"A lot of these fighters don't want to make sacrifices and they don't want to dedicate themselves…I'm not really interested in watching anymore because, you know, you don't have anybody out there carrying the ball. When we were out, there was never a foreign heavyweight champion and now that's all you got. That's the way these guys are now. They doing what they are doing just to get by and I like to see guys that are really interested in the game and really taking it seriously and I don't see that," stated former heavyweight champion and legendary Hall of Famer Larry Holmes as he shared his thoughts on the current state of boxing, the heavyweight division and much more. Check it out!

PC: It's an honor to speak to you champ. How is everything going?

LH: Everything is okay, I can't complain. I'm trying to do my thing and everything is okay. 

PC: Muhammad Ali changed the game because he took a stance on certain issues that other fighters wouldn't. Murad Muhammad spoke about an incident where you took a big stance, and in many ways a risk, to vacate the WBC title at a time when no other fighter would have done something to that affect. Can you tell us about it?

LH: Well, you know, I was put in a no-win situation and I had to make up my mind what I wanted to do. I got tired of people dictating and telling me things that they wanted me to do that was not part of the rules. They were making the rules up as they went along. I just decided to go to the IBF and said, "The heck with it." And that's what I did.

PC: On the Facing Ali documentary, you said at one point you fought 6 times in a year and made $700. How did you make it off of that?

LH: I tell you what, I was learning the game and I was just starting out and that's the way they had it. I had to do that or don't do nothing at all. I did that and I came out of it alright by switching and doing the things that I needed to do, so it was okay. 

PC: You also spoke on how little education you have, but you seem to be doing very well for yourself. Who are some of the people that guided you through to help you be a success?

LH: I learned a lot from Don King and being around him. I learned a lot from Ali and other fighters. You take a page out of all of these peoples' book and if you like it, you like it and deal with it and if not, you get rid of it. And that's what I did. I didn't want to end up starving and being hungry and regretting things that I had done the rest of my life, so I made moves very carefully. 

PC: You are known for having the best jab in boxing. I'm surprised you never wanted to pass that on and become a trainer. Is that something that you may do someday?

LH: Well, later on down the road, I might want to do something like that, but I don't want to do it right now because a lot of fighters are hard-headed, you know? They want to just do what they want to do. With me, if you want to be a good fighter, you gotta just go ahead and do what you gotta do. A lot of these guys don't do that. They just want to hang out and that's it. I want to do everything I gotta do and that's doing right so I could win and go on to make some dollars. A lot of these fighters don't want to make sacrifices and they don't want to dedicate themselves. 

PC: The heavyweight division is like night and day from the time when you were a fighter. Is there any fighter in any division that you watch or are you not tuning in to boxing much these days?

LH: I don't really like to tune in. I'm not really interested in watching anymore because, you know, you don't have anybody out there carrying the ball. When we were out, there was never a foreign heavyweight champion and now that's all you got. That's the way these guys are now. They doing what they are doing just to get by and I like to see guys that are really interested in the game and really taking it seriously and I don't see that. 

PC: It was really tough for you to fight Muhammad Ali because he was someone that you looked up to. Do you remember what your preparation was like for that fight?

LH: I prepared basically the same way I did with everybody. I took it seriously and tried not to let the bullshit get to me because it was a lot of that. I just kept it going and didn't stop, so all of the things that they were saying…all of the negative things that they were saying, I didn't pay it no mind because they were not able to get into the ring with me. 

PC: What were your days sparring with Ali like and what did that mean to you?

LH: That was a great learning experience as far as I'm concerned. You know, I learned a lot and I appreciated the fact that I was able to get in there with one of the greatest fighters of all time. That's something that not too many people in life can say and I can say that. Ali was the man and as far as I'm concerned, he was one of the great guys of all time and I got a chance to work with him and everybody don't get a chance to do that. 

PC: You're probably the most underappreciated fighter of all time. Your record and accomplishments are top notch stuff. You had one of the greatest jabs ever. What made you so special as a fighter?

LH: I wanted to win and I wanted to be the best. I wanted to be quick and I wanted to do it without you seeing what I was doing and that's what helped me out a lot. 

PC: You were from the hood in Philly and now I'm going through your assistant to speak with you. Did you ever think you would be in this position?

LH: No…I never thought about that I just kept trying to do my thing and do what I needed to do to become champion and stay champion and that's what I did. I didn't think about all that other nonsense. I just wanted to go out there and win and do what I had to do. 

PC: If there is a young kid that is looking to get involved in the game of boxing, what advice would you give them?

LH: My advice would be stay the hell out of trouble and don't do what everybody else is doing out there that is wrong. You gotta make your own mind up and go down your own road instead of somebody else's, you know? Don't be out in the street in a gang in the hood and all of that kind of stuff that a lot of the young people are doing today. Just be yourself and carry yourself in the proper way. 

PC: Mr. Holmes, it was a pleasure and an honor to speak to you. I know you don't do many interviews so I want to thank you again. Anyone that has followed the fight game has to respect what you stood for. Is there anything you want to say in closing?

LH: I just appreciate all of the people who do support me and gave me support over the years. I wish them the best. I appreciate it man.