The big difference is that when Holmes got floored by the power punching monster that is Earnie Shavers..... he got up and won. Lewis on the other hand (as brilliant as he was) got knocked out by Rahman and McCall. Call it having a better chin, call it having more heart will power..... but whatever it is Holmes had more of it than Lewis.
Lewis got up against McCall. Was that not the only time in history that the ref had called a halt to a fight after the champion had got to his feet? Or is that one of those internet myths?
Lewis beats Holmes H2H and has a better record. Holmes was great but it seems most of the adoration he receives these days are from people that have only seen him fight via highlight clips. Lewis did just about everything better than Larry.
With the (Don King) ref of Lewis vs McCall I, Holmes would've lost by 7th round TKO to Snipes and Shavers, because he was in equally bad shape for both. I rank Lewis a bit higher because he was actually willing to face the best of his time, while Holmes wanted no part of Page (dropped his only WBC title in a time when the IBF belt meant **** all), Thomas, Coetzee, Dokes and didn't give rightful rematches to Norton, Witherspoon, Weaver and Williams. Lewis was just as old when he lost to Rahman as Holmes was when he lost to lhw Spinks. Then again, Holmes never lost during his prime, which is why it's such a close call..
Holmes the best Jab ever , and also fought many fights over 15 rounds against a higher level of opposition
Virtually defeated every opponent he had ever faced Presenting the Linear, Legitimate and Universally Recognize UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD LENNOX LEWIS!!!!!