The best 3 heavyweights in boxing history...

No Louis?

Also I disagree with the "losing in their prime", while it does hurt his case, I don't think it affects it THAT much. Especially since Lewis came back and knocked both of his only loses.

 

I have an admitted bias against Joe Louis and those slow, steady feet LOL. I agree regarding Lewis, and credit to him for avenging those losses, that's another thing that makes me want to put him in the top 3, but those other 3, when they were on a roll..............they were really on a roll.

 

I myself have a bias for Louis' flat stance in most h2h matchups

Was Foreman really on a better roll though? I mean he had the ATG wins of Norton and Frazier in a short time span but only had 2 title defenses. Imo he's top 5 regardless but still.

 

Ali, Lewis and Louis

 

Struggling a bit with this one. Ali and Louis are my top 2. Don't really get the arguement about Louis being too flat footed. If he was ever comprehensively outboxed in his prime it would make sense....but he wasn't. So he never needed to be dancing around the ring. His feet were always in position to allow him to throw punches with alot of power at all times and that worked great for the era he fought in and the guys he faced.

Picking the 3rd one is hard....really hard. I'm torn between Holmes and Lewis.

Edit: **** it I'm going with Lewis

 

To me Lewis is the best and he’s the only one that beat all his opponents. (I know he lost 2x but he averaged those)

 

He didn't, he had about 10 defeats and didn't avenge against Jabokowsky among others. Also was McCall not in condition to fight but still didn't get down. So there was the first bout a lot more significant. Also to this argument you have to rank Marciano and Tunney ahead of him, as they won against everyone/ have a positive match-rate, just as Bowe. Mainly Brits have Lewis in the top 5. I don't know where this lie comes from only one to beat anyone he faced, but Johansson did the same and was only defeated by one opponent.

I really can't vote here, as at least one of the top 3 is not available
I suppose to put just two white guys in, which are clearly not the best (of it) is likely racial motivated (or lack of knowledge).
Even Joe Frazier ranks Marciano over himself and Muhammed Ali. He had a much better chin, stamina, a little bit more punching-power and was more determinated/ tougher (arguable had also better footwork). Most have him in the top 5 (possible top 3).
Jack Johnson was rated by few people higher than Joe Louis, because of his higher ring IQ/ smartness and tactical abilities (especially defensive and to anticipate).
Here voted recently over 90% that Vitaly Klitschko would have won against his brother. So most know that he was better, but they are mostly vice versa placed here. I really don't understand why. He had the better performances and has not so embarrissing black marks in his record, as Wladimir Klitschko has of of it.
There can be also made in argument for Jeffries and Sullivan in the top 10.
But Frazier and Holyfield have really no buisness in a top 3. The last is only because of his wins over Tyson ranked over Bowe.

 

I voted Ali, Holmes and Lewis

 

Ali, Louis, Holmes.

I just can't put Lennox (a great fighter, for sure) above Holmes. Lennox got wiped out by two losers, and never got a truly consummate victory over a seriously past-it Holyfield.

But that's just me, I have huge respect for Lennox.

 

Not at this point he isn't! He is probably cracked the top 16 or so, though. We'll see with time.

 

Lennox Lewis, Muhammad Ali , and Joe Louis

 

Louis - Just can't start a list without the Brown Bomber
Ali - personally can't stand the man, but you can't deny his talent and his record
Lennox - Got better as he got older, cleared out a solid division and avenged both losses

I wasn't a fan of Lewis' when he was active, but when he was done and you start looking at the wins, he beat everyone who was anyone in the 90s/2000s with the exception of Bowe, who was running scared after the Olympics

Wins:

• Former champion Mike Weaver (KO6)
• Former Champion Tyrell Biggs (TKO 3)
• Razor Ruddock (TKO2)
• Former Champion Tony Tucker (UD 12)
• Former Champion Frank Bruno (TKO7)
• Former Champion Oliver McCall (TKO5)
• Former Champion (WBO) Tommy Morrison (TKO6)
• Former Champion (WBO) Ray Mercer (MD10)
• Former Champion (WBO) Henry Akinwande (DQ5)
• Andrew Golota (KO1)
• Former Lineal Champion Shannon Briggs (TKO5)
• Former Undisputed Champion/Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield (UD12)
• David Tua (UD 12)
• Former Two-time Champion Hasim Rahman (KO4)
• Former Undisputed Champion/Hall of Famer Mike Tyson (KO8)
• Former Champion Vitali Kitschko (TKO6)

 

Tyrell Biggs wasn't former champion and he was shot to pieces. Mike Tyson was great fighter but he was beyond shot. Holyfield and Tucker both were past their respective primes. Weaver was far. far away from his one as well.

But Lennox had great resume anyway. Just not good enough to be in my top 3.

 

My thoughts to a "t".

Pre-prison Tyson was truly a god, and he could have given Ali a run for the #1 spot if his career hadn't taken such a massive hit from his terrible legal and emotional issues. It's a damn shame we'll never know just how much more he could have accomplished. (Although to be fair, Ali missed a few prime years there too with his legal battles as well, but he managed to bounce back.)

 

I dno would be great to see half these heavys fight 15-20+ round fights like old school days think that should be big consideration