90's Heavyweights

1. Holyfield
2. Tyson
3. Lewis
4. Bowe
5. Mercer
6. Foreman
7. Moorer
8. Morrison
9. Holmes
10. Ruddock

 

1. Holyfield
2. Tyson
3. Lewis
4. Bowe
5. Foreman
6. Mercer
7. Moorer
8. Morrison
9. Mccall
10. Ruddick

 

I know you hate Lewis, but ranking Tyson in front of him is ridiculous

 

I would agree with you, IF you are talking ONLY about what they did IN the 90s. Over the course of their ENTIRE careers, however, I think it's very defensible - and that is what I based my list on.:yep

 

In the 90s Tyson was the better fighter, Lewis didnt fully improve his craft until Manny got a chance to work with him, he really wasnt a great fighter till like 96-97.

 

For the record, I rank Lewis higher than Holyfield for overall career accomplishments, but I just like what Holy did in the 1990's a little better. Very close, though.

Head to head matchups help, but they aren't the only factors.

1.) Evander Holyfield
2.) Lennox Lewis
3.) Riddick Bowe
4.) Mike Tyson
5.) Michael Moorer
6.) George Foreman
7.) Ray Mercer
8.) Andrew Golota
9.) Larry Holmes
10.) Tommy Morrison
11.) Oliver McCall
12.) Donovan Ruddock
13.) Frank Bruno
14.) David Tua
15.) Henry Akinwande
16.) Frans Botha

 

That's a good point. And, if you leave out his post-2000 work, the differences between him and Tyson are not as great. At least when Tyson got taken out it took 10 rounds, not 2!!!!

 

Too bad the thread is about 90's HW's, meaning only their accomplishments in the 90's should be counted.

 

According to Tyson fans, Tyson was past his prime by 1990. After Douglas, Tyson had two tough fights with Ruddock. Lewis knocked Ruddock the **** out in 1992. This earned him a shot at the WBC HW title. Bowe never gave Lewis a chance to win that title in the ring as he threw it in the trash rather than face Lewis. Bottom line, Lewis was plenty good enough in the early 90's to be considered a better fighter than Tyson during that decade.

 

Lewis' got Ruddick after Tyson beat him down, so yes Ruddick was weaker fighter when Lewis' got him. You could also say Tyson had an easier time with Bruno, Lewis' on the other hand was rocked by Bruno and looked to be out on his feet at one point.

 

How come Tyson paid Lewis step aside money to fight Seldon, then reneged on his promise to give Lewis an immediate title shot? The answer his simple, because he knew he would've gotten his ass whipped by a superior fighter.

 

Because there was more money to be made by fighting Holyfield instead, Tyson made the right choice, that fight broke the record for most PPV buys for that time.:deal

 

And what fight broke that record? That's right, Lewis vs. Tyson. I'm not saying it could've done those numbers in 1996, but there was definately money to be made. Tyson just didn't want to get his ass whooped when he could've made alot of money to fight an easier opponent.

 

How come Lewis took it?? Maybe he knew he'd get KTFO worse than he did against McCall!!!!!:yep