Top 10 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers

[rabidcatfan]

Who is on your top ten? Heavyweight fighters only, so no Mayweather, Pacquiao, Jones Jr., Leonard, Robinson, Duran, etc. Also, no bare-knuckle fighters and no one who is still fighting.

Here's mine:

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Jack Johnson
4. Rocky Marciano
5. Larry Holmes
6. Evander Holyfield
7. Mike Tyson
8. George Foreman
9. Joe Frazier
10. Jack Dempsey

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Who is on your top ten? Heavyweight fighters only, so no Mayweather, Pacquiao, Jones Jr., Leonard, Robinson, Duran, etc. Also, no bare-knuckle fighters and no one who is still fighting.

Here's mine:

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Jack Johnson
4. Rocky Marciano
5. Larry Holmes
6. Evander Holyfield
7. Mike Tyson
8. George Foreman
9. Joe Frazier
10. Jack Dempsey

Switch Frazier and Holmes, and that looks like the list. I guess an argument can be made for longevity, but if so then Foreman should be higher (he probably should be anyway).

I also think a pretty good argument can be made for switching Holyfield and Tyson. I think Tyson was better in his prime than Holyfield in his. But perfectly reasonable to have Tyson behind him since he lost to him head to head.

 

[Tskware]

Until this weekend, I had forgotten how big boxing used to be. And not just the big guys either. The smaller guys like Duran, Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Aaron Pryor, et al, put on terrific fights and made millions follow the sport. Somewhere along about the end of the Tyson era, the sport began to fade away. It is really a shame, I still think boxing is a hell of a spectacle.

This weekend, I remembered one odd thing about Ali’s career. When he fought Holmes, I bet heavily on Holmes, but then felt bad about winning, because I really sorry for Ali, the fight was such a terrible mismatch it was sad to watch. I also remember about the first wager I ever made was on Foreman against Ali, lost $5 to a friend in middle school, which seemed like about $250 today.

He was truly one of the greatest, probably best heavyweight ever. Tyson in his prime was incredible, and honestly, I would put Larry Holmes in the discussion. He was very very underrated, won like 48 straight fights before finally losing.

 

[KingOfBBN]

Switch Frazier and Holmes, and that looks like the list. I guess an argument can be made for longevity, but if so then Foreman should be higher (he probably should be anyway).

I also think a pretty good argument can be made for switching Holyfield and Tyson. I think Tyson was better in his prime than Holyfield in his. But perfectly reasonable to have Tyson behind him since he lost to him head to head.

I liked Tyson a lot but he has to be the most overrated boxer of all-time.

 

[UKserialkiller]

Mike Tyson
George Foreman
Mohammed Ali
Ike Turner
Sonny Liston
Rocky Marciano
Chris Brown
Sugar Ray Leonard

 

[UKserialkiller]

Pound for pound, I gotta go with Roy Jones, Jr.

Gotta disagree Mav. Ike Turner would take him in 3 rounds. TKO

 

[ukalumni00]

Tough list to come up with. OP's list is pretty good but if I were ranking based on who was the best when they were at their best:

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Larry Holmes
4. Jack Johnson
5. George Foreman
6. Joe Frazier
7. Evander Holyfield
8. Mike Tyson
9. Rocky Marciano
10. Lennox Lewis

I really wanted to put Foreman higher because of how well he did in his 40's but my criteria is who was the best at their best. 7-10 is complete tossup.

 

[UKserialkiller]

Awwww c'mon woman, you knows Ike luvs ya

Ike got so much love to give that Jones Jr wouldn't be able to handle it

 

[TexasTimCat]

Won't argue with most of the names on the lists above - but am amazed that Marciano is so low; has to be considered top five and likely top three all time.

He was retired undefeated when that still meant something.

 

[vhcat70]

Until this weekend, I had forgotten how big boxing used to be.

Pre WWII, the three biggest US sports were baseball, boxing, and horse racing.

