HW. 1. Muhammad Ali 2. Joe Louis 3. Lennox Lewis 4. Larry Holmes 5. George Foreman 6. Wladimir Klitschko 7. Evander Holyfield 8. Joe Frazier 9. Rocky Marciano 10. Sonny Liston 11. Jack Johnson 12. Mike Tyson 13. Ezzard Charles 14. Max Schmeling 15. Riddick Bowe 16. Ken Norton 17. Floyd Patterson 18. Jack Dempsey 19. Jersey Joe Walcott 20. Chris Byrd
Louis Ali Holmes Lewis Foreman Wlad Frazier Holyfield Tyson Marciano Johnson Dempsey Liston Bowe Vitali schmeling Jeffries Patterson Charles Walcott
For greatness: 1a. Louis 1b. Ali 1c. Marciano 4. Foreman 5. Holmes 6. Holyfield 7. Dempsey 8. Johnson 9. Lewis 10. Frazier
It took some guts to place Harry close to the top ten. From what I've been able to find out on him most of his wins over Sam came late in Langford's career with Sam having a better go of it earlier and scoring two one shot ko's over him. He did miss out on a deserved title shot and pay day but almost all commentaries from the day thought Jack would be too much for him. Its an oddity to place him over Jack.
Because you are a newbie... as of this second, right now... 1) Ali 2) Louis 3) Lummox 4) Holmes 5) Tyson 6) Waldo 7) Foreman 8) Frazier 9) Liston 10) Johnson
Outside of the top 20....I have never gone above 30 in a listing. And struggle to rate certain guys. Wills, Langford, McVea, Sullivan, Jackson, Jeanette etc. but all seem to be in Tunney territory outside of the top 20 for me. I see some guys rate him (wills) mid to high teens, but rarely inside of the top 10 and seldom top 15
Wills is a tricky one. I think his best wins were Langford, and McVea when they were past. A lot of weaker opponents later on, until Sharkey showed how far he dropped. He certainly deserved a shot, probably the worst case of someone not getting one in heavyweight history, but I don't think he'd have beaten Dempsey. Shame we'll never know though.
A top 15 in someways more appropriate. It's interesting going through them one at a time, though trying to find stuff on Godfrey and Gains is slowing it down.
I'm deeply offended by the inclusion of Jeffries (especially over Tyson, Holmes Foreman and Holy) but I celebrate the lack of Dempsey.
For what reason are you guys putting Foreman over Larry Holmes?? Forman winning three title fights vs Frazier and Moorer and getting a gift vs. Schulz compared to a guy who went 48 - 0 until age cought up, with 21 title fight wins? By the way, compare that 48-0 with Marcianos 49-0 .....with the difference that Holmes fought until the age of 52! Liston ahead of Holyfield and Tyson too?
The difference between Foreman and Holmes is that Fraizer was better than anyone Holmes beat. Another difference is that Foreman actually managed to win back the Lineal Title. Holmes didn't, and Foreman had a much better second career than Holmes whilst dominating a much tougher one in his first. Norton was no pushover either as Holmes would know. Holyfeild loses points in my book due to the whole 'evan fields' fiasco, subsequently meaning his entire legacy could be down to drugs. Tyson is severely overrated