Give me a break. Sonny Liston was the best heavyweight in the world for five years. John Ruiz. Thanks for reading everyone. Note: This story appeared in the May 2017 issue of THE RING Magazine. He learned his craft and perfected his style over years of fighting. To what extent does the mythology that enshrouds a fighter factor into his greatness? Theyve forgotten how good Louis was when he was young. The order in which we presented the respective lists had no logic; we started with the middleweights, before going on to rank the bantamweights, light heavyweights, flyweights, featherweights, welterweights and, most recently, the lightweights but naturally, we saved for last the guys at the top of the beanstalk: the big men; the heavyweights. These are hardly heavyweight limelights and I mention Tysons age 38 because considering the legit comebacks going on, Tyson was NOT that old. Eventually he would be being hit with pinpoint left hooks and right crosses. For others, it wasnt. The biggest name in this bracket has to be Vitali Klitschko, with the Ukrainian a multiple heavyweight world champion. All of the fighters on this list were great. Thats insane. Ray Mercer. Tyson is a video-game. A great fighter needs great competition. The only four-time heavyweight world champion in boxing history, Holyfields victory over Riddick Bowe and wins over Mike Tyson, in particular, more than illustrate his warrior footprint in the sport's lore. I agree, those two losses are crap. Tyson took the title in a lackluster period after an admittedly STRONG early run but gave out fast. Liston was nearly knocked out by Cleveland Williams, and also had trouble from Amos Lincoln, but he beat both of them. But lurking in the back of many minds was the question: Which of these fighters took boxing to a new level in terms of skills, societal importance, or both? Remove altitude and behavior, he is the greatest. And Ali proved himself the best of them all. How do you say Tyson beats Lewis when Lewis actually beat Tyson? Most great boxers have done this and Lennox Lewis only lost twice and then won in the rematch. And he has captivated the publics imagination for three decades. He also KOBY 26 Jess Willard in Havana Cuba on April 5, 1915. Mike Tyson is looked at now as a bully who folded when things got tough. So to see him ahead of Muhammad Ali is huge for him, however, neither of those greats were worthy of top spot in Boxrecs opinion, with Sugar Ray Robinson, who recorded a staggering 109 knockouts in 174 victories, being crowned the GOAT of boxing. 2 Joe Louis Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 - April 12, 1981), best known as Joe Louis was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. Walcott and Charles are derided now as old men when he fought them. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Heavyweight BOXING Champion JOE FRAZIER "Smokin' Joe" SIGNED First Printing RARE at the best online prices at eBay! In previous polls (which used the who-beats-who formula), most electors were confident in the choices. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 90-81, Cuban boxer Luis Manuel Rodriguez pictured punching a poster of rival and champion Nino Benvenuti prior to their upcoming fight, at the Sport Palace in Rome, November 1969. I like him more now that he is HONEST about his career, his shortcomings. He was able to play the matador to an aging Jack Dempseys bull. Amazing speed, unsurpassed ring intelligence, plus astonishing courage, durability, and will to win, not to mention longevity, make Ali a cut above the rest, the best big man of both the 1960s and 70s, and in truth, as he liked to say himself, The Greatest Of All-Times.. 1. Pinklon was willing to trade punches and did not have much finesse, which proved to be his downfall. Joe surprised the boxing world when he had success stepping up in class against top ranked heavyweight opponents. Arguably the divisions greatest puncher. But watch the film. Ali finished alone in first place in the rankings by media, matchmakers and historians. No iron mike?? And they enabled him to vanquish, among others, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney,Tim Witherspoon, Mike Weaver and Trevor Berbick. The poll evaluated 20 champions dating back to the dawn of gloved heavyweight championship fights. 