The Ipswich Express Top 50 Heavyweights of All Time List

11. James J Jeffries "The Boilermaker"

19-1-2 (15)

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Best Wins: KO3 Peter Jackson, W20 & W25 Tom Sharkey, KO11 & KO8 Bob Fitzsimmons, KO23 & TKO10 James J Corbett.

Best Losses: D20 Joe Choynski, L15 Jack Johnson.


One of the most overlooked Heavyweights of all time, "The Boilermaker" was probably the most feared man on the planet at the beginning of the 1900s. He fought 9 Hall of Fame fighters. Sam Langford famously advertised that he would "fight any man in the world, except James Jeffries" in newspapers across the US.

Jeffries fought out of a crouch and possessed a leathal left hook. He became America's "Great White Hope" when taking on Jack Johnson, after 6 years of retirement.

He was trained by the former Welterweight and Middleweight champion, Tommy Ryan. He possessed excellent stamina. He won the title by knocking out Bob Fitzsimmons in the 11th round in 1899. He defended his title 7 times and toured Europe, boxing exhibitions and starring in movies, as was the norm of the time. After all the Heavyweight champion was the most famous man on earth.

An excellent body puncher, Jeffries broke the ribs of three opponents in title fights: Jim Corbett, Gus Ruhlin, and Tom Sharkey. His preparation for fights was meticulous. For the Fitzsimmons rematch he ran 23km a day, skipped for 2 hours, 20 minutes on the heavy bag, sparred 12 rounds and trained in wrestling!

It was this kind of training that allowed him to take a hellacious beating at the hands of Fitz for the first 7 rounds. Jeffries was cut and bleeding over both eyes, his nose was broken and cheeks cut to the bone. In the 8th round he turned the tide by landing a straight right to the body, followed by a left hook that knocked Fitzsimmons out cold.

After retiring for 6 years he made a comeback to fight Jack Johnson, but was punished via 15th round stoppage in Reno, Nevada in 1910.

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

 

10. Jack Dempsey "The Manassa Mauler"

66-6-11 (51)

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Best Wins: KO7 Jack Sharkey, KO2 Luis Firpo, W15 Tommy Gibbons, TKO6 & KO12 Bill Brennan, KO3 & W6 Billy Miske, KO3 Jess Willard.

Good Losses: Tunney 2 UD10, Miske D10

Jack Dempsey is a man who captured the imagination of the world during his time as the world's Heavyweight champion. His reputation spread across the globe as he stunning knock out victories piled up in quick succession. He was a super aggressive fighter whose crouching style allowed him to launch savage hooks to both the body and head of an opponent.

His 3 round demolition of Jess Willard is perhaps the most brutal beating a champion has received from a challenger. Dempsey sported Williard 58lbs! In the opening stanza he dropped Willard 7 times. He smashed his nose, removed several teeth, broke his jaw and cracked his skull. Willard was a bleeding mess but showed too much heart for his own good. Dempsey stopped him in the 3rd.

After winning the title, he defended it 6 times until he ran into Gene Tunney and was relieved of his title. His defence against Luis Firpo is one of the most incredible battles ever seen. Jack Dempsey was the epitomy of a raging fire inside the squared circle.

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

 

9. Rocky Marciano "The Brockton Blockbuster"

49-0 (43)

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Best Wins: KO2 Lee Savold, TKO6 Harry Matthews, TKO8 Joe Louis, KO13 & KO1 Joe Walcott, W15 & TKO8 Ezzard Charles, KO9 Archie Moore KO9, W10 & TKO11 Roland LaStarza, KO2 Harry Matthews.

Born Rocco Francis Marchegiano, he is boxing's most famous undefeated fighter. Young Rocky changed his last name to "Marciano" due to the fact a ring announcer in Providence couldn't pronounce his last name. He went just 8-4 as an amateur.

After victories over an ancient Joe Louis, Lee Savold and Harry Matthews, he earned a shot at Jersey Joe Walcott for the crown. Maricano was dropped in the first round and was trailing badly on points, receiving a lesson from the old master when he stopped Walcott with a single right hand in round 13.

He made sure there was no arguments over who was the better man in the rematch, stopping him in the first round. He defended his title a further 6 times, beating legends such as Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore before retiring in 1955, never again to lace up the gloves. He tragically died in a plane crash at the age of 45.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqM_X01BnfA[/ame]

 

8. Lennox Lewis "The Lion"

41-2-1 (32)

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Best Wins: TKO6 Vitali Klitschko, KO8 Mike Tyson, KO4 Hasim Rahman, W12 David Tua, W12 Evander Holyfield, KO1 Andrew Golota, W10 Ray Mercer, TKO6 Tommy Morrison, TKO7 Frank Bruno, W12 Tony Tucker, TKO2 Donovan Ruddock.

