Was the baddest man on the planet!!!! Only 2 losses, and he came back and rectified them. A regular on greatest of all time lists, he has a knockout-to-win percentage of 87.76 percent one of the highest in heavyweight boxing history. But thats just for starters. You could have shot those guys 10 times with a gun, posits one panelist, and they still wouldnt have quit. He fought more great heavyweights than anyone and never ducked a challenge. READ: Bill Caplans 20 greatest heavyweights (2016). Karel Sys (1932-1954, 117-15-10): 115.4, 45. The same is true of Wladimir Klitschko (No. 18), who were also separated by 12 points. As I count down from 100 we are going to run into some heavyweights who made an impact but could have been much more if things had been different. Most Famous Fight(s): UD12 over David Tua in 1997. Notable Wins: TKO5 over Chris Byrd in 1999. As fate would have it, the most gifted athlete the heavyweights ever saw emerged just when the division was stacked with formidable talent like never before or since. Boxing legends Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis have all secured a place in the top 10 heavyweight boxers of all time. Corbett was one of the first successful scientific fighters of the gloved era. Unfortunately for Jack he was also one of the most avoided, never receiving a title shot and rarely was granted rematches. Deontay Wilder (2008 - present, 42-1-1): 122.8, 39. Before he went to jail, everyone ducked him. To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders, Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications, .css-n1h13z{color:black;color:#fff;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-n1h13z{color:#fff;}}Published14:07,30 August 2020 BST.css-1kib7lm{color:#666666;color:#72B97D;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-1kib7lm{color:#72B97D;}}@media (min-width:1024px){.css-1kib7lm{color:#efefef;}}| Last updated15:48,12 August 2021 BST. Lennox Lewis: Defeats to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, both of which he avenged with emphatic wins, do not obscure the fact that Lewis was the dominant heavyweight of the 1990s. Max Baer, Max Schmeling, James J. Braddock and Jersey Joe Walcott all felt Louis' wrath. Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield are all easily among the best heavyweight boxers ever. Marciano finished third among the trainers. The 100 Greatest Boxers of All Time 1 Sugar Ray Robinson 2 Henry Armstrong 3 Harry Greb 4 Jack Dempsey 5 Benny Leonard 6 Joe Louis 7 Mickey Walker 8 Sam Langford 9 Tony Canzoneri 10 Muhammad Ali 11 Joe Gans 12 Willie Pep 13 Jack Johnson 14 Barney Ross 15 Jimmy Wilde 16 Gene Tunney 17 Roberto Duran 18 Johnny Dundee 19 Rocky Marciano 20 Joe Walcott George Foreman (1969-1997, 76-5-0): 233.3, 19. 47. But he lost some of his desire before he retired. Mike Tyson was the best fighter I ever saw. Lewis corrected things with Rahman in the rematch. Picking just 10 great heavyweights from 100+ years means some elite champions have to miss out. He was wildly popular. Mandatory Cr. Only reasonable because you have mostly good fighters on it, except for One. Top 12 All-Time Greatest Light Heavyweights, Top 12 All-Time Greatest Muhammad Ali Performances, Top 12 Reasons Why Muhammad Ali Is Forever The Greatest, Fight City Legends: The Boston Bonecrusher, Top 12 All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Punchers. Boxing News - 100 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers Peak Big George demolished unbeaten Frazier inside two rounds, then did the same to tough Ken Norton. In his short prime, Tyson is a serious challenge for anyone. This is no small achievement. There are more and more recognisable names on this list for those that arent boxing encyclopaedias, with the likes of Carl Froch making his appearance in the ranking, however the biggest name has to be Gennady Golovkin, who lost his trilogy fight with Canelo Alvarez last month in one of the biggest fights of the year. He had a knockout-to-win percentage of 88% and was ranked 16th on The Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. Jimmy Wilde. Id probably say Tommy Burns, a good but small heavyweight from whom he took the crown. Tunney is another fighter who learned his craft well over years. But Marciano did one thing really well: win. 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. Floyd Patterson (1952-1972, 55-8-1): 321.5, 14. The 50 greatest heavyweights of all time have been named Very impressive. Ali finished alone in first place in the rankings by media, matchmakers and historians. The other guy was a great fighter in his prime. 5. The Top 25 Greatest Heavyweight Champions of All Time To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. 