In 1994 and ’95, Oliver McCall beat both Lennox Lewis and Larry Holmes.
McCall – who was never knocked down in 76 fights – won the WBC World Heavyweight Title from Lewis in a shocking upset knockout before making on successful defence against Holmes via unanimous decision. He would lose it in his next bout to Frank Bruno.
Though Lewis would later avenge the loss to win the belt with McCall having a break down in the ring giving up, the heavyweight from Chicago, Illinois, told the Ring Magazine it was Holmes who was the best fighter he ever faced.
“It has to be Larry Holmes. As well as boxing skills, he could do the other things. He had an awesome jab. He learned how to box well. He learned not to make the same mistake twice. He learned when he got knocked down how to get up and still beat you down. Stuff like that. He had to put up with a lot of criticism. He was a great champion and it was a trip for me to face him.”
McCall also crowned Holmes with the best jab, best boxing skills, best chin and smartest, though he did have this to say about Lewis’ power:
“The punch I got hit with – and I remember that punch – it was a wallop. I looked over his shoulder and saw his momma rooting for him to knock me out, and I thought of my momma not being there. When that man hit me I was going to retaliate, and I broke down.
The overhand right that hit me sent me reeling into the ropes, and as I came back I could have just held him if I hadn’t broken down. I thought, ‘Wow.’ I just shut down. I’d pick Lennox. I’m just going off what went through my mind. [Frank] Bruno hit me dead in the eye, but it wasn’t as brutal as far as the shock to my body or pain as that right hand was.”
