in the latest issue of Ring magazine - in the article remembering the career of Wladimir Klitschko (I thought article was fair summary for Wlad) the magazine asked 10 experts for their opinion of the 10 best heavyweights since 1987. Final results were: 1. Lennox Lewis 2. Evander Holyfield 3. Mike Tyson 4. Wlad Klitschko 5. Vitali Llitschko 6. Riddick Bowe 7. George Foreman 8. Michael Moore 9. Tie- Ike Ibeabuchi 9. Tie- Chris Byrd Other heavies receiving votes: ray mercer, John Ruiz, Buster Douglas, Tim Witherspoon, David Tua, Tommy Morrison. The top 4 played out exactly as I expected them to- although I suspect as Wlad settles into history he'll receive that bump all fighters do, and leapfrog over Tyson into 3rd place as he was only 5 votes shy of 3rd place. I was wondering the opinion of the rest of the list in this forum. Any notable omissions? Anyone should be flipped around? I have to say I think comebacking George is a little high imo. But I'm interested in your opinions. Thx Discuss
Nothing at all wrong with that list. I guess i'd have: 1 - Lennox Lewis This content is protected 4 - Wladimir Klitschko This content is protected This content is protected 9 - Buster Douglas 10 - Razor Ruddock I've highlighted, in pretty colours, guys who were literally back to back on my ATG list - so guys where I don't care, at all, if they get flipped. They're separated by almost nothing.
I appreciate the top 100 list you made, a lot of effort went into that, thanks for creating it. With this list you put forth I agree with dropping Foreman and Ibeabuchi. I have to go over and see who I would submit in their place.
1. Vitali klitchko 2. Mike Tyson 3. Lennox Lewis 4. Wlad Klitchko 5. Evander Holyfield 6. Riddick Bowe 7. Tommy Morrison 8. Razor Ruddock 9. Larry Holmes 10. George Foreman Dont worry i didnt include Joshua bc i know ppl would cry on here.
Ahhhh yes, there have been studies on the subject of extreme laughter causing this very subject you refer to
1. Lennox Lewis 2. Wlad Klitschko 3. Evander Holyfield 4. Mike Tyson 5. Vitali Klitschko 6. Anthony Joshua 7. Deontay Wilder 8. Ike Ibeabuchi 9. Riddick Bowe 10. Ray Mercer These are the 10 heavyweights I thought were the best over the past 30 years (in no particular order). I was torn between including George Foreman at #10 or Ray Mercer. Foreman accomplished more, but Mercer's fights with Morrison and Lewis were impressive. And I think Mercer would've won against the older Foreman if they'd ever faced off in the ring during that period. But I could see George being in the top 10. I was never really impressed by John Ruiz or Michael Moorer. Chris Byrd wasn't a dominant force at all as a contender or champ. His two big wins came over Holyfield and Vitali who both suffered severe shoulder injuries in their bouts with him that required major surgeries. Morrison and Tua were very exciting and I always enjoyed watching them fight but Morrison was so fragile and Tua was very one-dimensional. Witherspoon has no business on the list, IMO. He didn't do anything from 1987 on to warrant it. I don't imagine Joshua or Wilder losing to anyone I left off the list. Like I said, maybe they would've lost to old George, but they would've handled the likes of Moorer and Ruiz and Byrd, who were never dominant forces at the weight.
Holy Lewis Tyson Wlad Bowe Vitali Moorer Ike Byrd Ruddock Not exactly in that order, but smth like that. Honorable mentions - Povetkin, AJ (can move much higher in that list), Mercer, old Foreman, Tua, Chagaev, Douglas
I can't think of anyone outside the list I'd have picked over him. He was very talented. Granted, the window was pretty small. Still, excellent wins over Byrd and Tua. He showed speed, power, skills, a chin and endurance. Too bad he was mentally ill.
30 years....1987 to 2017 meaning Holmes, Witherspoon, and Tyson were pretty much past their best and Joshua hasn't shown enough in his relatively new career. If this was 1980 to present I'd rate Homes in the top 2. I'd rate Tyson higher, and Witherspoon would make the cut. 1 ) Lewis 2 ) Vitali 3 ) Wlad 4-5 ) Bowe/Holyfield tie 6 ) Ike Ibeabuchi 7 ) Tyson 8 ) Byrd 9 ) Povetkin 10 ) Ruiz
I really like it. While I do not like Ruiz, Foreman or Moorer on it, I've got trouble to think of more accomplished fighters instead of them. Ruddock? Ibeabuchi? Tua? Maybe they had more potential but they didn't do any more then these 3 you have there.