Comparing Holyfield`s power to Sonny Liston`s

Great stuff Mark.

 

They were both huge punchers. A lot of people say Tyson's speed was more the thing than his outright power but i disagree. Sure the speed and ability to land more than one punch in a hurry was telling but rest assured the guy had big one punch power.

 

Absolutely. And takes his stick with good nature, too.

 

Based on what? Liston stopped several ranked opponents and has way more impressive KO's than McCall or Rahman. What evidence do you have their shots on Lewis were as hard as any Liston landed?

There is nothing in their careers that suggests this. They were both literally 1 hit wonders who didn't achieve much outside those wins.

The fact Lewis got taken out the same way by the same punch early both times indicates a severe weakness that Rahman and McCall both simply exploited and has less to do with them being these "amazing punchers". Especially because much harder hitters like Briggs, Morrison, Ruddock, Vitali, etc couldn't take Lewis out.

 

I agree. We have no way of knowing for sure, but based off the eye test, they didn't look to be particularly hard punches that took Lewis out. The McCall one especially wasn't a full leveraged shot.

I see message forums call them "as hard as any punch thrown.." or "would take anyone out" and maybe people really believe that, but really it just dishonestly deflects criticisms of Lewis most glaring vulnerability.

The funny thing is Lewis can take a good shot...when he's expecting it or boxing with good technique. He has been rocked quite a bit, and certainly isn't invulnerable, he reacts to getting hurt very well, uses his bodyweight well to blanket guys and stay on his feet while smothering follow ups.

Against Rahman and McCall ..both big men not known for being big one punch KO artists, Lewis was caught overreaching with his chin out...and then caught backing up with his hands down, and mouth open, jaw completely exposed. Not great punches, but great timing on a fighter known for lapses and sorry, not the best chin.

 

Exactly. I don't see why some get so riled up with Mark and get personal. Think it says more about their personal issues than anything mark actually puts up.

 

I wouldn’t use foreman as a good example here. There’s been a few times on his Twitter where he’s said Holyfield hits harder, and there’s been a few times of him saying they have similar power.

 

Well with or without Foreman's words, Holyfield quite clearly isn't a huge hitter at HW. He hits hard enough to get your respect and can really crack when he lets his hands go with weight behind them. Early round KO's are the most obvious examples of raw power and he sorely lacks them outside of a fat unmotivated Douglas. Almost every decent to elite opponent absorbed his shots well and that's very telling.

 

Mark obviously has a few issues but gets in and gives his best. He is also capable of learning unlike some. Sometimes he hits a winner with his channeled/blinkered observations as at times we probably get too complex on some things. As Eddie said he takes his stick with good nature and this is highly admirable.

More and more are coming to understand him and i'm sure a lot of people have his back perhaps even including our Classic mods.

BTW when i was talking about prolific thread starters you weren't the focus as you get in, mix with people, post plenty in other threads and have made numerous friends in here.

 

Absolutely. Our eyeballs and an ounce of common sense are all that is needed. He's a good puncher or thereabouts.

 

Tbh this is one of Mark's most laughable threads, and that says A LOT.

 

Holyfield was not a big puncher, but he was an accurate puncher with good timing. He always had trouble hurting guys who boxed and moved around but could use his timing and accuracy to hurt some pretty sturdy guys with good chins when they came at him. I think he was the only one who dropped Mercer who was hit by some pretty decent punchers and didnt go down.

 

Huge difference in the weight of the jab alone