Where Do You Rank Evander Holyfield As A Heavyweight?

[lefthook31]

Originally Posted by Muchmoore

I'd pick the Vitali that fought Lennox over anyone on Holyfield's win column. As for the losses, Lennox was winning both of them until he got lazy and was caught. He was never outfought and outboxed like Holyfield was against Bowe and Moorer.



The difference is that Lewis avenged his two losses with ease, while Holyfield avenged his loss to Bowe by narrowly outpointing a Bowe that showed up fat. A rubber match between Lennox and McCall/Rahman would of meant nothing, while a rubber match was needed for Bowe-Holyfield.

Avenging a loss to Bowe is not the same as avenging a loss to Rahman or Mcall. Your first paragraph is,, I dont know what to say??

[The Kurgan]

Originally Posted by My dinner with Conteh

Between 10-12, a great heavyweight, not a great heavyweight champion. Too often the 'win two/lose one' type to be ranked that much higher. Like a big Jimmy Carter.

Didn't Jimmy Carter go 1-1? Including a loss to a punch-drunk opponent WAY past his prime?

[The Kurgan]

Does Holyfield's recent performance against Valuev affect his ranking in anyone's eyes? How many 46 year olds have OUTBOXED a top 5 heavyweight, even if they were robbed of the decision?

[Muchmoore]

Originally Posted by The Kurgan

Does Holyfield's recent performance against Valuev affect his ranking in anyone's eyes? How many 46 year olds have OUTBOXED a top 5 heavyweight, even if they were robbed of the decision?

Doesn't change it around too much, but it shows that it takes a very top end Super Heavyweight to take down Holyfield.

[mr. magoo]

Originally Posted by The Kurgan

Does Holyfield's recent performance against Valuev affect his ranking in anyone's eyes? How many 46 year olds have OUTBOXED a top 5 heavyweight, even if they were robbed of the decision?

I think it may help him a tad, but one still needs to get the official "W" before it can truly be added to a legacy. Had he received the decision however, it certainly would have boosted him up a spot or two on my list. Being the oldest man to regain a title and against by far, the the largest belt holder in history would have been a huge accomplishment.

[Quick Cash]

Originally Posted by The Kurgan

Does Holyfield's recent performance against Valuev affect his ranking in anyone's eyes? How many 46 year olds have OUTBOXED a top 5 heavyweight, even if they were robbed of the decision?

Robbery or no, it still only looks good on paper. If we actually look at who he outboxed, it's not so impressive even at age 46. For me, it doesn't put him in the same league as Foreman. This was more of a statistic; Foreman-Moorer was an accomplishment.

[he grant]

I would rate the Bowe who fought Evander over any Vitali I have seen.

[Quick Cash]

Originally Posted by rekcutnevets

With sixteen successful title defenses, spread over the course of two reigns, he ranks third amongst the heavyweight champions.

I might be wrong, but wasn't his record just 13 successful defenses? That would put him behind at least three other men by my reckoning. Louis famously set the record high at 25 consecutive defenses. Holmes has 20. And Ali mustered a total of 19 over two reigns aswell (excluding his defenses pre-Foreman of the newly invented NABF heavyweight belt).

This is completely beside the point you were making, but for the sake of accuracy...

[Unforgiven]

Originally Posted by he grant

I would rate the Bowe who fought Evander over any Vitali I have seen.

Agreed.

[Rubber Warrior]

Originally Posted by The Kurgan

I think we can all agree he was the best boxer to fight in the cruiserweight division, but where do you rank him at heavyweight? I've seen him ranked everywhere from 5 to 20.

Somewhere very high.

[Quick Cash]

11th best

[junior-soprano]

somewhere between 10 and 15

[Unforgiven]

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[Maxmomer]

Borderline top-10. Wins over the likes of Tyson, Bowe, Moorer, Foreman, Rahman and Mercer. Freakish longevity, and almost all of his losses have occurred past his prime. He's a pretty big H2H threat also.

[Minotauro]

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