 

[Free_Salato_Blue]

 

[GhostVol]

Won't argue with most of the names on the lists above - but am amazed that Marciano is so low; has to be considered top five and likely top three all time.

He was retired undefeated when that still meant something.

Marciano came along at the right time, and his opponents were CAREFULLY picked. He fought Joe Louis when the Brown Bomber was 37, he fought Jersey Joe Walcott when Walcott was 38 (and beat him again when Walcott was 39), and beat Archie Moore when Archie was 38. Common theme? He beat legendary boxers when all were past their prime. The only close call Rocky had was against Ezzard Charles, who was the light heavy champ when they fought. Charles was ahead on points early in their first bout, but Marciano came on at the end and won a decision. I will admit that Marciano knocked Charles out in the rematch. Much respect to Rocky tho, the man had a chin second only to Ali in my opinion. I would have him at #6 on my list.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

Pre WWII, the three biggest US sports were baseball, boxing, and horse racing.

That's exactly what I was going to say, except it didn't end with WWII - that was the case into the 1960s I believe.

I'm curious how you fellers are ranking boxers you never saw? I won't try to speak to Louis, Marciano, etc. I did see the 1970s, something of a golden era, onward. Peak Tyson was likely the best I saw, but Ali is up there. As are Frasier and Foreman. People forget just how feared Foreman was. Never smiled, and beat the crap out of people. Frasier was, I think, undefeated when they fought, and you couldn't knock him out - he was like an old rubber tire, you could just beat on him all day. Foreman knocked him out in round 1 or 2, I forget, and hit him so hard with an uppercut his feet appeared to come off the ground. After that, people were genuinely worried that he might literally kill Ali (by that time diminished and an old man at 32). Speaking of Foreman, has any athlete - any person - changed their persona/image like that? Went from cold blooded killer to a grandpa selling grills. Maybe OJ, I guess - in the other direction.....

 

[catsfanbgky]

Boxing is still one of my favorite sports. Just this weekend watched what was probably the fight of the year. Francisco Vargas v/s Orlando Salido was a bad *** fight. 12 rounds of bomb after bomb, the 2 fighters combined to land 790 punches. Ended in a majority draw. Vargas both eyes where cut from eye lid to eye lid.

Used to love guys like Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker and Macho Camacho. Aaron Pryor / Alexis Aurgello was probably the best fight I have ever watched, Ward / Gatti was close.

Klitschko has to be mentioned as one of the greatest, he has dominated for a while.

 

[TexasTimCat]

That Varga/Salido fight was better than almost anything MMA produces; and I am a fan of both.

It will definitely be in the running for FOTY with multiple chances for round of the year as well.

Would look happily toward a Canelo/GGG fight in the fall if the money guys can make it work.

 

[ukalumni00]

Klitschko has to be mentioned as one of the greatest, he has dominated for a while.

Dominated during the weakest era of heavyweight boxing in a very long time. He has had zero impact on the sport so much that UFC trumps every one of his fights. Solid fighter but think guys like Ali, Holmes, and Lewis in their primes would have worn him out.

 

[KingOfBBN]

Marciano came along at the right time, and his opponents were CAREFULLY picked. He fought Joe Louis when the Brown Bomber was 37, he fought Jersey Joe Walcott when Walcott was 38 (and beat him again when Walcott was 39), and beat Archie Moore when Archie was 38. Common theme? He beat legendary boxers when all were past their prime. The only close call Rocky had was against Ezzard Charles, who was the light heavy champ when they fought. Charles was ahead on points early in their first bout, but Marciano came on at the end and won a decision. I will admit that Marciano knocked Charles out in the rematch. Much respect to Rocky tho, the man had a chin second only to Ali in my opinion. I would have him at #6 on my list.

Didn't know this and it sounds similar to Mayweather. Thanks, Vol.

 

[UKserialkiller]

She kicked some ***. I think she quit undefeated.

