Top 20 H2H heavyweights in history?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Melankomas, Mar 3, 2026.


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  1. brb

    brb Boxing Addict Full Member

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    This guy.

    This content is protected
     
    brb, Mar 7, 2026
    brb, Mar 7, 2026
    #16
  2. Rubber Glove Sandwich

    Rubber Glove Sandwich 'Iranian flag green' reflecting pool Full Member

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    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Mar 7, 2026
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Mar 7, 2026
    #17
  3. Rubber Glove Sandwich

    Rubber Glove Sandwich 'Iranian flag green' reflecting pool Full Member

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    I like the Spinks pick because I had never really considered him as top 20 h2h heavyweight before,
     
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Mar 7, 2026
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Mar 7, 2026
    #18
  4. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    Hell, in very, very lose order...

    Lewis
    Ali
    Tyson
    Usyk
    Evan Fields
    Foreman
    Wladklit
    Louis (with modern training)
    Frazier
    Holmes
    Vitklit
    Fury
    Joshua
    Bowe
    Douglas
    Ibeabucchi
    Liston
    Witherspoon
    Norton
    Marciano (I'll defend it based on the combo of two-fisted power and stamina/workrate)
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2026
    catchwtboxing, Mar 7, 2026
    catchwtboxing, Mar 7, 2026
    #19
    Seamus likes this.
  5. SouthpawsRule

    SouthpawsRule Well-Known Member Full Member

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    How can you possibly list Liston above Ali?
     
    SouthpawsRule, Mar 8, 2026
    SouthpawsRule, Mar 8, 2026
    #20
    Greg Price99 likes this.
  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    It's tricksy to be honest because I think he might lose to Ezzard Charles, for example, but Ezzard Charles is a 185lb fighter with a 73" reach. He's going to get out-sized, bombed-out and he can also be edged out by guys like Walcott and Johnson. So across the piece, no way to include him really I don't think. Spinks has a good chance against everyone despite the one round bomb out. He could edge out Holmes, Charles, Liston, probably too small for the biggest guys but three inches in extra height and reach over Charles and able to carry 210 comfortably just puts him right in the wheelhouse. Sure he'd get caved in by Tyson and Langford, which is awkward, but the bottom five on a list like this are definitely an awkward fit - there are a bunch of other five guys you could select.
     
    McGrain, Mar 8, 2026
    McGrain, Mar 8, 2026
    #21
    Rubber Glove Sandwich likes this.
  7. Jakub79

    Jakub79 Active Member Full Member

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    Actually, Emannuel Steward did the same thing, but I don't think anyone asked him that question.
     
    Jakub79, Mar 8, 2026
    Jakub79, Mar 8, 2026
    #22
    White Bomber likes this.
  8. brb

    brb Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Do you have the interview? I've seen the interview where he lists Ali as the greatest HW.
     
    brb, Mar 8, 2026
    brb, Mar 8, 2026
    #23
  9. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    1. Tyson
    2. Ali
    3. Wlad
    4. Lewis
    5. Vitali
    6. Fury
    7. Usyk
    8. Holmes
    9. Louis
    10. Bowe
    11. Holyfield
    12. Wilder
    13. Joshua
    14. Blond Ortiz
    15. Frazier (too small)
    16. Ibeabuchi
    17. Foreman (not a 12 round fighter)
    18. Liston
    19. Thomas
    20. Ruddock
     
    NoNeck, Mar 8, 2026
    NoNeck, Mar 8, 2026
    #24
    Jakub79 likes this.
  10. SouthpawsRule

    SouthpawsRule Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Im equally shocked at you having Foreman above Ruddock and below Frazier
     
    SouthpawsRule, Mar 8, 2026
    SouthpawsRule, Mar 8, 2026
    #25
    swagdelfadeel likes this.
  11. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    I think Frazier has a pretty significant shot at beating a lot of guys above him.

    Peak Ruddock could probably repeat Foreman's best moments and Foreman probably couldn't repeat the Tyson fights, so maybe I have that one backwards.
     
    NoNeck, Mar 8, 2026
    NoNeck, Mar 8, 2026
    #26
  12. SouthpawsRule

    SouthpawsRule Well-Known Member Full Member

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    And Foreman, the guy who bulldozed him twice doesn't for some reason?

    Yeah that's more like you.
     
    SouthpawsRule, Mar 8, 2026
    SouthpawsRule, Mar 8, 2026
    #27
    swagdelfadeel likes this.
  13. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Because Foreman wasn’t a twelve round fighter. It’s absurd to highly rank a guy who is likely to get stopped or lose a ud while almost collapsing because the other guy comfortably gets past the first five rounds.

    Frazier matches up better with Usyk, Holmes, Holyfield, ALI, etc.
     
    NoNeck, Mar 8, 2026
    NoNeck, Mar 8, 2026
    #28
  14. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Loyal Member

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    How is Wlad above Lewis? Who did Wlad beat?
     
    catchwtboxing, Mar 8, 2026
    catchwtboxing, Mar 8, 2026
    #29
  15. SouthpawsRule

    SouthpawsRule Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Likewise Frazier literally never interacted with a hard-punching proper HW other than Foreman, who broke him to pieces twice.

    And Foreman matches up better against pretty much any big HW that can punch hard.
     
    SouthpawsRule, Mar 8, 2026
    SouthpawsRule, Mar 8, 2026
    #30
    catchwtboxing likes this.
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