Who's greater: Lewis or Holmes?

Currently, I have Holmes as the #3 heavyweight of all time; Lewis as the #4.

Some points to consider:

a) Lewis fought in a much much better era.

b) Holmes dominated from 79 to 85. Lewis dominated from 98 to 2004 (except 2001, where he lost and regained the title). Holmes has much more title defenses.

c) Holmes was undefeated until fighting Spinks in 1985. It was his 49th fight. Lewis lost to McCall and Rahman.

d) Holmes fought until he was very old, and lost. Lewis retired at the right time.

e) They fought approximately the same number of contenders: 16-18.

 

Holmes, no doubt. I disagree that Lewis fought in a much better era.

 

I rank Lewis much better head to head and he beat MUCH MUCH better oppostion and Lewis opponets werent all that special in his own right.

 

I have Holmes at top 3 (certainly top 5)...I have Lewis top 10 (I rank him 8..Both very good and h2h could be a dynamite fight where I would lean towards a close holmes decision...I agree w. florida boy...would not call Lewis's era better...neither was top tier either way.

 

LEWIS:good

 

Lewis, by far.

 

:yep

 

Lewis.

It is good practice to give the benefit of the doubt to those in the modern era.

 

Pretty much even. Head to head between the two I'd favor Holmes slightly, but based on dominance they are close(though Holmes was never stopped in his prime) and Lewis has the better overall resume.

 

It's a close call and I've routinely switched their places. As of now, I have Lewis number 3 because I feel his resume is superior. H2H, it's about as close as can be too.

 

edit

 

Lewis could cause holmes all kinds of problems head to head but Holmes was greater.

BTW you are ranking both too high.

Lewis was knocked out twice in his prime while Holmes remained undefeated.
Holmes was dropped by perhaps the hardest hitter of all times in Ernie Shavers and got up to win, while Lewis did not.

Lewis was also lucky to survive shakey moments with Mercer and Briggs.

Holmes almost 10 years out of his prime lost a very contraversial decision and title belt bid to Oliver McCall...I had him winning.

Holmes was far greater than Lennox Lewis.

 

Barely. But i agree with you. The fact Holyfield was in Lewis's era tilts it in his favor.

 

Hell, Holmes would not have a chance vs. Lewis. Rinaldo Snipes put Holmes on the canvas with a wild right hand, Holmes had problems stopping the right hand, could you imagine what would happen to Holmes vs. Lewis?

 

Holmes, who is more a lower top 10 then a top five type. It is close call, I'll go with Holmes cause he survived when hurt but Lewis didn't. Holmes did not fight best of his era (Page, Dokes, and Coatzee) plus never gave Witherspoon a deserved rematch--or a rematch to Mike Weaver also. Beating Gerry Cooney and Renaldo Snipes does not make a guy great.