BoxRec

In 1992, after his loss to Riddick Bowe, I remember a lot of the boxing press suggested Evander hang his gloves up. I recall an article in either ‘KO’ or ‘World Boxing’, urging him to retire, along with a photo of an exhausted, mouth open Holyfield having risen from the knockdown. At the time I agreed. He was just 30, which to me at the time (maybe because his bald patch was quickly appearing) seemed old (I was 15 then).

Of course, over the next few years Holyfield blew very hot (Bowe II, Tyson I and II, Moorer II) or cold (Stewart, Czyz, Moorer I, Bowe III to an extent), but generally ‘improved’ his legacy, particularly with the Tyson I win.

In hindsight I don’t think anyone would disagree that the perfect ‘legacy’ time to go would be following or just after the Tyson wins. In fact I remember one of the first of many reasons over the years he gave to carry on was motivation to continue until the Atlanta Olympics in his hometown!

My question is – in your opinion, had Evander retired straight after Bowe I do you think his legacy would be better than it is now after all the late career and old man performances? Just interested really…

Had he retired straight after Bowe the his legacy would not be that much, he'd be regarded as the best Cruiserweight ever and a weak heavyweight champion, he got more credit for the performance he put up in losing to Bowe than he did for his wins as champion. Douglas folded, Cooper almost had him out and he struggled with a pair of 40 somethings, albeit great 40 somethings. But the wins over Bowe and Tyson have made him a discussion point for the top 10.

I think most fans would be happier if he'd have retired after Lewis II, he's proved absolutely nothing since then.

The qualities that make these fighters go on so long are the exact same qualities that make them so great at their peak. So if Holyfield was the type of fella to hang em up after he beat Lennox Lewis in their rematch, he wouldn't be Holyfield.

Beating guys like John Ruiz and Hasim Rahman, two of the best heavies of the 00s, are fun additions to his awesome career. I think he walked it over Valuev too, who is a top 5 heavy currently.

Post-Lewis II would have been good.

Post-Bowe I would not have been enough. The two biggest fights in cementing his greatness were Bowe II and Tyson I. After that, his biggest rival was Lewis, and although he lost to Lewis, if he had retired without meeting him that would have been held against him more than a competitive loss (in fact, an improved performance in the rematch) at age 37 is.

Should have retired after he beat Ruiz.

overhand_right wrote:The qualities that make these fighters go on so long are the exact same qualities that make them so great at their peak. So if Holyfield was the type of fella to hang em up after he beat Lennox Lewis in their rematch, he wouldn't be Holyfield.

Beating guys like John Ruiz and Hasim Rahman, two of the best heavies of the 00s, are fun additions to his awesome career. I think he walked it over Valuev too, who is a top 5 heavy currently.

have i missed something? holyfield beat lewis, did he? or do you mean IF he had got the decision and retired

Evander Holyfield is one of the best fighting men ever.

One of the greatest fighters of all time.

Fact!

Thing is, the Tyson bouts are bit of an Oxymoron when it comes to remembering the two boxers.

Tyson's record Post-Prison was 9-4, therefore a shadow of his former self. In a way the Tyson bouts may have been a bad thing for Holyfield, here is why:

Though big wins at the time, he should have retired there and then imo.

The way i see it, his career was effectively over after the 3rd Bowe bout. The Tyson bouts only made him prolong his career, a career which should have and would have ended sooner, but carried on since he 'still had it'

There on he went on to face the cautious lewis. Who's style only meant Holyfield felt he 'still had it'. Though Holyfield at that point had little chance of beating Lewis, regardless of the way Lewis was.

Now, after that, his career has become a joke.

What makes more of a joke, after the Valuev bout, he may just carry on, because he may feel he 'still has it'

ok tyson was not as fearsome after jail but people where generally fearful for evanders health and in some cases life.The fact that he "out bullied" the bully made his career all the more remarkable.I feel he should have retired after a farewell match in his hometown after lewis 2

he hurt his legacy in my opinion when he refused to sign things on his signing tour

mickey1975 wrote:he hurt his legacy in my opinion when he refused to sign things on his signing tour

yeah that was bad and uncalled for,i think hagler did something similar.Evander definetly is not a perfect person,he had issues with not paying child maintenance for example.I hated the fact that he slams religion down everyones throat but from a boxing point of view he is a legend and will go down as one of the great fighters

mickey1975 wrote:he hurt his legacy in my opinion when he refused to sign things on his signing tour

The reason might be because people sell things on the net that have been signed by famous people.

Holyfileld has a foundation so if people what a signed photo etc, join up and donate some money!


:P

a top 10 heavy of all time for me.

a lot of his legacy at heavyweight has happened since the bowe fight.

so the answer is yes his legacy would be so so as a heavyweight if he'd stopped after bowe 1.