49. Johnny Dundee 77. Yeah, Holmes lost twice to Michael Spinks, while Tyson knocked out Spinks in 90 seconds. I couldnt get tickets . What time is the Canelo vs. Ryder press conference? Go back and watch the Norton fight, even just round 15 if you dont have the time. Max Baer, Max Schmeling, James J. Braddock and Jersey Joe Walcott all felt Louis wrath. He was poorly managed and handled. He was a natural counter puncher and rarely pressed the action so he had a reputation for making the hometown fighter look bad. Tommy had humble beginnings, fighting with intermittent success on the local pro circuit in Tonypandy, Wales during the 1920s. Ali is also consistently ranked among the greatest athletes of the century. Ruiz is the most hated heavyweight of his generation because of his aggravating fighting style. 47. Maybe Tyson would beat prime Lennox Lewis, but a prime Larry Holmes? Tyson never beat anyone great and he held the title for only three years. Anyone who puts Joe Frazier ahead of a serious power-puncher is ignorant. Mike tyson in his prime was unstoppable. Joe Frazier (1965-1981, 32-4-1): 340.3, 12. Welcome boxing fans and RSR readers to the second installment of my countdown of the 100 best heavyweight boxers of all time. Ali and George Foreman were much bigger. At twenty, he couldve beaten anyone on the list EXCEPT Ali. In sum, the criteria diverged significantly from elector to elector. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 40-31, 28 Jun 1997: Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson lock heads during their heavyweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada. For each fighter, I will start off with a brief biography, list their most famous fight(s), and then list some of their less famous fights that contributed to or established their status as a top caliber heavyweight. Thats true, Tyson was pretty much out of his prime. Most Notable win: St. Valentine's Day Massacre. He learned some rudimentary techniques to accentuate his physical gifts and compensate for his limitations. 50. Fourteen of the 19 electors who ranked Ali first ranked Louis second. Drinking nearly killed him in 1888, yet he whipped the next-best (white) man a year later in a bare-knuckle match that lasted more than two hours. Louis inspired America. Renault was also famous for his battles with smaller boxers Harry Greb and Gene Tunney. Following in Alis footsteps, Holmes could be as cold as Ali was charismatic but he could fight. Frazier 6. The boy from Catsville New York is the second greatest. Wins over Jess Willard, Georges Carpentier, Jim Flynn, Big Bill Tate, Billy Miske, Luis Firpo, Gunboat Smith and Jack Sharkey. Tony Tucker. Sullivan was Americas first massculture hero and the most idolized athlete who had lived up until his time. It was avenged in devastating style: two minutes and four seconds of violence that left Schmeling with broken bones in his back. Neither fighter ranked himself. Applause for not ranking Tyson. THATs reality, Tyson fans. Farr ranks as one of the most well known Welsh fighters in boxings history. Shane Mosley couldnt beat Vernon Forrest, but who had the better career? 9) and Sonny Liston (No. Jack Johnson might have been black Americas first black hero. The Philadelphia icon couldnt cope with Big Georges otherworldly power - but he gave every other boxer he faced, including Ali, absolute hell. Vernon Forest 74. Also, both loses clearly because he didnt take the fights as seriously as he should have, but when he did, he made quick work of both. The reason that Greg never fully realized his potential was his horrible work ethic. 17), and James Corbett (No. Farr is still remembered for his brave battle against the Brown Bomber because that was when Joe was at his absolute peak. The cartoon? Muhammad Ali had incredible physical gifts, skill, determination and heart. Most Famous Fight(s): 10 round points loss to Jersey Joe Walcott in 1945, TKO11 loss to Ezzard Charles in 1948. Notable Wins: UD10 over Tami Mauriello in 1944, won 2 of 3 from Lee Savold in 1944. But they, too, are among the greatest of all time, so thats not too shabby. Though he did achieve a certain level of success as a contender in his own right, Baksi is perhaps most famous for being the springboard for the great Jersey Joe Walcotts career, losing his #3 ranking to Walcott in 1945. Thudding around the ring? 15. In one instance, there was no margin at all. Baksi was a son of a coal miner from Pennsylvania who boxed, not for love of the sport, but as a way to get out of a life of mining. He was