Can we get some woman boxer love. Yeah, I know she wouldn't beat the Top 5000 men boxers, but she dominated her sport before letting her butthole get eaten every night as retired boxer.

She should be right up there.

 

[krazykats]

I never really liked any Joe Louis fights. Of course I got to see all the greats before know who Joe Louis was, but still he just didn't compare by the time I was watching.

Ali
Holyfield
Frazier
Tyson
Louis
Foreman
Lewis


After that I think they could finish in any order with a good argument.

 

[wall2rondo]

Joe Louis is the greatest boxer that ever lived. What about rocky Marciano ?

There they go. Every time somebody talking bout boxing. Some white boy gotta pull rocky Marciano out their ***.

He beat joe Louis. Yeah he did beat joe Louis

Joe Louis was 75 years old when they fought I cut frank Sinatra hair one time. I asked frank , you hang out with joe Louis. How old is joe Louis ? 137 years old.



Something like that

 

[GhostVol]

That Varga/Salido fight was better than almost anything MMA produces; and I am a fan of both.

It will definitely be in the running for FOTY with multiple chances for round of the year as well.

Would look happily toward a Canelo/GGG fight in the fall if the money guys can make it work.

It's a shame that the heavyweight division hasn't had a fight that came anywhere close to that fight in decades, maybe since The Thrilla in Manila. But the following is my favorite boxing match ever. No quarter was asked, and no quarter was given. "The War". Hagler vs Hearns.

 

[UKserialkiller]

It's a shame that the heavyweight division hasn't had a fight that came anywhere close to that fight in decades, maybe since The Thrilla in Manila. But the following is my favorite boxing match ever. No quarter was asked, and no quarter was given. "The War". Hagler vs Hearns.

I appreciate the strong black boxers of the 70-90s. I always wanted to relate to those black boxers. Truth is. I have no clue what it was like for those guys. Yeah, I guess I could read Wikipedia. But I will never know what it was like. Those guys worked their asses off in a sport before it was manipulated and screwed out of their money. No wonder why there is no big draw on boxing any more.

I just know that Mike Tyson was my favorite boxer and if he had the right consistent tutelage, he'd could've been the best ever. But I will always give the tip to Ali.

 

[KingOfBBN]

Lennox Lewis is one of my most hated boxers. That guy was so boring to watch but he was good. He just jabbed you to hell.

I remember his matches with Tyson, he just dominated Mike. Mike had no reach and needed to get close so Lewis would jab him over and over and then any time Tyson got close, Lewis just wrapped him up.

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

I see no one except willy added sonny liston to their list

Riddick Bowe wasn't bad either, but his prime was short

 

[rabidcatfan]

I liked Tyson a lot but he has to be the most overrated boxer of all-time.

How do you figure that? I've heard the same arguments for years that there were no heavyweights of real consequence during his reign, but as many boxers have said before, you can only fight who you can fight. There's no way to know how Tyson would've fared against Ali, or Frazier in their primes or heavy hitters like Shavers or Liston, but who's to say that Tyson wouldn't have dominated those guys too? No one will ever know.

The fact of the matter is that Tyson DECIMATED the best fighters of his original title run and reign until his loss to Buster Douglas. He obliterated Trevor Berbick, Frank Bruno, Michael Spinks, Larry Holmes, Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tubbs, etc. No man in the history of the sport incited more terror and excitement in the first 4 rounds of a fight than Tyson did. Tyson's problem was that when his tremendous power and blazing quick uppercuts and hooks weren't enough he didn't always have enough gas in the tank to stay in the fight for 12 rounds. His stamina has always been his Achilles heel, but stamina has been the Achilles heel of all great power fighters from Shavers and Liston to Foreman and Holmes. That doesn't diminish their impact on the sport or their legacy though.

