Let's settle this once and for all

True, but @McGrain did a great job of it (talking about the top 100 list) At the time I think he was absolutely right about one thing. There were 14 heavyweights that clearly stand above the rest for me and he like myself have Holmes relatively low compared to most.

Now Wlad has retired I’d argue 15 which was perfect for when @Rumsfeld did the top 15 survey for each of the 8 original weight classes a few years back. Give it time and Uysk expands it to 16 and Fury despite having a pretty thin resume still might have 1 or 2 great performances to make it 17

There’s 1 big thing for me when directly comparing Holmes and Lewis that sways me towards the Brit

Lewis really only missed out on Bowe, one of the most blatant ducks in the history of the sport and Tyson in the 90s. The Tyson issue is a bit more complicated, but seems like Lewis and his team did everything in their power to make it happen. Honestly these two fights not happening actually robbed him of the chance to truly challenge Ali & Louis for the top 2 spots. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think he missed out on anyone else during the 90s

Holmes missed out on fighters like Dokes, Page, Pinklon Thomas and Coetzee and never unified. Don’t get me wrong the 80s were a bit of a mess. The first time we had proper alphabet soup going on in the heavyweight division and I am too young to have been around at the time and I’m not entirely sure who’s fault that is, but that really hurts Holmes in my books and one of the main reasons I have Lewis above him

 

I think there was an argument on here about this a while back.

Besides Pinklon I do not believe the number 1 contenders of Holmes's day especially the WBA belt holders are worth complaining about Holmes not fighting. Holmes could have fought better competition and was fighting green undefeateds but the idea people are mad he didn't rematch Weaver or fight a Dokes or Coetzee just confuses me. And there is a certain segment who really hold this against Holmes and I just don't understand.

 

Right on queue LOL. I was born in the 90s so my opinion will always be jaded, for me it just seems odd Holmes never unified, but I did mention in my post that the 80s was the start of the alphabet belts.

Always nice to hear another perspective on the matter though

 

Sure, alphabelt politics were definitely partly to blame, but it doesn't matter when we talk resume. The names missing is what matters, not the why. It's not a win just because it wasn't your fault the fight didn't happen.

But this is the case for both Holmes and Lewis. So they are quite even in this regard.