Will history be kind to Evander Holyfield?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Mendoza, Mar 5, 2013.


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  1. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Does anyone think historians and hard core fans will downgrade him as the years roll on?
     
    Mendoza, Mar 5, 2013
    Mendoza, Mar 5, 2013
    #1
  2. anj

    anj Guest

    Why would he be degraded? The greatest cruiser of all time and a great heavyweight.
     
    anj, Mar 5, 2013
    anj, Mar 5, 2013
    #2
  3. Vic-JofreBRASIL

    Vic-JofreBRASIL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I hope so, he was great.
    His win over Tyson is getting underrated year after year....
     
    Vic-JofreBRASIL, Mar 5, 2013
    Vic-JofreBRASIL, Mar 5, 2013
    #3
  4. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Well, he has tarnished his legacy a bit by fighting way past his prime. He has a PED issue as a Pro. He received a gift draw in the first match with Lewis. He lost to Moorer, fought two old men ( Foreman and Holmes ) in title matches, was KO’d by a blow up middle, lost the trilogy to Bowe, and received a long count vs. Bert Cooper.

    20 years from now, I think most will have him out of their top 12.
     
    Mendoza, Mar 5, 2013
    Mendoza, Mar 5, 2013
    #4
  5. anj

    anj Guest

    That's good for a blown up vruiser.

    PED issue. I'm pretty sure they ALL did PED's then.
    Roy Jones is fighting way past his prime. His legacy certainly isn't tarnished.
     
    anj, Mar 5, 2013
    anj, Mar 5, 2013
    #5
  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Yeah, we know, you think Jack Johnson, Evander Holyfield and Joe Louis are all going to have magically tarnished careers "in the next twenty years" whereas Wlad Kitsckho, Vitali Klitschko and that other white guy - what's his name? - yeah, Jack Dempsey, they won't. Sure.
     
    McGrain, Mar 5, 2013
    McGrain, Mar 5, 2013
    #6
  7. turbotime

    turbotime Hall Of Famer Full Member

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    History has been fine with Ezzard Charles.
     
    turbotime, Mar 5, 2013
    turbotime, Mar 5, 2013
    #7
  8. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    No reason why not. Consensually the number one Cruiserweight of all time,and would be featured in most boxing fans top 15 of the Heavyweight division.
     
    Stevie G, Mar 5, 2013
    Stevie G, Mar 5, 2013
    #8
  9. OvidsExile

    OvidsExile At a minimum, a huckleberry over your persimmon. Full Member

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    Why wouldn't it be? It's been more than friendly to Sam Langford.
     
    OvidsExile, Mar 5, 2013
    OvidsExile, Mar 5, 2013
    #9
  10. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    It's easier to excuse a fighter for fighting beyond his means if he does it for a few fights or maybe a year or two. It's another thing entirely when he's been fighting onfumes for a period of time far longer than his prime lasted. At a certain point, it has to start staining your image.

    Oh, and not to split hairs, but there was no long count against Cooper. Not sure what that's all about.
     
    salsanchezfan, Mar 5, 2013
    salsanchezfan, Mar 5, 2013
    #10
  11. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    Holy is gonna be fondly remembered when all is said and done.

    So what if he carried on too long, until Lewis he beat everyone he fought. Even then he took Lewis to the brink and managed victories over Rahman and Ruiz.

    Top 10 lock for me.
     
    lufcrazy, Mar 5, 2013
    lufcrazy, Mar 5, 2013
    #11
  12. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Took Lewis to the brink? Hardly. Beat Ruiz? Yes, he also lost and drew to Ruiz, and had excuses throughout his career. Can you post your top ten?
     
    Mendoza, Mar 5, 2013
    Mendoza, Mar 5, 2013
    #12
  13. fists of fury

    fists of fury Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    To me he's a great fighter regardless of what happens or has happened. If some people want to leave him out of the top 10, fine. Whatever. It's just a number.
     
    fists of fury, Mar 5, 2013
    fists of fury, Mar 5, 2013
    #13
  14. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    How did you score the rematch?

    I can't exactly, but it is something like this

    Ali
    Louis
    Lewis
    Rocky
    Tyson
    Holy
    Foreman
    Johnson
    Frazier
    Holmes

    Closely followed by Liston and Wlad. Johnson is hanging on by the skin of his teeth atm.

    I'm half tempted to move Holy above Tyson. Once I'm settled on who i favour prime for prime I'll know who i rank higher.
     
    lufcrazy, Mar 5, 2013
    lufcrazy, Mar 5, 2013
    #14
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I expect his currency to go up over the coming years.

    The longevity factor is off the scale for a start.

    He started beating the best cruiserweights in the world in 1986, and a lot of people here think that he beat Nicolai Valuev in 2008.
     
    janitor, Mar 5, 2013
    janitor, Mar 5, 2013
    #15
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