Does Lewis get to little or to much credit for beating Holyfield and Tyson

John Ruiz really the guy was the symbol of corruption in boxing. He's a gatekeeper without King. Vaughn Bean never had a victory over anyone that was a credible opponent.

 

Lewis gets way too much credit for those wins they mean nothing

The prime versions of holy and Tyson destroy lummox lewis

 

Way too much for beating a WELL past it Tyson. And a tad too much for beating the version of Holyfield that he beat

 

He gets just the right amount of credit for the Holyfield fights. Most acknowledge that Holyfield was past his best but still more than formidable.

Some people give him too much credit for the Tyson win though. Tyson was a shell, not even half the fighter he was in 96, let alone 88. Considering the form of Tyson that's one of his LESS impressive defenseas, though still meaningful in a legacy sense.

 

I never really care about on his win over Tyson , it was 2002... Tyson barely beat Botha by lucky punch (lost all rounds before that) and was beaten by journeyman like Mcbride and Danny Williams (both in fifth round). So beating him around that time pratically means nothing. If Rhino didnt get caught and survive till 3rd round, he would probably beat Tyson too. He was 3 round fighter at that point.

I dont think people give him too much credit for beating that version of Tyson, but oddly enough Lewis always think that win as his greatest victory. If he beat Tyson around early 90's or 80's that would be a whole different story.

Holyfield was at his best when he fought Bowe and than around the time he fought Tyson and rematch against Moorer. Now that's a total of 7 fights against against those 3 alone, plus went for 12 rounds against Mercer (dropping Mercer), Foreman and Holmes. He aso beat great 80's fighters like Dokes and Pinklon Thomas in 80's. After all that, he finally met Lewis.

Lewis toughest fight prior to Holyfield? Mccall, Morrison, Mercer (lucky escape with decision), Bruno, aging Tucker, and Ruddock... No comparison here. You can add Briggs & Biggs if that count as great fighter?!

People also tend to overlook the fact that Tyson beat the likes of Spinks and Tucker when those guys was still unbeaten. Zero loses at the time they fought Mike. Even Tony Tubbs lost just once by majority decision before he met Tyson.

Lewis peaked when other great fighters pretty much on the sunset of their career. Off course his size is also a huge adventage against a smaller guys that already lost their speed and stamina.

Also, when Lewis lost or decision was against him, he got the rematch... but I wonder why didnt he meet Mercer or Vitali twice? I started watch boxing in 80's , I saw Mike domination during those years, all great wars by Holyfield (Bowe fight especially), and Lewis came to the picture way too late and he's around the same age as Holyfield and Tyson.

 

With all respect, the versions of Tyson and Holyfield that Lewis beat were definitely not the best versions of either that he could have faced.

 

It's not Lewis's fault Tyson was ducking him for years before their actual bout. Lewis knocks out any version of Tyson he could realistically face.

 

I'd give a prime Tyson a much better chance than the version which he did face, though.

 

But Lewis would never have faced an undefeated Tyson.

 

You mean due to timeline? Could be; I haven't checked.

 

I feel he gets a little to much credit for beating tyson. At that stage Mike was shot to pieces, his best days at least ten years before, and at that point fighting for money alone. It would have given Lewis so much more respect if the fight had taken place at least five years earlier. Holy field was slightly different, he was a champion at the time and people were split to who would win there first fight so I think he deserves credit for the two fights with evender.

 

And I disagree about Lewis not wanting to meet tyson in his prime. Lewis wanted the fight but tyson management wanted no part of it. I feel tyson s confidence was low when he came out of jail and no one in Mike's team thought he would stand a chance..

 

Tyson was certainly diminished by the time he faced Lewis. Mike needed the payday and he still had a puncher`s chance. In a pure boxing sense it wasn`t one of Lewis best wins. On the other hand he had to face Tyson once and for all because if he didn`t there were a sizable # of boxing fans who would have haunted him about it.

both of his fights with Holyfield were good wins. Evander was probably still the 2nd best heavyweight in the world behind Lewis.

 

Lewis deserves credit for the first Holyfield fight. It was a big match and Lewis dominated it despite the judges official score.
Holyfield did much better in the rematch. He was better prepared and Lewis probably over confident as he wont to do. A case could be made forva draw although I gave it to Lewis. Close.
No credit for Tyson. That was a money grab for a fighter who was completely washed up had little desire to train and much desire to party.

 

Lewis to be fair never really was given credit for a lot of his big wins. Ruddock was shot cos of his fight s wiv tyson, golata was a basket case who had a meltdown, tua was one dimensional, tucker was past it and Michael Grant wasn't ready! U can only fight the guy in front of u and to the best of your ability