WHO FACED THE BETTER COMP? HOLMES OR LEWIS?

both had there share of faded and young but what were the results- Tyson ko'd Holmes and Lewis managed to survive Vitali

Lewis had a young Rudduck - Holmes beat Shavers - Lewis beat Golota

I think Holmes avoided tough rematches and unifications - Lewis rematched his losses with victories- Lewis only avoided Vitali rematch

close call

 

Holmes has fought some of his best opponents at the age when Lennox was already retired

Prime Tyson, prime Holyfield, as well as (not on this level, but still very good opponents) Mercer and McCall.

So overall Holmes has faced better opposition.

 

Its close, but I'd side with Holmes. Its the way things worked out. Had Bowe fought Lewis, I might pick it the other way around.

 

or gotten him out of where he is now the top 10..

 

Definitely Holmes

 

Lewis, and not by a small margin!

 

Holmes

 

Vitali is the best either beat. Holyfield even at that stage is riiiiiight up there on their lists too talking strictly about guys beaten. You could throw Morrison on your first or second line too he was a decent fighter.

 

It's definitely close .. Lewis to his credit ducked absolutely no one .. everyone ducked him at one point or another .. no one wanted a part of Lennox .. also, unlike Wlad he went right back after the men who defeated him as fast as he could .. What never rematched Sanders and fought others when they were older and vulnerable ..

 

Holmes

 

Holmes fought the more skilled boxers and Lewis fought less skilled but bigger punchers. A lot of fans put more stock in the heavy hitters but it's the better skilled fighter who is more difficult to defeat.

Holmes.

 

They both fought big punchers. Here's something to chew on, despite very good opposition, it took both men a long time to get the respect they deserve.

 

Holmes. The truly Amazing Age of Heavyweights was beginning to pass both with the deterioration of Ali's skills, Frazier's being shot, and Foreman taking off. So there was still a high standard...just not for very long.

I don't even rate Pinklon, Tim, Weaver, or Page with Norton to be perfectly honest.

Lewis not-impressively beat a very much past it Holy (ATG), revenged losses he shouldn't have lost against a couple of losers, was losing (in my mind) to ATG Klitschko. I mean, I have great respect and admiration for LL. But he wasn't Larry. Just my opinion.

 

But that did admittedly take too long for Larry. People were questioning his greatness even as late as the Cooney fight. Think of how long and how many times he'd already defended the title, against the best that were put in against him.