6) edged out George Foreman (No. Firpo was an offensive minded pugilist with the aggression and power of a charging bull. 2. Reviled early on in his championship reign, he eventually became nothing less than an American icon. . Charles was 32 years old in the first Marciano fight. No one came into a fight in better shape than Marciano. A decade later he had captured a couple British titles and established himself as the islands top heavyweight contender. Well, at least Foremans hands. Vitali Klitschko (1996-2012, 45-2-0): 349.2, 11. Ali and George Foreman were much bigger. Check out which of today's heavyweight fighters make our top 10. No place for Riddick Bowe, who had the tools but not the application, nor - controversially - his rival Evander Holyfield: the cruiserweight GOAT (but there are some legitimate question marks over the sculpted warriors rise in weight). So without further ado, here's the top 50 of all-time. Today I saw alacrity used correctly (perfectly, for that matter). The 10 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All-Time - Sports History Network Absolutely. Nor did he obliterate a mediocre Tony Tucker, both title fights in 1987. Yeah, Holmes lost twice to Michael Spinks, while Tyson knocked out Spinks in 90 seconds. Ray Mercer. Joe Frazier (No. Like many sluggers, his career was short but scintillating. Possessing an uncanny ability to absorb punishment and keep coming until he landed his crushing right hand, Marciano never looked like an elite boxer but try telling that to all the men he pulverised in the ring. A thunderous left hook, relentless work ethic and an awkward pressure-fighting style: Smokin Joe was a force of nature. I remember how he destroyed Holmes! 1. Then show me a fight where Tyson did anything similar. But Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis stand separate and apart from the rest. Known in years past as "Sin City" and "Babylon on the St. Lawrence", it saw more than its share of ring legends over the decades. To offer another analogy: Babe Ruth is widely regarded as the greatest baseball player who ever lived and, with the possible exception of Ted Williams, baseballs greatest hitter. Lennox Lewis made the cut and Iron Mike didnt..laughable. Current heavyweight superstars Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder also made the top 50. The biggest myth ever. Tyson should be number 2 or 3. Sorry, if Holmes is on they should both be in the top 5. It was avenged in devastating style: two minutes and four seconds of violence that left Schmeling with broken bones in his back. Couldnt be hurt. Page is the first of many to come that falls into that group, only in his case, he has no one to blame but himself. Holmes or V Klitschko never unified the title to become undisputed like the others. 7) by four points. We cant be too American-centric. Most Famous Fight(s): KO27 loss to Jim Corbett, 20 round draw to James J. Jeffries in 1897. Notable Wins: KO3 over Jack Johnson in 1901, KO15 over George Godfrey in 1892, KO2 over Peter Maher in 1903. Tyson is completely overrated. Go to YouTube and watch his comeback wins (after nearly being stopped) vs Mike Weaver, Earnie Shavers, Renaldo Snipes. 1 and Louis No. 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. Ya uhm no. He could punch. But he never retired on his stool but stuck it out.. His loss to Lewis was a farce. Ruiz is the most hated heavyweight of his generation because of his aggravating fighting style. John Ruiz. Ali is also consistently ranked among the greatest athletes of the century. Heavyweight Ring career: 1985-2005. For your information, 38 isnt your prime, so yeah. Thats a long time in boxing. His prime was a bit like Iron Mike himself: short, sharp and explosive. Joe Louis should be #ONE, Ali 2, Tyson 3, Johnson 4, Holmes 5, Holyfield 6, Bowe 7, Foreman 8 Lewis 9 Vitali Klitschko 10. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Chris Byrd (1993-2009, 41-5-1): 142.9, 30. Some dont. Heavyweight BOXING Champion JOE FRAZIER "Smokin' Joe" SIGNED First Nova found a home in the top 10 heavyweight rankings for half a decade in the late 1930's and early 1940's. Most Famous Fight (s): TKO11 over Max Baer in 1939, TKO6 loss to Joe Louis in a 1941. 100 greatest Heavyweight boxers (Boxing.com) Stats - Sporcle Mike Tyson is looked at now as a bully who folded when things got tough. David Haye (2002-2018, 28-4-0): 133.4, 36. 