Who's The 3rd Greatest Heavy weight?

Bjorn Borg always used a wooden racket. He was widely noted for it.

 

Ivan was a force of nature on the court. He just blasted the ball by everyone.

Boris Becker was a contemporary and built more like a linebacker, but Ivan could also hit balls from the baseline all day and just wear you down. He had ridiculous stamina.

 

Who did I leave out on Holy's list as far as big punchers? Fighters say weird things about their opponents. I watched Bigfoot Marin, Pierre Coetzer, Tony Tubbs and Golota eat everything Bowe could throw (except the low blows he used on Pierre)... Wasn't super impressed. I'm sure he had decent pop. Hell, I don't want to get hit by him. He really winged that right hand. But it's not on top level from what I saw.

And of course, Holy faced some great comp and he is an ATG. But I don't think the list of pure punchers he faced beats that of Lewis

 

Hi Anubis.
Such kind and lovely words, means a lot to me, thank you.
stay safe buddy, chat soon.

 

I’m not arguing for who beat more punchers just pure adversity - I’d say Evander gauntlet was a one tougher then Lennox’s and pretty much anybody’s… which was what I was getting at WDYT Seamus? - But Evanders punchers… Bowe could whack can’t be doubted IMO but that’s you I trust Holy on his estimation - Bert Cooper hit as hard as anybody size be damned he made Holyfield feel it, Tyson is Tyson… Foreman is Foreman, Lennox is probably a harder whacker then either of those guys IMO, ya got a whole marble bag of Cooper, Mercer, Rahaman other B tier opponents like Lennox’s who could swat in there too I ain’t contesting Lennox probably fought more punchers but I’d say Evanders credentials are probably on par, I’d say he fought harder punchers then Mr Lewis IMO mostly because he fought Lewis lol but the only thing I am “contesting” (but it might be a misunderstanding) is that Holyfield fought a harder run of opposition.

 

Not sure I agree that he fought a harder run of opposition unless we start including the part where he started losing pretty often. And post-prison Tyson wasn't Tyson. He was something but not the monster he was pre-Douglas.

Just a side note regarding who hit the hardest, I've had two pro's in 90's, guys who fought or sparred with everyone, say that Lionel Butler hit them the hardest. And I believe Lamon Brewster said the same thing later on.

Now, I'm trying to remember where this all started.... Oh, yeah, I will put up Lewis' resume against anyone if we are considering the danger of getting whacked during the contest. And I will put Lennox at #3, just squeaking by Holmes for that spot.

 

I'm going with Holmes but I loved a Larry Bird too

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No one faced tougher competition than Holyfield(in his era sure historically no) because no one except Jersey Joe Walcott maybe got title shots easier than Holyfield. He went a little over .500 against that competition. This wasn't Holyfield constantly challenging himself. He kept getting title shots and taking them winning some losing some. Most elite fighters could go over .500 if they fought elite guys every fight. Which they don't because if they lose once they fall back in the ranks. Fighters pad records because they need to string together a winning streak for oppurtunities. After winning the belt at 29 Holyfield didn't need to do this again until he was 44.

Holyfield was tougher than Lewis. But durability was Lewis' main weakness and Holyfields main strength.

Holyfields on record saying the hardest he was hit is by old Foreman. Bowes the best combo of power size and skill in that era and Holyfields the only top HW of the era to fight him. But Holyfield lost that trilogy. Maybe Bowe, Foreman and Cooper hit harder than all of Lennox's opponents who were more powerful on average okay but Foreman was old and Cooper wasn't on that level and he did get rocked by them. The power guys of that era tended not to be the best fighters especially the bigger ones.

Tyson was smaller and he was more one of the top HWs who hit hard than the HW who hit hardest. Tyson was a perfect opponent for Holy because he needed to get Holy out right away and Holyfields not a guy that goes out right away.

Lewis did not hit hard for someone his size he was better at boxing than anyone his size. He had power but for a 6 ft 6 250 pounder with a long reach its hard not to.

 

Please, someone explain to me what's going on with this Lewis... I know that he has a great CV, great PR, he had a great promotional campaign for HBO when there were no successors to Tyson and Holyfield in the USA, I know that there was a need to somehow explain Grant's fall but... What are Lewis' greatest fights/victories? how can you rate him higher than Holmes?
1.Holmes has a better record
2. Holmes has won more title fights
3. Holmes was more long-lived
4. Holmes has a better single win: His fight against 35-year-old Norton is much better than Lewis' fight against 37-year-old Holyfield, also because Holy suits Lennox much more stylishly than Ken Larry did
5. Even after 40, Holmes NEVER lost in such a terrible way as Lewis did against McCall or Rahman

The 42-year-old Holmes won much better against the 30-year-old Mercer than the 31-year-old Lewis won against the 35-year-old Mercer. How long was Mercer away from victory?

Even at the age of 45, Holmes gave an equal fight to the guy who had just wiped the floor of London with Lewis, taking away his title.

I watched Lewis before he became popular, I watched him when he was at his peak, I watched his opinion evolve, I watched his interviews and reactions, and I think he has the best PR of any fighter in history, except maybe Ali. He is the opposite of Holmes and Tyson in this respect, but personal sympathy cannot determine sports evaluation!!

 

Bravo, it's very good arguments you must boxing expert, Who else?

 

I agree mostly with this. Post 04, Lewis is somehow ranked as a top 3 or 4 heavyweight ever. He wasn't. He lacked the chin, at times the stamina, the killer instinct and in many ways was similar to the Klitschkos. He also had losses in his prime no top heavyweight should have, which marks him down. While in his prime he wasn't as dominant as Tyson, Foreman, Ali or Holmes.

Btw, I really think Holyfield also has a great argument at being the 3rd best heavyweight ever.

 

It's between Holmes and Lewis for me I've made arguments before for both.

Holmes has more wins against ranked opposition more title defenses and never lost in his prime like Lewis did I do believe the 1 punch stoppages do hurt Lewis's legacy somewhat.

But Lewis fought better opposition overall retired on top and beat every man he ever fought.

So it's what you prefer honestly.

 

Holmes for me but most guys in the 3-10/12 range have a decent case