I prefer to rate the fighters on color film separately from the black-and-white guys, so... Off the top of my head? COLOR FILM LIST: 1. Muhammad Ali 2. Lennox Lewis 3. Mike Tyson 4. Larry Holmes 5. Evander Holyfield 6. Wladimir Klitschko 7. George Foreman 8. Riddick Bowe 9. Vitali Klitschko 10. ??????????? ...though I'd really need to think about this a lot longer
I'm a bit leery of his ability to stand up to big punchers, of which the modern era has produced a boatload. I'm certainly open to the possibility that Frazier could translate his style against larger opponents, but I'm not sure. He's too much of an unknown quantity to rank in the top 10.
WTF? Ross Puritty behind Mike Tyson, Dominick Guinn behind Charles Liston??? This list made my day :rofl:rofl:rofl
He stood up and beat Chuvalo, Ramos and Bonavena who were all very good punchers. I think his chin get questioned to much because of the foreman fight. George had the perfect style to decimate Frazier. Another way to look at it is could the guys you do rate hang with Fraziers tenacity and workrate if they couldn't knock him out? I appreciate you put all your cards on the table about how you rank fighters though. I may not agree, but I can live with it! :good
You should have heard his reasoning behind his picks, they were even funnier. Funniest though is he was serious and tried to convince others! Anyone know what ever happened to frankenfrank?
I know he posts at the Classic forum now. I'd like to read his thread with reasoning his picks (especially for Valuev at#1 h2h HW of all time)
I meant big punchers in both senses: physically large men who hit hard. Chuvalo was closer, but still not quite comparable to the likes of Tua, Lewis, Klitschko, Peter, Ibeabuchi, Rahman, etc. You're right about the workrate and tenacity (not to mention skill on the inside and perpetual head motion). Like I said, Frazier's a big question mark for me. His intangibles and workrate could give him the tools to steamroll today's guys...or not. I wouldn't bet any money either way, so I keep him off the top 10 list. Thanks. :good
On the peak of their powers on their very best night i have: Mike Tyson Riddic.k Bowe Ali Holmes Louis Holyfield Foreman Lewis Buster Douglas Frazier Liston Tony Tucker
I like how this avid Klit hater needed to make a top 12 rather than top 10 so he doesnt have to bump past fighters from the list. Nice one.:thumbsup
I think all of this is reasonable though I might have Louis one or two up. This section, i'm less pleased with. I'd have Frazier highest of the three. This is weird, given that Frazier lost to Foreman and always would, but whilst I think Foreman would lose to all ATG boxer types, I don't think Frazier would be beaten by all ATG punchers. Meanwhile I don't rate any boxer type good enough to beat Frazier. I pick him over Ali and Holmes. So Frazier in the clutch above for me. Liston is extremely difficult to rate here. He could legitimately be #2 based upon "video game" ****ysis, but there are intangibles that are questionable. All in all, i'd have him above Foreman and beating Foreman. Another very difficult clutch, but I personally do believe Vitaly should probably be higher than Wlad. Holyfield in between them, I don't know. He was absolutely superb as a technician and he past the puncher test versus the best he faced. Tyson would probably bowl over enough ATG fighters for me to have him a little higher than this. This is the only entry i object to. Based upon film, I'd say his placement is indefensible. I don't think his chances of beating Rid**** Bowe are serious.