on a good show for the fans out there” The event is being televised on ESPN2 Wednesday night fights.

The undercard features Irish born undefeated Light Middleweight James Moore (15-0) who opponent is yet to be announced.

Diferson Legrand vs. TBA 4/6 rounds
Carlos Garcia vs TBA 4
Jose Lozada vs. TBA 4
Anthony Accardi vs. TBA 4
Vachagan Avagyan vs.TBA 4 rounds

The show is being promoted by Tommy Gallagher Promotions and Winky Wright Promotions

Versus to televise Hatton vs Lazcano

Golden Boy Promotions announced today a deal with VERSUS, the sports network that celebrates real competition in all its forms, to televise the Ricky Hatton vs. Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi vs. Lovemore N’Dou world championship doubleheader.. The fights will air live on VERSUS on May 24 at 3:30 PM ET and will originate from the City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England. The event marks the first time that Golden Boy Promotions and VERSUS will work together to televise a boxing event. The fight will be televised by Sky Box Office in the United Kingdom.

The main event will feature Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton and Juan Lazcano in a 12-round bout for Hatton’s IBO and Ring Magazine Junior Welterweight World Championships with the co-featured bout pitting IBF Junior Welterweight World Champion Paulie Malignaggi vs. Lovemore N’Dou in a re-match battle for Malignaggi’s title. The bouts are promoted by Punch Promotions in association with Golden Boy Promotions and Frank Maloney Promotions. Malignaggi vs. N’Dou is presented in association with DiBella Entertainment.

“I’m very excited to bring Ricky’s fight to his American fans through VERSUS,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “This is a step in the right direction for fight fans as we at Golden Boy hope to continue to bring big names and big fights to non-pay TV on cable television. The fights between Hatton and Lazcano and Malignaggi and N’Dou are the perfect start to what I hope will be a long relationship with VERSUS.”

“We are thrilled to be bringing this level of fight to our network,” said Marc Fein, Executive Vice President of Programming, Production and Business Operations for VERSUS. “We look forward to continuing to build our boxing franchise and look forward to working with Golden Boy Promotions on this event.”

For more information on Golden Boy Promotions, please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com. For more information on VERSUS, please visit www.versus.com