If Holyfield retires in 1997, what is his all time heavyweight standing and Lewis's?

The Ring ranked him third all-time, and I think he'd still hold that position today, especially since no one was accusing him of doping at the time.

This, however, highlights the incredible paradox of boxing. If you're a great swimmer like Spitz and dominate one or two Olympics, it doesn't matter if you can't even qualify for the next one. In boxing, the longer you fight past your prime, the lower your ranking, even though those fights have nothing to do with you being in your prime.

Holyfield should have retired after Moorer 2. He looked terrible against Vaughn Bean in 1998.

 

A lof of ranking historically is ALO emotional.

Commander Vander would command for sure a higher spot historically than he currently has altough truthfully his late career losses shouldnt work against him as Robinson s dont.

 

It might help Holyfield's rating, but not by much in my view.

There could be some kind of a trade-off, with Holyfield having left a gap in his résumé; one that would come to haunt him historically, later on down the line.

Naturally, it would have an adverse impact on Lewis's rating, and likely see him fall outside of the top-5, for mine. I could see Tyson, Holyfield and Lewis being regularly bunched together in the ratings, taking up sequential spots, somewhere from the 12 to 8 range – in various orders.

 

He punched half his ****ing face off.

 

How can you not consider it a win ?

Lewis within the rules legitmately cut Vitali badly with a punch not a headbutt.

Vitali needed 60+ stitches and could've gone blind in one eye had the fight not been stopped.

That's about as a legit as they come with the damage Lewis did to Vitali within the rules and not fouling his opponent.

I just don't understand people's obsession with this fight only went 6 rounds. It's like they make out no Heavyweight champion in history has ever got off to a slow start and never turned a fight around.

Lewis was turning the tide prior to the stoppage he was starting to land his own power punches. And almost knocked Vitali's head clean off his shoulders with an uppercut in 6th round.

 

Sure.

Luckily Lewis threw a punch that was luckily aimed at Vitali's face and luckily landed and, in turn, did luckily cause facial damage that luckily led to the stoppage because luckily a stoppage due to cuts is in the rules.

So what was it "Coincidence? Synchronicity? The steam-driven bogie truck of destiny" (Rankin, R - 1994)

Whatever it was, all that luck – in what was a boxing match – was just incredibly lucky.

 

I agree it was a legit and fair win. I don't think the uppercut did as much damage as people think. Vitali didn't even go down from it. It was a vicious shot by Vitali recovered fairly quickly. He wasn't stumbling around the ring the way Fury was vs Usyk, for example.

 

People s emotions leads them in saying stuff that is not true or so on point.

You could say Lewis s win was fortunate,lucky if you will.

That is wasnt a win is absurd.

 

Lol.No denying it John..he ****ing did!

 

I’ve always said if Holyfield retired after the second Moorer fight he would be considered a top 3 ATG. Fighting on for so long really tarnished his legacy, but considering how damn competitive he remained at elite level years past his best speaks volumes. Holyfields peak years were 1988-92… he was a decade past prime when he was giving a prime Lewis all he could handle. Let that sink in.

 

Of course not. He didn't dominate his era which would keep him well out of the top 3

He can't claim to be the best of his era without beating Lewis and losing a trilogy to Bowe

 

Had Holyfield retired right after the Moorer fight, that would be the perfect time.

Age 35. Certainly not too early. 13-year long career.

Record: 35-3 (25 KOs). Three times HW champion. Current IBF and WBA HW champion at the time of retirement. Beat all men he's faced. Avenged his last defeat in a style.

Wins over lineal HW champions: Douglas, Foreman, Holmes, Bowe, TysonX2, Moorer.

2 wins over ATG Qawi at CW.
Wins over HW beltholders: Dokes, Thomas, Mercer.

He would have certainly been ranked higher, many would place him at top-5 HW. Actually the Ring ranked him at #3 right after the Moorer win.

 

It was a heck of a fight. And Lewis was slightly behind but still in it. The punch that forced the cut and stoppage was legit and Vitali couldn't continue. It was a fair victory.
I get it that some people are firustrated there was no rematch. But IMO we don't often give credit to fighters who realise they are slipping and step away. It only takes one fight too far to undo years of good work in your career. Lewis played it smart IMO

 

I’m talking head to head, definitely top 3 and a nightmare for anyone H2H in his prime

 

You can bet the lemming noise would have been "Holyfield wasn't big enough.. too small.. Lewis knocks him out, no later than three rounds."