 

[UKserialkiller]

How do you figure that? I've heard the same arguments for years that there were no heavyweights of real consequence during his reign, but as many boxers have said before, you can only fight who you can fight. There's no way to know how Tyson would've fared against Ali, or Frazier in their primes or heavy hitters like Shavers or Liston, but who's to say that Tyson wouldn't have dominated those guys too? No one will ever know.

The fact of the matter is that Tyson DECIMATED the best fighters of his original title run and reign until his loss to Buster Douglas. He obliterated Trevor Berbick, Frank Bruno, Michael Spinks, Larry Holmes, Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tubbs, etc. No man in the history of the sport incited more terror and excitement in the first 4 rounds of a fight than Tyson did. Tyson's problem was that when his tremendous power and blazing quick uppercuts and hooks weren't enough he didn't always have enough gas in the tank to stay in the fight for 12 rounds. His stamina has always been his Achilles heel, but stamina has been the Achilles heel of all great power fighters from Shavers and Liston to Foreman and Holmes. That doesn't diminish their impact on the sport or their legacy though.

Who knows where Tyson would've been under D'Amato if he had lived longer. He died before Tyson even became champion, and Tyson claims D'Amato for everything.

Tyson lost to Douglas after his prison. I'd say that changed him.

 

[true55]

Who is on your top ten? Heavyweight fighters only, so no Mayweather, Pacquiao, Jones Jr., Leonard, Robinson, Duran, etc. Also, no bare-knuckle fighters and no one who is still fighting.

Here's mine:

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Jack Johnson
4. Rocky Marciano
5. Larry Holmes
6. Evander Holyfield
7. Mike Tyson
8. George Foreman
9. Joe Frazier
10. Jack Dempsey

WHAT????????.............................No Balboa on the list?:flushed:

 

[catsfanbgky]

Deonte Wilder is a American heavyweight to keep a eye on. Funny, a couple people shitting on boxing mainly the heavyweights, boxing is probably the best it has been for years. Look and see, you can catch fights on tv every weekend, CBS has even started to show them on some Saturdays during the 2-4pm time. Lots of competition in all weight classes, as soon as King and Arum kick the bucket, it will get back to main stream. It all ready is headed back.

 

[DSmith21]

Here is an interesting list from Ring Magazine. Tyson didn't make the top 15 due to his inability to come from behind in a fight. I would still put him in a top 10 though. Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey should get some consideration for top 10.

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/410833-bill-caplans-20-greatest-heavyweights

 

[krazykats]

Ali would have kept Tyson at bay with his jab, but Frazier/Tyson would have been phenomenal and over one way or the other in 3 rounds.

Tyson wasn't a "boxer" but he was a knockout King. That is no secret and that shouldn't disqualify him from a greatest of all times list.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

Here is an interesting list from Ring Magazine. Tyson didn't make the top 15 due to his inability to come from behind in a fight. I would still put him in a top 10 though. Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey should get some consideration for top 10.

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/410833-bill-caplans-20-greatest-heavyweights

Sounds like that guy just doesn't like Tyson for whatever reason and is letting that bias cloud his thinking. He ranks him so low because he never came from behind to win? I believe Tiger Woods was in the lead after 3 rounds in every one of his 14 major titles - so he never came from behind either. We going to drop him to number 17 too?

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Who knows where Tyson would've been under D'Amato if he had lived longer. He died before Tyson even became champion, and Tyson claims D'Amato for everything.

Tyson lost to Douglas after his prison. I'd say that changed him.

After Cus, Tyson when into a downward spiral personally, which effected him professionally. If he could've kept his personal life together, he would've gone on a reign of terror for years.

As an aside, I still think his rape conviction was ridiculous. The after jail Tyson just wasn't the same, at all.

Here is an interesting list from Ring Magazine. Tyson didn't make the top 15 due to his inability to come from behind in a fight. I would still put him in a top 10 though. Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey should get some consideration for top 10.

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/410833-bill-caplans-20-greatest-heavyweights

Because he couldn't come from behind? What a joke lol. Tough to come from behind when youre knocking people unconscious in the first round.

