According to Holyfield who was better: Bowe or Lewis?

I think the text reads something like,

'Even before his shocking loss in Tokyo, Ai said of Tyson privately, his head movement is predicatble, his hands are fas but mine were faster and my footwork was better than his. To beat him you need a good 1-2, a good right hand and you have to be able to take a shot if he catches you '

Something like that.

 

Rooney: Even with Mike at his best, I'd pick Ali to beat him. But if his head was screwed on right, we could make it close, but he'd still lose 8-4 on the cards, even if it means jabbing at Alis chest.

 

Tyson beats Ali. Ali lost to Frazier and had a hell of a time with Bonavena.

Tyson beats either in 3 rounds.

I know circular logic doesn't always work in boxing, but Frazier, for all his ability was a short, skinny, short-reached, one-armed, one-eyed fighter.

 

This article in April 1994 says both Holyfield and Lewis had agreed to unify their titles in Nov 1994. Of course Holyfield lost to Moorer the following month and Lewis lost his title a few months after that.

So while true the timing never seemed right for them to meet, both did agree to fight. This was agreed only 5 months after Holyfield had regained the title so it's clear he wasn't ever afraid of Lewis and Lewis agreed to the opportunity as soon as he had a chance as he had been frozen out by Bowe and Newman when they had the title, so he also had no fear of Holyfield.

Neither fighter really ever showed any fear during their career, both always looked for the best opponents, it's just Holyfield got the opportunities that Lewis didn't due to Holyfield being more open to working with King and being seen mistakenly as an easy opponent by Bowe and Newman.

And yes the fight could have happened earlier than it did, due to Holyfield holding out for more money in 98, having previously agreed on a smaller purse, which may not have done him any favours as a declining older champion but I can understand the rationale as boxing is a business and even warriors like Evander want to be paid what they are worth.

http://www.nytimes.com/1994/04/16/sports/boxing-holyfield-lewis-set-bigger-bouts-later.html

 

I think it's telling that Holyfield decided he could trade more with Bowe than he did with Lewis, maybe he was older and wiser but I believe he knew Lennox could hit harder. Their second fight is underrated IMO, both went at it pretty good on occasions.