Where do you rate Evander Holyfield as a heavyweight all time ...

I rate him higher than tyson or lewis.. 10th maybe

Braddock Was A Sav. I Think He Would Have Had A Chance

Hi Scott, Just coming back to Ike Ibeabuchi. I thought that one might have ruffled a few feathers. True he didn't have very many fights, but what he did demonstrate in those fights were: fantastic one punch power a very sturdy chin excellent dimensions for a heavyweight good speed, boxing ability and good combination work excellent twelve round stamina A no fear mentality In the Tua fight the amount of punches thrown was very high, a very impressive performance, he KO'd a peak Chris Byrd, which was no easy job. Frankly I may have found myself betting against Lewis if a fight had been made. I think he'd have outworked Vitali Klitchko and probably KO'd the weaker chinned Wladimir. In my book he is the biggest, most wasted talent in heavyweight history! I gave his placing some serious thought in my rankings, who other than the others in my list would have beaten this guy? Any suggestions, ideas, arguments would be most welcome. From the 90s who would have had a good chance? Moorer/Mercer/Schultz/Briggs/Golota/Morrison.............doubt it! 80s? Witherspoon/Thomas/Berbick/Weaver/Tate/Page/Tucker/Spinks/Coetzee.......unlikely too! 70s? Ron Lyle may have had a chance as might Jimmy Young. But I'd favour his chances over Frazier, Shavers, Norton and Ellis ( all too small with fragile chins ). 60s? Patterson/Terrel/Cooper.........dont make me laugh! 50s? Marciano/Walcott/Charles..........all too small! 40s? Louis was in my list, I dont think any of his challengers would have given Ike a beating The golden age? Jeffries/Johnson/Dempsey/Tunney/Baer/Schmelling/Carnera/Braddock. All too small with the exception of Carnera who lets face it was not a great boxer or natural puncher. Holyfield would have given him a good fight..........he would anyone, especially at his peak!

I Guess Somewhere Around Tha Top 10. But I Dont Think He Was Even Close 2 Bein Tha Greatest

holyfield would have beaten any version of tyson. he was just too tough mentally for mike I agree 100%

I can't blame you for being so blind cuz your father was best pals with him but you're giving him credit for his wins on foreman and holmes? I think they were both about 50 years old when they fought him. and he lost to lewis twice so how does he get credit for that on his resume? tyson is borderline cuz that was a mentally weak tyson who had no great wins after his comeback. rewind 4-5 years and tyson would've beaten holyfield no doubt. holyfield is top 30 at best. holyfield would have beaten any version of tyson. he was just too tough mentally for mike

Holyfield would have beaten Tyson anytime after 1990. That would have been proven if Mike hadn't been sent to prison. I think so too. That's why it's a good thing Tyson ducked Holyfield in 91 by getting "injured." Holyfield always had the style to expose Tyson, even in his mythical prime. Tyson never was able to dig deep and win a war and would've quit when Holyfield was still coming like an animal in the championship rounds.

Its always a tough one. You see some people rate ATG heavyweights based on perceived dominance in the ring against all the other historic heavyweight champions. Some others based on their historical significance, For example most scholers of the game would probably agree that a peak Larry Holmes would beat a peak Jack Dempsey, but Dempsey was a greater boxing legend and historic figure than Larry Holmes. I would say Holyfield is probably inside the top ten on ability, but would be outside in terms of legendary status, I'm sure he would give any heavyweight in history a good fight. My own lists are below: Based on my own thoughts regarding perceived dominance ( very hard to call these in any real order ). 1) Muhammed Ali 2) Larry Holmes 3) Mike Tyson 4) Riddick Bowe 5) George Foreman 6) Lennox Lewis 7) Ike Ibeabuchi ( this might raise a few eyebrows! ) 8) Sonny Liston 9) Evander Holyfield 10) Joe Louis But based on Legendary / historical status: 1) Muhammed Ali 2) Joe Louis 3) Jack Dempsey 4) Rocky Marciano 5) Jack Johnson 6) Gene Tunney 7) George Foreman 8) Mike Tyson 9) Sonny Liston 10) Joe Frazier Its a bit late so if I've missed someone so significant please be gentle! Considering Ike only had 19 fights, and only two against anyone of decent quality, yes, it does raise my eyebrows. :eek:

id put him the the top 20

Its always a tough one. You see some people rate ATG heavyweights based on perceived dominance in the ring against all the other historic heavyweight champions. Some others based on their historical significance, For example most scholers of the game would probably agree that a peak Larry Holmes would beat a peak Jack Dempsey, but Dempsey was a greater boxing legend and historic figure than Larry Holmes. I would say Holyfield is probably inside the top ten on ability, but would be outside in terms of legendary status, I'm sure he would give any heavyweight in history a good fight. My own lists are below: Based on my own thoughts regarding perceived dominance ( very hard to call these in any real order ). 1) Muhammed Ali 2) Larry Holmes 3) Mike Tyson 4) Riddick Bowe 5) George Foreman 6) Lennox Lewis 7) Ike Ibeabuchi ( this might raise a few eyebrows! ) 8) Sonny Liston 9) Evander Holyfield 10) Joe Louis But based on Legendary / historical status: 1) Muhammed Ali 2) Joe Louis 3) Jack Dempsey 4) Rocky Marciano 5) Jack Johnson 6) Gene Tunney 7) George Foreman 8) Mike Tyson 9) Sonny Liston 10) Joe Frazier Its a bit late so if I've missed someone so significant please be gentle!

