I don't have Lennox Lewis in my top 10, he was too inconsistent, he didn't fight a prime Tyson, he IMO lost the first Holyfield fight and he didn't fight Bowe [not his fault]. Lennox was also knocked out by some not so greats and he dodged Wladimir.
I rank Wladimir & Tyson above Lennox. Both had more title defenses, Tyson unified more and defended the all more. People think of Tyson in the 90's but forget that his era was the late 80's [though he fought allot of nobodies but at least he beat them and didn't loose to them like Lennox].
Holmes i rank above all of them.
It is also important to remember that Holmes prime was long gone when he fought Tyson, Holmes wasn't even the champion at the time.
Holmes was as close to a complete fighter as you'll ever see. Excellent jab, fantastic chin and stamina, outstanding technical skills and enough power to be dangerous. He didn't get the credit he deserved during his career for a number of reasons: he never unified the title (due to promotional BS, there's no doubt he would have had a fight with any of the other titlists from the late 70s to early 80s been made). His reign began as Ali's ended and Ali had made an unprecedented stamp on the public's imagination. Holmes didn't have the flair or charisma to fill that void (but who did?) so he was kind of forgotten about at the time. Ali was a one of a kind artist and Holmes was a exceptionally competent tradesman. Also, although he had decent power, he wasn't a KO machine like Tyson or Foreman, that grabs the attention of the casual fan. Finally most great champions were underrated during their careers (including Ali by many). Tyson is an exception in that he made such an impact in his youth that it was reasonable in 1987-89 to expect him to reign for years and retire undefeated and /or overtake Joe Louis's record. Obviously with hindsight he never had the temperament to do this but in the late 80s that was not apparent. The fact that Holmes was able to compete credibly even at the very highest level when well into his 40s also helped reassess his position. I broadly agree with you with their rankings. I'd rate Holmes about 3rd or 4th, Tyson maybe 8th.
Holmes had the longer, greater career. He beat better competition, and to the people saying Lennox isn't top 10, is complete stupidity. Lewis is a Top 5 Heavyweight. He clearly beaten Holyfield both fights, and was robbed, He destroyed Tyson, TKO'd Vitali, and was ducked by everyone in the early 90's for many years. Foreman wanted no parts of Lewis, in the early 90's, and even said so. Lewis was one of the most feared Heavy's of all time, and had to heaviest right hand of all time, and hardest most accurate Jabs. Whladimir was too busy getting KO'd by cans, he wanted no parts of Lewis.
Had Tyson not listened to Don King and left his original trainer Kevin Rooney, he'd be one of the best ever cause Rooney knew Tyson for a long time and knew how to deal with the mentality of such a complicated fighter.
Holmes had more than 20 HW title defenses in a row and was consistent thoughtout his 48-0 run. He also was the mst complete HW champ as he was a long range sharpshooter wth his trademark jab and could fight inside if the distance was closed (unlike Lewis, Ali, Wlad who only foought outside or Frazier, Marciano who fought in close)
That's probably why, his reignt as dominant champ was much longer
growing up holmes was a god in my house my dad and my older brothers loved him ,so i always thought of holmes as a top 3 heavy weight along with louis and Ali , i think holmes got more respect in britain and ireland than in america or maybe it was just my house
now you know i love tyson but i'd pick holmes as the one of only two fighters that fought before tyson to beat tyson ,that's how high i rate holmes , he was a great fighter .
When Holmes was fighting, he was never even given the credit he deserved. Tyson was touted around as the next big thing and great heavyweight.
Now most boxing FANS (not people who just watch Tyson highlights w/ rap music) have Larry Holmes as one of the best ever and Tyson, while popular is considered by most to be a waste of potential.
Holmes nearly always ranks above Tyson in the great heavyweight lists.
Lennox Lewis now makes the top 10 lists (though many were bitter of who he gave Tyson a brutal beating).
Funny, that they get respect now.
Most sincere boxing analysts will have Tyson toward the lower end of the top 10 or even 15 heavyweights. I have Holmes at #4 and Tyson at #10.
