If your hope happens, that realistically means the fighter in question is already pro, or at least about to start (maybe a 2020 Olympian). Any suggestions?
The Top 10 is not horrible given the 1989 date. After that, it becomes just a list of names with numbers beside them.
Honestly speaking, after you've named about 20/25 I think you had just as well put down the next 75 without attempting to rank them in order of merit.
No, I do not follow the amateurs. The only way I think it possible is that a young Cuban wins the Heavy/Super Heavy crown and then comes to the USA. Although it is possible a sensation from Eastern Europe could do something special, I think it would take more than 20 years for them to get the kudos needed to compare and indeed overtake an Ali or Louis. Doing a quick search there is a 19 year old Cuban Super Heavy Champ with international exposure; Dainier Pero. So maybe he is the one!
Most boxing people I've known have had Holmes at #3 (some just below) ever since Douglas knocked out Tyson.
Seems like Lennox is becoming the most common pick now. He was quite a bit ahead on a poll done here not long ago. https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/coming-to-a-consensus-on-the-3-heavyweight-champion.620503/
That's very interesting! Thanks for pointing it out. Larry never got knocked out in a title defense...let alone twice.
Fair point. I think Lennox has the better wins though. There's a pretty decent number you can reasonably argue for.
LL had GREAT wins! My only two complaints aside from the kayos are a) he was a comparatively lame, one-armed fighter before Steward and b) his seeming inability to stop Holyfield at a time when Holy was minimum several years past his prime. Despite the fact that LL had progressed to being a truly great boxer-puncher...possibly better than Bowe ever was (and that's coming from a guy who loves Bowe much more than Lewis).