 

[rabidcatfan]

After Cus, Tyson when into a downward spiral personally, which effected him professionally. If he could've kept his personal life together, he would've gone on a reign of terror for years.

As an aside, I still think his rape conviction was ridiculous. The after jail Tyson just wasn't the same, at all.



Because he couldn't come from behind? What a joke lol. Tough to come from behind when youre knocking people unconscious in the first round.

Point 1 - I agree 100% the death of Cus D'Amato took a HUGE toll on Tysons mental and emotional state. Tyson did win the title after Cus's death, but he was never the same ferocious, determined fighter he was before Cus died. It always became about the quick knockout after that. Before Cus died, Tyson was a methodical assassin. His punches had amazing power and speed, and purpose. He never threw wild punches and kept his (peek-a-boo or crab-style) defense tight. Always looking for an opening but also always bobbing to protect himself. After Cus, however, he gradually declined in his fundamentals and started trying to throw haymakers to knock his opponents out early. By the Douglas fight, Tyson wasn't nearly as good a fighter as he was just 4 to 5 years prior.

Point 2 - The rape conviction was a travesty of justice. It derailed Tyson even further and his career never fully recovered. Had Cus of lived longer and Tyson kept going the way he was going, he would've been known as the second greatest boxer of all time behind Ali.

Point 3 - Again, I agree 100%. Who is this guy to say that? How many great boxers have consistently come from behind to win big fights?? Jim J. Braddock? Ray "Boom-Boom" Mancini? Rocky Balboa[laughing]? Not too many that I can think of really.

 

[BernieSadori]

Joe Louis is the greatest boxer that ever lived. What about rocky Marciano ?

There they go. Every time somebody talking bout boxing. Some white boy gotta pull rocky Marciano out their ***.

He beat joe Louis. Yeah he did beat joe Louis

Joe Louis was 75 years old when they fought I cut frank Sinatra hair one time. I asked frank , you hang out with joe Louis. How old is joe Louis ? 137 years old.



Something like that

I don't know how old he was but I know he got his *** whipped.

 

[DSmith21]

Because he couldn't come from behind? What a joke lol. Tough to come from behind when youre knocking people unconscious in the first round.

I think that the Ring writer was talking about the Buster Douglas and Evander Holyfield (x2) fights. Tyson was heavily favored against both (Holyfield was 34 and supposedly washed up for the first fight). Tyson fell behind early on points to each and couldn't make up ground in the latter rounds. Its a valid criticism but it shouldn't knock Tyson out of any top 10 list.

 

[catswin]

Ali lost to Frazier, Norton and Leon Spinks while he was in his prime. Then was demolished by Holmes and Berbick. He also got a gift decision in the Norton rematch. That is a hell of a lot of losses for a GOAT.

 

[Strokin_Bandit]

Man, you ain't never meet no Frank Sinatra.

 

[mrhotdice]

I liked Tyson a lot but he has to be the most overrated boxer of all-time.

Tyson, before Don King was the best, period. IMHO

 

[mrhotdice]

Tyson, before Don King was the best, period. IMHO

He became a bad boxer after he got away from his original trainers but when we was in his early 20s, it was dangerous getting in the ring with him. In my opinion in his prime he was unbeatable.

 

[bluthruandthru]

[QUOTE="rabidcatfan, post: 4683225, member: 1704" Before Cus died, Tyson was a methodical assassin. His punches had amazing power and speed, and purpose. He never threw wild punches and kept his (peek-a-boo or crab-style) defense tight. Always looking for an opening but also always bobbing to protect himself. After Cus, however, he gradually declined in his fundamentals and started trying to throw haymakers to knock his opponents out early. [/QUOTE]

^^This.

If you say that Tyson was just a knockout artist, you don't know boxing. He was a heavy hitting boxer. Ain't nothin' more dangerous than that.

If he could have stayed focused, he was on course to be the best ever.