Whose the most Era-Versatile Heavyweight?

Louis.

I also think Ali would have trouble against the smaller, crafty feinters as well as the accomplished glove blockers.

 

ALi
Lennox
Tyson

All 3 would dominate all but few HWs in history

 

Looking at your picks:

Louis would do verry well in any era with gloves IMHO.

Foreman would probably not have done so well in some eras when fights were set for longer distances and TKOs awarded infrequently. In a 20-45 rounder for example, people could spin the fight out to outlast him.

Johnsons skillset was prety timeless, but I still think there are issues. How well would he adapt to the pace of shorter fights and sustained combination punching. To what extent did he rely on the fact that his oponent had to pace themself?

 

Lewis
Louis
George Foreman

 

Imagine Foreman with smaller gloves. Or without a neutral corner rule ala willard dempsey?

 

Ali, Holyfield, Holmes, Foreman, Tyson and Lewis.

 

Muhammad Ali is probably the most obvious of the bunch... Evander Holyfield with his heart, conditioning and precision hitting would have been tough for anyone. Foreman had stamina issues, but they really only came into play in perhaps one or two fights in over 80 bouts, so I wouldn't count him out in most periods. Tyson would be brutal as would Lewis.

 

Not saying that you are necisarily wrong with these picks but I have a few issues here:

In Ali's case, I question how he would have fared in eras when fights were set for longer durations. His strategy of moving three steps to his opponents one, would not pay dividends in a 45 round fight which turned into a contest of who could outlast who.

With Lewis I would have the same concern. In an era of stamina contests the *****s in his armour would rapidly be found.

There have been Tyson style fighters who specilized in closing the show quickly since the dawn of gloved boxing. To be sucesful over a long period, they needed the ability to switch strategy six rounds into the fight, if the opening assult failed.

 

For sure he would dish out some serious devastation, but in any era there is going to be somebody who can take you the distance.

If the distance is 20 rounds then he could be in trouble.

 

If I had to pick 3:

1. Joe Louis: His skillset, sharp focus and consistency is the main reason why I give him a shot in any era. Even if he's outsized or outweighed Micheal Spinks, Roy Jones Jr. James, Toney, Tomasz Adamez and David Haye all coming from lower divisions to being part of the heavyweight elite either by beating top contenders, Alpha Champs or Champions they all showed that size doesn't matter. Skills matters. Ask Manny Pacquaio's opponents.

2. Mike Tyson: Easily top 3 in terms of Power at Heavyweight, easily top 3 in terms of speed at Heavyweight and with his steller chin and violent aggression he'd be a good candidate to dominate any era because frankly even in the era's of 45 rounds, not many fighters would have lasted 15 rounds against Tyson's aggression.

3. Lennox Lewis: He has the size, strength and power to be effective against anyone who fought in the gloved era. Not calling him unbeatable but I think he'd be a tall order (no pun intender) for anyone.

Honorable Mention:
Larry Holmes.

 

Jack Sharkey is a guy who would probably have done as well (or badly) as he did in his own era, in any other.

 

louis

 

Fighters adapt to the rules set, its like a mile specialist running a 10k, they run at a different pace but if they're great they can shine through