Heavyweight icon Larry Holmes has provided a blunt assessment of Jake Paul’s boxing ability, stating the social media personality is “not a true boxer” and should relinquish the sport to “real fighters.”
The former world champion, widely regarded as one of the greatest technical heavyweights in history, reportedly made the remarks during an interview with Canada Casino, effectively challenging the competitive identity Paul has spent years attempting to establish.
Larry Holmes questions the legitimacy of Jake Paul
Larry Holmes, famously known as the “Easton Assassin,” did not mince words when discussing the 29-year-old’s place in the professional ranks. While Paul has achieved undeniable commercial success and founded Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), his transition from influencer to pugilist continues to meet resistance from the sport’s historic figures.
These latest comments follow a difficult period for Paul, who has been sidelined recovering from a broken jaw sustained during a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in December 2025.
The critique from Larry Holmes carries significant weight due to his legendary standing as a former world heavyweight champion. Holmes, who defended the WBC title 17 times and famously stopped Muhammad Ali in 1980, understands the technical nuances of the craft better than most.
By categorizing Paul as something other than a “true boxer,” he highlights the perceived gap between promotional spectacles and the fundamental skill sets required for elite competition.
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This is not the first time the “Easton Assassin” has weighed in on Paul’s career. Before the influencer’s 2024 bout with Mike Tyson, the veteran offered tactical advice that suggested a lack of confidence in Paul’s ability to stand and trade.
“The only way he wins the battle is if he runs,” Holmes told OLBG at the time, advising Paul to use movement to survive against a puncher of Tyson’s caliber.
And while those close to the influencer often praise his dedication, fans roast Shakur Stevenson and other active fighters when they attempt to validate crossover boxing as a traditional narrative.
Holmes further emphasized the necessity of technical proficiency, warning that if Paul “doesn’t use his jab and movement, it’s goodnight, Irene.” For a man whose own left jab is rated among the best in boxing history, seeing a novice-level fighter skip the traditional amateur foundation appears to be a point of contention.
To Holmes, the knockout by a elite-level heavyweight like Anthony Joshua served as evidence that the “Problem Child” may have reached his ceiling when facing active, world-class opposition.
Evaluating the professional record of the Problem Child
The professional record of Jake Paul, which stood at 10-1 prior to the Joshua defeat, has long been a subject of debate among purists. Paul built his resume primarily by targeting aging fighters from the world of mixed martial arts.
Victories over Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz provided commercial highlights and pay-per-view success, but they did little to convince veterans like Larry Holmes of Paul’s genuine boxing pedigree.
The first significant cracks in Paul’s armor appeared in early 2023 when he faced Tommy Fury, the first active, age-appropriate professional boxer on his schedule. Despite scoring a late knockdown, Paul lost a split decision, confirming that he struggled against opponents with a traditional background.
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While Anthony Joshua dismisses Jake Paul’s injury and recent setbacks as simply part of the sport, the technical deficiencies exposed in high-level bouts remain the central theme of Holmes’s criticism.
Beyond the ring, Paul has been removed from the WBA’s rankings following his sixth-round knockout loss in late 2025. This was a significant blow to the influencer, who had used his presence in the cruiserweight rankings as a shield against critics.
Holmes’s insistence that Paul “should leave boxing to real fighters” mirrors the sentiment of a boxing establishment that views these crossover events as a departure from the discipline and heritage of the “sweet science.”
The impact of Most Valuable Promotions and future fights
While his in-ring ability remains under fire, it is impossible to ignore Paul’s business impact. Through Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), he has changed the pay structure for several fighters and significantly elevated women’s boxing. However, the friction between commercial value and competitive merit is at the heart of the Holmes critique.
In the eyes of the legend, no amount of revenue can transform a practitioner into a “true boxer” without the years of grinding through the local circuit.
Despite the scathing review from Holmes, Paul does not appear ready to exit the sport. Reports suggest he is eyeing a return to the cruiserweight division before the end of 2026 once his jaw has fully healed. There is also persistent talk regarding a potential heavyweight fight against Francis Ngannou.
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Pursuing such a dangerous opponent would put him back in the line of fire of “real fighters” as defined by the old guard.
As 2026 progresses, the boxing world will wait to see if Paul heeds the advice to step back or if he uses the words of Larry Holmes as fuel for another run. Given his history of thriving on negativity, it is likely the “Problem Child” will attempt to prove the legend wrong.
However, with icons like Holmes maintaining their stance, the path to mainstream boxing respectability remains steep for the social media star.
