Regardless of what happens during the remainder of their careers, both Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis have made their mark in heavyweight history. Holyfield and Lewis are without a doubt the two best and most accomplished heavyweight champions since the end of the Larry Holmes era in September of 1985. Some may say Riddick Bowe should be included, but his body of work doesn't compare to either fighter. Mike Tyson also doesn't match up with either Holyfield or Lewis. Based on career achievements and head to head confrontations, both surpass Tyson. They are more complete fighters than Tyson and have faced and defeated better fighters than he has. Holyfield and Lewis have also handled adversity better than Tyson and have never ducked any fighter who was a perceived threat to them. There's no doubt that the battle for who is the best heavyweight champ since Larry Holmes is between Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis. [details (http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=638)]

Without a doubt Holyfield, the only two times Lewis took fights he might lose in were the Razor Ruddock (up till then nobody fought he could destroy Ruddock) and Rahman (Not many people have knocked out the guy in the same chilling manner they was knocked out). whereas Holyfield where do we start fighter of the year, Cruiserweight, fight of the year Qawi vs Holyfield 1, that is just the start, Bowe,Tyson, i can go he has done everything and more. A LEGEND without a doubt Lewis was good but not the stuff of True Legends like Holyfield, Ali, Louis

I would say Lewis...

Reason being, he had a better amature career, was ducked by many fighters. The biggest plus is he left while on top. Thinking about it, you can find so many positive points to their careers. I just give a slight edge to LL.

Holyfield was too inconsistent to be considered alongside Ali, Louis etc

I'd go for Holyfield. Frankly I just have more respect for the guy that doesn't duck opponents and repeatedly triumphs in the face of adversity. Even past his prime he was able take out a fading (but still domineering) Tyson and then fought Lennox to a draw.

Lennox was an excellent tactician, but in reverse fashion he seemed to lose the fights he was expected to win, by KO no less. I'd have a bit more respect for him if he didn't take the Technical win over Vitali only to go back on his word and duck out of the Boxing world to get out of a rematch. That he went on to coach Vitali's opponents was laughable. More brains than heart.

Probably would have been easier to call if Evander had hung up the gloves half a decade ago.

Lewis didn't "duck" anyone he was the guy being ducked.

Lewis ranks higher.

Holyfield just way to up and down. Holyfield is under .500 in his fights.

He went
Bowe 1-2
Moorer 1-1
Tyson 2-0
Lewis 0-2

Lennox Lewis ducked a rematch with Vitali.

At best there was no clear winner and the match was awarded by default. Lennox verbally agreed to a rematch but later changed his mind.

Lennox Lewis ducked a rematch with Vitali.

At best there was no clear winner and the match was awarded by default. Lennox verbally agreed to a rematch but later changed his mind.


*rolleyes*

Yes there was a clear winner if you dont think so then it shows you have an agenda.

Your asking a fighter to avenge a win.

Are you kidding me? I hope this doesn't turn into a ridiculous semantic arguement but here goes.

Clearly Vitali was winning the fight. Clearly he was ahead on all score cards. If Vitali had suffered the cut during training and the fight had to be cancelled, would you proclaim Lennox the winner?

There is a certain amount of common sense that has to be factored in here, if you decide at some point you want to be able to make your own decisions. When I stated that there was no clear winner I was talking about the actual fighting, not the decision handed down by the doctor/judges. Vitali was leading, but Lewis did manage to do some heavy damage. It was decided that to call it a draw wouldn't be fair to the fighter who was cleared to continue, ETC.

I didn't say he had to avenge anything. I'm stating that Lennox knew Vitali was out boxing him and he encouraged a rematch because on some level he knew he didn't rightfully beat Vitali but went back on his word because it's too great of a risk.

Do you think there was a clear winner of Couture/Belfort II? How about Fedor/Nog II? Would you still claim Lennox won if the bout was ruled a No Contest?

