Make the best (in your opinion) HW decade

Basically yes, they were a bunch of really good fights. I’m not going sit here and explain why Grant fighting Golota was great (Foreman quit in Zaire btw) etc.

 

You don't have to do that. It was a great fight to some extent, though it leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't watch the *Thrilla in Manila* live; for me, Ali vs. Frazier simply ranked higher—much higher—even though I watched it years later. Just as Ali and Frazier were better, in my view, than Golota and Grant. Best regards.

 

Well, I wasn’t around in the 70s so I can’t name every fight from each of those years and it’s true that the major fights of 99 (Holy—Lewis fights) were good but not classics. What I confident in is that the 99 lineup would mop the floor with any 70s lineup.

You’ve got four top ten heavyweights of all time in decent condition including a peak Lewis, and another in the top 15 (Vitali), others who would win belts and another who was probably top 20 or 30 h2h (Ike). It was absurd.

 

Okay, that’s my mistake. I didn’t know. But no problem—in that case, 1969–1978, and the argument remains exactly the same. Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes, Norton—and right behind them, Lyle, Young, Quarry... it never got any better than that.

 

Probably 65-75. There’s a lot going on there

 

I'm wondering if people are projecting this sort of thing as cutting off at the start of 97 hence not including it.

 

Good Lord, 75-78 was an absolute nadir in the history of the heavyweight division. A bunch of used-up former greats, a head case and a bunch of hacks.

 

What about the 1991 ring top ten ?

1. Evander Holyfield
2. Mike Tyson
3. Riddick Bowe
4. Razor Ruddock
5. Ray Mercer
6. George Foreman
7. Tim Witherspoon
8. Tony Tucker
9. Lennox Lewis
10. Michael Moorer

 

I actually think both should be on the list, but 99 had better fighters overall.

 

You know history do say that.

You won't get very far with that. Capped by Holmes-Norton.

 

Here's the Ring Top 10 for 1976, headed by an absolutely used up Ali who was banking decisions by clowning to the judges and then fighting Eurobums. A head case Foreman who wouldn't get his act straight for a decade. The perennially overrated Norton and then a bunch of hot garbage.

Muhammad Ali, Champion

1. George Foreman
2. Ken Norton
3. Jimmy Young
4. Duane Bobick
5. Ron Lyle
6. Larry Holmes
7. Howard Smith
8. Johnny Boudreaux
9. Stan Ward
10. Joe Bugner

Here is two years later, an even worse Ali, a worse Norton still holding top spots and yet more hot garbage.

Muhammad Ali, Champion

1. Larry Holmes
2. Ken Norton
3. Leon Spinks
4. Ron Lyle
5. Jimmy Young
6. Kallie Knoetze
7. Alfredo Evangelista
8. Gerrie Coetzee
9. Ossie Ocasio
10. Domingo D'Elia

 

I thought first Tyson era was pretty ****

 

Underrated era to be honest, filled with top level and well groomed talent.

 

1980,s for sure