60. The fans' top 5 greatest boxers of all time | NBC Sports To Be The Best: The top 100 boxers in the history of The - The Ring But they were great. Tyson was the legitimate heavyweight champion of the world for more than three years. Carmine Vingo, Rex Layne, Roland LaStarza; Marciano beat real fighters on his way up. Joe Frazier 11. None of the fighters listed knocked out opponents the way Tyson did with speed and fury!!!! No iron mike?? He could do no more than beat them but, perhaps wisely, he didnt wait to face any up-and-coming boxers! Lennox Lewis would wear Mike down with a strong jab peppering his face, a powerful dynamite right uppercut at close range, and tying Mike up and leaning on him to weaken and debilitate him. He was thrill-a-minute, exemplified by his fight with Luis Angel Firpo, where Dempsey knocked his opponent down seven (7) times, got blasted through out of the ring himself, then scrambled back through the ropes to eventually knock out Firpo. Sonny Liston: In the late 50s and early 60s Liston devastated the division with knockouts over Cleveland Williams, Nino Valdes, Roy Harris, Zora Folley and Eddie Machen, before taking the title from Floyd Patterson in 1962. Even I know THAT! But as a fight, it was like Ali- Holmes. Louis too, though I think Louis courage would put him over Tyson. Willie Pep 72.. Wills 16. Despite being black, Johnson refused to meet the best black contenders while he was champion. Some fighters were more feared than others. That night changed the experience of being black in America. 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). Jack Johnson died on June 10, 1946, at the age of 68. Larry Holmes could knock you out with his jab. 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. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 100-91, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 6: Vitali Klitschko celebrates after defeating Kirk Johnson during their heavyweight bout on December 6, 2003 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 10-1, Muhammad Ali hailed Sugar Ray Robinson as the GOAT of boxing. It was enormously important as a social event. These are hardly heavyweight limelights and I mention Tysons age 38 because considering the legit comebacks going on, Tyson was NOT that old. 10. Tyson gives up fast when he senses hes losing. Remove altitude and behavior, he is the greatest. Give him credit for that. Tyson would have destroyed a peak Holmes. I must say I like your list. Power, toughness, and unsurpassed conditioning were Rockys calling-cards, along with a brutal relentlessness which no one in his era could withstand. 49. And both components of his fighting game have been on display in all three of his fights against Deontay Wilder one of boxings biggest punchers of all time and his unanimous decision points win over Wladimir Klitschko. Modern heavyweights are often ridiculed as being a pale imitation of the legends of the 20th century whose legacies have been immortalised. A lot of people who are serious about boxing think George Foreman is one of the most underrated fighters ever. And some of Joes greatness rubbed off on Ali. Tommy had humble beginnings, fighting with intermittent success on the local pro circuit in Tonypandy, Wales during the 1920s. A master boxer, Johnson didnt own the raw one-punch power of other heavyweight greats but he was a cunning defensive genius who knew how to land his own shots. Your right how in the hell can Frazier be ranked in front of Foreman when Foreman brutally knocked Frazier out TWICE and Foreman should be higher on the list the man was 40-0 when he lost to the greatest and annihilated everyone before that and came back and became world champ again at age 45 and not to mention winning the gold medal after only boxing for 1 yr and 21 fights nobody not even Ali did that. To draw an analogy to another sport, some of pro footballs greatest lineman from the past weighed 240 pounds. But he was getting his ass kicked in the Corbett fight until he hit Corbett with a body shot. A four time heavyweight champion (not to mention cruiserweight champion), The Real Deal never ducked anyone and fought through adversity too many times to count. But one needs to think in overall terms and career achievements. I was knocked out by Muhammad Ali but another heavyweight hit me so Let's go to the video: 50 Greatest: Gene Tunney. Huh? But so too is that fighters skill level within the context of his time. He was black Americas first black hero. ESPN.com: ALL-TIME GREATEST BOXERS Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 30-21. Tyson should be on here all right. The size differential between fighters from different eras is too great. Great is a hard word to define, and greatness is subjective. This is a list of current professional boxing rankings, which includes the latest rankings by each one of the sport's four major sanctioning bodies, . Dominant wins over Eddie Machen, George Chuvalo, Jimmy Ellis, Oscar Bonavena, Doug Jones, Bob Foster, Buster Mathis, Jerry Quarry and Joe Bugner prove the point. Now, Kossobutskiy will make his North American debut against his best opponent to date. He stood out as a fighter the way Joe Louis did in his era. Come back next week to see who I picked for numbers 90-81. Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis didnt fear Tyson and were able to subsequently bully the bully. Kudos on not putting Tyson in the top 12. l give credit to any boxer who can rectify their losses. A weighted average was also employed for Steve Lott with regard to Tyson because of their friendship and close working relationship during the glory years of Tysons career. Muhammad Ali. Turns our Holmes was not overrated at all (boring maybe) and he went on to dominate the decade and prove himself as an all time great. Opponents went into the ring against Louis, Liston and Tyson in their prime fearing for their lives. Wladimir Klitschko (1996-2017, 64-5-0): 537.5, 5. Frazier above Foreman? Did some of Alis greatness rub off on Joe? 10) were separated by a total of 12 points. He would be about #86 on a genuine list. That doesnt necessarily translate into a pristine record. Forget about Johnson-Jeffries as a measure of Jeffries as a fighter. Posted below are the top 50 heavyweight boxers of all time. Do people not know that Lewis beat Tyson in 8 rounds? At a very leisurely pace over the last couple of years, The Fight City has offered its own idiosyncratic rankings of the all-time greatest boxers in each of the eight traditional weight classes. 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. Greg was a very skilled boxer-puncher with technique and a punch that would shake you to the bone. Olympic champion. Consider the competition that Marciano beat. Mike Tyson earn his stripes. And lets not forget: Ali was past his prime when he beat Joe Frazier and George Foreman. Joe Frazier (1965-1981, 32-4-1): 340.3, 12. People remember how good Ali was when he was young. ESPN also listed him as "The Hardest Hitters in Heavyweight History". Click Agree to accept our use of cookies or you can choose to opt out of our use of cookies by following the instructions in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice. Holyfield 9. 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. Big heart, just would not be beaten. Tyson ADMITS he bit EH (classy) out of frustration not knowing what to do when he knew hed lose). 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. If a new fan asked me what Johnsons best win was and why, Id have a hard time convincing them. Jack Dempsey (1914-1927, 59-6-9): 146.7, 29. The Tyson of the late 80s definitely belongs there. 50% of his purses went to his manager who paid of Mafia figures. And this myth that Lennox had no chin. Ali wasnt always a good sportsman. Bob Pastor (1935-1942, 53-7-5): 259.8, 17. Tyson makes lists because he talked trash with alacrity and had an unbelievable EARLY (ultra early) great run. God, he knew how to play that role.. 77. Applause for not ranking Tyson. He was the first heavyweight in history to truly master boxing. His later losses to such as Danny Williams and old , McBride were when he was not only totally washed up, but untrained and uninterested in anything except to earn money to pay his debts. He won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympics and went on to become the first boxer to win the heavyweight title three times. Jack Sharkey. Mike Tyson is number 10 in our list of top 10 greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer to become the oldest Heavyweight Champion at the astonishing age of 45. They were great fighters who were nowhere near shot. Jack Johnson might have been black Americas first black hero. Crazy to think Mike Tyson was not part of that list. What about Tyson? Underrated offense (he carried many opponents). Joe Louis won his first world heavyweight title in 1937 and held that title for . The heavyweight division doesnt lend itself to this format. Must be Rocky Marciano, surely? What impact did he have on his time? Among his vanquished foes are Sam Langford, Tommy Burns, James J. Jeffries, Stanley Ketchel, Jim Flynn, Joe Jeannette and Sam McVea. No Mike Tyson is a shame!! Holyfield had a trilogy with Riddick Bowe, beat Foreman, who, while old, had a serious comeback, earlier killed Frasier and Norton inside two rounds, then 5 for Frazier, beat Ron Lyle, and later beat Michael Moorer, half his age, whod BEATEN Holyfield. Sullivan fought for 13 years, the last 10 of which he was a fullblown alcoholic. The Philadelphia icon couldnt cope with Big Georges otherworldly power - but he gave every other boxer he faced, including Ali, absolute hell. 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. