Tyson's 5 best Opponents vs Holmes 5 best

I think Both Sonny's jab and GodKing have good arguments in contrast to one another. The two are well supported and I'm having a hard time disagreeing with either.

One possible point that neither poster addressed is that there were very few mega-million dollar paydays available between 1979-1985. At one point, I think the steaks for Holmes fighting Page ( a #1 contender )was something like 3.5 million. The Gerry Cooney fight was by far and above his biggest meal ticket. I don't remember what Holyfield's purses were for fighting the likes of Holmes, Foreman, Bowe I, II, III, Moorer I, II, Tyson I,II, and Lewis I, II, but I can remember thinking how outrageous they were, and I'm fairly certain they were MUCH MUCH higher than any purse Holmes received for fighting a top rater ( other than Cooney ). Although I have never questioned the heart or guts of Evander Holyfield, and never will, let's face it. Taking a fight for the kind of paydays that he was offered is pretty damn hard to turn down, even if you've just suffered a gun shot wound the day of the weigh in. Holyfield's purses in those days were not being scarfed down by Don King the way that Holmes's was back in the day, and when I say " back in the day", lets not forget that inflation did not go up too drastically between 1983-1995. 3.5 million dollars in 1983 was still **** compared to say 15 million dollars in 1995.

What's my point?

Taking on the best in the world is a lot easier if the deal is sweatened to the extent that it was when Holyfield was champion. I still think that a man with the yern to prove himself and fight the best would have done so anyway, but if someone offered Holmes $10 million to fight Page as opposed to 3.5, I have little doubt that he would have stepped up to the plate.

Upon winning the title, Holyfield took fights with 40+ version of Holmes and Foreman for this very reason. We all know that there were better challengers out there. I for one, being a true boxing fan and not a sensationalist, would have liked to see Holyfield sign for either Ruddock or Witherspoon immediately after beating Douglas. Razor would have easily walked away from the Tyson deal for a shot at the heavyweight title. Witherspoon was another well qualified contender in 1991, regardless of his lower rating by fat ass politicians and even despite being slightly past his prime. The problem is, neither Ruddock nor Witherspoon would have made him the kind of money that the other two made him, and at the same time, both were bigger risks. The concept of making a less risky investment for greater returns, is older than boxing itself, and we're all well familiar with it.......