Holyfield: are there 10 better heavyweights?

[Anthony342]

Nope, saying Evander was a better undisputed champion given Lennox literally did nothing with it.

overall or different aspects to measure I'd probably lean Lennox but in regards to who did what as undisputed Evander's the last man to give a damn about.

Lennox being undisputed is an anecdote. Yep, won it....that's it...that's all. Nothing to get too excited about when comparing to men who won it and defended it against top comp.

Oh, I see.

[IronDanHamza]

No chance.

I can’t name 5.

[JAB5239]

No chance.

I can’t name 5.

Good to see you Dan!

[Dariusz]

Holyfield ? Lol. With or without doping ?

[Rockin']

Nope, saying Evander was a better undisputed champion given Lennox literally did nothing with it.

overall or different aspects to measure I'd probably lean Lennox but in regards to who did what as undisputed Evander's the last man to give a damn about.

Lennox being undisputed is an anecdote. Yep, won it....that's it...that's all. Nothing to get too excited about when comparing to men who won it and defended it against top comp.

Undisputed is without question, the best fighter in a division at the time. Having a belt today means only that you are one of the best.....

You guys want great match ups/fights constantly? Dump the belts just like Lennox did. There can be only one true champion of the world in every division for boxing to again thrive...........Rockin'

[JAB5239]

Holyfield ? Lol. With or without doping ?

I don't know. Did he fail a test? Were and have there been no other fighters suspected of doping?

[JAB5239]

Undisputed is without question, the best fighter in a division at the time. Having a belt today means only that you are one of the best.....

You guys want great match ups/fights constantly? Dump the belts just like Lennox did. There can be only one true champion of the world in every division for boxing to again thrive...........Rockin'

I've been saying this forever. All these paper titles mean nothing. If fighters want greatness they need to fight the best. Different titles mean different rankings and nobody can really get close to all the best contenders.

Today is great from the perspective you can see so many more fights. It sucks from the perspective you have to wait to see the best guys in each division fight one another.

[The Old LefHook]

Marciano
Dempsey
Tunney
Jefferies
Fitz
Corbett
Fury
Baer
Braddock
V. Klit

That had ought to do it, by buggery.

[The Old LefHook]

The crash of his own knuckles without protection on skull, on elbow, on hip, will do Holy in against the elders he must face under their rules. Holyfield's defense will immediately be compromised without huge modern gloves to ward off and absorb punches. He will not understand how to protect himself or his own mitts from damage in the new circumstances. The thin fist of Fitz will have every opportunity to bury itself deep in his solar plexus. He has the stamina and grit to hang with the old boys, but not the bare knuckle or mini glove technique.

However, if you put the ancient fighters in pillow gloves, Holyfield would defeat them easily. Their technique is all wrong for modern mitts. Mythical matchups do not work that way of course. You fight under the rules and referees of the older man's era.

Corbett would be a tough fight for both men. Jimmy had the ăss to carry an explosive punch when he needed it. That is why he flaunted that ăss in those trunks--to ward attackers off who thought he might have no swat. This is all part of history.

Dempsey is likely to KO Holy with the old horsehairs, for Jack could hit a man in the shoulder and snap his big toe like a twig. He had perfected it. That is awful for a boxer, because every shot comes off your big toe, right up through your body and through your fist. Once Jack busts Holy's ol' Tom Bumble, it will take away his power shots all right. Jack will be merciless.

Rocky will be merciless as well. He did not care a thing for his own skin's beauty, or his opponents'. Hammering meat was his chosen avocation. He brought out the varicose veins in many men's arms, consigning them to long sleeve shirts forever in their golden years.

Tunney is a difficult match for both fighters. Holy has the legs to pursue, and now enough glove to damage Gene. He still retains an excellent chance of damaging himself, though, with the old horsehairs. Gene is not just a slick boxer. This marine can swat.

When Holy comes charging in with his head down, Fury will simply hold it down a little extra and slap him silly with uppercuts, then lace him to a bloody mess on the way out. With a diet rich in wild boar's blood and a glove that is only "half on," his fist anyway, the gypsy oaf will be too much for the diminutive Holy.

I believe clever men like Baer, Braddock & Klit should find a way. Why, the mayor of a major city had certainly ought to be too much for a country boy.

Let it be acknowledged he gives them all a good fight, and may even beat a few.

[Willie Pep 229]

All time, where do you rate Evander Holyfield amongst the all-time greats? One person believes he ranks between 17th and 19th all time. For the life of me I just can't see that. Resume, he fought and beat some excellent fighters, had some losses and was beaten in a few decisions that should have gone his way.

Prime, head to head, Holy could hang with the best in history. Didn't matter he was game and could box or brawl.

I'd have to dig up my heavyweight rankings, but I believe I have him around 8th or 9th. Where would you put him and why?

When you think of him head-to-head I think maybe Queenie's on to something.

Holyfield was inconsistent in his performances and when he was off he was 'easy' to beat.

I could see a whole list of former champions who could handle Holyfield on one of his weak nights (which he had a few too many)

I realize there is a great resume and by those standards he is in the top tens but . . .

I could see Jimmy Braddock taking 15 rounds and Liston stopping him.