old, washed up beyond even patching, had NOT wanted to fight any more for at least 7-8 years, Lewis either took him to court or threatened to ,to make the fight which had a predetermined conclusion. He was a manufactured Mafia fighter. Harry Wills: Vastly underrated today, its easy to forget that for a time in the 1920s The Black Panther was the best heavyweight in the world, and there was great demand for a showdown with official world champ Jack Dempsey, but it never came to be. This is more than who would have beaten who. Jack Johnson is too high. He was known as the Wild Bull of the Pampas. Ketchel had no business at heavyweight. Every punch was thrown with full power, and what devastating punches they were. Tyson was not even the best of his era - Lost to Douglas, Holyfield TWICE, Lennox Lewis,Danny Williams and McBride.. Tyson NEVER beat anyone who beat him and Never came back when he was down in a fight . To be The Greatest, Ali needed rivals to push him and Frazier was one of his best. Louis had everything. Johnson finished in third place in the minds of the media and historians. What about Tyson? Nineteen of the 30 electors ranked Ali first. Firpo was an offensive minded pugilist with the aggression and power of a charging bull. Aged 46 and pudgy and smiling, rather than sculpted and scowling, the American KOd heavyweight champ Michael Moorer with one punch in 1994, claiming back his crown 21 years after he first won it. And after being heavyweight champion, he came back more than a decade later to do it again. A composite of comments with regard to the other fighters follows. So, without further ado, the best heavyweights of all-time. The difference? One elector stated a preference for replacing Vitali Klitschko and Fitzsimmons on his list with Max Schmeling and Sam Langford. But Tunney never fought a black man. Best pure puncher who ever got in a ring. Power, toughness, and unsurpassed conditioning were Rockys calling-cards, along with a brutal relentlessness which no one in his era could withstand. Wheres mike Tyson? He is like Morrison, as Stevey below says. Satterfield did not have a glossy record, piling up 25 losses and 4 draws in 79 fights, yet he was amongst the most popular boxers of his era. Most Famous Fight(s): TKO11 over Max Baer in 1939, TKO6 loss to Joe Louis in a 1941 title fight. 2. Thomas did not live up to his reputation, but he deserves a spot on this list due to that brief moment in time when he was thought to be the #1 heavyweight in the world. Evander Holyfield should be top ten. Another thing: Joe Frazier and Rocky Marciano would be light heavyweights today. One of the more underrated British fighters of all time in Joe Calzaghe gets some recognition in this list, being ranked 1 place above Manny Pacquiao, the Brits perfect 46-0 record definitely goes some way to his ranking in this list, with Saul Canelo Alvarez narrowly above him. Some of the fighters on this list had a bit of quit in them. Carmine Vingo, Rex Layne, Roland LaStarza; Marciano beat real fighters on his way up. No one better to learn from. Tyson Fury (2008 - present, 30-0-1): 173.2, 23. Jack Johnson died on June 10, 1946, at the age of 68. Ya uhm no. We cant be too American-centric. Muhammad Ali (1960-1981, 56-5-0): 757.9. I take Lennox Lewis by knockout in later rounds. When Mike Tyson got discouraged, he wasnt the same fighter. Johnsons story as a whole is worth learning about. Holmes was 38 when he fought a 21-year-old, peak Tyson, same age as Ali was when he fought Holmes. Bobs downfall was what made him so popular, his all out approach that left him overextended, open for counter punches, and out of gas in the later rounds if the early KO did not come. 1A. Sorry. Floyd Mayweather normally is criminally underrated in lists such as this, with a perfect 50-0 record, taking the sport of boxing to obscene heights, he certainly deserves more respect. Tyson should definitely be in the top 10. My gripe is not fully with the omissions of Tyson, and Holyfield, as much as it is that those two were put in the same so called, Honorable pool as one of the god damn Klitschko brothers. Cant make this list without Tyson and Holyfield. Holyfield 9. Hello readers, I would like to welcome you to part one of a ten part column in which I chronicle, in order, the 100 best heavyweight boxers in history. After getting roughed up by a prime Mike Tyson, Thomas was never the same and his career quickly fizzled