McGrain, I opened one of my 1994 issues of KO magazine today and it talked about how Rock Newman made a March date with lennox lewis to meet riddick bowe, but that Lennox being knocked out by Oliver McCall ruined it. Could this be perhaps Lewis's fault? Was a Bowe-Lennox fight finally going to be made, but Lewis blew it by losing to a 2nd rater?
Well that depens upon how you see each figher's title run. Johnson's palce as a hypothetical #1 can be called into question the moment he steps out of the ring agianst Jeffries as far as I am concerned. Is such the case for Holmes? No. Well if you don't count skillsets and head to head at all on your list, your likely one of the few...i think Janitor is on of those, also.
I Agree. But Lennox never fought Holyfield, Bowe or Tyson pre 1997 when all 3 men were still very dangerous. I think had he fought even one of the 3 during this time, it would enhance his legacy tremendously. Then again, you can't fight who ducks you.
Don King's duck of Lewis on the behalf of Mike Tyson is a thing of absolutely exceptional beauty. I must dig out my notes on and make a thread, or even batter out an article if the material will stand it. I hate King, with a passion, but the way he arranged that duck was nothing short of political genius.
No, I didn´t because you practically said the same in both. It´s no nonsense. Rocky retired, thus making the winner of Patterson-Moore to the champ. Spinks did not, he was still around and Mike beat him later on. Then he was champ. That´s the difference. Those are the facts. If you don´t like it, it´s your problem. Not mine. Ah, getting personal. That´s class. :good
'Roiding is cheating. Period. And an exposed cheater is disqualified. 1. The Greatest 2. The Galveston Giant 3. Iron Mike 4. The Manassa Mauler 5. The Brown Bomber 6. Big George 7. Smokin' Joe 8. The Brockton Blockbuster 9. The Easton Assassin 10. The Fighting Marine Based on the easily obtainable pertinent footage and photographs, it is my opinion that Mike Tyson is the last great heavyweight not aided by performance enhancers. As of the '90s and Evander Holyfield, the heavyweight division has changed in the key aspects of much denser muscle bulk and maximum-12-round conditioning. There are more bangers out there than ever before, but, save erstwhile string-bean Lennox Lewis and HGH-tainted Holyfield, I still would not consider any of them in the same league as my top ten.
The first 3 are right, but I would really have Foreman at least 1 spot above frazier, he acomplished much more, and he blew him away twice.
It was, but I supposed Lewis turning down a $13.5 million dollar offer from the Tyson camp before his fight with Ray Mercer suggests that perhaps Don King anticipated Lewis to decline it before it was presented to him. And yes: 1. Joe Louis 2. Muhammad Ali 3. Jack Johnson 4. Larry Holmes 5. Rocky Maricano 6. Mike Tyson 7. Lennox Lewis 8. George Foreman 9. Evander Holyfield 10. Joe Frazier 11. Sonny Liston 12. Jack Dempsey
I agree with you on Patterson being the youngest, and Tyson the 2nd youngest and although historically it would appear that is the correct answer, the opinions of many others make us in the clear minority. For me you can call Tyson the youngest HW Title holder (not champ) or the youngest unified HW champ (but not linial champ)..for me that distinction is still help by Patterson. Interestingly enough as far as I can find out Ring ranked Spinks as the 87 HW champ and appears to do so through April of 88 as far as I have been able to find information on-line??? I am not sure what other resources and historians have to say on the matter???
Nice list! I clearly have a few differences, but I am sure nearly everyone does. Our 1-5 are exact by people and spot, and 6-13 we have the same names in different orders, with the exception that I include Jeffries...out of curiosity where does he fit into your rankings???
01. Joe Louis 02. Muhammad Ali 03. Larry Holmes 04. Evander Holyfield 05. Mike Tyson 06. Lennox Lewis 07. George Foreman 08. Jack Dempsey 09. Rocky Marciano 10. Jack Johnson 11. Sonny Liston 12. Joe Frazier
For me, Johnson suffers from bad a head-to-head estimation, crappy title reign, dodgy results in said title reign and a general over-rating of his era. Still he comes in around number 12 for me due to my generosity.
Wasn't it last weak that Bodhi was trying to convince everyone that Holyfield should be rated above Tyson. Then he found out about what steroids were, and then found out that a certain Evan Fields could have been taken them. Now the man doesn't exist anywhere near his top tier list. As of today, my list is... with zero factor of H2H. Only accomplishments, resume, records, opposition, performances, consistency, skills/abilities. 1. Ali 2. Louis 3. Marciano 4. Foreman 5. Frazier 6. Holmes 7. Lewis 8. Johnson 9. Tyson 10. Dempsey ------------ 11. Holyfield 12. Liston 13. Willis 14. Patterson 15. Langford Truth be told: Big time wins and dominating fashion are important. Hence Frazier at #5, Foreman at #4 (While not having the most depth). A guy like Holmes certainly had the skills, but his resume isn't Earth Shattering. He has good and bad. He fractured belts and never unified. Got a bit lazy on his final run but did run 48-0. Had a good comeback career too. Longevity is important. Redemption, and re-proving yourself is great, as it's actually rare in HW championship fighting. Big men, big punches is a lasting effect. Big time losses in devastating fashion against C level fighters does a tremendous knock on your legacy for me. On my list, Lewis and Johnson are interchangable. Dempsey is hanging on a last thread. But if I'm sympathetic and nostalgic towards his legacy so I try appreciating that. His pre-title wins are good, as are his performances and the few defenses he has doesn't deserve him a spot... but he's still there. Facts of ESB: Liston brings polarized thoughts. Truthfully, he's overrated (Unless you over-factor H2H). As Jean Reno says in The Professional, "No discussion." Maybe I don't get it... but Jeffries is overrated. Someone needs to explain to me his significance, I have a lacking for Jeffries. I'm just not with it... is he really superior than say Patterson. Guy has a solid resume, and was a 2 time champion. Jeffries is 15-20 maybe top 15 material. Not top 10 certified. Holyfield might get underrated... maybe cause his CW days aren't counted. Maybe his inconsistency, maybe his lack of HW fights... maybe his 2000's career, maybe the roid accusations. All viable. Tyson is so up and down he's difficult to rate. His highs are high and his lows are low. He's bi-polar, literally for ranking and as a person. Factor both, and he's middle to lower tier on your Top 10 list. /End Ramble