Come one Classic... lets end this (heated) debate... Holyfield - Lewis?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by D.T, Apr 22, 2011.


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  1. D.T

    D.T Guest

    Who ranks higher?


    FACTS:

    Holyfield fought better version of their mutual opponents and beat them more convincingly (except Botha).

    Holyfield fought and beat the better competition.

    When comparing the two, Holyfield's late-career losses cannot do too much damage because Lennox never even attempted to fight at such ages.



    Who is better in the following categories:


    Chin?
    Heart?
    Speed?
    Competition beaten?
    Power?
    Stamina?


    IS IT FAIR TO RANK HOLYFIELD AT #13 AND LEWIS AT #5? ARE THEIR RESUMES REALLY THAT FAR APART IN TERMS OF QUALITY?



    HOLYFIELD HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK!:bbb:hi::happy
     
    D.T, Apr 22, 2011
    D.T, Apr 22, 2011
    #1
  2. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    I fear the debate might continue long after this thread has fallen into the abys!
     
    janitor, Apr 22, 2011
    janitor, Apr 22, 2011
    #2
  3. Shake

    Shake Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Lewis is the better heavyweight, Holyfield the better pound-for-pound. Pretty easy, imo.
     
    Shake, Apr 22, 2011
    Shake, Apr 22, 2011
    #3
  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Which hopefully will be imminent.
     
    McGrain, Apr 22, 2011
    McGrain, Apr 22, 2011
    #4
  5. Drew101

    Drew101 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Sounds good to me.
     
    Drew101, Apr 22, 2011
    Drew101, Apr 22, 2011
    #5
  6. goat15

    goat15 Active Member Full Member

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    quite nice to see that holyfield has such hardcore support. i always thought tyson and lewis dwarfed him in the popularity stakes, certainly since lewis' retirement anyway.
     
    goat15, Apr 22, 2011
    goat15, Apr 22, 2011
    #6
  7. the cobra

    the cobra Awesomeizationism! Full Member

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    I really dont care to get into the rankings as heavyweights, but if im going to list out the greatest fighters in boxing history, Holyfield will probably be ahead by a good 20-30 places.
     
    the cobra, Apr 22, 2011
    the cobra, Apr 22, 2011
    #7
  8. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Lewis is the better heavy. Holyfield was game to the core, tho.
     
    Seamus, Apr 22, 2011
    Seamus, Apr 22, 2011
    #8
  9. Muchmoore

    Muchmoore Guest

    Holyfield DOES have wins over Tyson, Bowe, Foreman, Moorer, AND Holmes. Not to mention "second" tier guys like Rahman, Douglas, Ruiz, Dokes etc. ;)

    A decent case can be made for either depending on criteria. If someone values the level of opposition faced, Holyfield can be argued above Lennox as he faced the generally better competition throughout their careers.

    I rate Lewis sort of in the 5-8 range and Holyfield is usually just out of the top ten. Lewis deserves to be ranked a little higher IMO on a Heavyweight list.
    Holyfield is greater P4P.
     
    Muchmoore, Apr 22, 2011
    Muchmoore, Apr 22, 2011
    #9
  10. techks

    techks ATG list Killah! Full Member

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    Lewis as heavyweight but we all can agree PFP Holyfield should be higher(Qawi, Tyson, Bowe, Moorer, Foreman, DeLeon). Lewis had more conisitency while Holyfield may have a slight edge on names(Foreman & Bowe though Bowe shamefully ducked Lewis).

    Holyfield: Bowe, Tyson, Moorer, Foreman, Mercer

    Lewis: Mercer, Bruno, Tua, Ruddock, Golota, Vitali, Briggs

    As a heavyweight TBH, I go with Lewis and looking at Lewis' resume I forgot how many solid names he has on it.
     
    techks, Apr 22, 2011
    techks, Apr 22, 2011
    #10
  11. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    I don't give a lot of credit for a Bowe victory as I don't think Bowe was that good. Who besides Evan Fields did he ever beat? A razor thin decision over Tubbs? A low blow submission Coetzer? Coo and woo over his fantastic dimensions all you want. I'll focus on his weak resume.
     
    Seamus, Apr 22, 2011
    Seamus, Apr 22, 2011
    #11
  12. Muchmoore

    Muchmoore Guest

    True. How highly you rate Holyfield depends a lot on how you rate Bowe. Bowe is a guy who is better than his record or all time ranking may indicate imo, his title winning effort over Evander was simply incredible. Because of that (and the circumstances with the rubber match), I know I myself give Holy some leeway in losing to Bowe, and Holy gets respect for beating Bowe in the rematch.

    Holyfield is one of the trickiest Heavyweights to rank, and that's why he can vary so much on lists.
     
    Muchmoore, Apr 22, 2011
    Muchmoore, Apr 22, 2011
    #12
  13. crippet

    crippet Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Lewis beat a closer to peak than [Tyson,Foreman,Moorer and Holmes] Holyfield twice
    Holyfield only beat those guys when they were old [in some cases well over 40] he also lost to a peak Moorer, only beating a shot Moorer.

    Heavyweight I would say Lewis
    Pro Career I would say Holyfield
    Full career inc amateur I would say Lewis shades it.
     
    crippet, Apr 22, 2011
    crippet, Apr 22, 2011
    #13
  14. Vanboxingfan

    Vanboxingfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    My thoughts as well, which makes this a nonesense poll because we don't know what greater means.

    At heavy or p4p?
     
    Vanboxingfan, Apr 22, 2011
    Vanboxingfan, Apr 22, 2011
    #14
  15. Vanboxingfan

    Vanboxingfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I suspected as much, and voted accordingly but the question itself is ambiguous. And as far as mutual competitors go, wouldn't both of them be considered competitors to each other considering they fought twice?
     
    Vanboxingfan, Apr 22, 2011
    Vanboxingfan, Apr 22, 2011
    #15
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