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%
  1. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Well, I AM a unique person.

    Much, or most, of Ali's ranking is based on his fame throughout the world. His achievements in the ring and rankings based purely on skill can in fact be argued and discussed ....people routinely put him at No 1 with little or no discussion like it was set in stone. I repeat: Ali's standing can be argued need solely on his fame. He was The Greatest in the minds of many because of his political stances.
     
  2. DirtyDan

    DirtyDan Worst Poster of 2015 Full Member

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    John L Sullivan...

    The man, the myth, the legend.
     
  3. The Undefeated Lachbuster

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

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    I personally rank him tied for #1 at heavyweight and #6 p4p because I believe that he had the best competition of not just any heavyweight, but any fighter ever.

    Not because of some political beliefs, though his legacy endures well partially because of that. Im sure his boxing ability factored in somewhere for everyone.

    Another reason, and I'm partially a fan of this, is the chosen vibe he had. He was gifted and carried himself like he was destined for greatness, like God sat in his corner. His career was a phenomenon of sporting history.

    Louis and Marciano also had this feeling imo
     
  4. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    Mayweather's resume is way ahead of Holmes' and he didn't miss many fights unless you count the current top welters or Andrade and Lara. The humor is missing me....I guess a Khan fight would've been nice but Margarito and Williams would've been outclassed.

    Holmes on the other hand missed Dokes, a Witherspoon rematch (when he was not totally green), Coetzee, Pink, Tubbs and Tate. It's practically a who's who of the best fighters during his era. I'm not saying he's responsible for every one of those fights not happening, but he shoulders serious blame in some instances and had no issue taking some completely bull**** fights instead.
     
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  5. The Undefeated Lachbuster

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

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    I'm of the minority that believes that Sullivan is grossly underrated in this forum. His dominance was unprecedented in the heavyweight bar Marciano, and that fight with Kilrain is legendary.

    That being said, I don't think I've ever heard ANYBODY call him top 3 material. The highest rating for him I saw from George Foreman, who rated him 6th in a Twitter post
     
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2018
  6. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yes, I agree. Listed by TIME.....It's Sullivan, Johnson, Dempsey, Louis and Ali.
     
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  7. Sangria

    Sangria You bleed like Mylee Full Member

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    I voted Holmes. Far cry from the Top 2 but yeah, Holmes deserves #3 for me.
     
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  8. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member Full Member

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    Solid list. I have Lewis at #3 and wrestle with Marciano, Holmes and Foreman thereafter most days. I could have any of those at #4 in a heartbeat.
     
  9. Berlenbach

    Berlenbach Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I don't dispute Holmes was a good fighter. I've been re-watching some of his fights recently and he had good skills, tons of heart, a great chin etc. But like I said he gets a downgrade from me for a weak title reign where he never unified the title, never had a rematch after tough/close wins and mainly defended against inexperienced or journeyman heavies. His antics where he left the WBC to help a third org the IBF establish itself also had a hugely negative impact on the sport. Lewis' competition was overall much tougher and more credible so that's why I'd have him over Holmes.
     
  10. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    Lennox wasn't around when Tyson was young, you can't blame him for Bowe not wanting to fight him. W;ad was not a lot when Lewis retired, and he had two losses, Byrd had a rematch clause and went straight from beating Vitali to loosing to Wlad. And Lenox was only interested in a couple big fight.

    Every champion has some fighters they missed out, Lennox didn't duck anyone though.
     
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  11. Berlenbach

    Berlenbach Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Lewis and Tyson also had exclusive deals with rival networks (HBO and Showtime), which was also a big stumbling block for their fight for a long time.
     
  12. The Undefeated Lachbuster

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

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    He said he was disappointed by "the fights that never happened", look at the context of what I sent. Though I'm confident that Lewis ducked Foreman, Byrd and Ike. Byrd had a return match with Evander and beat him after the loss to Wlad, yet he never got a shot at Lewis.

    I'm not saying they could beat him, but they're all high risk opponents
     
  13. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    What? When he became lineal, he beat Vitali Klitschko, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and David Tua and retired as the undefeated champion.

    I don't know of any other Lineal champ who beat a better collection of heavyweights in title defenses.

    Nobody on that poll list did, that's for sure.

    It's Lewis for me.
     
  14. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ike Ibeabuchi didn't get a title shot at Lennox Lewis because Ike Ibeabuchi went to prison.

    Lennox Lewis didn't DUCK Ibeabuchi. Ibeabuchi REMOVED HIMSELF from the division by going to prison.

    While Lewis and Holyfield finished unifying, Ike and Grant were scheduled to fight an eliminator. Ike was replaced by Golota after being arrested.

    There was absolutely NO DUCKING of Ibeabuchi. None. He fought Tua. He fought Byrd. HBO was peeing themselves over the prospect of this guy being the next champ. and IKE blew it. Nobody else ruined his career but him.
     
  15. The Undefeated Lachbuster

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

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    Lewis should've fought him right after the Tua fight.