When I said "no one would even be talking about him in terms of the heavyweights" I meant in terms of being a top10 ATG
Sports Illustrated had a piece on this a few years back and picked Ali. I could buy that with Dempsey a close second.
Muhammad Ali hands down. Almost got knocked out by a D+ level fighter in Cooper and had to use enhancement drugs, got exposed by Frazier when he finally stepped up. Got numerous gift decisions towards the end of his career and built his heavyweight reign on what was most likely a fixed fight.
There is only one correct answer and that is Marciano period. He did only face washed up has beens and mob controlled fighters. He has no skill at all. His punching power is so hyped up that is have become funny and he wasn't even a heavyweight.
Floyd (Canvas Back) Patterson is the most overrated, at least on ESB. I've actually seen him referred to as a Great. He was a joke as champion. He dodged the opposition and couldn't stay on his feet- knocked down 20 times during his "reign".
dempsey overrated - a number of years ago i heard jack sharkey interviewed on the radio and he said dempsey would have ko ed louis. arcel and schemling [ who sparred with dempsey] picked dempsey over ali. a couple of old pros i knew years back who saw dempsey work out thought dempsey was the best heavyweight they ever saw. maybe they are all overrated