Where is Holyfield on your ATG Heavyweight list?

On any given day i have him between 8-12.

 

I knew it would draw some critics lol.. Its so subjective, I am a huge Holyfield homer so I know that it effects where I rate him, though I always find a way to justify it to myself :good

 

Between 9 and 12.

4 is OTT

 

7 on my list. ( this thread became completely ****ed up )

 

That's about my range of where he is as well.

 

I have him around 15 I don't think his resume at heavy is aging well. Great fighter dynamite to watch who stayed too long.

 

I also give Holy credit for being one of the only champs to give southpaws a fair shot at the belt.

 

id rate him between 6 and 8th . behind ali louis holmes peak tyson and foreman .

 

Some people on here are overvaluing him way too much.

I have him @ 12. I could possibly move him to 11, but no way could I move him into the top 10.

Title Defenses.
Only has 3 legit defenses of the title.

Record
Several losses during his career (5 under 40)

Time Spent at HW
This has to be addressed since he spent about 4 years in CW (this helps his P4P cause).

Beat in a Trilogy

 

I actually agree with Rockyssplitnose, except about the butting of Tyson. Holyfield shocked everyone by overpowering Tyson. Lots and lots of losses on Holyfield's record though, and you can't write every one of them off as age-related. Roly poly James Toney beat the hell out of him and was around the same age and just as battle-worn. I'd put Holyfield around 12-15.

 

1. Ali
2. Holmes
3. Holyfield
4. Foreman

 

Say what you will but at age 30 he was 28-0 (22) overall, 10-0 (7) in World Title Fights (Undisputed CW and Undisputed HW Champ), and 5-0 (2) vs. guys that would end up in the Hall of Fame.

He beat more Lineal HW Champs than any other fighter (7). He beat Douglas KO3, Foreman W12, Holmes W12, Bowe W12, Tyson KO11 and WDQ3, Moorer KO8, and Rahman WTD8. He also drew with and lost a close decision to Lewis.

In comparison Louis beat 6... Schmeling, Sharkey, Carnera, Baer, Braddock, and Walcott x2.

 

He had had an operation for that injury, so I don't know how much it effected him. But he seemed severely lacking in stamina. Had one good round before he started to fade badly. It's clear he was a shot fighter in that one, whatever the reason.

Bowe II was his last prime fight, I'd say. The Tyson's fights were Zaire like performances where the old warrior managed to adapt his style to his aging legs successfully. Lewis II was also a very credible performances all things considered.

Louis, Ali, Holmes and Lewis are clearly ahead of him IMO. Johnson as well probably, but I think it's hard to judge since the sport was so different back then. Wlad's long period of dominance have probably also made him pass Holy, but let's wait a bit on that one. For me he is more or less interchangeable with Marciano. Frazier, Tyson, Foreman and Liston in terms of greatness. Depends on what you like. Dempsey would probably also be in that mix, but I think I'd have him just below these guys.

So anywhere from 6-11, I'd say.

 

#11 currently. I like dominance with a title reign, and Holyfield never had that dominance. Won when he wasn't supposed to, lost when he wasn't supposed to. In the mix with Dempsey, Frazier and Liston.

 

:rofl Toney is 6 years younger than Holyfield.
Larry Donald is 5 years younger and beat Holyfield a year later after Toney.

That Holy who fought Toney and Donald was completely shot after 19 years as a pro.