Where does Evander Holyfield rank among all time great Heavyweights?

The guys an idiot!

 

Mercer was the number 5 ranked contender, beating him convincingly earned Holmes his title shot with Holyfield, its that simple!

Choynski was 20 years old and had only 3 fights under his belt, he was emphatically not a contender at that time. How many fights Corbett had then is irrelevant ,we are establishing Choynski's credentials ,or lack of ,as a top contender at the time he fought Corbett.
Choynski and Corbett were not even wearing boxing gloves for that contest!

There was a big demand for Corbett to fight Jackson but he turned a deaf ear to it .

Mitchell weighed 150lbs when he fought Sullivan he was throughout his career a middleweight, only at 33 going up to165lbs for the Corbett fight , which was his next to last contest,the fact that he often tackled heavyweights does not change his weight classification !
There are no major wins on Mitchells resume he was not a standout contender when Corbett won the title he was a gimme defence.
Here is the result of the Mitchellv Sullivan fight.
" Early on, Sullivan made his trademark charge, hoping to bombard the smaller Mitchell with his terrific punching power. Though Mitchell hit the deck three times he recruited to drop Sullivan for the first time in his career, off a quick left. Sullivan, who forever longer hated the fact that Mitchell dropped him, rose to his feet as quick as possible though the bell ended the tumulteous opening frame. Sullivan, infuriated, annhiliated Mitchell in the second and third until the Police stopped the slaughter when Mitchell was completely helpless on the ropes. Sullivan pleaded in vain for the police to let him get "one more crack at him" but when the police refused, Sullivan walked back to his corner in tears. Its correctly ruled on BoxRec.com as a TKO victory for Sullivan because some sources have it surprisingly as just a Win in three rounds for the Great John L. Sullivan" You obviously don't know that they fought twice, the other fight was in France on Baron Rothschilds estate at Chantilly, fought in heavy mud and rain. Mitchell continually dropped to the ground to avoid punches this bout was ruled a draw. As it was fought under London Prize Ring rules it isn't relevant to the discussion.


Corbett's one great victory is over a 34 years old, alcoholic, dissipated Sullivan who was returning to the ring after a 4 and a half years absence and it took Corbett 21 rounds to wear the old guy down.

The rest of your post is irrational rambling.

 

Well in real world Bert Cooper was 1-week short notice.

Tyson was injured, and then completely different fighter Damiani stepped in, but just week before fight he got injured, too and Holyfield's team found Cooper who was ranked by IBF after stopping Joe Hipp.

So Holyfield prepared for Tyson, then for Damiani, and only then for Cooper.

As for Holmes beating undefeated prime TOP-5 HW Ray Mercer, it was AN ACCOMPLISMENT good enough to get immediate shot at undisputed HW title.

Listen, don't metter if you are 42. If you easily (not controversially as someone here said) beat TOP-5 contender, then you're good enough to challenge the champion.

And Holmes lost to Nielsen (that shouldve been win for 47 y.o. Holmes) not shortly after Holyfield and Mercer fights. 5 years after that, at 47, not at 42.

 

Love it.

 

How can anyone be that totally lacking in self- awareness?

 

I truly have no idea. Quality stuff after pulling someone up on the "a" hahaha