Me too and I rate Holmes above Lewis. I was never a big Lewis fan myself and if you were around at the time he came up, he wasn't that popular in the UK - Frank Bruno was the country's most popular heavyweight by miles at the time. So I don't think it's a UK thing that people rate him so highly. I try and be even handed about him. I can't just ignore the two KO defeats, particularly when comparing him to Holmes. I do think Lennox was unlucky in terms of when he fought his best opposition in terms of his legacy - he was the most avoided heavyweight of his era - but that doesn't seem to have affected his standing now, i'm glad to say. I think anywhere from 4-11 is about right. Any higher and yeah, I think he'd be overrated. Much lower and he's probably being underrated. I have him at the lower end of that scale and I have Holmes at 3 but that's just me. People do seem to have them neck and neck now, though. Had he not suffered the KO to Rahman I'd have him considerably higher than 11. Like I say, it definitely matters when judging his legacy and comparing him to Holmes. But had he met Bowe - Bowe's fault, not Lewis's - then he could be higher than Holmes imo.
Larry's two best wins were modest and either-way fights with Norton and Witherspoon. Not really that impressive, to be blunt.
Holmes 15 Best Scalps (in no order) 1. Ken Norton* 2. Tim Witherspoon* 3. Ray Mercer* 4. Earnie Shavers X2 5. Gerry Cooney 6. Carl Williams 7. Mike Weaver* 8. Trevor Berbick* 9. Leroy Jones 10. James Bonecrusher Smith* 11. Muhammad Ali* 12. Renaldo Snipes 13. David Bey 14. Ossie Occasio 15. Leon Spinks* *8 Former/Current/Future Champions beaten Lennox's 15 best scalps (in no order): 1. Vitaly Klitschko* 2. Mike Tyson* 3. Evander Holyfield* 4. Ray Mercer* 5. Andrew Golota 6. David Tua 7. Tommy Morrison* 8. Micheal Grant 9. Hasim Rahman* 10. Frans Botha* 11. Shannon Briggs* 12. Donovan Ruddock 13. Tony Tucker* 14. Oliver McCall* 15. Frank Bruno* *11 Former/Current/Future Champions beaten Not sure how you can call Larry Holmes's resume unimpressive.
Lewis above Holmes as far as I am concerned. Holmes had the reign but over un-amazing opposition. Lewis didn't have the unbroken title rule that Holmes had but he has much better wins on his resume. Sure Lewis got stopped by the two everybody knows about. But on the other hand Holmes got outboxed 2x by a lightheavyweight so ...
The thing about Lewis's resume vs Holmes's resume is the majority of Holmes's best wins are against fighters closer to their best. Whereas Lewis's best wins are against fighters that were in decline. That's not to say Lewis doesn't have a good resume, it's solid but a tad misleading. Honestly, Holmes's resume isn't that far off. Put it this way: 1999 Lewis vs 1992 Holyfield = I'd give the edge to Evander 2002 Lewis vs 1988 Tyson = It's a Tyson stoppage Alternatively: 1988 Holmes vs 2002 Tyson = I give the edge to Holmes 1992 Holmes vs 1999 Holyfield = I give the edge to Holmes It's not Lewis' fault that Holyfield and Tyson were on the decline when he faced them. One can argue that you could have faced them earlier but it happened the way it happened and Lennox just beat whoever was put in front of him impressively. Overall: 1) Tenure as Champion (Title reign, championship fights) = Edge Holmes 2) Quality of Opposition (beating the best available contenders, resume depth, etc) = Edge Lewis 3) Ability as a fighter (Head to Head ability) = Edge Holmes 4) Notable Omissions/Losses = EVEN* 5) Historical Significance = EVEN** This is why I give Holmes the edge. *Holmes's losses to Spinks X2, Tyson, Holyfield and McCall = Lewis's losses via 1 punch KO to Mcall and Rahman. **Holmes's omissions were a fight with Thomas, Page or a rematch with Witherspoon or Williams = Lewis's pricing himself out of fights against Bowe (93) and Tyson (96).
Personally I don't think either one is overrated. Atg heavyweight wise, I have Larry at 2 and Lennox at 3
I rate both men as all time greats. Larry higher than Lennox,though,for reasons already stated by other posters.
I don't wholly disagree with you; I feel Lewis was more inconsistent whereas Holmes was one of those champions that was metronomically consistent at his best. On the other hand if we're talking best versions I personally feel Lewis has this, even though Holmes was more likely to be a good version of himself. One of the wins that makes me rate Lewis so highly was his TKO6 over Vitali. H2H Vitali was a beast and yet old Lewis found the guts to come back from getting clobbered early to forcing the stoppage himself. That win was mightily impressive for me.
I would not say the Witherspoon fight was Holmes's 2nd best win or scalp. I like Witherspoon but you could argue Shavers 1 or Shavers 2, Berbick (a shutout), Weaver .... all of whom Holmes beat more convincingly. Lewis's best wins are Holyfield, who was older and had more wear or tear than Norton actually. .... and Vitali (whose own CV is underwhelming) or Ruddock or Tua or something like that. If in any doubt, the two KO losses and the Mercer/McCall performance comparison in Lewis's own era, should separate the two. Holmes firmly ahead.
Keep in mind that the Tyson loss happened at a time, when Lennox Lewis already retired (age 37)! On a fair age scale, This content is protected years after This content is protected !! @Joeywill I believe you can still add a poll to the thread like "Who ranks higher, Lennox Lewis or Larry Holmes?" That would be nice
I see more lists with Holmes above Lewis than not - and I agree with that order. But I wouldn't argue the case too much because, save Ali and Louis, there's little in it between those who vie for positions 3-10. There are pros and cons for both Holmes and Lewis. But Holmes is just slightly ahead, in terms of his record and I think he edges Lewis H2H, as well. That said, I wouldn't have bet on the outcome of a fight between the two.
Holmes omitted most of the best opposition. GTFO with that one. Lewis missed Bowe but Bowe was scared bc he got stopped in the ams.
Lewis on the whole does not compare to Holmes. Holmes was more skilled, more intelligent and never got stopped like Lewis did twice until he came back against Tyson. Larry is a top 5 heavy all time Lewis is not.
I am sorry, then you didn't read. The top-end wins aren't al; that impressive or decisive. They are beatable guys and some felt that he lost the fights.
