What the results would be if 27 y.o. Holmes fought Ruddock? 29 y.o. Holmes vs McCall 33 y.o. Holmes vs Holyfield 37 y.o. Holmes vs Vitali Klitschko List of Lewis' best opponents in chronological order Ruddock Tucker Bruno McCall Morrison Mercer McCall 2 Akinwande Golota Briggs Holyfield Grant Botha Tua Rahman Tyson (shot) Vitali I think Holmes struggles against some of them, but eventually wins almost all fights. However, Vitali would be too tough for 37 y.o. Holmes I think.
Holmes would lose to Vitali and probably to Holyfield as well. Almost everybody else on that list has the potential to beat him for that matter. It's certainly more of a test than what Holmes faced in his career.
Holmes was already slipping by 83. In his prime he takes everyone. At 37 against Vitali he loses by UD.
But Holmes wasn't prime at 37, the same age as Lewis fought Vitali. I see Holmes by decision over Tucker, McCall, Mercer, Akinwande, Holyfield, Tua and Tyson. Vs Ruddock, Golota, Briggs it's either decision win or late stoppage. Holmes stops Bruno, Morrison, Grant, Botha and Rahman. 37 y.o. Holmes loses to Vitali. He could have had troubles in some fights, especially against Holyfield, another great fighter, though past prime by the time he fought Lewis. As great as he was, Holmes wasn't always in top shape and sometimes he underestimated his opponents.
Agreed. However Holmes never fought at age 37. He was retired from age 36-38, and again until 41. But in his prime ( 1978-1982) I think he beats all the guys you listed, Vitali included.
Yes. Surely Holmes struggled in some title defenses against Witherspoon and Williams, but they were after '82. Witherspoon was first title defense that was somewhat controversial. Prior to that Holmes already defended his title 14 times, 11 of them by stoppage (not bad for a guy who's not known as big puncher!), and 3 were clear decision wins. It was during 78-82 period.
-Ruddock wasn't the same after Tyson. -Tucker was fat and far away from his prime. -Prime McCall beat Lewis. -Lewis beat a mental problematic Mccall. -Botha,Mercer and Tua were very fat. (the 42 years old Holmes beat the unbeaten Mercer easier than Lewis. (The 45 years old Holmes was better against the prime McCall than Lewis) -I think Golota had health probem. -Briggs had big problem with the old Foreman. -Holyfield wasn't in prime.(Otherwise Holyfield was crap against the 42 years old Holmes.) -The bum Rahman could destroy the prime Lewis. -Tyson was a joke against Lewis. -Byrd beat the unbeaten vitali klitschko. and what's vitali klitschko's best wins:the 38 years old Briggs by points? The fat,ot of shape 38 years old Sanders. vitali klitschko was weak against Sanders in the first round. Akinwande and Grant? Two well-managed bums. -Morrison.His best wins:the faded C.Williams and a bad Ruddock. -Bruno? Tyson destroyed him easier than Lewis two times. But Smith and Witherspoon knocked Bruno out also. Lewis wasn't too good against Bruno. It's not an impressive list. ****ing propaganda questions for these lame klitschkos... Keep dreaming klitschko fans! What's the reallity? The klitschkos never beat a good fighter.
