Larry Merchant's Top Ten All Time Heavies

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mcvey, May 28, 2024.


  1. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    “OK, I probably won't be around for much longer, so here it is - my list of the best* heavyweights of all time:
    10. Joe Frazier
    9. George Foreman
    8. Mike Tyson
    7. Evander Holyfield
    6. Jack Dempsey
    5. Rocky Marciano
    4. Lennox Lewis
    3. Joe Louis
    2. Larry Holmes
    1. Muhammad Ali
    *Taking into account technical ability and achievement. Obviously the list might look a little different if it was based on them fighting each other.”
    - LARRY MERCHANT
     
  2. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    There's been much, much worse
     
  3. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas FRANKINAUSTIN

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  4. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    To judge on “technical ability & achievement,” you must really like the former category to find a way to place Tyson above Foreman.
     
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  5. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The phrase, “I probably won’t be around much longer,” would suggest so.
     
  6. KO_King

    KO_King Horizontal Heavyweight Full Member

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    I don't agree with it all. But I like Merchant and I think it's a reasonable and understandable list. Surprised he had Lewis so high (as in I wouldn't have expected him to place Lewis top 5)
     
  7. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I like the Top 5, interesting.
     
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  8. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I don’t mind the list but Holmes at 2 seems a bit much.
     
  9. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    To put it in perspective, this list could have been 3 years old and he still would have been in his 90s
     
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  10. clum

    clum Member Full Member

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    Like who, Pacheco?
     
  11. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    I think he and Louis should swap places.
     
  12. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Definitely, at 93 your not thinking TOO far ahead
     
  13. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Holmes above Louis is obviously wrong, but everyone has some weird thing they are into.
     
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  14. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I’d have a lot less problem w that. I don’t even think he should be three but I at least get that argument. Having him ahead of Louis makes no sense
     
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  15. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas FRANKINAUSTIN

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    Yeah Holmes is too high. Surprised that Tommy Burns isn't on the list as Merchant saw a couple of his fights.
     
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