Huh? Donald was the more accomplished fighter. He has wins over Holyfield, Witherspoon, Valdes, J Williams, Cooper, Jackson, and Ko'd some guy in round two named Tyrell Biggs. Donald was also robbed vs Valuev. Do you really think Biggs was better SuzieQ? If so, please explain. Or is it just beacuse Vitlai Klitschko Ko'd Donald. I think it is the later, and if Vitali Ko'd Biggs instead, you'd say Donald was better. Just a hunch.
I agree that Donald was the better fighter, but not for the reasons that you provided. Donald's competition was very poor. He mainly feasted on washed up opposition. His losing efforts to Riddick Bowe and Nikolay Valuev may very well be the best fights of his career. Biggs at least defeated reasonably good opposition given how few fights he had against Tillis, Snipes, Bey, and simms. Of course, these guys were not great, but Biggs at least had the excuse of having less than 14 fights when he faced them. Who did Donald face in his first 15 fights? Also, was Donald a gold medalist? Did he ever face a champion like Mike Tyson the way he was in 1987? These things have to be put into context. That said, I agree that Donald was the better fighter, but again your reasons for stating so are questionable.
Magoo, Donald beat better fighters. Biggs made his living as an opponent with some ability that was prone to being knocked out. A fringe contender if you will. There is no way Donald's performance vs Bowe was among his best efforts. It was perhaps his worst effort. Donald did do vs Valuev. That was a good effort, and he should have won the WBA title. Regarding the Olympics, Biggs won it in 1984 vs a weaker field that was boycotted by the Cuban's and the Soviets. If the Soviets and Cubans show up, Biggs does not win gold. Donald did well in the Olympics, but had the misfortune of drawing Blando. The Cuban who was #1 in the world was very strong, and took the fight on points. Donald scored the most points on Blando in the Olympics. Regarding Blando, he could have been on par with as Savon or Stevenson if he did not die so young.
This is not the way Biggs began his career. He was a #1 contender, long before he fell to journeyman status. Fair enough Tyrell Biggs beat Lennox Lewis in the 1984 Olympics. You're not giving him credit for bringing home the gold, but crediting Donald for a nice effort without any medal to show for it.
Yes, Biggs did beat a very young Lennox Lewis. Lewis if I recall was 207 pounds in those days and needed a lot of work on defense. Biggs out jabbed him and took the decsion. My point is this, Biggs is not winning gold in the 1992 games. No way. The boycott in 1984 is why Biggs did as well as he did. If you take out the Cuban's and the Russians in 1992, I think Donald beats Nelisen, and Izon and takes gold rather easily.
Biggs would beat Donald, he was a very good talent that got caught up.He couldn't knock out Larry, however, having to settle for a UD.