Who's greater: Lewis or Holmes?

Lewis fought better fighters, beat better fighters, but got knocked out twice by lesser fighters in his prime. Larry didn't lose til over a decade into his carrer and was only stopped by a Prime Tyson when he was 38. Larry also had a longer championship reign than Lewis.

Holmes was greater but not by much.

 

Who did Holmes beat? Ali was on his last leg. Tex Cobb?

 

Earnie Shavers twice. Roy Williams (not a very known name but one helluva boxer), Tim Witherspoon, Ken Norton, Trevor Berbick, Mike Weaver..

Save for Shavers and Williams these were all guys who were champions or would later become champions. He fought all these guys while they were still on their upward climb or in their prime.

Holmes beat 8 guys who were or would later become champions (I didn't count Ali). The only "paper belt" champion you could say was Mercer's WBO belt but I counted him because he beat Ray past his prime while Ray was in his prime.

Lewis beat 7 former champions and I'm counting an old Mike Weaver in that mix.

I can't believe Holmes is being disrespected by some like this.

 

The good bigger fighter will always beat the good smaller figher.

 

Tell that to Tommy Hearns when he fought Ray Leonard the first time.

Tell that to Alexis Arguello when he had a size advantage over Aaron Pryor

Tell that to the late great Diego Corrales when he fought Floyd Mayweather

Tell that to Tommy Hearns when he fought Marvin Hagler

Tell that to Matthew Saad Muhammad when he fougt Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

Tell that to Iran Barkley when he wa owned by an OLD Roberto Duran.

Want me to go on??

 

Lewis fought and beat the better fighters.

 

Would a lion beat a ***** cat?

 

Horrible analogy

 

I love both guys but I have to give it to Holmes..this guy was so good I started to hate him..

Great jab. heart and intangibles also fought in I would say a bit better era.
A prime Witherspoon was better than anyone Lewis had faced, spoon was no joke

I see people selling Cooney short as well, Cooney any boxing person you ask was a hell of a fighter

You guys have to understand that if it wasnt for being pipped by Spinks, Holmes would quite possible be undeafeated surpassing Marciano..that would have elevated him to mythical status

 

Cooney when he faced Holmes wasn't bad but he was overrated even at that time. The only legimate guys he'd beaten were Jimmy Ellis and Norton both who were past their primes.

I will say this though, he had one incredible left hook though. When people say Lewis fought in a better era, it really makes me laugh because I've yet to hear who. The only person Holmes didn't fight in his prime that was a part of that era was Gerry Coetzee and Greg Paige.

I have no doubt that he would have beaten both of those guys and he was more than willing to fight them both but wasn't going to go to South Africa to fight Coetzee and he didn't want to deal with Don King anymore who was trying to paint Paige like he was the new Ali because they were the from the same hometown.

I'm not going to take away from Lennox Lewis because he did avenge all his defeats but Holmes even had better footwork than Lewis and that would have even made a bigger difference if they fought. Holmes was so good even when he was flat he could still win a fight pretty easily.. Holmes was so good as I said, it carried him to his "old age". Holyfield (during his prime) BARELY beat an old Holmes. What does that tell you about this man's skills??

 

Lewis is just too big and strong for Holmes.

 

Holmes.

 

I wish we had a time machine.

 

I used to think Holmes but now I think it is Lewis.

 

I agree there was no doubt who the champ was during Holmes reign, but I wouldn't say he "ruled with an iron fist". He missed fighting a few top contenders. But my biggest beef is that he never gave Witherspoon a rematch. That said....I have him at #4. His win over Mercer and effort against Holyfield helped showed he was a great fighter even after the loss to Tyson and the 2 to Spinks.
Lewis I have at 5. He beat every fighter of his era and every man he fought as a pro. If it weren't for the hiccups against McCall and Rahman, he would have been #3.