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images). But they were avenged and the degree to which Rahman and McCall were supposed to stand no chance is exaggerated. First Ring Ranking: #5 Middleweight (July 1940) Last Ring Ranking: #9 Heavyweight (May 1963) Record vs. Ring-rated Opponents: 39-19-7 (18 KOs, 7 KOBY) Overall Score Rank: 22 Peak Score Rank: 17 Win Total Rank: 4 Ring Magazine Championships: Light Heavyweight (1952-62) But even if you take into account their overall careers, Id still give the edge to Foreman because of his comeback years. Muhammad Ali is the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time according to major Sports publications like Sports Illustrated, NBCSports, BBC, and ESPN SportsCentury. Ive read all the criticism of Tyson and it is, in my opinion, not merited. Wilbur's 100 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time: 60-51 Also, previous polls in this series were limited to fighters from boxings modern age (roughly 1940 to date). Or Williams, Ellis and Folley. Leave Iron Mike out, Mike Tyson Likely Deserves Mention For His Impressive Wins Over Numberous Belt Holders Including Larry Holmes Trevor Berbick Frank Bruno James Bone Crusher Smith Bruce Seldon Michael Spinks Tony Tubbs And Tony Tucker. The legendary Joe Louis was named the best of the best across all eras of boxing, with BoxRec awarding the 'Brown Bomber' a whopping 1,012 points. 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. His Promoter, the brother og hisnmanager was definitely connected, His first 10 opponents had a combined total record of ZERO wins, 19 losses and 1 draw. If only Cus would have lived ten more years I think Tyson would be top 5. They were both under six feet and 200 pounds. One guy was a once-great fighter who was shot. Leeds United players slammed by Piers Morgan as footage at hotel goes viral, Jurgen Klopp injures himself celebrating as Liverpool beat Tottenham 4-3, Tottenham: 40m star could now become 'big priority' at Hotspur Way. Liston 13. The second of the What If? entrants to the list robbed this generation of a potentially great era of heavyweights. He could take a punch. 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. He is like Morrison, as Stevey below says. But Tunney never fought a black man. Frank Warren EXCLUSIVE Mike Tyson responds to Wilder's claims about knocking him out Top 50 fighters of 21st century named 50-31 50:. Instead, a weighted average from the other panelists was assigned to their respective slots on their ballots. 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. He would come to fight carrying extra weight and in no condition to fight for a world title. Notable Wins: TKO6 over Rex Layne in 1954, MD over Bob Baker in 1956. In previous polls (which used the who-beats-who formula), most electors were confident in the choices. Give me a break. Among the best pound-for-pound boxers of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson sits at the very top. No one better to learn from. 1 on all 30 ballots, he would have had a perfect score of 30. He changed the way guys fought. 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. Rather than match champions against each other in a round-robin tournament, the electors were asked to rank them in order of greatness. All the people who claim he never beat anyone forget that he won the title in a tournament. 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 learned his craft and perfected his style over years of fighting. Louis finished second in these latter three categories. Here are the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the 100-plus-year history of the sweet science. Top 12 All-Time Greatest Heavyweights: Ranking Boxing's Best Big Men And Ali proved himself the best of them all. Marciano never fought Joe Louis. Top 10 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers Of All Time | Sportshubnet He had a stocky, durable build and was a solid all-around technician. He also KOBY 26 Jess Willard in Havana Cuba on April 5, 1915. We saw the skill but we were ROBBED of the will, his future, and his full potential. (Photo by Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images). Walcott. Marciano 4. Tyson never fought anyone in there prime or of any note before 1990. He peaked early, lost Cus DAmato, then lost all focus because he was very immature. Erik Morales 78. Behind that crisp, piercing jab of his, Holmes enjoyed an eight-year run as world heavyweight champion, defeating the likes of Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers and Muhammad Ali along the way. There is no telling what Ibeabuchi could have accomplished had he been able to continue fighting. GEORGE FOREMAN was knocked out by Muhammad Ali in their legendary Rumble in the Jungle - but The Greatest wasn't the hardest-hitting heavyweight he'd ever faced. Which elite fighters who were in their prime did he beat? He never gave any of the three rematches in their heavyweight primes. Another boxings greatest robberies. The Easton Assassin was, for a long stretch, the most underrated heavyweight champion. The Top 50 Boxers Of All Time Have Been Ranked Nine chose Joe Louis. This episode is well documented, also the fake rape and prison term, his schizophrenic mental affliction, needing medications and not diagnosed then, His loss to Douglas was a farce, and due to the 15 sec count that Douglas got, he won.
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