Lennox Lewis (prime) vs. Evander Holyfield (HW prime)

Regardless of Evander's true ability at the time of the fight, I really disgree with anyone who says the second fight was close. It appears close only because the first fight was so uncompetitive that it falsely appeared as a close fight.

 

I'm a fan.

I wouldn't say a huge fan.

The second fight (where the judges actually sat FACING the ring ) where he got the W, was closer than the first 'draw', but it was still a clear win for Lennox.


IMO, he was at or very close to prime in 99 (as a heavy).

Different fighters reach primes at different ages.

Both he and Lennox were late coming to prime.

Many forget that Lennox was older than Tyson when they fought.

Lennox was at prime and Mike was 12 or 13 years past it.

 

I wont argue that certain fighters reach there primes late in there life, rather than earlier, but saying Hoyfield was prime in 99 is a pretty hard stretch dont you think? Just watch his footwork, his hand speed, the combinations he threw werent as crisp, all of which made Holyfield the fighter he was. The 91-92 version was clearly better, can you imagine John Ruiz doing anything against the version that fought Foreman in 91? I cant, Ruiz would of been outboxed and beat to a pulp when the final bell sounds.

I guess everyone has there own opinion, but I'm sure if you asked Holyfield at what time in your life did you feel you were at your best, I'm sure he would say sometime inbetween 90-93.

 

Lewis by unanimous decision.

 

The second fight was only 1 round closer than the first - the first was 9-3 Lewis, the second fight was 8-4 Lewis. Holyfields usual head-butting tactics played their part in that but he still got owned, he wasn't dealing with a smaller man like Tyson in those fights, he was dealing with a monster.

Lewis owns Holyfield, any time they fought. Too big, too skilled and too tough. Holyfields whole career hinges on his victories over Tyson and that's it. That's the only impressive thing he ever really did, beating a guy that had fought something like 6 rounds in 5 years Take away the Tyson fights and what does Holyfields resume look like? Got taken the distance by Holmes and Foreman...oh dear....

 

Spot on post, Holyfield was a solid HW but not the top 10 ATG that many now proclaim him to be. Lewis is a legitimate top 5 ATG and he dominates any version of Holyfield any night they step in the ring. The draw Holyfield got for his birthday in the first fight was so dodgy even Sven Ottke was crying out robbery.

 

P4P I got Holyfield up quite a bit over Lewis, but at heavy I rate Lewis higher (partly due to Holy's cruiserweight career, and naturally being smaller against most of the same fighters Lewis fought). I don't really know how prime Lewis of the late 90's does against prime Holyfield of the early 90's, it would be a good fight and mcuh closer than either of their actual fights. Can't decide either way, but I'll go with absolute peak Holyfield to beat prime Lewis, vey close decision.

 

Holyfield beats Lewis 116 - 112 over 12 rounds on my scorecard in a prime for prime match.

 

Lewis by ko or lopsided ud.

 

I Liked Holyfield Alot In His Prime Days..but Lewis Could Beat Holyfield Regardless..lewis Was In His Prime Late In His Career..lewis Of 2002 Beats Holyfield Of 1996 By Ud

 

CLASSIC example of how Holyfield is greatly UNDERRATED by some fans on this site, and Lewis grossly OVERRATED.

Holyfield is not only a top ten ATG, he's the best fighter of the era. You never saw him taken out early by ham and eggers, AND he faced the top guys in his era when it MATTERED, not when they were on the downside, or in Tyson's case, done.

 

Prime Evander was too aggressive to his own detreiment against the bigger harder hitter and equally skilled Lewis.

Lewis by TKO.

 

i think lewis would have won 7 out of 10 fights

 

Their second fight was so close it could have gone either way.
A prime Holyfield would probably win a competitive twelve round decision over Lewis.