Evander Holyfield vs. Lennox Lewis - 1993

[Kalasinn]

Suppose Holyfield had managed to beat Bowe in their 1992 war and thus had his next fight with Lewis in 1993.
Now we know what happened when the 2 legends clashed in 1999, but how would things have played out in 1993 instead? :think

[ironchamp]

I think that Lennox was still too green in 1993 and Holyfield was well schooled and would have in turn taken Lewis to school.

Incidentally I also think that had Bowe fought Lewis in 1993 he would have actually beaten Lennox which considering how things turned around would have done wonders for his Legacy.

[lefthook31]

I didnt care too much for Lennox Lewis previous to 96. The technical boxers were exposing some of his shortcomings. A sharp shooting solid counterpunching Holyfield would have had chances against the reckless Lewis of 93. Holy was more reckless as well, but he was busy and fast, and unless Lewis bombs him out, which Bowe couldnt do, I see Holy stopping him late.

[mr. magoo]

I think that the difference between Holyfield of 1993 and the one who fought Lennox in 1998, or whenever it was, is huge. Say what you want about his never ending boxing career, but he was still past his prime by this point. There are some who say that he actually had greater upper body strength and conserved himself a bit more, but I don't buy it.. His wars with Bowe, Dokes, and Qawi proved that he had both stamina, a high workrate and the ability to fight at maximum capacity from start to finish. He could really put pressure on another man and I think his punches had a bit more snap to them as well. He also hadn't developed the type of health problems that he would later undergo and wasn't subject to extended layoffs, temporary retirements, etc.......

Lewis on the otherhand, was certainly dangerous in 1993, and his destruction of Ruddock proved it... I don't think that his skills were quite as polished yet, and frankly, he had the tendency to disrespect fighters and get cought while coming at them. My thinking is that if these two had met in the early 90's, Evander would take a close decision, but a stoppage at some point wouldn't surprise me either.

[Pusnuts]

Im a Lewis fan but Id maybe favour Holyfield by close decision, Lewis didnt use his jab as well then and was more reckless, he might get wobbled a coupla times too

[fists of fury]

Tough to say...

Lewis looked devastating in destroying Ruddock, yet an uninspired Tony Tucker exposed some of Lewis' inexperience at the top level and took him the full distance. Bruno too made Lewis look ordinary at times.

Evander was probably in the prime of his life at this point, and a very experienced, battle-hardened warrior with a very good corner backing him.

That said, I still may lean towards Lewis here. My reasoning is based on the fact that Lewis' size would always be an advantage vs. Evander (the similarly sized Bowe basically beat Holyfield by simply being bigger) and that when they fought, Lewis' athletic size proved to be problematic for Holyfield, who admittedly had seen better days by then.
Holyfield also seemed more capable of hurting the bigger guys only when he put some more mass on, which I'm assuming he would not see the need to do here, had he beaten Bowe the first time around.

We must also keep in mind that despite his relative inexperience at this point, Lewis did manage to overcome some adversity in his fights with the stubborn Tucker and the pumped up Bruno. Neither were in Evander's class obviously, but Lennox did beat both convincingly in the end. The finish of Bruno was particularly impressive.

Would Lewis be Evander's most dangerous opponent at that point in Holyfield's career? I'd say yes. The opposite holds true as well...

I dunno...it's very tough to pick a winner here. As I see it, it's almost a toss-up. I'm sticking with my tentative Lewis pick, but I could change my mind on this one...I see Evander being busier and probably landing the more punches, but I feel that Lewis would be packing the heavy artillery and his physical dimensions and mobility would be a tough hurdle to overcome.
It could boil down to what the judges are looking for. (I definitely see this going the full distance.)

[mr. magoo]

Tough to say...

Lewis looked devastating in destroying Ruddock, yet an uninspired Tony Tucker exposed some of Lewis' inexperience at the top level and took him the full distance. Bruno too made Lewis look ordinary at times.

Evander was probably in the prime of his life at this point, and a very experienced, battle-hardened warrior with a very good corner backing him.

That said, I still may lean towards Lewis here. My reasoning is based on the fact that Lewis' size would always be an advantage vs. Evander (the similarly sized Bowe basically beat Holyfield by simply being bigger) and that when they fought, Lewis' athletic size proved to be problematic for Holyfield, who admittedly had seen better days by then.
Holyfield also seemed more capable of hurting the bigger guys only when he put some more mass on, which I'm assuming he would not see the need to do here, had he beaten Bowe the first time around.

We must also keep in mind that despite his relative inexperience at this point, Lewis did manage to overcome some adversity in his fights with the stubborn Tucker and the pumped up Bruno. Neither were in Evander's class obviously, but Lennox did beat both convincingly in the end. The finish of Bruno was particularly impressive.

Would Lewis be Evander's most dangerous opponent at that point in Holyfield's career? I'd say yes. The opposite holds true as well...

