Who ranks higher on the all-time great Heavyweight list, Lewis or Holyfield?

ssshhhhhh

 

Holyfield, but not by much.

Prime vs. Prime? I'll take Holyfield by decision.

Holyfield was 36 1/2 and 37 when they fought twice in 1999. He had already went 6-0 (5) in CW World Title Fights and 9-2 (4) in HW World Title Fights prior to facing Lewis. He had gone undefeated from late 1984 - late 1992 (he turned 30 in '92). Again, they fought in 1999.

The first fight was a draw but most felt Lewis did enough to win.

The rematch was won by Lewis but a few felt Holyfield did enough for the win... many felt it should have been a draw.

Lewis was in his prime for these fights, Holyfield was not.

Again... Prime vs. Prime? I think Holyfield beats Lewis on points.

Holyfield beat more "Lineal" HW Champs than anybody... Douglas, Foreman, Holmes, Bowe, Moorer, Tyson, and Rahman. He also beat HW World Title Holders... Thomas, Dokes, Mercer, Ruiz, and Botha. He was robbed vs. Valuev when he was 137 years old!

 

They fought two 12-rounders.
The first was a draw, but Lewis deserved the win. The second was a Lewis win, but it was close, arguably close enough to be a draw.

Lewis was at his best in both fights. Holyfield was past his best in both fights.

The results and performances didn't really prove much about how they match up head-to-head prime-for-prime.

 

Hm, okay, I disagree a bit. I explained how I see it on the pervious sites.

 

Lennox gets my vote.

 

If you're very kind to Holy.

Agree.

 

I love Evander Holyfield, but Lewis makes my top 5, while Holy probably falls closer to the lower end of the top 10. Its reasonable to say that Holyfield fought the better list of guys, but fighting and beating are not the same thing. Evander lost a fair number of his better meetings with top flight guys. Now, I realize that many of those fights came when he was either past his prime, or fighting under unfavorable circumstances, yet was still very competitive, but Lewis's record against top ranked opponents is simply too good to be ranked lower.

SIDENOTE - had these men met when Evander was at his best, I would probably have picked Holyfield to win a close decision.. He had diminished significantly by 1998, while Lennox was peaking, and still fought him for a combined 24 rounds, with a fair amount of competitevness. But, hypothetically picking a guy to win had he been in a different stage of life can't be used as criteria for rating him over another man.

 

At HW - Lewis
P4P - Holy

 

In my opinion, I would have to say Evander.

 

I rate Lewis in at # 5, while I have Holy rated # 8 on the ATG heavyweight list of champs...
:good:shock:

MR.BILL:rasta

 

Lewis.