Top 13 h2h heavyweights in history

Your defeating your own argument.

Thomas, Berbick, Thomas, Tubbs, Tucker... someone needed to hold those belts.

 

Not counting Roy Jones, Haye might be the fastest heavyweight since Tyson or Dokes too.

 

Tier 1: Ali, Tyson, Lewis
Tier 2: Wlad, Vitali, Holmes, Louis
Tier 3: Liston
Tier 4: Frazier, Foreman, Holyfield

Maybe 4th tier: Tunney (cut-off for time period I'm willing to consider), Witherspoon, Marciano, Charles, Michael Spinks, Roy Jones (no really, he might beat some of the guys on the list)
No: Bowe, Norton, Patterson, Pinklon Thomas, Byrd

The nail isn't in the coffin yet: David Haye, David Price

 

i think a lot depends of the distance of the fight, if 15 rounds, then FOTC frazier would be great h2h.

i think riddick bowe that fought holyfield the first time does very well, i think he can match lennox, and it would be a 50/50 fight.

 

Ali

Lewis
Tyson

Louis
Holmes

Liston
Foreman
Klitschko, W.

Frazier
Marciano
Klitschko, V.
Bowe
Holyfield

I find it disagrees with my philosophy to clump together men so different in size. Though there are stand-outs to be sure, I feel that the division has moved past the old notions for good. I think from this point on, I will be veering away from the traditional "heavyweight" blanket in favor of a more discerning, segregated list.

 

Interesting list with names for which a solid case can be made .Apart from no 6 imo.

 

I don't like his chances against Dempsey ,Bowe, or Marciano, none of whom are on your list.Each to his own:good

 

:bbb

1. Ali -Height, reach, size, durability, speed, skill, heart, intimidation. He went 22-3 in HW World title fights, stopped once (LTKOby10 Holmes, in his 60th pro fight).

2. Holmes -Height, reach, size, durability, speed, skill, heart. He went 21-5 in HW World title fights, stopped once (LKOby4 Tyson, in his 51st pro fight).

3. Holyfield -Similar in size (just a little smaller) to past greats like Ali, Holmes, Foreman, Norton, and a few others. Durability, speed, skill, strength, heart. He beat more lineal HW Champs than any other fighter, 7... Douglas, Foreman, Holmes, Bowe, Tyson x2, Moorer, and Rahman. He also drew with Lewis at the age of 36 1/2. At age 30 he was 28-0 (22) overall, 10-0 (7) in World title fights, and 5-0 (2) vs. Hall of Famers... Qawi x2, Deleon, Foreman, and Holmes.

4. Foreman -Height, reach, size, power, strength, durability, skill, heart, intimidation. Only stopped once, LKOby8 Ali. Perhaps the hardest puncher ever. Used his size well, kept people away with a good jab or even a push followed up with a right hand.

5. Tyson -Power, strength, speed, skill, durability, intimidation. Very impressive path of destruction thru his first 37 pro fights. During that stretch he went 10-0 (8KO) in HW world title fights and beat 2 Lineal HW Champs... Holmes and M. Spinks.

6. Lewis -Height, reach, size, weight, power, strength, skill, speed. He was stopped in the early rounds twice, his only losses. He avenged both losses and beat Lineal HW Champs Holyfield, Rahman, and Tyson. He also beat V. Klitschko and Bruno among others.

7. V. Klitschko -Height, reach, size, weight, power, strength, durability, skill, heart. He was never down! Yes, he was stopped twice (shoulder injury vs. Byrd and cuts vs. Lewis) but he was never behind on points in any of his fights.

8. W. Klitschko- Height, reach, size, weight, power, strength, skill, speed. A better technical boxer than his brother but not as durable. 3 stoppage losses but hasn't come close to losing in over a decade.

9. Bowe- Height, reach, size, weight, power, strength, skill, speed, durability, heart. At his best he may have been able to beat the Klitschko's and Lewis but he had too few fights at his very best. With that said he still only lost once, L12 Holyfield, who he beat twice... and he remains 1 of only 3 Lineal HW Champs who were never stopped.

10. Frazier- Frazier and Tyson are the only 2 in the top 10 under 6' tall. Strength, power, durability, skill, speed, heart. He was 29-0 (25) overall and 10-0 (8KO) in HW world title fights prior to facing Foreman. After his first fight with Foreman he went just 3-3-1 (2) including an epic battle with Ali in their 3rd fight. Only Ali and Foreman were able to beat him.

11. Louis- I know he may seem low but I don't think he would do well vs. some of the bigger HWs on this list. He was dropped by some pretty average fighters. He just didn't have the wins or even a win over a big talented top HW. Sure, he went 26-1 in HW world title fights but plenty of those fighters really sucked. He did beat 6 Lineal HW Champs... Schmeling, Sharkey, Carnera, Baer, Braddock, and Walcott x2.

12. Marciano- Yeah he was small but he was also unbeaten in 49 pro fights, 7 HW world title fights, and 6 fights vs. Hall of Famers. He was only down twice and won both of those fights by KO.

13. You can put a lot of people here.

I'm going with Tim Witherspoon (I almost picked Jimmy Young though). Witherspoon lost a very close decision to Larry Holmes in just his 16th pro fight, LSD12. He had beaten Ratliff KO7 and Snipes. He would go on to beat Cummings, Tillis KO1, Page, and he lost to Thomas, LMD12. He went on to beat Broad KO2, Smith W10, Tubbs, and Bruno KO11 before losing to Smith in their rematch, LTKOby1.

 

Hard to measure because of the styles, but:

Tier 1: Lewis, Klitschko bros

 

Tyson's Danny Williams loss is nothing to with the fear.
Tyson had a first round injury.Otherwise Tyson outclassed this
coward holding guy.

Lewis' holding tactic proves he wasn't too brave against a very bad
slow Tyson.

Holyfield ? After the first bite his behaviour was far away from a
warrior.

McBride? He was lucky because Tyson quit.Basically McBride did
nothing.

Douglas was brave this is the reason why the tired Tyson knocked
him down.

 

Tyson
Ali
Holmes
Bowe
Holyfield
Louis
Foreman
Frazier
Ibeabuchi
Lewis
The Duke
Norton
Marciano
Dempsey
Johnson
Micheal Spinks

 

Wow, I had forgotten how many times Tyson lost, thanks for the reminder.