Did Holyfield beat Lewis in their 2nd fight? Round by Round Breakdown

The tough thing is there are so many close rounds - 1, 3, 5, 8, and even 9 to a degree are close.

Round 3 is Holyfield's because Lewis's work up until Holyfield lands that good shot was pretty inconsequential. I still like round 1 for Holyfield - neither guy was particuarly effective but I thought Holyfield was the aggressor in the round more so. Round 5 I scored even, and this was the round I played back the most and I thought it was too close to call. I gave round 8 to Holyfield because I didn't think either man was that impressive in the round, but again I favored Holyfield due to being the effective agressor. Close round though. I can even score round 9 for Holyfield like Giampa did based on the fact that he clearly won the first 2 minutes of the round in my book. I gave it to Lewis though because of quality over quantity again. His uppercuts and combination punching in the last minute was pretty impressive. But I could see round 9 scored even.

Lewis clearly won rounds 2, 4, and 10.
I think Holyfield clearly won rounds 6, 7, and 12.
So half of the rounds are abundantly clear to me. That leaves the other 6 rounds which are much closer at the margins. And to a certain extent, it depends on what you value as a judge.

Again I seemed to be more impressed this most recent time with Evander pushing the fight, having the more effective jab, landing some good left hooks than I was with Lewis. Lewis seemed largely ineffective with his jab in several of the rounds, and though he was throwing more punches than Holyfield in some of the rounds, I thought a lot of his 'work' was largely ineffective. Quality over quantity I guess. I did like Lewis's work to the body, and he threw some great uppercuts, particularly in round 9.

But again, a very close fight and I have certainly can understand those that scored it for Lewis.

In terms of accounting for the scoring difference, the first time I watched the fight I had just watched their first fight right before. So it is possible I was influenced initially by the fact that Lewis was so clearly robbed in the first fight. The reason I revisited the fight is when they had Classic Ringside on Holyfield and you had guys like Burt Sugar and Michael Moorer suggesting that Holyfield won the 2nd fight. That had me intrigued as I remember scoring it for Lewis 8-4. And then joining this site and then finding that there were some other people who had scored it for Holyfield.

 

Yeah it is hard not to notice the large contingent of Lewis fans.

I like Lewis. He had an impressive career. But I can't get past the fact that he seemed overly cautious at times, which was a shame considering his physical talent. It just seemed he was too often satisfied to win a decision on pts.

Lewis was most certainly an ATG heavy, but I think having him in the top 5 is too high.

As much as I love the late 80s, early 90s heavies (Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe, Lewis) I don't think any of them can get in the top 5 (Head to Head is a different story perhaps). Had they all fought each other in their primes I think they could have. But really only Bowe-Holyfield I and II were fights where I'd call both fighters prime. It's a shame.

For me, Holyfield is the best heavyweight post Holmes. His impressive wins over Dokes, Douglas and Foreman in the early 90s. His rematch win over Bowe. A good win over Mercer. The 2 wins over a still formidable Tyson (though not prime). And an impressive win over Moorer in their rematch (great fight by the way). And just recently, I think he beat Lewis by a hair in their rematch. Given that he was 37 at the time of their rematch, that says a lot. I think a prime Holyfield would outwork a prime Lewis.

Lewis had the impressive destruction of Razor Rudduck. A good comeback win over Bruno. The McCall loss hurt. But once Manny Steward got a hold of him he went from a very good heavweight to a great one. Enjoyed him outslugging Mercer to a win. Obviously he had the clear dominant win over Holyfield in their first fight (thanks to his jab). And his rematch win over Rahman was done right. Clear, dominating win over Tua as well. Though he was behind on pts to Vitali, his punch did cause the cut so you have to give him credit there as well.

Lewis's strike against him are the 1 punch knockout losses to 2nd tier heavies - McCall and Rahman. Holyfield's strike against him is his inconsistency at times - i.e. losing a close fight to Moorer in 94. Looking meh against Czyz and V. Bean.

So while an agrument can be made for either man, Holyfield's win over Bowe in the rematch is better than any win Lewis had in his career. And Holyfield beating Tyson in 96 was as good a win as any of Lewis's best wins.

I think Holyfield in his prime (89-93, Dokes fight through Bowe II) was overall a better fighter than Lewis in his prime (95-01, Morrison through Rahman II).

This article summarizes Holyfield and Lewis nicely
http://www.eastsideboxing.com/boxing-news/lotierzo1608.php