Prime Evander Holyfield vs Prime Lennox Lewis

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by UFC2015, Mar 23, 2017.


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  1. UFC2015

    UFC2015 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    As far as Holyfield is concerned, i would say his prime years have to be 1988-1993. He didn't have one punch ko power, he was not intimidating at first glance but he had the heart and spirit of a warrior, he would never back down, he would always be at you, would be capable of thinking on his feet and changing his approach during the fight, he had very good handspeed and a granite chin. His never give up attitude certainly would intimidate any fighter in history.

    Lewis's prime has to be from 1995-2003 when he was with Steward where he became a more complete fighter. He sacrificed some of his hand and foot speed for learning to fight big under Steward. There are justified question marks on his chin but Holyfield does not have the power to hurt him.

    When looking at the actual fights that these 2 guys had. I personally felt Holyfield had under trained for the first fight, he was breathing heavy by round 4 in the first fight. He made tremendous improvements, adjustments in the second fight where he used his jab more and threw a lot more punches. Considering this was a past prime Evander against the best version of Lewis, i think it was a commendable performance.

    Lewis on the other hand should really have done a lot more in both these encounters, his performance in the second fight was even more lethargic and poor, he didn't even try to knock out a guy past his prime even though he had knock out power, had every punch in the book.

    Prime for Prime is very interesting. Lewis is not going to Ko Evander, his best bet is a decision. Evander is not going to ko Lewis, his best bet is also a decision and i suspect a fight similar to Riddick Bowe.
     
    UFC2015, Mar 23, 2017
    UFC2015, Mar 23, 2017
    #1
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  2. BCS8

    BCS8 VIP Member

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    Lewis.
     
    BCS8, Mar 23, 2017
    BCS8, Mar 23, 2017
    #2
  3. Birmingham

    Birmingham Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    Lewis too big for him, but its always competitive. Holyfield for me is one of the greatest heavys ever
     
    Birmingham, Mar 24, 2017
    Birmingham, Mar 24, 2017
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  4. juppity

    juppity Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Prime motivated Lewis was a brute. In a fight which would have its moments Lewis
    outboxes Evander using his physical advantages. Lewis on points.
     
    juppity, Mar 24, 2017
    juppity, Mar 24, 2017
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  5. DaveKrieg

    DaveKrieg New Member banned Full Member

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    Um anybody who says Lewis doesn't know a damn thing about boxing. Lewis barely beat a washed up Holyfield in their second bout. Clearly he won the first but I think that had a lot to do with Holyfield being so into himself after the Tyson fightst that he though he would get a early round KO.

    In any case he was still past his prime before he stopped Tyson. Bowe ruined Holyfield and Lewis fought a Evander when he was only a shell of his former self. Prime Holyfiled would probably stopped Lewis late or win a clearly cut decision.
     
    DaveKrieg, Mar 24, 2017
    DaveKrieg, Mar 24, 2017
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  6. juppity

    juppity Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Everybody is allowed to express their opinion. Nobody can ever say they 100 % correct .
     
    juppity, Mar 24, 2017
    juppity, Mar 24, 2017
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  7. DaveKrieg

    DaveKrieg New Member banned Full Member

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    Actually it isn't a opinion. If Lewis could barely beat a old broken down Holyfield why would he be able to beat a prime one? It is like let me give you this example. Anthony Joshua beats Wlad by split decision. Lands tons of flush punches and Wlad just eats them. When ever Wlad lands a punch it hurts Joshua badly. Why would you assume that a prime Wlad wouldn't actually win?
     
    DaveKrieg, Mar 24, 2017
    DaveKrieg, Mar 24, 2017
    #7
  8. juppity

    juppity Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Just because somebody has a different opinion to you Dave doesn't mean they know
    nothing about boxing. The last member who said this to other members was Black Hercules.
     
    juppity, Mar 24, 2017
    juppity, Mar 24, 2017
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  9. Pugilist_Spec

    Pugilist_Spec Hands Of Stone Full Member

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    Holyfield. I've argumented this far too many times to really bother anymore.
     
    Pugilist_Spec, Mar 24, 2017
    Pugilist_Spec, Mar 24, 2017
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  10. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    You'll probably find just as many people on here saying Lewis would win as would holyfield. Every ones got a opinion and if we all thought the same the forum and the world in particular would be a pretty boring place. That's the thing with fight s such as this, no one knows for sure. That's why it's good to see other people's opinions.
     
    Fergy, Mar 24, 2017
    Fergy, Mar 24, 2017
    #10
  11. Ken Ashcroft

    Ken Ashcroft Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I heard Lewis commented that when he last met Holyfield, Evander was still complaining albeit in a light mannered way, that Lewis's shorts were far too high and he couldn't really attack his body with punches.

    I wonder it there's any merit to this?
     
    Ken Ashcroft, Mar 24, 2017
    Ken Ashcroft, Mar 24, 2017
    #11
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  12. ticar

    ticar Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    yes it was disgraceful the way lewis put his trunks up to chest, can't believe the referee allowed him to do that
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2017
    ticar, Mar 24, 2017
    ticar, Mar 24, 2017
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  13. Odins beard

    Odins beard Fentanyl is one hell of a drug.... Full Member

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    Why was Lewis not motivated for his 2 initial encounters with the past prime Holyfield?

    Because LL struggled both times with a past prime EH.
     
    Odins beard, Mar 24, 2017
    Odins beard, Mar 24, 2017
    #13
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  14. Odins beard

    Odins beard Fentanyl is one hell of a drug.... Full Member

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    In many of his fights his hip protector was under his arm pits.
     
    Odins beard, Mar 24, 2017
    Odins beard, Mar 24, 2017
    #14
  15. Odins beard

    Odins beard Fentanyl is one hell of a drug.... Full Member

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    Prime Holyfield is just too good and tenacious for any version of Lewis.
     
    Odins beard, Mar 24, 2017
    Odins beard, Mar 24, 2017
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