Rate These Fighters...

1.Jones Jr
2.Chavez
3.Lewis
4.Holyfield
5.Mayweather
6.De La Hoya
7.Tszyu
8.Toney
9.Hamed
10.Kessler

 

before being one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, holyfield was the greatest cruiserweight of all time.

 

1.Jones jnr
2.chavez snr
3.lewis
4.holyfield
5.mayweather
6.toney
7.de la hoya
8.tszyu
9.hamed
10.kessler

 

Holyfield rates so highly because he excels in all the criteria you listed:

TALENT: an outstanding combination of speed and power; great chin, tenacity

SKILLS: a full arsenal of punches; was able to adapt from cruiserweight to make his talents work in the heavyweight division

RESUME/ACHIEVEMENTS: These sort of bleed together for me. This is where Holyfield separates himself from Lewis. Holyfield's reign occured in a stronger era and over a longer period of time. He also became undisputed champion in two divisions, not just heavyweight.

If we're talking just heavyweight title reigns, there's a stronger argument for Lewis, but we're talking about an entire career span, which must also include Holyfield's cruiserweight reign, as well as consideration for the era he fought in.

 

Ok guys, I'm looking for your opinions. Taking equally into account natural talent, boxing skills and ability, resume, and achivements (belts, defences, etc.) how would you rank these fighters from #1-10....



2.Jones Jr.
8.Hamed
1.Mayweather Jr.
5.De La Hoya
9.Tszyu
7.Lewis
6.Toney
3.Holyfield
10.Kessler
4.Chavez Sr.

 

They usually do.

 

Holy and Lewis were essentially the same era really. The three years at the start of the 90s didn't contain any real standout fighters that weren't still as effective when Lewis became champion in '93.

 

3.Chavez Sr
6.De La Hoya
1.Jones Jr.
2.Lewis
5.Holyfield
4.Mayweather Jr.
7.Tszyu
8.Toney
9.Hamed
10.Kessler

 

Lewis had a belt in 1993, but he didn't become The Man until the unification with Holyfield in 1999.

Holyfield and Lewis fought around the same time but reigned as champion in very different times. Lewis reigned at the time of the emerging Eastern European heavyweight and the Tua-Rahman-Grant years. Holyfield reigned in the middle of a resurgence from the Tyson bum-of-the-month years, with guys like Bowe and Moorer.

 

Not Lewis' fault that Bowe and Tyson wanted no part of him. He was there, ready and willing to fight them.

 

I'm not saying it was Lewis's fault. I actually agree with you. However, it still hurts him when we're strictly looking at resume and achievements.

 

I think the top 5 on my list are ATG fighters, so I don't think there is a lot of seperation between them and I wouldn't have a real problem with Lewis being ranked higher. I think it could be argued that Holyfield was the greatest Cruiserweight ever from a head to head standpoint (excluding the Marciano's and Louis's from the discussion). He then moved up and became a great Heavyweight Champion. In his two fights with Lewis, he was outweighed by roughly 25lbs. I don't claim he won those fights, but certainly didn't embarass himself. I think Lewis is a great fighter, but I do tend to dock him for the 2 knockout losses. I realize it's kind of unfair to play the multi-division champion card because Lewis had nowhere else to go, but the fact remains that Holyfield was a great Crusierweight before even starting a great Heavyweight career.