The Ipswich Express Top 50 Heavyweights of All Time List

19. Max Schmeling "The Black Uhlan of the Rhine"

56-10-4 (40)

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Best Wins: KO7 Hein Domgoergen, TKO9 Johnny Risko, W15 & W12 Paulino Uzcudun, DQ4 Jack Sharkey, TKO15 Young Stribling, TKO12 Joe Louis, KO1 Adolf Heuser.

Best Losses: L15 Jack Sharkey, D12 Paulino Uzcudun, KO by 10 Max Baer.

Max Schmeling was viewed by American fight fans as a Jew hating invader and a puppet of Adolf Hitler. He was cast by the Nazi party as a symbol of Ayran strength. In truth he was neither of these things. Schmeling was a top shelf boxer who was never a member of the Nazi party and in fact saved the lives of two Jewish children by helping them hide in his house. He later served as an elite paratrooper during the war.

Fighting Sharkey for the title, he backed him into a corner, when he was struck with a low blow. The referee disqualified Sharkey and Schmeling became the only fighter to win the Heavyweight title on a foul. He successfully defended his title with a 15th round stoppage over Young Stribling.

Sharkey would claim his revenge in the return bout, earning a disputed split decision to claim the Heavyweight throne. Perhaps Schmeling's most famous victory came in a non-title bout in 1936 when he stopped 24-0 Joe Louis in the 12th round. The rematch in 1938 was a fight that captured the imagination of the entire world. Billed as USA v Germany and every other connotation you can think of, Louis avenged his defeat with a crushing first round knockout.

Schmeling launched a brief comeback after the war, with a little success. He then ran a Coca Cola factory, ensuring his financial stability. When the great Joe Louis passed away, it was Schmeling who paid for his one time rival and life long friend's funeral. Schmeling himself remained a big fight fan up until his passing at the age of 99 in 2005.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lihT_ewxVko[/ame]

 

18. Ken Norton "The Black Hercules"

42-7-1 (33)

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Best Wins: KO9 Henry Clark, W12 Muhammad Ali, TKO7 Boone Kirkman, TKO5 Jerry Quarry, TKO1 Duane Bobick, KO5 Lorenzo Zannon, W15 Jimmy Young, W10 Tex Cobb.

Best Losses: L12 & L15 Muhammad Ali, L15 Larry Holmes.

Ken Norton began boxing while in the United States Marine Corps, compiling a 24/2 amateur record. He turned professional and in a stunning upset beat Muhammad Ali by a split decision, breaking his jaw in the process. Ali won the rematch in a close fight and it seems that Norton simply had a style that gave Ali trouble. They would end up fighting a rubber match at Yankee Stadium with Ali winning a very close decision that many had for Norton.

Norton was a front foot boxer/fighter who used a "cross arm defence". His left arm protected his body and his right arm around his jaw. It was a unique style that was mastered by Archie Moore.

Norton beat Jimmy Young in a WBC title eliminator. He was awarded the belt outright when Leon Spinks was stripped for facing Ali in a return bout, rather than Norton. Norton was the first man to be "awarded" the world title, the WBC later did the same with Lennox Lewis.

In his first defence he was beaten in a 15 round split decision by Larry Holmes. Quite simply, this is one of the greatest fights in the history of boxing, let alone the Heavyweight division. Both men wailed away on each other, with many momentum swings. It is a fight that should be viewed by every fight fan.

Norton fought on with moderate success, his career ending after he was beaten by Gerry Cooney. In 1986 he was almost killed in a car crash. Norton was also originally billed to play the role of Apollo Creed in the Rocky movies.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrhF8MNwMBM[/ame]

 

17. Sam Langford "The Boston Tar Baby"

203-46-52 (129)

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Best Wins: KO7, W10, W12 x 2, W15 x 2, W20 Joe Jeanette, W 10 x 2, KO13, TKO11 & W20 x 2 Sam McVey, KO19 & KO14 Harry Wills, KO5 Jack O'Brien, W6 Stanley Ketchel, W20 & W15 x 3 Peter Jackson.

Best Losses: TKO7, KO6, L8 x 2, L10 x 5, L12, L15 x 2, L20, D6 & D10 Harry Wills, D10 George Godfrey, L12, L20, D10 x 2, D12 & D20 x 4 Sam McVey, TKO8, L10, L12, D6, D10, D12 x 2 Joe Jeanette, L15 Jack Johnson.

Known as "The Boston Tar Baby," "The Boston Bonecrusher," and "The Boston Terror," Langford is probably the greatest fighter to never win a world title. He fought the best from Lightweight up to Heavyweight, he weighed 185lbs (84kg) in his prime, often giving up a lot of weight to his opponents.

Jack Johnson refused to defend his Heavyweight title against Langford, citing that he couldn't raise a $30,000 guarantee. Langford was however considered the most dangerous contender for the crown. Langford was forced to fight other black fighters of his day, including facing Harry Wills on 17 seperate occasions.

Films exist of Langford fighting Fireman Jim Flynn and Bill Lang. One story characterizing his career involved Langford walking out for the 8th round and touching gloves with his opponent. "What's the matter, Sam, it ain't the last round!" said his mystified opponent. "Tis for you son," said Langford, who promptly knocked his opponent out.

Heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey said: "The hell I feared no man. There was one man I wouldn't fight because I knew he would flatten me. I was afraid of Sam Langford".

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SvbTck039Y[/ame]

 

16. Harry "The Black Panther" Wills

81-10-4 (51)

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Best Wins: W4 Willie Meehan, W10x5, W8, W12, W15 x 2, W20, TKO7 & KO6 Sam Langford, W8, W10, W12 & KO8 Joe Jeanette, KO5 & W12 Sam McVey, W12 Luis Firpo, KO2 x 2 & KO3 Jeff Clark.


Best Losses: D6, D10, KO19, KO14, Sam Langford, L20, L10 & D6 Sam McVey, D10 Joe Jeanette.

Wills is perhaps the fighter who most famously suffered from "the colour line". He was the number one contender for Jack Dempsey's crown but never got the opportunity to fight for it. He chased a fight with Dempsey from 1920-1926 and despite both fighters signing a contract, the bout never took place. This was due to Dempsey not receiving his $100,000 advance.

He battled with Langford an incredible 22 times as a result of coloured fighters having to fight each other, while being ducked by whites. Also ranked in the Ring's Top Punchers. Wills cited his inability to land a Dempsey fight as the most disappointing aspect of his career. He remained convinced that he would've beaten him.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBOUmkoI44w[/ame]

 

Hey mate. Essentially quality of opposition ranks highly for me. I am of the belief that a great fighter is a great fighter, no matter what era. I think that the truly great fighters are adaptable.

So you might see someone like Vitali Klitschko ranked well below someone like I dunno, Johnson for instance, despite Klitschko no doubt having the ability and size to beat him. But when you compare the quality of opposition between the two, I couldn't rank Vitali over Johnson.