Greater Resume: Lewis or Holmes?

Ever heard of the Tardis?

:roll:

I highly doubt it because i think that version of Holyfield was still better than Norton, follow? Question - do you think the Norton that fought Holmes was peak? Just because he gave Larry hell doesn't mean he was the second coming. You keep telling us Holmes had a torn left bicep or whatever it was. Simple fact is Norton troubled boxers and had trouble vs aggressive bangers. Holyfield is a nice blend even later. I think he can outslug Norton when he has to and possibly even take him out.

 

There's nothing between them still i might go with Chris' call actually.

 

Lewis had the same politics to overcome, he never signed with king and was frozen out for years as a result.

 

Most of us have given up, yes lol

 

atsch Hilarious lol:rofl

 

Holyfield was on his best heavyweight championship run of defences actaully when he faced Lewis, he also held 2 belts! Facts beat your opinion im afraid.

 

You've called me out pretty good and fairly here. And to think, a couple see me as a Holmes hater. One could easily make a compelling essay on why Holmes doesn't belong among the very top elite. You are right that i am not rating him just on accomplishments. For me, his skills as a fighter and my belief that he could rise very very high if needed in mythical head to head battles puts him near the top for me. I very well could be wrong. I just have a feeling when push comes to shove and the greatest ever are pitted that Holmes really lights up the scene. Like Lewis, he sometimes didn't put forth his pinnacle showings vs guys he wasn't inspired for or respectful of. I have no problem with people rating Holmes anywhere from 3 to hmmm 10 or whatever.

Larry now sits cemented in at number 4 for me but won't be going any lower unless someone very impressive comes on the scene and lasts a helluva long time. This very thread made up my mind, finally. The Klits have no chance of coming near him so change is a long way down the road.

 

Holmes was just as hurt and shaky after getting knocked down by shavers as lewis was when he was knocked down by mccall, the only difference is different referees and Holmes getting the benifit of the doubt. So take the Mccall tko out of the picture along with holmes shavers knockdown which would be a tko loss by that same refereee and both guys were only knocked out once, how does that show Holmes had better chin.

 

Bottom line Lewis got knocked out by two journeyman

Sure he could compete with any heavyweight on a given night but he also

could get knocked out by a heavyweight not in the top 50 all-time

That's the difference between Lewis and the other greats

All the other greats could possibly lose to the other greats but would not get

knocked out by average fighters

Can anyone name another top 10 heavyweight in his prime who couldn't get

out of the second round against an average fighter like McCall

 

Larry didn't get giftdecisions at all. He got robbed twice in his career, arguably 3 times. Once with Spinks, once with Brian Neilson, and he lost a close one to Spinks the first time.

 

No he didn't. Larry would have been champ much sooner if it weren't for King. Larry was trying and trying to get King to get him big fights, and King blew him off. Then finally, with 8 days notice, King offered for him to fight Roy Williams. Larry took it, beat Roy up, even with a busted hand, and then King payed a little more attention to him. King was trying to steal money from Larry for years, and Larry wouldn't let him. King got him back for it in situations like Page. King had a bunch of different champs in the 80's, the best one was Larry, but then in 83 Larry dropped King, and refused to deal with him unless it was on his terms, and he did just that. The best thing Lewis could have done was not sign with King. King was big trouble.

 

Did you or did you not read what I quoted?

 

But hypothetically, let's assume a steroid-free, 190lb Holyfield. Now how does he do against Norton?

 

OMG. Ive said that Norton gave boxers like Larry and Ali stylistic night mares many times now. But as usuall you twist my words around or flat out ignore them. I was simply saying maybe if Larry's left tricept wasn't torn, maybe it wouldn't have been as close. No Norton was in his prime when he fought Larry, he was a year or two past it, but he was still a very good fighter. I doubt Holyfield could out slug Norton at that stage in his career, maybe 4 or 5 years earlier, but not then.

 

100 or so.