Top 10 heavyweights divided into two distinct timespan

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dmt, Sep 11, 2025 at 6:54 PM.


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  1. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Let's create two seperate top 10 heavyweights of all time list.

    Since gloved heavyweight boxing championship has been around since 1892, it has been 133 years since gloved boxing began. So if we were to divide 133 by 2, we end up with 66.5 years. If we add 66.5 to 1892, we end up with 1958.5 so rounded to end of 1958.

    Who would the top 10 heavyweights be from 1892 to 1958?

    Who would the top 10 heavyweights be from 1959 to present 2025?

    First list (1892 to 1958):

    1. Joe Louis
    2. Rocky Marciano
    3. Jack Dempsey
    4. Jack Johnson
    5. Sam Langford
    6. Jim Jefferies
    7. Harry Wills
    8. Max Schmeling
    9. Gene Tunney
    10. Floyd Patterson

    Second list: (1959 to 2025):

    1. Muhammad Ali
    2. Larry Holmes
    3. George Foreman
    4. Lennox Lewis
    5. Evander Holyfield
    6. Sonny Liston
    7. Joe Frazier
    8. Mike Tyson
    9. Oleksandyr Usyk
    10. Wladamir Klitschko
     
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2025 at 7:40 PM
    dmt, Sep 11, 2025 at 6:54 PM
    dmt, Sep 11, 2025 at 6:54 PM
    #1
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  2. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I like the concept here. The reason being is because once a fighter is established as an all time great he will always be an all time great in my book regardless of how many times his achievements are surpassed by future generations. To me comparing a fighter from 2000 to one from 1900 is kinda pointless. They both did amazing things in their own given times and surroundings
     
    mr. magoo, Sep 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM
    mr. magoo, Sep 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM
    #2
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  3. USFBulls727

    USFBulls727 Active Member Full Member

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    I like the idea you came up with here. Always found it very difficult to compare Jeffries, Johnson, or even Louis to Ali, Lennox, or Tyson because of the (probably) vast difference in competition they had to face. I would probably tweak the more modern list a little, but this was a very good idea. Even the dividing point is pretty close to ideal IMO.
     
    USFBulls727, Sep 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
    USFBulls727, Sep 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
    #3
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  4. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Gloved HW boxing got started between 1877 and 1883.

    We have a recent thread titled the "1880s".
     
    HistoryZero26, Sep 11, 2025 at 7:11 PM
    HistoryZero26, Sep 11, 2025 at 7:11 PM
    #4
  5. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    My apologies. I guess we can edit to say since the start of gloved heavyweight boxing championship, any champions or contenders are worthy of being on this list. So from 1892 onwards.
     
    dmt, Sep 11, 2025 at 7:39 PM
    dmt, Sep 11, 2025 at 7:39 PM
    #5
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  6. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Your lists aren't bad except that as unusual Sonny Liston and Larry Holmes are dramatically overrated.

    Liston's best wins are PattersonX2, Machon, and Foley...all quality guys but small cruisers for the modern era you put him in.

    Holmes' best are Norton and Witherspoon, and not the best version of either. No argument for #2. Maybe #9.

    Baer, Charles, and Walcott could all have an argument for being on the first.
     
    catchwtboxing, Sep 11, 2025 at 8:08 PM
    catchwtboxing, Sep 11, 2025 at 8:08 PM
    #6
  7. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    I respect where you are coming from but let's not forget Holmes's win over Mercer.
     
    dmt, Sep 11, 2025 at 10:39 PM
    dmt, Sep 11, 2025 at 10:39 PM
    #7
  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Ha ha, that's kinda fun for some reason.

    First list (1892 to 1958):

    01 - Joe Louis
    02 - Rocky Marciano
    03 - Jack Johnson
    04 - Jim Jeffries
    05 - Harry Wills
    06 - Jack Dempsey
    07 - Sam Langford
    08 - Max Schmeling
    09 - Floyd Patterson
    10 - Ezzard Charles
     
    McGrain, Sep 12, 2025 at 12:08 AM
    McGrain, Sep 12, 2025 at 12:08 AM
    #8
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  9. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    1892 to 1958:

    1. Joe Louis
    2. Rocky Marciano
    3. Jack Johnson
    4. Jack Dempsey
    5. Jim Jefferies
    6. Ezzard Charles
    7. Gene Tunney
    8. Max Schmeling
    9. Sam Langford
    10. Harry Wills

    1959 to 2025:

    1. Muhammad Ali
    2. Larry Holmes
    3. Lennox Lewis
    4. Wladimir Klitschko
    5. Mike Tyson
    6. Evander Holyfield
    7. Joe Frazier
    8. George Foreman
    9. Oleksandr Usyk
    10. Sonny Liston
     
    MaccaveliMacc, Sep 12, 2025 at 12:48 AM
    MaccaveliMacc, Sep 12, 2025 at 12:48 AM
    #9
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  10. USFBulls727

    USFBulls727 Active Member Full Member

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    This looks about right. Wlad being ranked ahead of Foreman, Frazier, and Liston stuck out to me...and I agree with it.
     
    USFBulls727, Sep 12, 2025 at 12:53 AM
    USFBulls727, Sep 12, 2025 at 12:53 AM
    #10
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  11. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Anyone who has Gene Tunney above Harry Wills/Sam Langford at heavyweight has 3 days to fix this or is going on my ignore list. It's just fair warning is all, I just want people to know.
     
    McGrain, Sep 12, 2025 at 12:56 AM
    McGrain, Sep 12, 2025 at 12:56 AM
    #11
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  12. Ioakeim Tzortzakis

    Ioakeim Tzortzakis Well-Known Member Full Member

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    1892-1958

    1. Joe Louis
    2. Jack Johnson
    3. Rocky Marciano
    4. Harry Wills
    5. Sam Langford
    6. Jack Dempsey
    7. Ezzard Charles
    8. Max Schmeling
    9. Jersey Joe Walcott
    10. Floyd Patterson

    1959-2025

    1. Muhammad Ali
    2. Lennox Lewis
    3. George Foreman
    4. Joe Frazier
    5. Larry Holmes
    6. Wladimir Klitschko
    7. Evander Holyfield
    8. Mike Tyson
    9. Oleksandr Usyk
    10. Sonny Liston
     
    Ioakeim Tzortzakis, Sep 12, 2025 at 1:39 AM
    Ioakeim Tzortzakis, Sep 12, 2025 at 1:39 AM
    #12
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  13. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Excellent idea. I'll work on my choices.
     
    Stevie G, Sep 12, 2025 at 1:42 AM
    Stevie G, Sep 12, 2025 at 1:42 AM
    #13
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  14. Jakub79

    Jakub79 Active Member Full Member

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    1892-1958
    1. Louis
    2. Dempsey
    3. Johnson
    4. Marciano
    5. Jefferies
    6. Willis
    7. Corbett
    8. Patterson
    9. Langford
    10.Walcott

    1959-
    1. Ali
    2. Holmes
    3. Foreman
    4. Tyson
    5. Holyfield
    6. Wlad
    7. Lewis
    8. Usyk
    9. Frazier
    10. Liston
     
    Jakub79, Sep 12, 2025 at 6:03 AM
    Jakub79, Sep 12, 2025 at 6:03 AM
    #14
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  15. OddR

    OddR Well-Known Member Full Member

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    For P4P lists I imagine this would come in even more handy.
     
    OddR, Sep 12, 2025 at 6:19 AM
    OddR, Sep 12, 2025 at 6:19 AM
    #15
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