1. Charles 2. Tunney 3. Moore 4. Spinks 5. Johnson 6. Langford 7. Foster 8. Conn 9. Greb 10. Loughran Runners up: Bivins, Qawi
Here is my top 20. 1. Ezzard Charles 2. Archie Moore 3. Sam Langford 4. Gene Tunney 5. Michael Spinks 6. Billy Conn 7. Tommy Loughran 8. Bob Foster 9. Jack Dillon 10. Harold Johnson 11. Roy Jones Jr 12. Kid Norfolk 13. Harry Greb 14. Jimmy Bivins 15. Bob Fitzimmons 16. John Henry Lewis 17. Maxie Rosenbloom 18. Tiger Jack Fox 19. Dwight Muhammad Qawi 20. Lloyd Marshall/ Joe Choynski I could have Greb higher.
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Philadelphia Jack OBrien http://www.amazon.com/Joe-Gans-Biog...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241924542&sr=1-1
Tunney, Charles, Loughran, Moore and Conn are at the top IMO. What makes this such of a great division, as far as I'm concerned, is the presence of so many great boxer defensive/technician types. Guys who may or may not be called "punchers, but were great techs, like Harold Johnson, Joey Maxim, great, fast boxers like Willie Pastrano, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Michael Spinks, and interspeced amongst these are legendary killers like Bob Foster, one of the scariest champions (to lightheavies) Matt Saad Muhammad, Victor Galindez, another elegant boxer...don't dare overlook John Conteh...
Better competition than Fitzsimmons? Ruhlin, Sharkey, Corbett and Maher are as good an opponents as anyone. Foster cannot take a heavyweight punch, so if anyone gets decapitated, it is hardly going to be Fitzsimmons. I find it hard to see how Conn will win a shutout against Fitzsimmons when Corbett could not do so. Corbett was bigger and better than Conn. True, but we are talking greatest of all time. Other fighters also cleaned out their divisions. And, unlike Foster, they showed they could take a heavyweight punch whereas the jury is still debateable on Foster. I know people will say that this is light heavy and not heavy but the very best light heavys do have heavyweight style power. Fitzsimmons, Tunney, Charles, Moore, and Spinks among others all proved they had the power to hurt heavyweights and take heavyweight shots. It is a tough call. Tunney though bettered Greb in their series although he did lose one fight. I think that entitles him to a higher rating. Loughran is very, very underated, but the reality is he did not beat Tunney, it was simply a close no Decision. He some excellent wins at both Light heavy and heavy. Probably his biggest is the win of Max Baer, which is an astonishing effort and to be honest, it is probably a bigger win than Tunneys wins over Dempsey. Still, offset this with the fact that he lost by tko in the third to Sharkey, who is the fighter that Dempsey KOd to earn his shot at Tunney. I think that that Tunney shades Loughran and Loughran may even shade Greb.
Bigger, sure. How was he better? in what regard? from what ive seen on film Corbett was still fighting with bareknuckle style..conn looks the much more modernly developed fighter with his boxing style. Corbett had not grew out of the times yet, except for footwork and even in that regard it was not better than Conn's. Conn did not keep his hands by his waist the way corbett did, Conn threw 5-6 punch combinations while corbett threw one punch at a time, conn kept his elbows in and chin tucked while corbett stuck his chin out and leaned back to avoid punches a big no no. Conn to me was more fluid, swift, and better technically in every area. he was also the much better puncher too knocking out 3 Ring Magazine top 10 rated heavyweight contenders and buckling Louis knees making him grab on for dear life when tagged with a left hook. Corbett couldnt hit his way out of a wet pager bag which makes me question fitzimmons chin. Fitz was put down for a long count and had to grab on the referee to prevent him from being counted out. When Foster connects on Fitzsimmons, fitzs wont be able to grab on to the refereee because he will be seeing nothing but blackness and stars in the cloud of his brain while laying dead on the canvas. Corbett was well ahead on points when Fitzsimmons caught him to the body. * Fitz never fought anyone like Foster before. He fought with his hands by his waist, leaing back to avoid punches. he never had to fight a 6'3 fighter with a pistol like jab who threw deadly accurate straight punches and 3-4 punch combinations.
Who did Fitz beat at LHvy to warrant him being placed above Foster,or Conn for that matter? P4P great fighter , great LHVy? There is room for debate