Something that's unique and unfortunate to the heavyweight division is that certain heavyweights have a financial interest in being overpaid to beat no hopers and wait on title shots (that they lose in) than actually beat other ranked fighters. Who are the best heavyweights to never have beaten a guy int he top ten? (Retired and washed up only.) In no specific order, I've got the following: 1. Golota--Made The Ring's Annual list in four separate years despite never officially beating anyone in the top ten. 2. Tyrell Biggs--Gold medal, got paid to fight weak opposition, then cashed out against Tyson and to a lesser extent Damiani. Fell off after. Probably would've fared better in the eras of smaller heavyweights due to his lack of physicality. 3. Odlanier Solis--Most accomplished am to ever fight at heavyweight. Looked like a technically sound tank against Barret and appeared to be outskilling Vitali for about 2:30 before going down off a temple shot and blowing out his knee and losing any resemblance of himself as a serious fighter thereaafter 4. Gary Mason--UK cult figure. I don't see the big deal but others think he was good. 5. Boytsov--Talented fighter who was taking Universum money while waiting to fight Wlad. Blew it against Leapai due to not training. Career ending beating outside the ring before getting a shot at Wlad. 6. Tony Thompson--Got separate title shots by beating Krasniqi (who I don't think was Ring top 10 at the time) and Maurice Harris after Chambers couldn't fight. Gave Solis his second L when Solis was no longer rated. 7. Gerry Cooney--Earned one of the largest purses ever at the time against Holmes . 8. Orlin Norris--Was top ten rated due to running Tucker close, beating McCall, and winning fights at cruiser. 9. Seldon--Unique in that he actually picked up a title against Tucker, who I do not think was rated at the time. 10. Botha--Arguably beat Briggs, only got a draw. Failed drug test against Schultz Honorable mention: Maurice Harris for beating Izon and Liakovich when they weren't rated but were undefeated. * Damiani--I think Biggs was just in the top ten when Damiani beat him Late additions: Tillis, Mavrovic, Arreola, Schultz, Oquendo, Jimmy Thunder, Stewart, Coetzer.
You mentioned Maurice Harris, he ko'd James Thunder who if he wasn't in the top 10 but very close to it, and gave an old Larry Holmes hell in a decision loss that could have went either way. I watched the Harris-Holmes fight this past summer and felt Maurice should have gotten a draw.
Golota is a great shout. Most of his career best performances were draws or losses. There probably aren't too many who can say that. I was thinking Carl Williams, but I think Berbick may have still been top 10 when he beat him. Akinwande had some decent wins, but I don't think any of them were top 10 at the time he beat them.
Akinwande beat Zolkin who I'm pretty sure was top ten. I don't think Zolkin ever beat a top ten though.
I believe he was ranked top 10 by Ring at the conclusion of 1997 and 1998, the latter being the year Golota faced him.
