Top 50 HW'S 1990-99

He wasn't actually a champion. He was stripped for steroids.

 

This is the Ring's top 10 of the 90s according to Gemini (and the same as I remember it):

• Evander Holyfield – The "Real Deal" was the undisputed king of the decade. He became the first four-time heavyweight champion and participated in almost every "Superfight" of the era, including his wars with Bowe and Tyson.

• Lennox Lewis – While he would eventually become the undisputed champ by 1999, he spent much of the decade as the "boogeyman" that others avoided. His wins over Ruddock, Golota, and eventually Holyfield cemented his legacy.

• Riddick Bowe – His peak was short, but it was spectacular. His first fight with Holyfield is a masterpiece of heavyweight boxing. Though he lacked longevity, his prime was arguably as good as anyone's in history.
  

• Mike Tyson – Even with a three-year prison stint and the "Bite Fight" controversy, Tyson remained the biggest draw in the sport. His early 90s run and his 1996 comeback kept him at the top of the rankings.

• George Foreman – The ultimate "old man strength" story. At age 45, he knocked out Michael Moorer to regain the title, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in history—a feat that defined the decade's spirit.
  

• Michael Moorer – The first southpaw heavyweight champion. He was a two-time champ who beat Holyfield in 1994, though his chin was always a point of vulnerability.
  

• Larry Holmes – Most legends fade away, but the "Easton Assassin" stayed relevant well into his 40s. His 1992 upset of Ray Mercer and a competitive title fight against Holyfield earned him this spot.

• Ray Mercer – Known for having one of the toughest chins in boxing history. He had a legendary war with Holyfield and was a consistent threat to anyone in the top five.
  

• Ike Ibeabuchi – The great "What If?" of the decade. Before legal troubles ended his career, he looked like a future champion after defeating David Tua and Chris Byrd in absolute slugfests.

• David Tua – The "Tuaman" was the era’s most feared power puncher. His 19-second knockout of John Ruiz and his legendary battle with Ibeabuchi made him a staple of the 90s scene.
  

 

This 10 is very good, although I'd rank Ray Mercer lower. He didn't beat Whitearspoon, couldn't beat Ferguson, but for the fight against Lewis alone, he should be here, just behind Ike

 

That doesn't change the overall point.

After Schulz his 6 next big fights were lineal champs. Except Holyfield this is more then anyone else from the time period fought.

 

I believe Dokes was the number 4 heavyweight when Ruddock put him into orbit, and Ruddock was the only guy to earn and accept a rematch with Tyson before prison. And few in the decade could’ve matched his losing efforts in those fights. Bruno failed to spectacularly beat a top 5 heavyweight and had a far worse time against Tyson.


As for Nielson, he never even made it to a Ring annual top ten. That puts him more in line with guys like Zolkin and Hunter imo than more serious names.

 

The trouble is Dokes hadn't beaten a top 10 heavyweight in over 7 years. Critical thinking shows it to be a much more hollow win than his ring rating of #4 at the time, which was, in reality, deplorable.

 

All you need to do is watch the Holyfield fight. There wasn't a washed up fighter in the ring.

 

He fought superbly against a Holyfield having just his third fight at Heavyweight. The trouble is it was his last hurrah. He was already compromised by his prior drug addiction (one scribe said he looked great from the waist up but like old man river below) and that grueling war with Holyfield sure didn't do him any good. Razor didn't face the guy Holyfield did. Holyfield could also make guys look good at times with his penchant for slugging. Dokes still had very fast hands but his legs were compromised yet there's Holyfield right in front of him.

In all seriousness Dokes just isn't that big a feather in Razor's cap.

Here's just one written example of the feeling -

Dokes returned to the ring four months later, winning four fights by TKO over the next seven months. In April 1990, Dokes faced top prospect Donovan ”Razor” Ruddock. Only slightly more than a year after the Holyfield fight, Dokes seemed to have declined dramatically, losing to Ruddock by fourth round TKO.

 

When was the last time you watched either of these fights? Dokes was about even on the cards with Ruddock and then got caught with a huge shot and a couple more when he was out of it. Dokes looked like he was on steroids for that fight.

 

In the big scheme of things Ruddock just isn't that good. By far his biggest claim to fame is giving Tyson two excellent battles when Tyson was on the road back from the Douglas whooping. He didn't win either fight nor really look like he was going to however, tho they were valiant. Five minutes later Lewis decimated him in the blink of an eye.

 

I didn't say he was that great in the grand scheme of things. I said it's a little better than what Bruno did in the 1990s, especially if physical belts don't matter.

 

Dokes wasn't washed but if a fighter peaked in 1982 and its 1993 people are going to think "OLD" regardless. Thats just how the mind works.

 

Dokes was washed up in 93. He wasn’t washed up earlier for Ruddock and Holyfield.