I dunno...it's very tough to pick a winner here. As I see it, it's almost a toss-up. I'm sticking with my tentative Lewis pick, but I could change my mind on this one...I see Evander being busier and probably landing the more punches, but I feel that Lewis would be packing the heavy artillery and his physical dimensions and mobility would be a tough hurdle to overcome.
It could boil down to what the judges are looking for. (I definitely see this going the full distance.)


I think Skeletor would beat them both...

[fists of fury]

I think Skeletor would beat them both...

:lol: Without question.

[mr. magoo]

:lol: Without question.

If Evander keeps on fighting, one of these days he may look like the dark lord of snake mountain himself!!! :lol:

[BoxingFanNo1]

If they had a trilogy Lewis takes it 2-1. Lewis 96-00 was an animal.
I'm giving Holy the first, UD-SD.

Holyfield ain't knocking Lewis out - 1 ko from 91-95, albeit mostly against durable fighters like Foreman, Holmes, Mercer and Bowe.

[Pusnuts]

He wasnt far off knocking Bowe out in was it the 3rd fight? He did have an excellent left hook but Lewis doesnt let people get off much in close

[My2Sense]

Although Holy was the more faded of the two when they finally fought, I've always felt Lewis handled him decisively enough to warrant the benefit of the doubt under any circumstances. He just has too much combined size and tools for Holy to overcome.

Lewis by clear decision after a hard-fought battle.

[nahkis]

Holyfield KO3

[JudgeDredd]

Holyfield UD.

[PowerPuncher]

Lewis may not have had all the ring smarts he'd later have and Holy had more stamina. BUT Lewis was also more ferocious, faster and fitter in 1993, Holyfield was also smaller/weaker in '93. I think if anything in 93 it would be more of a brawl and the bigger Lewis comes out on top. Holy goes the 12 but gets put down once or twice

Lewis UD

[fists of fury]

If Evander keeps on fighting, one of these days he may look like the dark lord of snake mountain himself!!! :lol:

:rofl

You're mean.

[MAG1965]

I am not sure. Holyfield in 1994 had that terrible fight against Moorer. If he underestimated Lennox in 1993 he might get stopped by that right hand.

[anut]

Holyfield 12 rd decision...

[simon850]

Lewis may not have had all the ring smarts he'd later have and Holy had more stamina. BUT Lewis was also more ferocious, faster and fitter in 1993, Holyfield was also smaller/weaker in '93. I think if anything in 93 it would be more of a brawl and the bigger Lewis comes out on top. Holy goes the 12 but gets put down once or twice

Lewis UD

:deal

[anarci]

PRime Holyfield definetly beats a Prime Lewis. I picked decision on the Poll but i can also see him stopping Lewis. A past it Holy almost beat fought him to a close decision the 2nd time! Id say he was only at 80% then. Remember right after that Ruiz out fought him only to get robbed but got the decision the next time.

[Beeston Brawler]

I think both were past their best by 1999.

Holyfield was clearly faded, whilst Lewis was slightly past his absolute peak of 1996/7.

Interesting fight.... will think about this one.

[Mendoza]

Suppose Holyfield had managed to beat Bowe in their 1992 war and thus had his next fight with Lewis in 1993.
Now we know what happened when the 2 legends clashed in 1999, but how would things have played out in 1993 instead? :think

Great question. Lewis was still green and did not have his balance refined, or experience on the world class level, but he was young, fast and strong.

I'd learn toward Lewis, since Holy liked to brawl.

[lefthook31]

Great question. Lewis was still green and did not have his balance refined, or experience on the world class level, but he was young, fast and strong.

I'd learn toward Lewis, since Holy liked to brawl.
I just cant see Lewis at that time outbrawling Holy. Holy liked to brawl, but against a guy who wasnt capable, he usually came out on top. He drug Bowe into a brawl and the dog came out because Bowe was equipped technically, but Holyfield didnt think he was mentally. Lewis was mentally very strong, but he could have very well drowned against Holy, who was a better inside fighter than Mercer.

[Holmes' Jab]

Evander too gung-ho at this stage and he would would try to slug it out with Lennox. That would've proved his downfall and I think he'd get stopped in the mid-late rounds.

[ripcity]

Holyfield wins Lewis was still green at the time.

[chico g]

Really don't know, Lewis was much better in conditioning and weight. But wasn't so much in terms of technical ability, and experience. Gonna lean towards a Holyfield split decision in this one, the superior inside fighting of Evander would be the advantage in this one...

[slicksouthpaw16]

I didnt care too much for Lennox Lewis previous to 96. The technical boxers were exposing some of his shortcomings. A sharp shooting solid counterpunching Holyfield would have had chances against the reckless Lewis of 93. Holy was more reckless as well, but he was busy and fast, and unless Lewis bombs him out, which Bowe couldnt do, I see Holy stopping him late.
Exactly what i was thinking. Plus a past his prime Evander held Lewis to a draw in their first fight (even though i thought Lewis won it) it still showed what Holyfield could do if he had a little more.