Something I'm noticing about Holyfield's title defenses compared to Bowe and Lewis'

Tyson failed a drug test for cannabis. His fake **** and urine sample was to avoid failing a test for what? You and me don’t know but I’ll bet Tyson is the only fighter in history to take performance hindering drugs to allow him to box successfully all while living a dissolute lifestyle… yeah right. He was juiced to the gills too.

Lennox Lewis was also about 20lb’s of muscle heavier by the end of his career than when he beat Razor Ruddock. Purely natural too obviously haha.

Hey LL never failed a drug test either just like Evander. I’m not saying they’re innocent rather all as guilty as each other.

 

I've always had Lewis above Holyfield and Bowe.
And Bowe and Holyfield on the same level really.

 

I'm pretty sure Tyson admitted to being roided as well. Man had little to hide post-career.

 

Good way of putting it tbf.

 

Not after the Ngannou fight, Tyson is far ahead of Fury on the atg list by virtually all metrics which must be taken into account

 

He looked no different from Wilder 1 and was like 281 in the rematch.

 

Lewis in 1991 was still in the development stage of his career there's no way his team would've rushed him into the biggest fight of his life in his first world title fight on a weeks notice.

Holyfield did box and move for the majority of the fight but he did brawl occasionally but Holyfield often did get involved in 1 or 2 too many exchanges when he didn't have to especially at that stage in his career he was a bit more gung ho and liked to brawl more.

Bean was a soft touch agreed but who had Holyfield fought prior to Bean ? he'd fought Tyson x2, Moorer, and after the Bean fight he fought Lewis.

So excusing the Bean fight Holyfield had fought Tyson who was a top 3 rated Heavyweight and who Holyfield was a massive underdog against.

He fought Moorer who was also a top 3 rated Heavyweight.

And then after Bean he fought Lewis who was a top 2 rated Heavyweight.

So i think we can excuse 1 soft touch when Holyfield was fighting the likes of Tyson, Moorer, Lewis.

Holyfield rematched Ruiz because the decision was deemed controversial.

 

I'd say Tyson was a better win due to the context that Holyfield was a massive underdog.

Also Fury hadn't beaten a ranked contender since 2022 where as Tyson had destroyed Seldon, Bruno, who were belt holders and both were ranked in the top 10.

Tyson also went on to have some decent wins after losing to Holyfield where as Fury hasn't done anything of note since and he appears to be avoiding a Joshua match up.

I just think Holyfield has too much depth to his resume.

Holyfield's best wins

Tyson
Bowe
Dokes
Thomas
Mercer
Rahman
Moorer
Foreman
Holmes
Douglas
Ruiz

Usyk's best wins

Fury x2
Joshua x2
Dubois x2
Chisora

Whilst Holyfield doesn't have the clean record of Usyk i still prefer Holyfield's depth to his resume.

Holyfield has 10 world title wins compared to 6 for Usyk.

Holyfield has 12 wins against top 10 rated Heavyweight compared to 6 for Usyk.

 

Wilder also took alot of low risks fights and the Ortiz fight was also high risk high reward since it was Wilder's best win of his career. Wilder hadn't really fought many notable names so beating Ortiz proved to the public that Wilder was atleast legit in that regard.

Yes Ortiz was an avoided fighter and a dark horse so it was a risk for Wilder in that regard. But i don't consider it low reward Ortiz had some hype about him and a win over Ortiz done wonders for his resume which is mostly mediocre.

Golota was not considered a high risk opponent at that time that's why Bowe was a 12-1 favourite.

Tyson didn't have a belt when he fought Ruddock ? so isn't that the same logic you're using for Holyfield ? that Tyson stepped up when he had no belt and needed to get in the picture ?

I don't think there was any reward for Holyfield beating Mercer at the time ? it was just a tough durable opponent that Holyfield took on as a comeback opponent.

Mercer didn't get a shot because he lost to Holmes and then fell off completely for the next few years struggling against journeyman fighters. There was never really a window of opportunity for Mercer getting a title shot against Holyfield.

Bean i've already agreed was a soft touch but as i said Holyfield fought Tyson, Moorer, Lewis, during that period aswell. So it seems harsh to suggest he should've fought this guy and that guy when he's fought 3 Heavyweights who were amongst the top 3.

Holyfield defended the title against Ruiz because as i've already said the 1st fight was considered highly controversial.

Bowe was also a good fight when Holyfield was champion.

 

Tyson had also looked destructive in his comeback knocking off two belt holders in just 4 rounds combined which also had something to do with it.

I'd rate Tyson as the better win he's an ATG Heavyweight where as Fury isn't.

Tyson was also younger than Fury at age 30 compared to 35/36 for Fury and had shown better form in his previous fights.