Lewis v Holyfield 2

Stuarty · Post by **Stuarty** » 25 Oct 2017, 15:33

Does anyone have a vivid recollection of this fight? I watched it live and thought Lewis had won and he obviously got the nod this time around. It's not a fight I've ever watched back. I recently heard an interview with Holyfield and he was adamant he won the fight and the interviewer seemed to more or less agree?

I'll get round to watching it again sometime but was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts?

TheLeprechaun · Post by **TheLeprechaun** » 25 Oct 2017, 15:38

Close win for Lewis. I have to say I was absolutely delighted that he got robbed in the first fight they had. That fight was so hyped up beforehand, undisputed champ going into the new millennium. Lewis came to stink out the place and take no chances. Hard fight to watch. This was the performance that the Americans never really forgave him for I think because he had Holyfield going at some points and continued to stink it out. The second fight was closer but I remember watching it back a few years ago and scoring it close to Lewis.

Boxerbeetle · Post by **Boxerbeetle** » 25 Oct 2017, 16:30

I don’t have a vivid memory of it by any means, but I definitely remember feeling very worried when it went to the scorecards as I thought Holyfield had done enough to win and Lewis did very little. Fortunately the judges had to make up for the robbery in the first fight and gave it to Lewis regardless.

Haven’t actually watched it back since it was first on, so I could be wrong of course.

jamamb · Post by **jamamb** » 25 Oct 2017, 16:35

pretty sure that a sizable minority had it for holy and thought lenny was judged generously to make up for first fight

Kilsby · Post by **Kilsby** » 25 Oct 2017, 16:37

I've got it on DVD upstairs but probably haven't watched it back since the time. It was a lot closer than the first fight but because of the controversy of the first fight and the Eugene Williams scorecard (it's funny how you remember certain judges names!) It was officially scored fairly comprehensively for Lewis

davie · Post by **davie** » 25 Oct 2017, 16:43

Watched them both back recently and scored them on the boxing history forum

It brought back the dmfact that the first fight was the biggest robbery in boxing history.

The second fight was far closer but I had it to Lennox by a couple rounds.

Even though it was close, after the first fight it would have been scandalous if Lewis never got the win.

ElJefe · Post by **ElJefe** » 25 Oct 2017, 16:44

Lewis won the fight. It was closer than the first which probably led a few to claim that it was Holyfield that had been robbed the second time. But he wasn't. Lewis won clearly both times.

SaadOffTheDeck · Post by **SaadOffTheDeck** » 25 Oct 2017, 16:45

It was much closer, I still thought Lewis edged it. No reason for holyfield not to think he won. Lennox frustrated him like no other opponent, too smart to engage him with any frequency.

Loynesy · Post by **Loynesy** » 25 Oct 2017, 16:46

I'd suggest you guys re-watch it. I think it's a pretty clear win for Lewis. I scored it 8-4 live, and on rewatching I can see why it might be 7-5, but nothing more. The jab was key.

handsofstone · Post by **handsofstone** » 26 Oct 2017, 04:10

Watced both fights again recently and Lewis deserved the win in both fights, the rematch was closer though, Lewis seemed to fade, stopped using his jab which allowed Holyfield to get inside rough him up, he hurt Lewis in the 7th as well, I think Lewis done just about enough to see it through though

GlobalBox · Post by **GlobalBox** » 26 Oct 2017, 05:32

I went to both fights NY and LV (It was my childhood dream to get to MSG and do a big fight in Vegas if possible), with the draw happening in New York the missus said to me why don't you do the rematch in Vegas and achieve both of your dreams and the rest is history. Felt so deflated walking out of the Gardens after the draw was announced, really wanted to be part of history unified British champion etc and felt Lewis had won by 4 or 5 rounds. Vegas fight was closer undoubtedly but still had Lennox winning by 3 rounds. If I remember correctly the punchstats for the night had Lewis landing 65 punches more (could have been 56) and whilst I know sometimes punches landed can be deceptive 65 more is a pretty good reason to win a fight.

We had a great night in Vegas celebrating with all the brits and it is something I will never forget. Needless to say I have watched both fights over the years and the above thoughts on them stand really, Lennox won both but thankfully for me the first was a draw as I am not sure I would ever have made Vegas otherwise.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 26 Oct 2017, 05:46

Lennox won both fights. First, 8-3-1 and second 7-4-1 IMO.

Lennox won, but I didn’t like his boxing, only wanting to neutralise. He fought in a strange kind of squatting position, which looked very awkward. He didn’t throw enough punches. Just wanted to use the reach and not make a statement.

Holyfield boxed very well in the second fight but couldn’t get close enough, often enough.

Lennox’s real fights were against Klitschko and Briggs. Often, Life does not follow the script, because the Holyfield fights were supposed to be the epic battles, the exciting fights...

JWP · Post by **JWP** » 26 Oct 2017, 06:44

I remember Frank Maloney's face after the final bell in the second fight, they thought they'd lost. Very very close fight.

moogie101 · Post by **moogie101** » 26 Oct 2017, 07:16

Lennox got screwed with the draw in the first fight which he clearly won, but as I recall I thought the reverse happened in the rematch which I'd have given to Holyfield. Not a huge robbery or anything but felt Evander deserved the nod.

PredatorHayds · Post by **PredatorHayds** » 26 Oct 2017, 07:27

ElJefe wrote:Lewis won the fight. It was closer than the first which probably led a few to claim that it was Holyfield that had been robbed the second time. But he wasn't. Lewis won clearly both times.

X2

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 26 Oct 2017, 07:28

My view is the same as Moogie101 - thought Holyfield just, but Lewis did better down the stretch in fight 2 and perhaps my view is a bit bias in that I hated the way Lewis fought fight 2... he obviously trained hard but performed like a points win was a given. Holyfield faded in the last 2 - which might have just given it to Lewis, but at the time I had Holyfield by 1.

