Prime Evander Holyfield vs Prime Lennox Lewis

I know this is an old thread that's been bumped but i'm always curious to what people claim "Holyfield's Prime" is at Heavyweight ? I think people forget Holyfield was considered a bit of a paper champion before his epic fights with Bowe.

Holyfield won the title off a fat unmotivated Buster Douglas who didn't turn up, and then didn't really impress in any of his other title defences. He was almost KO'ed by Bert Cooper, was cut and struggled vs an old Larry Holmes and lost between 4 or 5 rounds, had another struggle vs an Old Foreman.

Now some of the wins vs Holmes, Foreman, do look a bit better better with hindsight. But really Holyfield always looked beatable at Heavyweight in all honesty. He struggled vs Dokes, Stewart 1, Cooper, Old Holmes, etc.

Apart from the 2nd Bowe fight you could argue Holyfield had his best performances at Heavyweight during the late 90s vs Tyson, Moorer 2, Lewis 2. Whilst Holyfield was a bit older at this point he'd bulked up with PEDs ? and fought smarter not getting so involved in slugfests like he did in his early Heavyweight fights.

 

Nice post. Sometimes i wonder what Holyfield's exact legacy would be without both Tyson fights. Tho it's up for debate (and is often debated furiously and continuously year after year) just how good Tyson truly was post prison Evander gets an incredible amount of mileage out of Tyson because, well, he was Tyson.

I'm not trying to put Vander down, i neither hang off his nuts nor dislike him in any way but it's a really interesting question. Without those two fights what would be getting posted in the forum in recent years? It's worthy of a thread on it's own really.

 

Yeah sorry but Lennox would UD him again.

 

Lewis, it’s a classic case of a great bigger man beats a great smaller man, Holyfield was great, but when you have a man like Lewis using his height and reach perfectly, there really isn’t much you can do if you’re the shorter, lighter man, only times you can have success is when he switches off, but it’s not enough over the course of 12 rounds.

 

Holy of the 1st Bowe fight probably beats 2000 Lewis on points.

 

Lewis by horrific and traumatizing beating. Wouldn’t be suitable for under 13 year olds.
(I am bias and hate holyfield.)

 

Holyfield by decision.
In 1999, he was slower (whether on foot or hand) and lacked the workrate of his prime.
We shouldn't forget that he hurt Lewis in the 7th round of the rematch. I'm sure he would have followed up in his prime.

 

Draw.

 

Holyfield on points. I think at his best he outworks Lewis. Would've been a fun fight around 93.

 

Holyfield is 1-2 vs Bowe, some say 0-3 , still needed the fan man and pregnant Bowe's wife collapsing Ringside to a razor thin decision.

Holyfield does not have fight ending power which is Lewis's achilled heel so Lewis will decision him again in a stinker.

Lets face it, both times when they met were boring fights with Lewis clearly having the upper hand.

 

I like Evander. An old Evander at 37 was pretty complétive w an excellent Lewis.