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

I can't remember what poster told me this but I believe after Holyfield beat Tyson he was rated amongst the top 5 Heavyweights of all time.

I'm not sure I would quite agree with that but with a cleaner record and arguably being the best of his era without the loss to Lewis.

Holyfield would probably be ranked higher on the all time lists probably close to top 5.

As for Lewis without the win over Holyfield he wouldn't be considered the best Heavyweight of his era and his legacy takes a bit of a hit.

I'd say Lewis wouldn't be considered a top 5 Heavyweight anymore IMO.

 

The Ring ranked him #3 all-time after he beat Tyson. ooph...

 

Title defenses mean a lot to my rankings. With a record of 35-3 with only 3 title defenses it would be extremely difficult to put him in the top 5. I think he would barely get in the top 10.

 

I don't consider Lewis's fight vs Vitali a win. He got lucky with the cut. He was losing. Holyfield was a steroid cheat too.

 

Evander Holyfield stock would likely be higher if he retired in 1997 his win in the rematch to Moorer (1997) was his best performance during the later stage of his career. Lennox Lewis said he wanted to fight Holyfield back in 1991 and challenge for the World Heavyweight Title so it could of potentially happened if Holyfield beat Bowe the first time in 1992. With the omission on Holyfield on Lewis's CV who would he fight in lieu of him in 1999? Let's say he has two fights that year who could he face instead? Ike Ibeabuchi? Wladimir Klitschko? Chris Byrd? Oleg Maskaev? If he fights Wlad and Byrd since they both become Heavyweight Title Champions it gives him a bit more credibility but beating Holyfield who back in 1999 although a bit shop worn was still considered capable at the time.

As I have previously mentioned in other posts the build up for Undisputed was big and for me personally was bigger than his fight with Mike Tyson back in 1996. Regardless of what you think of the two fights themselves they were still important events in boxing back in 1999. As a Brit we had Frank Bruno who had been beaten up and now Lewis was going to do the business against Holyfield it was an exciting time when the two best heavyweights were going to fight each other a highly anticipated event.

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/recollections-of-evander-holyfield-vs-lennox-lewis.701160/

 

I consider it a Lewis win personally
He cut his man and he was unable to carry on, that's a win there.

 

I loved those fights. Not sure how good they are now but back then it was tremendous. Especially the first one. Lewis was robbed.

 

So you don't consider Dubois vs Hrgovic a win too?

 

Didn't see the fight. All I know is Lewis was getting his ass beat and got lucky with the cut. Just like Fundora vs tszyu. Lewis retired afterwards because he knew his time was up.

 

Evander was rated number 3 by The Ring in 1998 and Lewis was 36th. Let's say Lewis doesn't fight Holyfield, who does he face for the undisputed? He would still be the lineal champion after beating Briggs, so would be number 1 at the time. For the WBA: I think Akinwande was still rated number 1, so he would probably get a belt. IBF? Tua would get it, as the final eliminator would probably be a title fight. So Lewis beats both, becomes undisputed, but without a big name on the resume. His latter career probably goes as it went in the real timeline.

 

Nothing lucky about that. Lewis clearly lost the first 2 rounds. Then Emanuel Steward told him to change tactics and take it to Vitali, which eventually caused the cut. After 2 rounds he lost, you can argue Lewis won 3 out of next 4. The fight was close, Lewis beaten Vitali to the pulp, so the win was 100% legitimate. Lewis knew his time was up, but it doesn't mean he didn't beat Vitali.

 

I thought vitali was ahead on the Score cards??

 

Vitali was ahead 58-56 on all 3 judges score cards. You're wrong MM.

 

Harold Lederman scored it 3-3, that's why I said that you can argue he won 3 out of 4 final rounds.