WHO FACED THE BETTER COMP? HOLMES OR LEWIS?

Most of that from his Irish fan-base, out of New York, I'd suspect; along with a lot of wishful thinking, driven by certain biases, drummed up by the promoters and their Great White Hope campaign.

 

Go cry some more.

 

You're right. My bad. Cooney was viewed as a big challenge for Holmes. It wasn't the 2nd biggest heavyweight SuperFight of the 80's for nothing.

 

Yeah. Born way before 1982. And I'm white. And you're a dick. And then?

 

A variety of things conspired here - the great white hope thing, which was magnified by Cooney being a massive puncher, Holmes not exciting people, being underrated and following Ali, Cooney obliterating household names tho they were mostly shot or past it, just the whole hype train really.

You are right that Cooney was viewed as a big challenge, bigger than he would have been seen under different circumstances. Plenty of top flight observers that should have known better fell for it. There was also quite a few who saws things for exactly what they were, to be fair tho.

It was good, tho racial tensions come forth here and there it had boxing in the spotlight and was a huge event.

 

Going off subject, what do you think is the 3rd biggest heavyweight showdown of the 80's? For me the order goes:

Tyson-Spinks
Holmes-Cooney
Spinks-Holmes II

I recall these standing out the most. Maybe squeeze Holmes-Ali in there as well?

 

Holmes. Side note while looking into the history of their opponents, Lewis ate a small meal of names Mike Tyson had already demolished some as much as four years earlier. Just thought it was a little funny not trying to diminish anything Lennox did as he beat them all soundly.

1. Tyrell Biggs, four years after Tyson beat him.
2. Tony Tucker, six years after Tyson beat him.
3. Frank Bruno, four years after Tyson beat him.
   
4. Razor Ruddock, one year seven months after Tyson beat him.

 

Now THAT is a tough one. Jeez.

I thought Dokes - Weaver II was significant but it didn't even headline the card. With Holmes - Coetzee not coming off and Holmes refusing to entertain fighting Thomas or rematch Witherspoon there really wasn't much going on.

Spinks - Holmes II doesn't quit sit right for me. They would have built Spinks - Cooney up a bit and both were well paid.

I'm actually thinking Tyson - Berbick given the lack of good alternatives. The incredible hype and build up around Tyson, his age, his story, the dignitaries there at ringside etc. I remember the mate and i making damn sure we caught it live, it was a big event.

 

Well, if you are going to include the losses, Holmes easily. If you are talking about wins, Lewis by a country mile and then some.

 

No HW is ahead of Holmes by a country mile.

 

I thought of Tyson-Berbick as well, with Tyson going for the youngest to win a heavyweight belt record. It was a big deal and so sudden, especially with Mike entering the tournament at the last second. With Youtube you can see the Spinks-Tangstad & Tyson-Ratliff doubleheader from '86 as Tyson got a tremendous ovation with Spinks getting barely a whimper in comparison.

Tyson-Holmes set the viewing record on HBO at the time. Spinks-Cooney was big. The other title bouts and their order would make a good thread. We'll leave that up to Mark Ant.

 

Ali would be. Prime ATG's Liston, Frazier and Foreman among dozens of other top 10'ers. His comp was insane.

 

Ha!! Tyson - Holmes with the passing of the torch would be right in there to, you're right.

 

Of course they are. Zombie Ali and disputed decisions over Norton and Witherspoon is not a terribly impressive hit list.

 

You forgot the slow count against Shavers and the gift against Truth Williams...