Top 15 Greatest Heavyweights In History (Please Participate)

Look at Wlad. He's much better under Steward. Sudenk was light years behind him. Sdunek had no experience with enswell until recently, didn't know when to pour water over his fighters, head, and went for bulk over sparring and conditiong with some of his fighter. Sdunek's advice in the corners when Wlad needed it was rather poor.

Maybe second rater is harsh, but he's not a top level trainer like many past greats had.

The best trainers today are Steward, and Roach. Sdunek is on the next level. That is my point.

 

Jim Jeffries deserves to be in the mix. From Cyberzone boxing:

Jeffries has been called the greatest heavyweight of all-time by numerous boxing people -- Jim Corbett, Jack Dempsey, Tommy Burns, Willie Ritchie, and Tom Sharkey to name five.

Jack Johnson, the first black Heavyweight Champion and the only man to beat Jeffries, also called Jim the greatest heavyweight of all-time.

Sam Langford, the great light-heavyweight fighter, even advertised in papers to fight any man in the world except Jim Jeffries.

 

We have the same top 3 in a slightly different order.

Langford at 13 is an inspired pick.

Jim Jeffries should be in.

Harry Wills should be in.

Bob Fitzsimmons has a case despite his size.

 

At their peaks,my intuitive piks...
Jack Dempsey-Pantherlike,great chin, left hook bobbing defense
Joe Louis-Greatest combo puncher,and leverage, in a heavyweight
James J Jeffries-Strongest heavyweight, best stamina and chin, no one outlasts him
Jack Johnson-Greatest defensiveheavy, catlike and cutting puncher
Ali-very fast for a heavy,needed rope-dope- for lack of punching power.good chin
Gene Tunney-great precise boxer,smartest heavy,very good chin and mover
Rocky Marciano-inhuman battering ram, punishing puncher, and TIRELESS conditioned
Joe Frazier-A large Henry Armstrong,great left hook,a brave crowd pleaser
Larry Holmes-great boxer, great left jab,and straight right hand,
Mike Tyson- Destructive puncher, had short prime, lacking discipline and purpose
Max Schmeling- greatest right hand, like a laser, rugged and dependable
Sam Langford- probably best P4P of all, but small by heavy standards,great fighter
Jack sharkey-with Tunney's brain and Sharkey,s skills closer to the top
James J Corbett- lithe ,fast and clever boxer, but hard to rate
Lennox Lewis-Big and strong , good puncher, questionable chin, rigid style

 

Sorry Burt but i think you underestimate Ali. There was a lot more to him than this 'rope-a-dope' some people go on about. For starters, he was a pro for 14yrs before he first got accredited to it. Secondly, you dont win fights by just lying on the ropes. Ali was ahead when that fight was over so he must of did something.
Anyway, i enjoy your posts as you have been around the golden age of boxing and i always respect yours and John Garfields insights more than most (Ali aside ha!)

 

Jim Jeffries wouldn't even be in the top 10 strongest heavyweights over the last decade.

 

As ever Burt - top picks - Great to here Dempsey came straight to mind :yep one of my personal favourites. Also good to see Tunney and Johnson in the mix too - and Sam - great natural talent.

 

Seamus, about my choice of Jim Jeffries as strongest heavyweight of alltime, Hands down.... I define strongest as not just heavy punchers and pushers, but my strengh definition, includes great STAMINA also...In that vein could George Foreman fight 20 round bouts, sans mouthpiesce, thin gloves,etc as Jeffries did .And impervious to punishment in his prime, I might add?.If your paragon of strength is Foreman, than solely on strength alone a Primo Carnera,thirty pounds heavier of pure muscle, would surely qualify as the "strongest"...Methinks....

 

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Larry Holmes
4. Lennox Lewis
5. Rocky Marciano
6. Evander Holyfield
7. Jack Johnson
8. Joe Frazier
9. Sonny Liston
10. Jack Dempsey
11. Harry Wills
12. George Foreman
13. James Jeffries
14. Mike Tyson
15. Ezzard Charles

 

word.

i love your input, as someone who has seen way more than I. When talking about strength one needs to qualify, though. and by all acounts Jeffries had both raw, explosive strength and stamina.

And my paragon of strength, and all else in life, is Tony TNT Tubbs.

 

No, Holyfield wasn't prime against Tyson. He was past-his-prime definitely. Holyfield's prime was 1987 - '93.

Tyson had a short prime, it's true. It's arguable that he was never the same again after the Spinks win.

Yes, Lewis had the longevity over them both. He was arguably performing at the top of his game from 1992 until 2001 or '02 ! That's remarkable.

Good list. :good