How has your all time heavyweight list changed over the past 10-15 years?

For me the clear top 4 are.

Muhammad Ali
Joe Louis
Lennox Lewis
Larry Holmes

Then after that i struggle TBH i would say Holyfield, Tyson, Marciano, Foreman, are all in the top 10 definitely. The likes of Jack Johnson and Jack Dempsey are far too long ago for me, and i don't know where to rate them honestly. Out of the newer Heavyweights i would say Wladimir Klitschko deserves to be in there just for longevity. Tyson Fury doesn't make my top 10 just yet i think he's just outside, but if he can beat Usyk and maybe add Joshua to that list aswell then he's easily in the top 10.

 

Top 3 is far too high for me aswell, Holyfield lost alot of his big fights vs Lewis 0-1-1 should of been 0-2, 1-1 vs Moorer, 1-2 vs Bowe. Yes Holyfield had the impressive win vs Tyson, and it's up to you how you rate his wins vs older Holmes, Foreman. But Holyfield was too up and down and his career for me to rate him that highly, but credit to him for not avoiding anyone.

 

That's a pretty sold list but i think Holyfield is too high, but overall very good effort and a better list than i could come up with.

 

Pretty much on board, my top 3 is same, and I share your views on Fury, concise and thought provoking post.
stay safe buddy.

 

I used to think Louis and Marciano sucked…now I have Louis at 1 and Marciano in my top 10

currently
Louis
Ali
Holmes
Lewis
Wlad
Foreman
Marciano
Holyfield
Frazier
Tyson

Johnson
Liston
Dempsey

 

My top ten heavyweights list from 2005 and, below, 2022.

1. Ali
2. Louis
3. Holmes
4. Tyson
5. Lewis
6. Johnson
7. Frazier
8. Marciano
9. Dempsey
10. Foreman

1. Ali
2. Louis
3. Holmes
4. Lewis
5. W. Klitschko
6. Johnson
7. Frazier
8. Tyson
9. Marciano
10. Holyfield

Over the years I been able to better balance the quality of Tyson's prime with the quality of his career. I do believe championship reigns and quality wins are the major factors in these kinds of ratings. George Foreman, amazing as his comeback was, had very short, unimpressive title reigns and the few quality wins he has don't make up for it. I always struggle with where to rate Holyfield

 

Liston wasn't the best heavyweight in the world in 1958. He wasn't even ranked in 1958. He started 1959 rated #9.

Liston was arguably the best heavyweight in the world from 1960 to 1963 and he made ONE defense in 1963.

That puts him #5 on your all-time list? That's not a really tight window - 1960 to 1963.

Wlad was ACTUALLY rated the #1 heavyweight (not unrated or rated #9 like Liston) from 2006 to 2015. And he made 18 successful defenses in that time frame.

18 successful defenses is more impressive than one, isn't it?

I know you said you detested his holding. Did you also detest Sonny Liston quitting against Ali twice ... the second time faking a knockdown?

 

But Liston is number five all time for being the best from only 1960 to 1963 and then quitting against Ali TWICE ... the second in such a humliating fashion, there was a congressional inquiry and he had to look for fights outside the country for several years?

 

I think if people's heavyweight lists didn't change DRASTICALLY over the last 15 years or so, you guys just haven't been paying attention.

I love the heavyweights. It's always been my favorite division. I've been following it since the 1970s.

But there were at least four ... maybe five ... (depending how their careers wind up) Hall of Fame heavyweights who competed during this period. And, head-to-head, they could've run over practically everyone who came before them.

How does that NOT impact an all-time heavyweight list?

How are people still rating heavyweights from 100 years ago (OR MORE) in the top 10 and ignoring guys who had 23 successful heavyweight title defenses this century?

In the nicest of terms ... Catch up already.

 

Holyfield at no. 4 ?!
Lewis at. no 6 ????
Hell no !!!
Holyfield is bottom top 10 at best.