Who is greater Lennox Lewis or Larry Holmes

Lewis

 

2 very interesting and not brought up points

 

Holmes was never :dead 2x in his prime.. Come to think about it , even when he was old he was only kod once and that was by a prime Mike Tyson... Its not like Lewis was kod by all time greats either, but instead by 2 solid/semi good but hardly outstanding HWs in Rahman and Mccall. Yey he won the rematches, but it is what it is and bottom line he was stretched twice in his prime... Holmes had a longer unbeaten run and was able to get off the canvas and take of the fighters that did hurt him (Snipes,Shavers) 2 guys who were on a similar level as Lewis Conquerors (Shavers hit harder than Mccall or Rahman and probably the better fighter).


As for his fights with Holy and Tyson.. Well all of us educated fans know that Holy was on the slide and still managed to fight Lewis to a razor close fight in the 2nd one.. That tells me a prime Holy would have taken Lewis.............And Tyson forget it that was not the same prime Mike and even the biggest Lewis nuthuggers know this.

 

Oh you mean as an old man? Holmes never lost in his prime and had a long stretch going 48-0 before losing... IMO Lewis has the more embarrasing losses he was kod Twice by fighters he shouldnt have lost too... When Holmes loss it was to a prime and ruthless wrecking machine, and Holmes had been laid off for a while and was clearly past his prime.... Tell me the embarrasing losses you are referring too? If i was a HW champion id feel more comfortable with my wins and losses as Larry Holmes rather than Lennox Lewis.

 

That was not a prime Lewis in the Mccall fight, that is clear not only from the way he fought (amateurish, legs ridiculously far apart, rather wild), but also from the fact that he was yet to team up with Emanuel Steward, who greatly improved Lennox as a fighter. And I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses, but he didn't train properly for the Rahman fight. Being sidetracked with filming and turning up to South Africa (a place of high altitude) late was greatly detrimental to his condition. When have we ever seen Lewis in such bad condition as he was in that fight? (Gassing after 3 rounds). Although, dedication is a massive part of being a fighter, and maybe the Rahman loss highlights that as something which Lewis maybe did not have.

Anyway, those losses are losses. There is no changing that. I just think that circumstances should be taken into account when assessing them.

 

Both rank very high, but Lewis edges it for me in terms of ability/resume and would favour him H2H as well.

 

35 year old lewis = prime.

35 year old holmes = old man.

 

Larry Lost his first fight at 35,36 and that was by decision. Where as Lewis was stretched out :dead2x by 35.

 

"prime" lennox won his rematch at 36.

"old man" larry lost his rematch at 36.

:deal

 

They both fought a similar quality of opposition, though Holmes may have a very slight edge. He was always competitive and almost never had shaky moments against anyone. Lewis was more inconsistent and had shaky moments regularly in his prime. I think Holmes was probably the greater fighter by very little.

 

That loss was controversial its almost the consensus that Holmes won the rematch.:yep But like i said before Lennox was stretched 2x:dead Already and Holmes not once.,... And Holmes fought some big time punchers.

 

nah...like you said:

lewis was "prime" at 35.

holmes was an "old man" at 35.

:deal

 

I assume you rate based on H2H, where holmes is a beast considering the variety of styles he dismantled.

I rate him high, top 9 ATG. his meaningful career should read 49-1 IMO.

I can see him being above Lewis. But the others IMO he can't rank above, atleast for me anyways.

Put Holmes in the 90's and I think at best he co-reigns with lewis/holy.

Put holmes in the 60's and I don't see him making it.

50's he cleans up IMO.

40's certainly not.

his style is brilliant and his jab is legendary. he did dominate his era regardles of what ABC boxrec warriors say.

A great no doubt. for me top 9 maybe top 7. but definitely behind Louis, Ali, Rocky, Liston, Dempsey, Johnson.

Him, Lewis and Foreman are close. I personally right now put him behind them 2, yesterday I had him ahead of them 2.

 

i hate to admit it............. LENNOX LEWIS

 

Lennox Lewis gets my vote. Both Great Heavyweights.