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

not many people voted for the 'far greater' options in your poll, so you should be happy!

 

Ali was past his prime with his wins over Frazier too. And Norton (who was a nobody until Ali lost to him, anyway).

Yes, Ali's "best win" comes down to either Liston OR Foreman. I figure Foreman, because there are some question marks over Liston's condition (physical, mental or otherwise).

Sure, Holyfield's best win may well be the Tyson one. And it occurred when Holyfield was some degree past his prime.
We seem to be in full agreement on that ?

 

I don't know about "iron chin kept him in the fight" ........ perhaps Lewis's reluctance to go all out to test that chin. As it was, Holyfield was never in serious trouble in the first fight but, yes, Lewis should have been judged a clear winner.
I certainly think Lewis was robbed.

The second fight was close. I thought Lewis edged it. He deserves a lot of credit for both those wins.

 

Yes but that's why we have to take Holyfields overall body of work and consistency to rank him and I think you and I have him ranked fairly closely ahead of both Lewis and Tyson.

 

Just out of curiousity how does one judge heart?

Certainly neither quite and they gave it there all, so how does one distinquish someone this category?

 

:nut

You've got to be kidding me...

 

Haha so you win either way:

If the poll puts Holy ahead you can claim to have won.
If not and Lewis gets more votes it doesn't really matter because everyone who voted differently to you is a 'fool'.

Just like you talking about Holyfield's career- always got an excuse ready to spin any situation back in his favour.

Seriously take a step back, look at both of their resumes objectively...

 

Well i do think Lewis had no chin problems, they weren't "lucky" punches, they were big bombs he didn't see coming. His chin is solid when braced for impact.

Holy had a ridiculously iron chin which he demonstrated by absorbing loads of flush bombs in many wars like Bowe I, Bowe II, Lewis II(not a war but he took monstrous bombs), Foreman & Tyson I. Hell, the first punch of the first Tyson fight, a flush nuke detonated off his chin (with all Tyson's weight behind it!), would've KTFO 99% of Heavyweights, but Holy walked through it like the terminator. The only time he was stopped prior to being a shot ancient corpse, was in Bowe III, when he suddenly became completely exhausted from his Hepatitis (or severe heart problems as i suspect). Anyone would've be stopped by a barrage of Bowe's heavy-handed bombs when extremely gassed.

Importantly, Holy took more bombs while usually coming forward (which increases the force), whereas Lewis took less bombs, often while stepping backwards (which decreases the force.)