The Rings Top 20 2017 All Time Heavyweights!

I think Wills was American, from New Orleans. Vitaly is on the list. So you think Burns and Johansson really should be on a top 20 list?

Jackson sometimes is put on such lists, but is like Sullivan. Who can really make a good judgment from way back there in the 1880's.

Thanks for the reply.

 

But i did John , i did. Look closer

 

First off you keep quoting the Ring poll you do know I actually moved Lewis up from their poll. They don't have him In the top 10 I do. So I actually rate him higher than the Ring experts. Instead of acknowledging that your fixated on fact I moved Wlad over him.
I'm going with Wlad's consistency and dominant reign which falls in line with my other top picks. Often when you have a dominant champ his competition becomes undersold, it's true of Holmes, Louis, Wlad.
Look it's not an exact science I'm valueing Wlad's run of 10 years of facing all challengers many Prime peak fighters some very good some not good, over Lewis who fought more recognizable names but made fewer than half the defenses Wlad had simple as that. Wlad's competition is sold short and coupled with his longevity he rates where he does. Like my other top picks.

 

I see no mention of "Ring" in the original post i quoted.

 

I agree with this (particularly that in the bold text).

Essentially, Wlad never fought his biggest competitive rival (regardless of the reasons).

I think Wlad will dine out on the longevity of his reign to establish him in the Top-20, as far as an ATG rating goes. However and somewhat sadly, it is quite likely his most talked about fights will be those he lost.

Lewis has significantly more rounded justification for a high position in the Top-10.

 

I have no problem with the RING placing Lewis at 11th place. I am not a fanboy by no means.

I notice how you want to place Wlad's reign on an equal foorage with Holmes. Holmes actually had tough challenger and exciting fights. Off the top of my head Norton, Witherspoon, Cooney, Shavers, Williams, Spinks come to my mind. Holmes was not knocked out during his reign. He lost two disputed decisions to the best light heavy of all time (most thought he won the 2nd fight). He was not completely outboxed by a clown like Fury

Go and actually watch some of Holmes fights (for example his war with Weaver) and judge for yourself. Larry had such a tough time because he came after Ali.

 

I happen to respect Holmes a ton and have met him several times. I rate Holmes over Wlad on the list but Holmes is not without flaws he dropped belts to avoid challenges and was awarded new belt (ibf) without fighting for it, Wlad faced all comers. Holmes also took fights with guys that made there name by giving him a tough bout when they weren't expected to like 15-0 Witherspoon. A "clown" like Fury you do realize Wlad was 39 when he fought Fury. I don't like Fury but I wouldn't besmirch his skills. Norton, shavers, Cooney, Witherspoon, all great names but not widely more impressive than Byrd, Povetkin, Haye, Chagaev, Peter. Yes Holmes was more exciting many champs were more exciting than Wlad, I wouldn't argue that point but that's not a criteria for my placement. Also part of the reason Wlad wasn't exciting was because he was so dominant. We finally saw him pushed at age 41 in a tremendously fun action fight.

 

this thread caused me to think so much about it, so I am posting my current top 20 list

1-----Muhammad Ali
2-----Joe Louis
3-----Rocky Marciano
4-----Lennox Lewis
5-----Larry Holmes
6-----Jack Johnson
7-----Wlad Klitschko
8-----Evander Holyfield
9-----Jim Jeffries
10----George Foreman

11----Mike Tyson
12----Joe Frazier
13----Sonny Liston
14----Jack Dempsey & Harry Wills (tie)
16----Max Schmeling
17----Vitali Klitschko
18----Ken Norton
19----Ezzard Charles
20----Sam Langford




I think the fairest way concerning Dempsey & Wills is to give them equal rating. I left Sullivan out because he is really pre-modern. If he is in, some of the old London Prize Ring Rules champions like Tom Cribb should be on the list also.

 

on Wills. Pretty difficult to be "champion" if the champions will not get in the ring with you. With the color line drawn, I think the colored champions deserve to be considered champions. Just my viewpoint.