2006-09-15 02:22:28 · 16 answers · asked by smitty 7 in Sports ➔ Boxing
Also add who is the better of the two or your favorite of the two.
2006-09-15 07:34:12 · update #1
I'd probably have to say Larry Holmes is the most "underrated" of the two. I'm a huge Holyfield fan but he may even be a touch "overrated"--Holmes was the best heavyweight champion that many in the general public can't remember. Just a solid all around heavyweight...
And of the two, I'd probably give Holmes the edge in terms of their historical ranking. Again, I'm a big Holyfield fan but IMO Holmes was the better all around boxer....
2006-09-15 11:25:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Excellent question. I believe that Larry Holmes is the most under appreciated champion of all time. A lot of folks did not like Larry's attitude or how he answered questions which did not appeal to the public or the media. Evander started as a cruiser and many thought he would not be strong enough to be a heavyweight and contend with bigger and stronger fighters so he was underrated at one time until he beat Douglas, Bowe, and Tyson of course. This is a close call and would have been a good fight in their primes although this really isn't what this question is about. I have to say Holmes is the most underrated.
2006-09-15 14:10:36 · answer #2 · answered by toughguy2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Holmes was definitely more underated
I'm a big Hollyfield fan as most people are but he was given his credit for his accomplishments beating Tyson and Bowe and being the only 4 time heavyweight champion.
People forget how much Holmes has done though. He fought everybody even way past his prime. He beat Ali whether Ali was past his prime or not and he was robbed of a decision to Spinks. He didn't hide from anybody he beat Ray Mercer when no one thought he could and even Butterbean not too long ago. He also faired pretty well against Tyson until he got caught.
He made a poor judgement call when asked about approaching Rocky Marciano's streak and that is when I think he lost a lot of fans and also credit for his accomplishments. Perhaps this swayed judges in the Spinks fight too.
2006-09-15 12:39:30 · answer #3 · answered by mrraraavis 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Larry Holmes is the most underrated boxer of all time,he took over the heavyweight scene that was starting to decline, but still had more quality than anything holyfield ever had to face. Tyson was the only decent heavyweight with maybe the exception of Lewis, Holmes had Ali, spinks ,Norton ,shavers Frazier and foreman
2006-09-15 03:51:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How can either guy be considered "underrated" both have achieved the highest plateau the sport has to offer? The question doesn't make sense. Of the two (both in their prime) I couldn't say who'd win and a draw would be the most likely outcome.
I like Evander more due to his never say die attitude, but I just wish he'd call it quits before he gets hurt. Larry tarnished himself after he lost to Spinks and ran around bad mouthing the sport and other boxers.
2006-09-15 18:17:11 · answer #5 · answered by U So Crazy!! 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Holmes was the most underrated of the two. He didn't get the respect that he deserved even though he was undefeated for a long, long time. He beat Ali and fought the best in the business.
2006-09-15 07:23:44 · answer #6 · answered by tyrone b 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Holmes is the most underrated. He had it tough he had to follow Ali. My favorite of the two is Holyfield.
2006-09-16 10:49:50 · answer #7 · answered by Brent 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
tough to say, when both were extremely overrated, in my opinion. to the bloke who is confused, holmes never fought frazier or foreman. by the time holyfield met tyson, he was already undertrained and damaged goods, so that was a hollow victory. tyson never made excuses when he lost, but, admitted he hadn't trained, took holyfield lightly, and had no strategy. holyfield's best, most competitive fights were against bowe and how good was he..really? holmes never really fought anyone of consequence if you think about it...cooney? cobb? snipes? ocasio(a midget boxer)? in fact, his whole career reads like a "bum of the month club" - his best fightse were against two extremely aged warhorses: shavers and norton. ali was dried up on weight loss medication when he met holmes. so this is really like picking the lesser of two evils - not that it's their fault, they just lived in the shadow of two greats and never really got their due, but how good would they have been really, against superior competition? the world will never know! if i had to pick one i'd say holyfield was more underrated, but neither of these guys qualifies as great, simply "good!"
2006-09-15 11:08:11 · answer #8 · answered by The Dark Knight 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd go with Larry Holmes. He beat everybody. (Ali doesn't count, I could've taken Ali that night).
I have respect for Holyfield but beating Tyson was his only major achivement. He really was a cruiserweight.
2006-09-15 05:37:46 · answer #9 · answered by Gypsy Doctor 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Holmes.
MITCHELL B - What the f**k are you talking about? Holmes never fought Frazier or Foreman and Ali was about 137 years old when he stepped in the ring with Holmes.
'smitty' - I replied to your badly written diatribe on my question about the length of title fights. Better take a look so that you can rethink your position. While you still can.
2006-09-15 03:25:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