The Rings Top 20 2017 All Time Heavyweights!

Johnson and Marciano far too high. I am still waiting for a list of Johnson's best heavyweight victim. Sure, he ranks tops in terms of social importance and legacy but the resume is thin when considering him a top 3 heavy.

 

That's because with most modern day fans the most important (and with some fans, the only) criteria is h2h. Not historical impact and status, resume, longevity and legacy. To them none of that will win you a straight up h2h fight with some 6'5 well built monster with KO power that they have seen either live or on crystal clear tv/film.

I've no doubt that the likes of Lewis, Tyson, Bowe, Holyfield and the Klitschkos would all be rated a lot higher in a fans list that excluded boxing writers, historians and figures that worked in the industry.

 

Fairly bad list, thou I've seen worse. Absolute robbery to have Lewis outside the top ten. Liston belongs no where near top ten. The rest are more debatable. Frazier and Tyson are right outside of it for me, with Vitali and Sullivan right inside. Very American centric, overall, but tbe with Ring.

 

Good comment, but most of those they interviewed were American historians etc. I don't use h2h much in these rankings, but they still too slanted against more modern fighters impact legacy etc.

 

Agree. Johnson's ring career in terms of who he beat and when he beat them is over rated and misunderstood.

His best win is likely Tommy Burns.

Marciano too high. Frazier too high.

I wonder where Tyson voted himself!

 

How do you know, they voted didn't they?

 

So your saying the magazine said they were on the panel but not allowed to vote for themselves?

I'm not sure of Randy Roberts is really a historian, all he wrote as far as I know is one book.

I listed many matches where Corbett was in the ring and the better. Some were shorter matches, I listed names, dates and news results. Like I said, it really wasn't meant for you to read, only those who want to learn.

If you know a lot about Corbett * YOU DON'T * he's not the most honest boxer to take at face value.

PS: I tend to doubt Pollack would pick your wife beating idol over Lewis, Bowe, Or either Klitschko. Or any of the boxers listed behind him!! Ask him sometime

 

I am going to defend the ranking of Johnson and Marciano.

In order to move them down, you would have to move up somebody whose resume had similar problems with it.

So what issues do I see with the list?

Lewis should really be higher, and so should Jeffries, though the latter is open to more interpretation.

Fighters that I feel are a bit too high are Corbett, Tunney and Vitally Klitschko.

 

Around 1998 Ring did the top 50 heavyweights of all time. Holyfield placed 3rd. Now he drops 8 slots in less than 20 years. Goes to show you that the magazine was probably prisoner of the moment after the Tyson win and how much taking a lot losses after your prime ends can hurt you.