I put "top ten" and overall I put him above Lennox Lewis.

i said top 10 but ive changed my mind. hes probably in the top 15 like. not a bad achievment considering that he was the best cruiserweight of all time.

Top 20. Maybe 13 or so

I can't blame you for being so blind cuz your father was best pals with him but you're giving him credit for his wins on foreman and holmes? I think they were both about 50 years old when they fought him. and he lost to lewis twice so how does he get credit for that on his resume? tyson is borderline cuz that was a mentally weak tyson who had no great wins after his comeback. rewind 4-5 years and tyson would've beaten holyfield no doubt. holyfield is top 30 at best. Umm when Tyson fought Holyfield, he was fresh off wins of Bruno and Seldon for the WBA and WBC titles. He might not have been the same as before, but he was still a wrecking ball and dominating, that is, until Holyfield beat him up. He also could hang with Bowe, who IMO, even though he had a short Prime, was one of the hardest hitting heavyweights ever. Was considered the future of the division, and hung so tight with him, that it actually ruined Bowe. He fought everyone! Tyson or Lennox cannot say that. They never got to fight Bowe in his prime, or Moorer, or Foreman. I voted top 20, but on a given night, he could beat nearly anyone in the top 10.

I picked top 20. I think he's out of the top 10 just by a little bit.

I can't blame you for being so blind cuz your father was best pals with him but you're giving him credit for his wins on foreman and holmes? I think they were both about 50 years old when they fought him. and he lost to lewis twice so how does he get credit for that on his resume? tyson is borderline cuz that was a mentally weak tyson who had no great wins after his comeback. rewind 4-5 years and tyson would've beaten holyfield no doubt. holyfield is top 30 at best. Holyfield would have beaten Tyson anytime after 1990. That would have been proven if Mike hadn't been sent to prison.

I can't blame you for being so blind cuz your father was best pals with him but you're giving him credit for his wins on foreman and holmes? I think they were both about 50 years old when they fought him. and he lost to lewis twice so how does he get credit for that on his resume? tyson is borderline cuz that was a mentally weak tyson who had no great wins after his comeback. rewind 4-5 years and tyson would've beaten holyfield no doubt. holyfield is top 30 at best. I am not blind, but you have an arguement. However, I disagree with that argument. 1. Name another heavyweight that won THE HEAVYWEIGHT Title 4 times.. 2. Foreman and Holmes were both old, but on his resume they are still LEGENDARY names. He fought them and he won. 3. I give him credit for Lewis because he was good! I didn't say that he beat everyone on that resume, but its a good resume. Lewis retired as Heavyweight champ of the world, no? 4. Tyson, borderline...GET OUT OF HERE! Do not bring no mental factors, that qualifies as an excuse. If that is the case, Evander's losses to Micheal Moorer, and Bowe don't count because of his heart problems....However, Tyson came back strong from prison until he ran into Evander...plain and simple, drove him to bite him in part II!!! 5. IF you say top 20, be specific. In doing so, name the fighters in front of him on your "Top 30" list..

That's what I mean, he was a great champion but when you put him top 10 there are so much people that you see that have a better career overall then he did

I voted Top Ten. What can I say, I love this dude! Him and my pops are REAL good friends and they came up together in the boxing game. He has accomplished a lot despite his lately boxing endeavors. He won the gold in 84 and went on to have a GREAT career starting at Cruiser and moving up to heavyweight. To me, his defining moment was when he defeated Mike Tyson. He went on to capture the heavyweight title FOUR times! Amazing achievement. Even in defeat against Moorer, Lewis, Bowe, he fought with pure passion for boxing. Top 10 all time heavyweight. He had a nice resume may I add.. Buster Douglas George Foreman Micheal Moorer Lennox Lewis Larry Holmes Mike Tyson I hope that he just says bye to the sport. The sport has said bye to him. To 10 though. I can't blame you for being so blind cuz your father was best pals with him but you're giving him credit for his wins on foreman and holmes? I think they were both about 50 years old when they fought him. and he lost to lewis twice so how does he get credit for that on his resume? tyson is borderline cuz that was a mentally weak tyson who had no great wins after his comeback. rewind 4-5 years and tyson would've beaten holyfield no doubt. holyfield is top 30 at best.

I voted Top Ten. What can I say, I love this dude! Him and my pops are REAL good friends and they came up together in the boxing game. He has accomplished a lot despite his lately boxing endeavors. He won the gold in 84 and went on to have a GREAT career starting at Cruiser and moving up to heavyweight. To me, his defining moment was when he defeated Mike Tyson. He went on to capture the heavyweight title FOUR times! Amazing achievement. Even in defeat against Moorer, Lewis, Bowe, he fought with pure passion for boxing. Top 10 all time heavyweight. He had a nice resume may I add.. Buster Douglas George Foreman Micheal Moorer Lennox Lewis Larry Holmes Mike Tyson I hope that he just says bye to the sport. The sport has said bye to him. To 10 though.