Lewis, who reigned as the undisputed heavyweight champion and was the last to do so until Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, faced many top opponents during his career. These included Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitschko. But it's Holyfield who stands out in his memory.
Speaking to Ring Magazine, Lewis explained why he rates Holyfield so highly:
"He had everything. He had the defence; he had the offence."
Holyfield's career was indeed impressive. He started as the undisputed cruiserweight champion before moving up to heavyweight. There, he became the undisputed champion and made history as the only four-time heavyweight champion ever. His list of victories includes big names like Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, and Riddick Bowe.
Lewis and Holyfield met twice in the ring. Their first encounter in March 1999 at Madison Square Garden ended in a controversial split decision draw. Most people watching thought Lewis had done enough to win.
Eight months later, they fought again in Las Vegas. This time, Lewis won by unanimous decision. The victory made him the undisputed champion, adding Holyfield's WBA and IBF titles to his WBC belt.
Holyfield has recently stated that his four heavyweight titles should make him the 'greatest of all time', even above Muhammad Ali. While that claim might be debatable, Lewis' high praise certainly adds weight to Holyfield's status as one of boxing's all-time greats.
Lewis' choice of Holyfield as his toughest opponent speaks volumes about both men's skills and the quality of their encounters in the ring. It's a testament to the golden era of heavyweight boxing they represented.