Fight 1 was very bad, but I remember both my old man and myself being nervous about the decision before the announcement - In the old adage of "ripping" the title from the champion, we were wondering if Holyfield was going to get the call.... in someways a bit reminiscent of Fury vs Klitchsko. I've seen cards of 10-2, 11-1 for fight 1 - it was closer than that. Lewis won clearly, but it was more like 8-4

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 26 Oct 2017, 08:17

Lewis and Holyfield just did not match well with one another.

Maybe in 1992 the more reckless versions of both - I felt that neither had learned properly how to handle the success they had - would have produced a dramatic fight...

Boxing Writer · Post by **Boxing Writer** » 26 Oct 2017, 08:46

I scored the second fight for Holyfield by 2 points. Larry Holmes and RoyJones Jr also scored it for Holyfield. But I think the decision, while it was wrong, was great for boxing for two reasons: 1) Lewis was robbed badly in the first fight and deserved the title of undisputed heavyweight champin of the world; 2) Holyfield was washed up (he was the same age as Lennox when he fought Vitali) and Lewis still had some great years ahead of him. Holyfield faded so badly that probably should have lost his next 2 fights (1st and 2nd fights against average John Ruiz).

SaadOffTheDeck · Post by **SaadOffTheDeck** » 26 Oct 2017, 09:26

Autobarn wrote:Lennox won both fights. First, 8-3-1 and second 7-4-1 IMO.

Lennox won, but I didn’t like his boxing, only wanting to neutralise. He fought in a strange kind of squatting position, which looked very awkward. He didn’t throw enough punches. Just wanted to use the reach and not make a statement.

Holyfield boxed very well in the second fight but couldn’t get close enough, often enough.

Lennox’s real fights were against Klitschko and Briggs. Often, Life does not follow the script, because the Holyfield fights were supposed to be the epic battles, the exciting fights...

It was smart, if they would have been epic battles Lennox would have lost. The Mercer fight was very good, he learned a lesson there. He also doesn't get enough credit for that fight.

SaadOffTheDeck · Post by **SaadOffTheDeck** » 26 Oct 2017, 09:27

Boxing Writer wrote:I scored the second fight for Holyfield by 2 points. Larry Holmes and RoyJones Jr also scored it for Holyfield. But I think the decision, while it was wrong, was great for boxing for two reasons: 1) Lewis was robbed badly in the first fight and deserved the title of undisputed heavyweight champin of the world; 2) Holyfield was washed up (he was the same age as Lennox when he fought Vitali) and Lewis still had some great years ahead of him. Holyfield faded so badly that probably should have lost his next 2 fights (1st and 2nd fights against average John Ruiz).

He knocked Ruiz out in the second fight, but your point remains true.

Tony1244 · Post by **Tony1244** » 26 Oct 2017, 09:30

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:
Boxing Writer wrote:I scored the second fight for Holyfield by 2 points. Larry Holmes and RoyJones Jr also scored it for Holyfield. But I think the decision, while it was wrong, was great for boxing for two reasons: 1) Lewis was robbed badly in the first fight and deserved the title of undisputed heavyweight champin of the world; 2) Holyfield was washed up (he was the same age as Lennox when he fought Vitali) and Lewis still had some great years ahead of him. Holyfield faded so badly that probably should have lost his next 2 fights (1st and 2nd fights against average John Ruiz).
He knocked Ruiz out in the second fight, but your point remains true.

Holy knocked Ruiz out?

TheGman · Post by **TheGman** » 26 Oct 2017, 09:49

Stuarty30 wrote:Does anyone have a vivid recollection of this fight? I watched it live and thought Lewis had won and he obviously got the nod this time around. It's not a fight I've ever watched back. I recently heard an interview with Holyfield and he was adamant he won the fight and the interviewer seemed to more or less agree?

I'll get round to watching it again sometime but was just wondering if anyone had any thoughts?

I remember watching both fights and out of the two i thought the 2nd one was very close and id of given it to holyfield,lewis did win the first tho and got robbed so maybe they thought "dont fck this one up"

SaadOffTheDeck · Post by **SaadOffTheDeck** » 26 Oct 2017, 10:08

Tony1244 wrote:
SaadOffTheDeck wrote:
Boxing Writer wrote:I scored the second fight for Holyfield by 2 points. Larry Holmes and RoyJones Jr also scored it for Holyfield. But I think the decision, while it was wrong, was great for boxing for two reasons: 1) Lewis was robbed badly in the first fight and deserved the title of undisputed heavyweight champin of the world; 2) Holyfield was washed up (he was the same age as Lennox when he fought Vitali) and Lewis still had some great years ahead of him. Holyfield faded so badly that probably should have lost his next 2 fights (1st and 2nd fights against average John Ruiz).
He knocked Ruiz out in the second fight, but your point remains true.

Holy knocked Ruiz out?

Yes

Tony1244 · Post by **Tony1244** » 26 Oct 2017, 10:12

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:
Tony1244 wrote:
SaadOffTheDeck wrote:
He knocked Ruiz out in the second fight, but your point remains true.

Holy knocked Ruiz out?
Yes

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/499

They fought 3 times. I don't see a KO or TKO.

SaadOffTheDeck · Post by **SaadOffTheDeck** » 26 Oct 2017, 10:19

Tony1244 wrote:
SaadOffTheDeck wrote:
Tony1244 wrote:

Holy knocked Ruiz out?
Yes

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/499

They fought 3 times. I don't see a KO or TKO.

you don't see Ruiz winning the first fight either.

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