What If Evander Holyfield Never Lost To Lennox Lewis?

Evander Holyfield (44-10-2) is one of the most memorable boxers in the sport’s history. With victories over Mike Tyson (twice, although he lost a chunk of his ear), George Foreman, and Larry Holmes, the Atlanta native is well-known for his brawling style and aggression. That’s evident by his 29 career knockouts.

However, there’s one fighter that eluded him throughout his illustrious career. This one heavyweight boxer took his WBA and IBF Heavyweight titles on November 13, 1999. It was a loss that set Holyfield back in his career, highlighting the tail end of his incredible boxing career. The fighter that beat him? Lennox Lewis.

Evander Holyfield Vs. Lennox Lewis

On that fateful night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Evander Holyfield had a fight against Lennox Lewis for the undisputed heavyweight title. The London native previously fought Holyfield at Madison Square Garden in New York on March 13, 1999, with the fight ending in a controversial draw.

Lewis entered the fight 34-1-1 with the WBC heavyweight belt, while Holyfield came in at 36-3-1 with the WBA and IBF heavyweight championships. Fans were hoping for an excellent fight, with both fighters delivering terrific performances.

That’s exactly what happened. Lennox Lewis came out strong, peppering the Atlanta native for the first three rounds. However, Holyfield came out swinging with a late flurry in the third round, building momentum for the later rounds.

Lennox Lewis Takes Control

Evander Holyfield would win the next four rounds, dominating Lewis punch after punch. However, the London heavyweight seized control of the fight, winning rounds eight through 11. As a result, it led Lewis to win the fight via unanimous decision.

Suddenly, Holyfield didn’t have his championship belts. Lewis was king of the world, bringing pride and joy back to Great Britain. It felt like the other ear was bitten off from Holyfield, only it was more painful.

Still, the heavyweight fighter from Atlanta would be reunited with the WBA heavyweight belt, defeating John Ruiz on August 12, 2000. Later, he won the WBF heavyweight title and USBA heavyweight title.

What If Holyfield Won Against Lewis?

If Evander Holyfield started better and defeated Lennox Lewis on that fateful night of March 13, 1999, he would’ve simply prolonged his WBA heavyweight reign. His fight against John Ruiz would’ve also included the IBF heavyweight title, where Ruiz would’ve won the rematch.

Still, not much would’ve changed in Holyfield’s career. He’s still the same legendary boxer, regardless of that outcome. Would the victory over Lewis have been nice? Absolutely. However, it’s something Holyfield didn’t need in the end, for he was given a shot at the WBA heavyweight title a year later.