Rank the eight heavyweight champions

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021.


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  1. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    Where do you rank the only eight men to ever hold the heavyweight championship of the world, during the days when it still existed?

    My own list, on a combo of greatness and head to head, would be:

    1) Dempsey
    2) Johnson
    3) Sullivan
    4) Jeffries
    5) Tunney
    6) Fitzsimmons
    7) Willard
    8) Corbett

    ...Though I could be persuaded to order them differently.
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2021
    cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021
    cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021
    #1
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  2. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Dempsey
    Tunney
    Jeffries
    Sullivan
    Johnson
    Fitz
    Corbett
    Williard
     
    robert ungurean, Sep 25, 2021
    robert ungurean, Sep 25, 2021
    #2
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  3. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    1. Johnson
    2. Jeffries
    3. Sullivan
    4. Dempsey
    5. Tunney
    6. Fitzsimmons
    7. Corbett
    8. Willard
     
    BitPlayerVesti, Sep 25, 2021
    BitPlayerVesti, Sep 25, 2021
    #3
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  4. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    #08. Jess Willard
    #07. James J. Corbett
    #06. John L. Sullivan
    #05. Gene Tunney
    #04. Bob Fitzsimmons
    #03. Jack Dempsey
    #02. Jack Johnson
    #01. James J. Jeffries
     
    George Crowcroft, Sep 25, 2021
    George Crowcroft, Sep 25, 2021
    #4
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  5. RealDeal

    RealDeal Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    Why do you say these are the only 8 men to hold the heavyweight championship?
     
    RealDeal, Sep 25, 2021
    RealDeal, Sep 25, 2021
    #5
  6. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    Why wouldn't I? I don't really count Paddy Ryan or Goss.
     
    cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021
    cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021
    #6
  7. RealDeal

    RealDeal Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    Why does it stop at Tunney, and why does it skip over guys like Hart and Burns?
     
    RealDeal, Sep 25, 2021
    RealDeal, Sep 25, 2021
    #7
  8. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    Johnson beat Jeffries in the ring, and Tunney retired undefeated (in heavyweight championship fights, anyway.)
     
    cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021
    cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021
    #8
  9. RealDeal

    RealDeal Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    Okay so basically you’re just talking about the original lineage then.
     
    RealDeal, Sep 25, 2021
    RealDeal, Sep 25, 2021
    #9
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  10. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    Yes.

    I was also being a bit silly, hoping to spark some discussion about alternatives to the consensus heavyweight lineage.

    But you have been far too reasonable, and asked the right questions. :nonono
     
    cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021
    cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021
    #10
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  11. The Fighting Yoda

    The Fighting Yoda Active Member Full Member

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    Okay, that would imply if Sullivan would retire before his fight against Corbett then he would be the only "real heavyweight champion" ever.
    But anyway, you mean the original lineage.
     
    The Fighting Yoda, Sep 25, 2021
    The Fighting Yoda, Sep 25, 2021
    #11
  12. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    Correct. Man who beat the man. All other lineages are illegitimate usurpers, like the House of Windsor.
     
    cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021
    cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021
    #12
  13. The Fighting Yoda

    The Fighting Yoda Active Member Full Member

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    Or Bobby Fischer, the last chess champion.

    edit: or Alexander Alekhine
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2021
    The Fighting Yoda, Sep 25, 2021
    The Fighting Yoda, Sep 25, 2021
    #13
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  14. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    But really, if we're talking the original championship lineage it's

    1. Jem Mace.
     
    BitPlayerVesti, Sep 25, 2021
    BitPlayerVesti, Sep 25, 2021
    #14
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  15. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Don’t you think Joe Louis managed to establish “champion of champion status” by the time he beat Schmeling?

    I guess there was some dispute that Schmeling was legitimately the best in the world with his DQ win over Sharkey…then the disputed Sharkey win in the rematch hardly produced the best heavyweight in the world.

    but at least Max Baer, in beating Carnera (who demolished Sharkey) and Schmeling in back to back fights produced the best heavyweight in the world. So at least wasnt Max Baer the new link in the line? I guess Baers claim of being the best heavyweight in the world was absolute after the Carnera win and as about as absolute as anyone could claim since Tunney was king.

    Even though Braddock beat Baer, his legitimacy could be questioned in light of a comparison between his win and Louis’s win over Max Baer.. together with Louis’s collection if wins over Carnera, Sharkey and Braddock himself before Schmeling.
     
    choklab, Sep 25, 2021
    choklab, Sep 25, 2021
    #15
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