out. Thankfully, respected boxing stats website Boxrec have compiled the list of the greatest fighters across all divisions and time periods, so lets dive into the list and see who they believe to be the greatest boxer of all time. What impact did he have on his time? Louis finished second in these latter three categories. It was up to each panelist to quantify greatness. Mike Tyson was in an awfully weak era. Dempsey and Babe Ruth were Americas two most important sports figures in the Roaring Twenties, when sports became an integral part of the culture. BoxRec ranked heavyweights, both past and present, and awarded each fighter with an overall score based on its points system. Deontay Wilder (2008 - present, 42-1-1): 122.8, 39. Standing at 62 and over 200 pounds, Nova was considered a large heavyweight for his era. Absolutely. If a new fan asked me what Johnsons best win was and why, Id have a hard time convincing them. Any ranking also shouldnt be about which boxer beats which in some fantasy fight. Unfortunately for Jack he was also one of the most avoided, never receiving a title shot and rarely was granted rematches. He was older and slower, but hed learned to study his opponents and take advantage of what he saw. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 30-21. His best opponents were very old, dragged out of retirement given a few set-ups etc. Olympic champion. This heavyweight poll has different criteria from previous exercises. But honestly, his career and overcoming personal obstacles along the way to date already have him among the greatest heavyweights of all time on our list. The kind of power punching slugfest that defined heavyweight boxing in its heyday, the 1976 brawl between George Foreman and Ron Lyle was a fight with two boxers who wanted to prove. He could do no more than beat them but, perhaps wisely, he didnt wait to face any up-and-coming boxers! 1. Many cite this as a feat of Marciano. Yeah the same one who lost his title to a light heavy? Tyson is completely overrated. One such heavyweight was Choynski who was known for his boxing skills, toughness, punching power, and grit. Wills are you crazy? The best American pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked, The best super-middleweights in the world, named and ranked, The best lightweight boxers in the world, named and ranked, The best British pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked. The other guy was a great fighter in his prime. He has a degree in Football Business and Media, previously working as a press and media officer at Bury Football Club. A metropolis where hundreds of young warriors train and battle each day in its many gyms, it is where Archie Moore, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Bernard Hopkins all found greatness. The size differential between fighters from different eras is too great. And then there are fighters like Ali, Frazier, Holmes, Holyfield and Marciano. The video game? Tyson 10. At 31-0-1, all thats left for the reigning WBC and lineal world heavyweight champion and former unified world champ is to snatch undisputed glory as the cherry on top. Although he didnt make the list, it doesnt mean he isnt a major problem for the legends at the top of this list. He had one great fight, the first fight against Evander Holyfield. Tyson was a thicker, harder-hitting Joe Frazier. I hope you enjoy the list and feel free to chime in with your own thoughts on the rankings, (or call me a moron for leaving out your favorite fighter, whatever works). If one of the fighters had been ranked No. Holmes did what he had to do to win. That list is crap. Unarguably the divisions greatest comeback. But can we put him up there with the absolute all-time greats just yet? Fraziers iconic and convincing victory over Muhammad Ali, and 2. the fact he is second only to Ali in terms of the best boxers competing in the strongest era in division history. He destroyed Holmes. Any list with Marciano loses credibility with the knowledgeable. The Fight of the Century in March 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali his first loss, was proof of that. Required fields are marked *. Theres a fight thats bigger than boxing. He first made a name for himself as an amateur sparring partner when Muhammad Ali complimented him to the press. Max Baer, Max Schmeling, James J. Braddock and Jersey Joe Walcott all felt Louis' wrath. Matchmakers: Eric Bottjer, Don