I put a prime Wlad top of the tree, i just think that team klitschko would have known what they were fighting in Dempsey, and have a strategy for negating his strengths to quite a degree. I enjoy reading of Dempsey and the era he fought in, but frankly putting him top of the tree on basis of 6 defences in 7 yrs is not in my opinion correct, but as they say everyone has an opinion.
So you don’t rate hughie either. Fair play mate. I admit it’s still very much in the air and he’s got a lot to prove but he has the tools and trainer to win world titles and beat the top heavyweights.
Wlad for me. His title reign was longer than Rock's entire career. He had a better one than Dempsey, and it's not really close. I weigh longevity at the top heavily. A ton of fighters peak and look fantastic as contenders or right after they win the belt- it takes a different cut of champ to stay on top of the game once they get there and to do it against the best opposition available. Those guys get way more credit from me when it comes to historical rankings. Rock did defend against the best available, to his credit, but just didn't do it long enough (his style just wasn't cut out for longevity). Dempsey had longevity, but slacked as far as opposition level and activity. Wlad routinely defended against top guys and did it for a hell of a long time.
I am still very skeptical, though I hold up my hands that I was spectacularly wrong about his brother.
There are many white Greats. But If I had to rank them. 1 . Marciano - 2. Wlad 3. Dempsey 4. Jeffries 5 Vitlali 6. Max Baer 7 Schmelling 8 Tunney 9 Sullivan 10 Corbett 11 Morrison Several others I could list.
1. Tyson fury if he beats a top 3 heavyweight in his next 5 fights then on to a world title. Head to head monster 2. Hughie Fury has it all to prove but for me his defence and jab are as good as anyone on my list. Means he’ll beat Joshua, wilder, miller. Head to head monster 3. Wladimir Klitschko Solid resume, head to head. Solid entry 4. Vitali Klitschko **** resume but he’s a head to head monsters 5. Gene tunney head to head monster. Out boxers rocky and Dempsey but does out box top 4. 6. Rocky Marciano incredible condition, incredible determination but walked into fighters and you can’t ealk into any of my top 4 because they will pick you off and kytfo. 7. Jack Dempsey similarly to tyson as soon as he meets a world level boxer he’ll lose. 8. Joe Bugner a personal favourite. Great defence and nice jab when he used it. Good chin also. Very good all round. Great resume. Head to head he’s very strong also. Classic 70s boxer. 9. James Jeffries head to head monster, good resume but I see everybody ahead chined him unfortunately. 10. John L Sullivan proper character, abit like fury( drank loads and talked smack) 11. Bob fitzsimmons an Englishman and that makes me proud. Great for his size would get chined by the top 8 badly. 12. Gerry Cooney great left hook, good chin, 6,6, but fought like someone 5,11. Should have jabbed more, could have been top 5. 13. Jerry Quarry all heart kind of bloke but ultimately not could be out boxed and would lose to any world level out boxer. Jab him silly. 14. Tommy Morrison had a few good wins but think he was hype job in the end, got aids, chined in the street fight in rocky5 out side paulies local pub 15. Chuck Wepner absolute banter him being in at 15th place! But he did knock a top all time heavyweight down in Ali.a
Dempsey was meant to be mixed too (part native american) but if we are going down this road, half of the fighters mentioned in this thread are/were probably mixed.
1. Tyson fury if he beats a top 3 heavyweight in his next 5 fights then on to a world title. Head to head monster 2. Hughie Fury has it all to prove but for me his defence and jab are as good as anyone on my list. Means he’ll beat Joshua, wilder, miller. Head to head monster 3. Wladimir Klitschko Solid resume, head to head. Solid entry 4. Vitali Klitschko **** resume but he’s a head to head monster 5. Gene tunney head to head monster. Out boxers rocky and Dempsey but does out box top 4. 6. Rocky Marciano incredible condition, incredible determination but walked into fighters and you can’t ealk into any of my top 4 because they will pick you off and kutfo. 7. Jack Dempsey 8. James Jeffries 9. John L Sullivan 10. Bob fitzsimmons 11. Jerry Cooney 12. Tommy Morrison 13. Jerry Quarry 14. Joe Bugner 15. Chuck Wepner absolute banter him being in at 15th place!