Best Losses: D12 Holyfield

Born in West Ham, London, to Jamaican parents, Lewis moved to Canada at the age of 12. He represent Canada at the 1988 Olympics, winning Gold. Upon turning professional, Lewis was an aggressive puncher early in his career, stopping the likes of Gary Mason, Mike Weaver and Tyrell Biggs. He rolled Razor Ruddock in two rounds and was later awarded the WBC belt for that performance when Riddick Bowe through it in a rubbish bin.

His first defence was a 12 round decision against Tony Tucker before he fought Frank Bruno in "The Battle of Britain". Bruno got the better of his young foe early, before Lewis stopped him in the 7th round.

In a stunning upset, he was stopped in 2 rounds by Oliver McCall. Lewis did beat the count but the referee waived it off. Lewis fought his way back up the rankings to the #1 position with the WBC, of which Mike Tyson was the champion. Tyson offered Lewis $4 million (still a record) to "step aside" so that he could instead fight Bruce Seldon. Lewis accepted on the previso that he fought Tyson next. When this was to be enforced, Tyson dropped his WBC belt. It is a move that is often forgotten by fight fans, Tyson fans in particular! Tyson went for the safer option of Evander Holyfield, who was deemed faded at that point in time.

Lewis gained his revenge over McCall in bizarre circumstances, beating him by TKO while McCall had a nervous breakdown during the fight. Finally Lewis and Holyfield met in the unification match the world was calling to see. Unfortunately it was a black eye for the sport, with Lewis doing enough to earn a decision in a fairly dour fight, but had to settle for a draw. The rematch was a more livlier and closer affair and it was Lewis who emerged victorious.

Lewis made a couple of defences against Mike Grant, Frans Botha and David Tua before succumbing to Hasim Rahman by knockout. It was the second time Lewis was defeated by an opponent he was meant to handle. Again, he stepped up to the plate and got his title back by a clean knockout in the 4th round.

Lewis bashed the faded Tyson over 8 one sided rounds before facing Vitali Klitschko in the final fight of his career. Lewis who weighed a career high 256lbs trailed early but opened the Ukrainian's face up with hard jabs and rights, stopping him on cuts in the 6th round.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUjC8W6iLEQ[/ame]

 

7. Jack Johnson "The Galveston Giant"

73-13-9 (40)

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Best Wins: W15 Sam Langford, W14 Tommy Burns, W6, W15 Joe Jeanette, KO20 & W20 x 2 Sam McVey, TKO9 Fireman Jim Flynn, KO2 Bob Fitzsimmons

Best Losses: D6 & D10 Jeanette, L20 Marvin Hart, D12 Peter Jackson.

Quite possibly the single most important athlete of the last century. No other fighter in history has had to endure what "The Gavelston Giant" went through. He managed to defeat the best fighters of his generation and somehow managed to live to tell the tale in those racially charged times. Considered by many experts to be one of the best defensive fighters of all time, he had enough punching power to keep anyone honest. He was taught the art of pugilism by the great Joe Choynski.

Unlike many fighters of that time, Johnson was predominantly a defensive boxer, capitalising on his opponents mistakes. He had a wicked right uppercut that he like to use while inside.

Johnson chased Tommy Burns around the world, demanding that the champion fight him. Eventually they fought on Boxing Day 1908 in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney. Johnson whipped Burns, with the police stopping the massacre in the 14th round. During the course of the fight, Johnson smiled to the crowd, knowing he had the better of his white opponent. After the fight, Johnson traveled up to Brisbane and attended the Milton Cemetary. It was there that he paid homage to the great Peter Jackson, who died in Roma, years before.

Johnson created controversy wherever he went, much to the dismay of white America. The term "Great White Hope" was coined, looking for a caucasian to beat him.

Former champion James Jeffries came out of retirement to fight Johnson, stating: "I feel obligated to the sporting public at least to make an effort to reclaim the heavyweight championship for the white race. . . . I should step into the ring again and demonstrate that a white man is king of them all". The fight took place on July 4, 1910 in front of 20,000 people and Johnson bashed Jeffries stopping him in the 15th. Again during the course of the bout Johnson smiled at a crowd that was baying for his blood. Instead it was Jeffries' face who was a mask of bloody gore. Race riots across America spread like wild fire upon news that Johnson had dismantled the former champion.


Johnson defended his title 8 times before being stopped in the 26th round by Jess Willard in Havana, Cuba in 1915. Johnson claimed that he threw the fight and in a famous picture, he is seen shielding his eyes from the blaring sun. It is pretty accepted though that Willard got the better of the champion.

Johnson fought until 1932 with mixed success. He died in 1946 after speeding away angrily from a diner that refused to serve him.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5GKxp6cibQ[/ame]

 

You can make a case for it I guess, but his best wins are over guys that were past their prime.

