Best five wins thread. Lineal / Ring Magazine heavyweight champions.

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Mendoza, May 8, 2020.

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  1. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    British
     
    mattdonnellon, Jul 29, 2020
    #961
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  2. VVMM

    VVMM Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Tyson: 1. Spinks 2. Tucker 3.Holmes 4.Bruno 5. Berbick
    Honorable mention:Thomas,Tubbs,Smith,Ruddock.
     
    VVMM, Jul 29, 2020
    #962
  3. The Long Count

    The Long Count Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I posted him as an American. Came down to him and pinklon Thomas. I went with Bruno because he had two big wins after his loss and he he gave Lewis lot of trouble. Thomas went right down hill after Tyson. But to be honest - as posters are saying many of Tyson’s opponents are in the same ballpark. I expect a wide variety of guys to be rated all over the place
     
    The Long Count, Jul 29, 2020
    #963
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  4. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Does anyone seriously believe Spinks would beat a Tucker? Or Ruddock? I don't think the 1988 version of Spinks beats either of those guys.

    IMO Spinks is getting rated too high. He is an ATG 175lb guy but not nearly as good at heavyweight.
     
    dmt, Jul 29, 2020
    #964
  5. Jester

    Jester Active Member Full Member

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    Tyson's list

    1. Pinklon Thomas
    2. Trevor Berbick
    3. Tony Tucker
    4. Donovan Ruddock
    5. Larry Holmes
     
    Jester, Jul 29, 2020
    #965
  6. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    No Williams in any list yet?
     
    Bokaj, Jul 30, 2020
    #966
  7. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Maybe not. But he had kept proven doubters wrong at HW until Tyson absolutely annihilated him.
     
    Bokaj, Jul 30, 2020
    #967
  8. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Berbick
    Spinks
    Ruddock
    Williams
    Tucker

    I have factored in how dominant the win was. Berbick really ticks all the boxes. Durable overachiever and Tyson just steamrolls him in his first appearance on the world stage.

    Gave my reason for Spinks in the above post.
     
    Bokaj, Jul 30, 2020
    #968
  9. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Williams was way too open to left hooks. Good fighter otherwise. Top 5? No.
     
    dmt, Jul 30, 2020
    #969
  10. BOGART

    BOGART Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Mike Tyson’s 5 best wins

    1 Ruddock - Either win is probably fine
    2 Tucker - Undefeated prime high ranking contenders are always good wins
    3 Berbick - Wins over Page,Thomas, and Tate is about as good as anyone else’s on the list
    4 Thomas - He and Berbick are almost even for me
    5 Spinks - Great fighter, huge event, and terrific performance by Tyson. It’s hard to gauge Spinks as a heavyweight with just a few fights there

    Tyson has a deep top 10 and a lot of fighters could be put in the top 5. His 6-10 would look something like:

    6 Holmes
    7 Tubbs
    8 Bonecrusher
    9 Bruno
    10 Williams

    Any of his top 10 wins could be moved up or down several spots without a problem
     
    BOGART, Jul 30, 2020
    #970
  11. Jason Thomas

    Jason Thomas Boxing Addict Full Member

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    What has come out of this thread is, I guess, a distinction between fights which establish or cement historical standing, and fights which folks judge subjectively to be the most difficult for the fighter. We saw that with Johnson-Jeffries, Marciano-Louis, Holmes-Ali.

    In Tyson's case we see it with Spinks and Holmes.

    Whether one thinks of either or both as among his toughest opponents, it is these two wins which cement his historical standing.

    If they had retired earlier and Tyson had never fought them, he would just be a guy who ran impressively through a series of interchangeable contenders for a short period before losing badly to another interchangeable contender. How impressive in isolation would wins over Tucker, Berbick, Thomas, or Ruddock be?
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2020
    Jason Thomas, Jul 30, 2020
    #971
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  12. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. Full Member

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    That's how I see it. Tyson blew out a guy who was scared to be in there. That Spinks isn't beating Tucker or Ruddock. No way.
     
    Mendoza, Jul 30, 2020
    #972
  13. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. Full Member

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    Well he rocked Mike Tyson badly and beat some solid opposition. Tyson has no clear #1, but Bruno I think has to be in his top #5. Prior to Douglas, Bruno probably gave Tyson his toughest fight.
     
    Mendoza, Jul 30, 2020
    #973
  14. Big Ukrainian

    Big Ukrainian Boxing Junkie

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    I think Ruddock was one of the most overrated fighters ever. His whole reputation was based on the wins over shot fighters and two losing efforts against Tyson. But even against those washed up champions, whom he has beaten, Ruddock looked impressive only against Dokes.

    He barely got by past prime Weaver and while Weaver was known for a glass jaw, Ruddock beat him only by split decision.

    Smith knocked him down really hard and against shot Page Ruddock looked very unimpressive as well.

    I think old Holmes would school him easily - Mercer was better and tougher fighter than Ruddock and look what Larry did to him. I also think Tucker and Thomas would beat Ruddock prime for prime. Tubs and Berbick would probably beat him too.

    My ranking of Tyson's best wins:

    1. Spinks
    2. Holmes
    3. Tucker
    4. Berbick
    5. Thomas
     
    Big Ukrainian, Jul 30, 2020
    #974
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  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    He rocked Mike Tyson, but he beat nobody of note, except Oliver McCall!

    Rocking Tyson is not a significant credential here!

    You don't get a place on the list for dropping the great, never mind rocking them!
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2020
    janitor, Jul 30, 2020
    #975
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