Chargin, Don Elbaum, Bobby Goodman, Ron Katz, Mike Marchionte, Russell Peltz and Bruce Trampler. For some electors, the magnitude of a fighters fame was worthy of consideration. None of the fighters listed knocked out opponents the way Tyson did with speed and fury!!!! Career Record: 175-19-6, 106 KOs. Frazier was a very carefully managed fighter who could not win against power punchers. Thats quite an accomplishment. He beat every available contender. I think he is one of the greatest boxers not only because of the fact he was a champion or because of his title defenses but also because of his unique style. Letters may be edited for reasons of space and clarity. Liston 13. Watch the DAZN Boxing Show and live fights on DAZN, Sterling vs. Cejudo preview, how to watch. Other considerations are involved. Joe Louis would have discouraged Tyson real fast. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 80-71 80. If the electors were asked to vote again, the order of these three might be different. I loved his response when someone asked him what he was thinking when Walcott knocked him down in their first fight: Gee, this fellow hits hard. If only every era of heavyweight boxing had a few Bob Satterfields, the sport would never have lulls in popularity like we are currently experiencing. He never ducked anyone and ended up fighting everyone relevant in a golden era of heavyweight boxing. Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield are all easily among the best heavyweight boxers ever. Anthony Joshua (2013 - present, 23-1-0): 116.9, 44. Jimmy Ellis (1961-1975, 40-12-1): 114.2, 47. The Jeffries fight was a huge event, but I didnt think this a popularity contest and I dont know how to explain that a 6-year retired ex-champion could be considered one of a guys best wins. Also held a management role for Last Word on Sports Motorsport page. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 10-1, Muhammad Ali hailed Sugar Ray Robinson as the GOAT of boxing. No Tyson in the list? His numbers speak for themselves: he got to 48-0 and 20 title defences before finally tasting defeat - controversially - to Michael Spinks when Holmes was closing in on his 36th birthday. No substance. Twenty-five consecutive title defenses more than imprinted Louis as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Simple: no heavyweight in history faced, let alone defeated, a trio of deadly greats like Liston, Frazier and Foreman. Holmes 8. Most Famous Fight(s): KO2 loss to Jack Dempsey in 1923. Notable Wins: KO12 over Bill KO Brennan in 1923, TKO2 over Charlie Weinert in 1923, KO8 over Jess Willard in 1923. No Mike Tyson is a shame!! DAZN uses cookies to help us deliver our services and improve your user experience. Granted you can say in his era there was a lack of talent, but this is beyond his control. Never knew defeat. He made the most of his modest skills by jabbing once then clinching his opponent to . Renault was a top heavyweight contender during the Dempsey-Tunney era. Jack Dempsey: Fast, aggressive and powerful, The Manassa Mauler revolutionized boxing with his swarming, all-action style. Marciano 4. Henry Akinwande (1989-2008, 50-4-1): 126.7, 37. Sonny Liston, Floyd Paterson (twice), Foreman, Frazier (twice), Norton (twice) and many more hall of famers around that. In weighing greatness, the electors also considered intangibles and how important the heavyweight championship of the world was, once upon a time. David Haye (2002-2018, 28-4-0): 133.4, 36. Muhammad Ali: Why is Ali number one? Jimmy Bivins (1940-1955, 86-25-1): 389, 7. Have strong feelings about this story? People remember how good Ali was when he was young. Ali fought Joe Frazier three times and Ken Norton three times. Tyson should be number 2 or 3. The fighters, listed chronologically, are John L. Sulllivan, James Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, James Jeffries, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko. Holyfield held his own, 15 rounds, against a young Lennox Lewis (who destroyed Tyson), and, beat (not on the scorecards) Nikolai Valuev LATE in EVs career. Cus was more than just his coach he was Tysons everything and guided him. And inane. He was black Americas first black hero. Boxing News Magazine 100 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers Special Issue View Reviews | Write Review Only $7.99 . Page would often cut corners in training camp, or refuse to train at all. Ali