Thread: Is Evander Holyfield the greatest heavyweight since Ali?

I went with prime Tyson but if not Tyson then Lennox Lewis

Originally Posted by TYSONMAYWEATHER

I went with prime Tyson but if not Tyson then Lennox Lewis

Do you mean skillwise or what they achieved ??

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Originally Posted by Punching Princess

Evander is second. Lennox is number one. In my opinion Lennox Lewis is the best heavyweight since Larry Holmes. Tyson was the main for for quite sometime but mostly in his younger days. I am going with longevity.

Evander is what every heavyweight should be though. Heart and dedication wise. He has great skills or had I should say. With Evander Holyfield his accomplishments speak for themselves

Thanks for your opinion princess and remember to register your vote on the poll at the top.

I voted Lennox

Holmes, he stopped everybody who he boxed from evolving at his best I would give him a shout against anyone. Thats a big shout.

Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING

Originally Posted by TYSONMAYWEATHER

I went with prime Tyson but if not Tyson then Lennox Lewis

Do you mean skillwise or what they achieved ??

Lennox achieved more at Heavy than Holyfield in my eyes Holyfields reigns as heavyweight champ were short and Tyson was better than Holyfield when he was in his prime

Originally Posted by Scrap

Holmes, he stopped everybody who he boxed from evolving at his best I would give him a shout against anyone. Thats a big shout.

Totally agree Holmes skills are very underrated.

Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING

Originally Posted by Scrap

Holmes, he stopped everybody who he boxed from evolving at his best I would give him a shout against anyone. Thats a big shout.

Totally agree Holmes skills are very underrated.

Holmes suffered from coming in to his own at the tale end of one of the greatest eras in HW history
He fought good quality opponents,but they werent nearly as impressive as what was around in say 73,so people took an attitude like he didnt fight anyone

either him or larry holmes. if tyson never went 2 jail--then he could have well been. evander is what the sport of boxing is all about

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING

No he isn't Holmes is he made 20 defences dominated his era Holyfield has been in exciting fights but he never really did dominate his era.

Is it fair to say though that Holmes was 'fortunate' if thats the right word to have fought in a weaker era.

Would he have reigned for so long had he a prime Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis and Bowe to contend with?

There arn't any elite fighter names on his record after all, unless you count Parkinsons ravaged Ali.

I see nobody on Holmes record that Lewis, Tyson and Holyfield wouldn't have beaten just as impressively.

Really who did he beat?

homes is a legend --he however thinks that he is the greatest heavy 2 ever 2 lace up the gloves. but because of his oppostion he cant be, ali was the greatest

Originally Posted by undefeated

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING

No he isn't Holmes is he made 20 defences dominated his era Holyfield has been in exciting fights but he never really did dominate his era.

Is it fair to say though that Holmes was 'fortunate' if thats the right word to have fought in a weaker era.

Would he have reigned for so long had he a prime Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis and Bowe to contend with?

There arn't any elite fighter names on his record after all, unless you count Parkinsons ravaged Ali.

I see nobody on Holmes record that Lewis, Tyson and Holyfield wouldn't have beaten just as impressively.

Really who did he beat?

homes is a legend --he however thinks that he is the greatest heavy 2 ever 2 lace up the gloves. but because of his oppostion he cant be, ali was the greatest

I agree with you. How do you think he would have done had he faced Holyfields opponents? Tyson twice, Lewis twice, Bowe three times, Foreman and Holyfield himself?

His record is phenomenal though and he did have two really late title shots one as recent as 95 against McCall when he was about 46

And he still beat Butterbean at over 50 years old. Thinking about it he'd make a great next opponent for Kimbo Slice

Since evander's starting fighting weight was 169 lbs, in the pros, i'll give him extra accolades. The others started and finished their careers as heavyweights. Holyfield had to overcome the weight disadvantage.

HOLYFIELD IS THE BEST, MOST EXCITING, MOST BELOVED, MOST RESPECTED HEAVYWEIGHT SINCE ALI !!!(LOOK AT ALL HIS PPV $$$)
HE IS NOT THE MOST TALENTED THOUGH. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT LENNOX LEWIS HAS HAD THE MOST TALENT SINCE HOLMES.
BUT TALENT DOES NOT MAKE A GREAT HEAVYWEIGHT (AS MOST PEOPLE DO NOT PUT LENNOX IN THAT CATEGORY).
WHAT MADE GREAT HEAVYWEIGHTS WAS WHAT THEY GAVE THE FANS, AND ALTHOUGH HOLYFIELD WAS NOT THE MOST TALENTED HEAVYWEIGHT, HE GOT MORE OUT OF THE TALENT THAN ANY OTHER HEAVYWEIGHT AND CRUISERWEIGHT. THAT IS WHY PEOPLE GREW TO LOVE HIM AND THOSE THAT DIDN'T, CAME ON THE BANDWAGON WHEN HE "ICE'D TYSON, AND THEN BROKE HIM INTO A MELTDOWN IN THE SECOND".

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT - HOLYFIELD HAS BEEN THE MAN SINCE ALI. HE WAS WHAT ALL HEAVYWEIGHTS SHOULD STRIVE TO BE.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIS GREATNESS AND LENNOX'S GOODNESS IS SIMPLY THIS....
HOLYFIELD WOULD FIGHT TO WIN, WHILE LENNOX WOULD MOSTLY BOX NOT TO LOSE!!!

THAT MAY GET YOU SOME WINS, BUT IT DOESN'T GET YOU GREATNESS.

