Who Was The Dirtiest Of The Heavyweight Champions?

Tyson has the highest end levels of dirtiness (ear bite, literally tried to break Botha's arm, etc) but most consistently dirty probably Max Baer or Holyfield. Marciano, Bowe and Dempsey are obviously up there too. Tom Sharkey as well, if you count him as a heavyweight champion.

Tyson Fury doesnt get enough flak for how dirty he is imo

Actually idk what im even saying, basically every great heavyweight was dirty. If you arent cheating in some small way you arent trying to win with 100%. The one best exception i can think of is Joe Louis

 

Ali at least fought clean in his prime, I will say.

 

Yeah Flash Benitez was another one of those who suffered vertical drops. After the fight Benitez said he could beat Moore and knows he could become middleweight champ so was going to have to continue training. That was a little bit sad. He was pro at 15, surely that's a bit young.

 

Archie Moore caught a few late ones from Marciano. When the writers ask Moore about it he said " they were unintentional, and I hit him back unintentionally "

 

You really fell for this propoganda? Lol, he was obviously framed. Do better.

 

Ah, the headbutt / nut shot combo, later utilized by Holyfield.

 

At 15 sparring older seasoned pro's with the approval of his father for them to push him hard.
My opinion it's the reason his career fell off a cliff at such an early age. His teen body and especially his head received God only knows what type of physical damage.
His dad would be imprisoned for child abuse in today's world.
No doubt about....

 

Marciano walked so Holyfield could run

 

The numb science

 

Agree totally. It's exactly what led to the later suffering IMO.

 

If the ref lets you, you do it, I wouldn’t but I’m not making my livelihood off it. Cockell was a tough man, helluva fighter he had a condition pushing him up to HW, I believe he suffered a similar fate as Mathis and it killed him… sad, he was honourable if he choose to be straight in the face of fouling, Marciano fought very rough.