How bad was Holyfield/Lewis I...?

[Russell]

How bad of a decision was it?

Never seen it myself...

Was there any, well, corrupt reason for it?

[Stewbear]

About as bad as it gets.
And its called Don King

[Russell]

What was there to gain over King manipulating it into being a draw?

[TBooze]

How bad of a decision was it?

Never seen it myself...

Was there any, well, corrupt reason for it?

I had Lewis winning 115/113, I never really had a problem with the decision myself. I think a lot of people rise to peer pressure and media spin, and presume because they are constantly told something is wrong, it must be.

[Stewbear]

What was there to gain over King manipulating it into being a draw?

Holyfield was Don Kings fighter, and Lewis didnt want anything to do with Don King, and a draw meant Holyfield kept his title it name.

[Thread Stealer]

I had it 117-111 for Lewis.

The only decision in a title fight that I can think of right now that was clearly worse was Escalera-Tranny Lover

I wanted Lewis to lose, but he clearly beat the Baby Maker.

[Shane_Erich]

I thought it was a pretty clear decesion for Lewis. The 2nd fight was much closer in my eyes.

[Stewbear]

Holyfield won one or two rounds, and two or three in the rematch, though it was a much better fight.

[Dostoevsky]

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[KayEpps]

I made a bet on this fight and went to collect my money before the decision was even made - that's how confident I was. Just think of how happy the guy that was suppose to pay me was.

This was a horrible decision.

And I would have to agree that Strum - De La Hoya was bad too. They gave that fight to Oscar to make the fight with B-Hop. Oscar was not only beaten - but was out of shape too.

[Dempsey1238]

It was bad indeed. I think King set up the draw because he wanted to make more money in regards to a rematch.

[achillesthegreat]

awful decision

[Thread Stealer]

Sturm - DLH was as worse, just name it because i watched it again some hours ago.
I had Lewis-Holy I 116-112, 8 rounds to 4. Clear decision.

I thought Lewis-Holyfield I was worse.

Then again, at least Lewis didn't lose his belt like Sturm did.

[Robbi]

Probably on par with Whitaker's ridiculous draw with Chavez. Holyfield won about three or four rounds. Lewis dominated the rounds he won convincingly. I don't mean hammering Holyfield for the entire three minutes of each round, but he won his rounds beyond dispute.

[JohnThomas1]

Dreadful.

[DamonD]

9-3 Lewis, and you could argue 10-2.
Holyfield had the 3rd and the 10th solid, and I thought he edged the 9th with more aggression.

TBooze, I'm staggered you had it 7-5 but each to their own.
I remember Ron Borges had it a 'razor thin 115-114 decision' to Lewis, but then Ron Borges would always rather chew off his own legs than give Lewis credit for much...

[TBooze]

TBooze, I'm staggered you had it 7-5 but each to their own.


It was a very messy fight, both were guilty of giving each other too much respect. Lewis did win his rounds more clearly, but under 10 point must, unless there is a knockdown or total domination that means nothing.

If I was American I would be very annoyed that tax payers money was used to investigate the fight. There have been far worse and far more sinster decisions in fights pre Holyfield/LewisI.

[ChrisPontius]

When even Zakman scores the fight for Lewis, you know you're looking at one of the worst robberies in a title fight of all time.

[doublesuited]

I thought the fight was very easy to score.

I had it 117-111 for Lewis.

[bigG]

i remember thinking lewis had to win the last round to win the fight...he did...so he should have........i didnt think it was the robbery everyone made out..

[JohnThomas1]

When even Zakman scores the fight for Lewis, you know you're looking at one of the worst robberies in a title fight of all time.
Fair point

:lol:

It's like Rooster scoring one for Leonard!

[fists of fury]

It was a robbery.

I watched the fight with two friends. One guy was pulling for Lennox and the other guy and myself were pulling for Evander. At the end of the fight, we all thought Lewis had one comfortably. I gave Evander maybe three rounds at best.

There was clearly something not on the level in this fight.

[ChrisPontius]

Fair point

:lol:

It's like Rooster scoring one for Leonard!

Now now, Rooster has scored plenty of fights for Leonard.... Luis Vega, Willi Rodriguez, Dick Ecklund, etc.:D

[Jose FM]

:lol:

[Lex]

Depends on whether you give points for body blows. Body shots are rarely credited in amateur bouts, especially at the international level, and less often all the time at the pro level.

Holyfield connected with lots of body shots in both bouts with Lewis. But not many head shots. So folks who credit only head shots score both Holyfield-Lewis fights overwhelmingly for Lewis.

I watched both I and II a few times, scoring as the fight progressed. In both cases it was close enough that I'd settle for a draw.

But the fact is, both fights were boring. Holyfield has also been able to be a "spoiler" kinda boxer, mauling, smothering and clinching, making for frustrating fights. Lewis had a glass jaw and while that seldom hindered his courage in mixing it up, he was uncommonly cautious with Holyfield.

Anyway, I've seen waaaay worse fights, decisions and officiating. In 2004 Ref Robert Gonzalez didn't even allow Zahir Raheem to fight Rocky Juarez, penalizing Raheem for non-existent holding, forcing Raheem to do nothing but backpedal behind a jab. Classic home brewing. Juarez probably would have won on his own merit, but Raheem was down three points for holding and one for a legit knockdown going into the final round. I don't think the coddling did Rocky any good because he's shown reluctance to mix it up with tough competition since then, costing him losses against Barrera.

Foreman vs. Briggs was a lame call. Big George should have gotten that decision.

I've lost track of the number of decisions and stoppages that made me yell "WTF???"

[DamonD]

Hold on here, I'm insulted you think I'd score this for Lewis because I'm an ignorant moron that couldn't spot a body shot if it came up and bit him on the nose. Holyfield landed body shots because he had so much difficulty landing his jab, that still doesn't change the fact that he was landing a lot fewer body shots than Lewis was landing hooks, uppercuts and crosses (in both fights, especially the first).

Reminds me of the argument about "jabs don't count".
Give me and others than scored both for Lewis a little credit here...

I would genuinely be interested in any scorecards from those who had it a draw or close.
Extra viewpoints are always appreciated.

[Mendoza]

How bad of a decision was it?

Never seen it myself...

Was there any, well, corrupt reason for it?

The decision was a poor one. The female judge was either inept or on the take as she scored Lewis best round ( I think it was the 5th ) , the round where he backed hurt Holyfiled and back Holyfield up on the ropes in a defensive posture for Holyfield.

The punch stat numbers were heavily in favor of Lewis. I felt the best score was score is 8-4, or 7-4-1 for Lewis. Maybe 7-5 for Lewis is doable, but there is no way Holyfield won 6 rounds to earn the draw. HBO ripped the decision.

[ChrisPontius]

Foreman vs. Briggs was a lame call. Big George should have gotten that decision.



I actually scored that one a draw. Briggs landed a lot of unscored bodyshots in that one, you should watch it again.

[JohnThomas1]

Now now, Rooster has scored plenty of fights for Leonard.... Luis Vega, Willi Rodriguez, Dick Ecklund, etc.:D

Yeah, but he had them 1 point ballgames!

:lol:

[sweet_scientist]

9-3 Lewis here as well.

The decision was on par with Fenech-Nelson, Strum-DLH, Everett-Escalera and Harada-Famechon as being among the very worst decisions I've ever seen.

Anyone that thinks a draw is even arguable in this fight admits they know nothing about boxing. It's as simple as that.