HOLYFIELDS LIST OF OPPONENTS OUTWEIGHS ALL OTHERS IN HIS ERA (1990-2000)

NOTE: AFTER HOLYFIELDS REVENGE KO OF MOORER IN 1997 (AS HE WAS RE-UNIFIYING THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS)
NONE OTHER THAN RING MAGAZINE MADE HIM THE #3 HEAVYWEIGHT OF ALL TIME (I BELIEVE JUST BEHIND JOE LUIS AND ALI)

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT HOLFIELD WAS ALREADY PAST HIS PRIME AT THAT POINT.
HOLY WAS PAST HIS PRIME WHEN HE FOUGHT LENNOX, BUT HE DEFINITELY WON THE SECOND AND SHOULD HAVE RETIRED AS UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION AGAIN.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT HOLYFIELD IS ALREADY AN UNDISPUTED CHAMPION IN THE 80'S, 90'S AND NOW MAYBE IN THE 2000'S !!!
HE ALREADY HAS BEEN A CHAMPION IN EACH DECADE, AND HE NEEDS TO GET AN HONORARY GOLD MEDAL FOR THE ONE HE WAS SO WRONGLY DENIED TO FIGHT FOR IN THE 84' OLYMPICS. (WHY HAS ROY JONES GOT ONE AND HOLY NOT)

THAT IS GREATNESS!!!

HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING NEEDS MORE FIGHTERS LIKE A PRIME HOLYFIELD RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT!!!

Originally Posted by JulianJaz

HOLYFIELD IS THE BEST, MOST EXCITING, MOST BELOVED, MOST RESPECTED HEAVYWEIGHT SINCE ALI !!!(LOOK AT ALL HIS PPV $$$)
HE IS NOT THE MOST TALENTED THOUGH. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT LENNOX LEWIS HAS HAD THE MOST TALENT SINCE HOLMES.
BUT TALENT DOES NOT MAKE A GREAT HEAVYWEIGHT (AS MOST PEOPLE DO NOT PUT LENNOX IN THAT CATEGORY).
WHAT MADE GREAT HEAVYWEIGHTS WAS WHAT THEY GAVE THE FANS, AND ALTHOUGH HOLYFIELD WAS NOT THE MOST TALENTED HEAVYWEIGHT, HE GOT MORE OUT OF THE TALENT THAN ANY OTHER HEAVYWEIGHT AND CRUISERWEIGHT. THAT IS WHY PEOPLE GREW TO LOVE HIM AND THOSE THAT DIDN'T, CAME ON THE BANDWAGON WHEN HE "ICE'D TYSON, AND THEN BROKE HIM INTO A MELTDOWN IN THE SECOND".

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT - HOLYFIELD HAS BEEN THE MAN SINCE ALI. HE WAS WHAT ALL HEAVYWEIGHTS SHOULD STRIVE TO BE.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIS GREATNESS AND LENNOX'S GOODNESS IS SIMPLY THIS....
HOLYFIELD WOULD FIGHT TO WIN, WHILE LENNOX WOULD MOSTLY BOX NOT TO LOSE!!!

THAT MAY GET YOU SOME WINS, BUT IT DOESN'T GET YOU GREATNESS.

HOLYFIELDS LIST OF OPPONENTS OUTWEIGHS ALL OTHERS IN HIS ERA (1990-2000)

NOTE: AFTER HOLYFIELDS REVENGE KO OF MOORER IN 1997 (AS HE WAS RE-UNIFIYING THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS)
NONE OTHER THAN RING MAGAZINE MADE HIM THE #3 HEAVYWEIGHT OF ALL TIME (I BELIEVE JUST BEHIND JOE LUIS AND ALI)

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT HOLFIELD WAS ALREADY PAST HIS PRIME AT THAT POINT.
HOLY WAS PAST HIS PRIME WHEN HE FOUGHT LENNOX, BUT HE DEFINITELY WON THE SECOND AND SHOULD HAVE RETIRED AS UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION AGAIN.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT HOLYFIELD IS ALREADY AN UNDISPUTED CHAMPION IN THE 80'S, 90'S AND NOW MAYBE IN THE 2000'S !!!
HE ALREADY HAS BEEN A CHAMPION IN EACH DECADE, AND HE NEEDS TO GET AN HONORARY GOLD MEDAL FOR THE ONE HE WAS SO WRONGLY DENIED TO FIGHT FOR IN THE 84' OLYMPICS. (WHY HAS ROY JONES GOT ONE AND HOLY NOT)

THAT IS GREATNESS!!!

HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING NEEDS MORE FIGHTERS LIKE A PRIME HOLYFIELD RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT!!!

Great posting although you didn't need to scream it at us

I think Holyfield will be remembered more than Lennox Lewis just as Frazier is remembered more than Larry Holmes.

Holyfield epitomises the never say die warrior spirit more than any other fighter of the past 30 years.

Evander skill wise is probably not.. but... evander posseses a different kind of greatness his training his willingness to be a warrior awesome heart.... not saying evander dont have great skills just that overall a couple of guys tyson (on paper to name one posses better power.) However even back in tysons prime I beleived holy would win epsecailly after watching an interview i think evander thought Mike was a little fragile and when the going got tough hed wilt... and you know what he did

great post bilbo (cc)
I have said it once, and i'll say it again. Lennox lewis was an overated fighter. He DOMINATED his era. However his era was filled with has beens, never-weres. His greatest acomplishments were over shot or past their prime fighters. ala tyson and Holyfield.
If lennox lewis had such a hard time with holyfield with holyfield being past his prime, then wtf woulda happend earlier.. Also if you put tyson against lewis at tyson peak lennox lewis would not have a job doing HBO commentary because he would have no head in which to speak out of. The one time lennox lewis faces PRIME opposition he gets EXTREMELY lucky and his opponent gets cut. FOrcing lennox lewis to get a TKO. Then retires.