inspired the world. Several electors didnt feel comfortable rating Sullivan, Corbett, Fitzsimmons, Jeffries or Johnson because theres virtually no film footage of Johnson in action and none of the other four. A giant who fought with finesse. Most Famous Fight(s): Controversial 10 round points loss to Jack Sharkey in 1925. Notable Wins: 10 round points win over George Godfrey in 1924, KO9 over Fred Fulton in 1923, TKO15 over Floyd Johnson in 1923. Once again, a weighted average of the rankings from the other electors was used to fill the void. How important was a fighter in his era? Ken Norton. Joe Louis was a better fighter than any fighter the world had seen before. Holmes fought real fighters men like Earnie Shavers. Whoever made this list is a Damm fool if you dont put Mike Tyson either 2 or 3 and to not even have Evander Holyfield on the list but Lennox Lewis have to be the dumbest people ever.I mean ever, Youve got to be the dumbest. But hed already beaten most of these men on his rise to the championship. Also, previous polls in this series were limited to fighters from boxings modern age (roughly 1940 to date). Firstly theres Johnny Dundee and Willie Pep recording over 200 wins in their careers with 201 and 229 respectively. You could see the sudden halt in his leg. He changed the way guys fought. 10. He fought a way past his prime Tyson, almost lost to Holyfield in their second fight, and Vitaly would have knocked him out if they hadnt stopped it because of the cut. He nearly lost twice to Ringo Bonevena and was bitch-slapped by Foreman. Power, speed, stamina, a textbook style. A young Holmes most likely beats Tyson, but apart from that, Holmes is without a doubt in the top ten all-time, while Tyson, to the surprise of many, is not. But so too is that fighters skill level within the context of his time. But they were avenged and the degree to which Rahman and McCall were supposed to stand no chance is exaggerated. Couldnt agree more. Tyson Furys second title defence a sixth-round knockout of Dillian Whyte followed his October trilogy rematch victory over Deontay Wilder and kicked off more discussion as to where he stands among the greatest heavyweights of all time. Stone-faced, unstoppable, with a jab that felt like someone jammed an electric light bulb in your face (said opponent James J Braddock). Sullivan fought for 13 years, the last 10 of which he was a fullblown alcoholic. Zora Folley (1953-1970, 79-11-6): 134.3, 35. Most Famous Fight(s): MD12 loss to Tim Witherspoon in 1984 for the WBC belt, KO8 win over Gerrie Coetzee in 1984 for the WBA belt. Joe Louis should be #ONE, Ali 2, Tyson 3, Johnson 4, Holmes 5, Holyfield 6, Bowe 7, Foreman 8 Lewis 9 Vitali Klitschko 10. George Foreman (1969-1997, 76-5-0): 233.3, 19. 2.1 Heavyweight (201 lbs+ - 91.18 kg+) 2.2 Cruiserweight (200 lbs - 90.72 kg) 2.3 Light heavyweight (175 lbs - 79.38 kg) . Rocky Marciano: With the highest knockout percentage of all heavyweight champions and boasting wins over such greats as Archie Moore, Jersey Joe Walcott, Joe Louis and Ezzard Charles, the undefeated Brockton Blockbuster proved himself a remarkable warrior. If Cassius Clay hadnt come along, Liston would have had more time at the top. Ali finished his career with a 56-5 record with 37 KOs. Except for Bowe, they werent in their prime when Evander beat them, but thats still an impressive accomplishment. Compared to Liston, Mike Tyson was a choirboy. Farr was different than the stereotypical European heavyweight because he fought from a crouch. The 100 Greatest Pound for Pound Boxers Of All Time Dave Carlson January 11, 2011 "Pound for pound" rankings were developed by boxing writers during the era of Sugar Ray Robinson. No way. 1 spot as long as hes the one without the A. Thomas Hauser can be reached by email at [emailprotected] His most recent book A Hard World: An Inside Look at Another Year in Boxing was published by the University of Arkansas Press. But if they fought, Id pick Vitali. Fury has made a case to be considered one of the best heavyweights ever, but just how good is he? Very surprising. Lennox Lewis made the cut and Iron Mike didnt..laughable. He peaked early, lost Cus DAmato, then lost all focus because he was very immature. Oliver McCall (1985-2019, 59-14-0): 121.6, 40. Not his fault if he fought and beat old men as champ. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.

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