Vitali's face was a mess, i dont see the problem?? It doesnt matter who was ahead on the score card because injurys stopped the fight.

Lewis beat Vitali fairly.

i say lewis... but no one can ever questioned holyfield's heart and courage...

Vitali's face was a mess, i dont see the problem?? It doesnt matter who was ahead on the score card because injurys stopped the fight.

Lewis beat Vitali fairly.

Riveting...

Gotta of with Lewis on this one.

Are you kidding me? I hope this doesn't turn into a ridiculous semantic arguement but here goes.

Clearly Vitali was winning the fight. Clearly he was ahead on all score cards. If Vitali had suffered the cut during training and the fight had to be cancelled, would you proclaim Lennox the winner?

There is a certain amount of common sense that has to be factored in here, if you decide at some point you want to be able to make your own decisions. When I stated that there was no clear winner I was talking about the actual fighting, not the decision handed down by the doctor/judges. Vitali was leading, but Lewis did manage to do some heavy damage. It was decided that to call it a draw wouldn't be fair to the fighter who was cleared to continue, ETC.



I didn't say he had to avenge anything. I'm stating that Lennox knew Vitali was out boxing him and he encouraged a rematch because on some level he knew he didn't rightfully beat Vitali but went back on his word because it's too great of a risk.

Do you think there was a clear winner of Couture/Belfort II? How about Fedor/Nog II? Would you still claim Lennox won if the bout was ruled a No Contest?

Oh god.

Listen it doesn't matter who was winning. All that matters is Vitali could not continue to to cuts cause by PUNCHES from Lewis. Thats a TKO win period end of story. No it was not decided those rules have been in place for decades.

*rolleyes*

Yes there was a clear winner if you dont think so then it shows you have an agenda.

Your asking a fighter to avenge a win.

Though I agree with you on the fact that Lewis should rank above Holyfield, I obviosly disagree here. Lewis should have retired after the Tyson win instead of hording his belt for nearly another 2 years. Lewis was too old to fight Klitschko and even Danny Williams can beat Tyson. Lewis and Steward should have known better and then this would not be such a huge topic and Vitali could have gotten the WBC belt a year earlier.

Both are great, both beat Tyson, fair and square. As far as I'm concerned, Tyson revived Heavyweight boxing with his career and is the best of his time. But between Holyfield and Lewis, I'd have to say Holyfield, because he fought Tyson when he was more lethal, and wasn't overly upset about the ear thing, but then again, he had no right to be, he brought it onto himself with those butts...
I think if the two were put up to fight each other Lennox would win pretty easily (if they were both in prime) but I just think Evander has accomplished more and is more famous, especially because he's the guy that got Tyson THAT angry.

Oh god.

Listen it doesn't matter who was winning. All that matters is Vitali could not continue to to cuts cause by PUNCHES from Lewis. Thats a TKO win period end of story. No it was not decided those rules have been in place for decades.

Way to dodge and take the sheep route, chief.

Way to dodge and take the sheep route, chief.


Dodge what?

How am I "dodging" something by going by THE RULES

Lennox Lewis is ahead of Holyfield because he was the more dominant of the two in their era.

I gotta be honest - Holyfield had/has perhaps the biggest heart of any HW champion. He overcame huge physical deficits to take the title against all odds. But frankly his record as a heavy just doesn't stack up. The only opponents he beat that I can give him any real props for are Bowe (who in turn beat him twice), Tyson (but not a prime Tyson), and maybe Ray Mercer. On the other hand, Lewis beat prime Ruddock, prime Morrison, prime Golota, prime Klitschko, prime Tua, and a past prime Tyson, Mercer and Holyfield. We're talking about some real monsters here. While Lewis didn't have a great chin, he had just about every other physical advantage you can think of, and it showed in his ability to consistently (when focused) beat all challengers. With Holy, it was always a question of whether his heart advantage could overcome the physical disadvantages, and that was no sure thing. Sorry Vander, but I gotta give the nod to Lewis.