Coming to a Consensus on the #3 Heavyweight Champion

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018.



Who deserves #3?

  1. Rocky Marciano

    8 vote(s)
    11.0%

  2. Lennox Lewis

    32 vote(s)
    43.8%

  3. Larry Holmes

    21 vote(s)
    28.8%

  4. George Foreman

    1 vote(s)
    1.4%

  5. Jack Johnson

    4 vote(s)
    5.5%

  6. Jack Dempsey

    3 vote(s)
    4.1%

  7. Evander Holyfield

    2 vote(s)
    2.7%

  8. Wladimir Klitschko

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  9. Mike Tyson

    2 vote(s)
    2.7%
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  1. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster I check this every now and then Full Member

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    Everyone living under a rock and their grandmothers rank Ali and Louis as the top 2 greatest heavyweights (its an over-generalization for effect, don't kill me), usually the #3 spot is the one that causes a divide.

    This poll is meant as a show-of-hands, seeing who the forum-goers agree on for the #3 spot. If your #3 doesn't show up, rank the highest person on your list that shows in the poll. I've simply put who has the best arguments and most common findings for the third place.

    Note: THIS IS A GREATNESS RATING, NOT H2H.
     
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018
    #1
    The Malibu Mauler likes this.
  2. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I voted Holmes but don’t have much separating him and Lewis for claiming the 3rd spot
     
    PhillyPhan69, Dec 4, 2018
    PhillyPhan69, Dec 4, 2018
    #2
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  3. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    You should make the poll option public so we know who voted for who and who to blame...you also excluded Wlad and Tyson and maybe another? Not that I would place them at 3 but you could argue either one of them IMO
     
    PhillyPhan69, Dec 4, 2018
    PhillyPhan69, Dec 4, 2018
    #3
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  4. The Long Count

    The Long Count Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    No Wlad on your list? 23 Title defenses? 18 consecutive. Unified 3 belts - took on numerous prime challenges from top 10 rated opponents and most importantly recognized as the best heavy for 11 years.
    Guy is seriously underrated on here. Reminds of Holmes during his time and immediately after it.
     
    The Long Count, Dec 4, 2018
    The Long Count, Dec 4, 2018
    #4
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  5. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster I check this every now and then Full Member

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    Honestly I thought I was being too generous with Holyfield and Dempsey

    I'll see if i can edit it to be that way
     
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018
    #5
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  6. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster I check this every now and then Full Member

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    23 tomato cans, never unified
     
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018
    #6
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  7. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Oh I think 3-12 could go a variety of ways with out being to extreme.
     
    PhillyPhan69, Dec 4, 2018
    PhillyPhan69, Dec 4, 2018
    #7
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  8. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster I check this every now and then Full Member

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    I cant edit it to make the votes view-able but i can edit it to add wlad and tyson
     
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018
    #8
  9. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    ????wlad (not a fan) sits atop the leader board for most unified defenses. Now I don’t rate him 3 but he is a viable choice....but so are the others listed ;-)

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undisputed_champion
     
    PhillyPhan69, Dec 4, 2018
    PhillyPhan69, Dec 4, 2018
    #9
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  10. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster I check this every now and then Full Member

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    Yep, and i added him as an option

    Doesn't change the fact that he doesn't even break my top 12

    Also, so? That just means that he can duck serious challengers by vacating and not fighting them. His unified record doesn't even compare to Holmes' 20 title defenses, much less Louis' 26. Both of which had better competition, and the good competition of the era had to actually fight each other instead of the 6 belt era's bs

    I'm looking at you, Anthony Joshua

    I should mention i have no gripes with Wlad. He may be boring and overrated, but i respect his attitude. He represents the class we need more of in boxing IMO
     
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018
    #10
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  11. The Long Count

    The Long Count Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Once you win more than one belt you - unify. He was never undisputed. He has a better claim than several choices you put on that list.
    And let’s be real the wbc kept the last belt for him - anyone really believe he wouldn’t of smoked Stiverne or Wilder who he bounced around in sparring.
    Most important aspect of the sport is not the belts - they have heir own agenda - it’s who fights the best available opposition and who is considered the consensus best heavy. That was Wlad for 11 years
     
    The Long Count, Dec 4, 2018
    The Long Count, Dec 4, 2018
    #11
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  12. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Even though he has very justifiable reasons, he never fought the number 1 contender during his career
     
    PhillyPhan69, Dec 4, 2018
    PhillyPhan69, Dec 4, 2018
    #12
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  13. The Long Count

    The Long Count Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Povetkin was 1 when they fought. Or maybe it was Pulev. I forget. But the only reason he missed out was cause his brother had that locked up and I believe you have to give a pass on that. Haye was 2 when they fought and would of been a 1 as well if not for Vitali. But hey this isn’t my list. I’m not going to debate it with the Op. I chose Holmes, was close to taking Marciano.
     
    The Long Count, Dec 4, 2018
    The Long Count, Dec 4, 2018
    #13
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  14. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster I check this every now and then Full Member

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    Personally, not fighting Vitali IS his biggest flaw in my eyes
     
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Dec 4, 2018
    #14
  15. The Long Count

    The Long Count Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    That’s stupid. You don’t fight your brother in a violent sport for money. Look what happened to Stevenson Saturday - you think either of them want that to happen by the other or for their mother. You don’t understand how the sport really works it’s not a video game it’s real life. No person within the sport holds that against him.
     
    The Long Count, Dec 4, 2018
    The Long Count, Dec 4, 2018
    #15
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