Where is Holyfield on your ATG Heavyweight list?

Agreed. Evander Holyfield's prime was very likely between 1989 to perhaps 1993. I can't believe anyone actually takes those later defeats into account for anything.

 

Reading this thread again was some laugh. Does Rockyssplitnose still post?

 

I thought it was extremely entertaining, hence why i bumped it a few days ago.

 

I've heard this response before and so do see your point. Keep in mind that Holyfield was already 30 years old when he lost a tough fight to Rid**** Bowe.

Holyfield came in over confident and really underestimated Bowe. He had made Bowe quit in sparring and didn't think much of Bowe... big mistake. Bowe fought the best fight of his career. Holyfield fought much better in the rematch although Bowe was not as good this time

Holyfield looked awful vs. Moorer but I still thought he deserved the W. He obviously was not 100% He stopped Moorer in their rematch.

Bowe stopped Holyfield in their 3rd fight after almost being stopped himself. Holyfield had no energy after just a few rounds for some reason. Holyfield was 33.

Holyfield rose to the occasion and stopped Tyson in '96 at age 34. Holyfield was past prime but fought a smart fight. He was very determined.

I thought Lewis deserved the win in their first fight but it was ruled a draw. I think a case can be made for a Holyfield win in the rematch... only a KO was going to get him that win after the backlash from their first fight. Holyfield was now 37 years old.

He still went in to beat Rahman and get ripped off vs. Valuev at the age of 46.

HW Champ in 1990-1992, 1993-1994, 1996-1999, 2000-2001. Beat Hall of Famers Qawi x2, DeLeon, Foreman, Holmes, Bowe, and Tyson x2. He drew with Hall of Famer Lewis. 8 wins and a draw vs. these guys.

10 wins and 2 draws in HW World Title Fights. Yes, he lost HW World Title Fights to Bowe, Moorer, Lewis, Ruiz, and Valuev. He also either beat the guy he lost to in another fight, or the fight he lost was close or even questionable, or it was a Great War. He was over 40 when he lost fights to Byrd and Toney.

 

Had Holyfield retired at 37 just like Lennox did, he would've been ranked higher on most of lists. He was 37-4-1 then.

 

Perhaps it would have done something to the perception of some people, but not me. I have never factored most of those late career defeats. In fact, I even look at his third meeting with Rid**** Bowe as being a past prime performance.

 

Agreed. Anything after Lewis II is fan fiction.

Holyfield either peaked in 90 versus Buster or 93 against Bowe.

Heart problems (HGH? still love Holy though), hepatitis in Bowe III, people forget he looked rough against Bobby Czyz in the match before Tyson.

I miss the 90s heavies.....that era was pretty great but could have arguably rivaled/topped the 70s had we gotten
1. Tyson/Holyfield 91
2. Bowe/Lewis 93, rematch in 95 w/ Steward in Lennox's corner
3. Bowe/Tyson 93-95, (this requires Tyson not going to jail as Bowe was shot by 96)
4. Tyson/Lewis 96 (almost happened)

I'm grateful we got Bowe/Holy I and II, Tyson/Holy 96, but damn.....what could have been. Boxing can be so amazing, yet it's easily the most frustrating sport in my lifetime with all the prime/prime matches that we've missed over the years (how the hell did we never get Oscar/Tito II immediate rematch? I know Tito didn't want to stay at 147 any longer, but those two should've fought again immediately).

 

Evander Holyfield had an incredible amount of heart, self-belief, desire and dedication, but I can only rate him to be an outstanding or great heavyweight at best, falling short of being an all-time great in that weight division.

- Chuck Johnston

 

He is in the bottom half , top ten All time.

 

Holyfield would have been a competitive fight for any heavyweight in history. I think he would have been very near, if not in the top 10 greatest heavyweights ever.

 

Yeah, it's easy to see that something's wrong with him in that one.

 

D