 

6. "Smokin'" Joe Frazier

32-4-1 (27)

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Best Wins: W15 Muhammad Ali, KO5 Jimmy Ellis, TKO7 & TKO5 Jerry Quarry, W12 Joe Bugner, W15 & 10 Oscar Bonavena, TKO4 George Chuvalo, KO6 Doug Jones, TKO10 Eddie Machen.

Best Losses: L12 & TKO14 Ali.

Frazier is the epitomy of a Philadelphia fighter. Rugged, tough, relentless and doesn't know the meaning of the word "quit". A 1964 Olympic medalist, Frazier quickly climbed the Heavyweight ranks. His style was to bob and weave, putting on an incredible amount of pressure all the while looking to unleash his bone jarring left hook to the head and liver.

He won the New York State Athletic Commission version of the title during Ali's enforced departure from the sport, by stopping Buster Mathis in 11 rounds. In 1970 he stopped Jimmy Ellis to gain outright recognition apart from those who still considered Ali as the champion.

Finally on the 8th of March, 1971 the pair met at Madison Square Garden, New York in the "Fight of the Century". It was Joe who emerged victorious, after decking Ali with perhaps the single most famous punch in boxing history, a left hook, in the final round. Frazier earned a unanimous decision and bragging rights over his fierce rival.

Frazier lost his title to the wrecking ball that is George Foreman. He was knocked down 6 times in 2 rounds but got up every time, ready to fight on. The man's courage knew no limits. He dropped a return match with Ali before rebounding with wins over Quarry and Ellis, the latter occurred in Melbourne.

His rubber match with Ali, the Thrilla in Manila is probably the greatest Heavyweight title fight ever. The pair pushed each other to the point of death in supressing heat. Frazier's eyes were slits but he continued to launch left hook after left hook in an attempt to beat his enemy. Finally Eddie Futch put an end to the carnage and refused to let Joe come out of the final round. He lost a rematch with Foreman and made a brief comeback in 1981 before putting his effort into training boxers.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGKe1M_a8Fk&feature=related[/ame]

 

5. Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield

43-10-2 (27)

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Best Wins: TKO8 Hasim Rahman, TKO8 Michael Moorer, WDQ3 & TKO11 Mike Tyson, W12 Riddick Bowe, W10 Ray Mercer, W12 Larry Holmes, W12 George Foreman, TKO8 Alex Stewart, TKO10 Michael Dokes, TKO7 Bert Cooper, KO3 Buster Douglas

Good Losses: L12 Nikolay Valuev, L12 & D12 John Ruiz, L12 Lennox Lewis, TKO8 & L12 Riddick Bowe.

Holyfield was the first man to win a Cruiserweight title and successfully rise and win the title at Heavyweight. He did so by crushing James "Buster" Douglas with a single shot in 1990. He defended his titles against Cooper (a late replacement after Tyson pulled out injured), Foreman, and Larry Holmes before engaging in a furious 12 round war with Riddick Bowe. Holyfield displayed the heart of a lion by choosing to go to war with the bigger man. But it was Bowe who earned the decision and annexed the titles.

The pair fought a heated rematch that included punching after the bell and was also interrupted by "the fan man". Holyfield boxed a little smarter on this occassion and earned a close decision. He lost his titles to Michael Moorer and after the fight was diagnosed with two heart conditions. He announced his retirement from the sport.

Holyfield met faith healer Benny Hinn and claimed that his heart condition had healed. He passed a battery of tests and beat Ray Mercer, knocking him down for the first time in his career. Holyfield went into the rubber match with Bowe with Hepatitus A. After knocking him down in the 6th round for the first time in his career. Holyfield looked to have no energy and was unable to finish his hurt opponent. It was Bowe who got the victory, stopping a listless Holyfield in the 8th round of a brutal encounter.

Holyfield was viewed as damaged goods when he faced Tyson in 1996. He was forced to undergo a battery of tests from the Mayo Clinic to be declared fit. There were fears for Holyfield's life entering the bout as a 25-1 underdog. Holyfield prepared by sparring with David Tua and was in superb shape. The Real Deal put on a clinic, bashing Tyson and fighting a disciplined fight. He dropped him with his left hook in the 6th and was teeing off when referee Mitch Halpern rescued a hapless Iron Mike in the 11th.

The world watch as the rematch built momentum. Tyson was again injured in training, forcing it to be postphoned. It eventually took place on 26th of June 1997 with Tyson self destructing.

Holyfield gained revenge on Michael Moorer, belting him all over the ring for Moorer's IBF belt. Moorer was sat down 5 times before being halted in the 8th. Holyfield got a gift against Lewis in the first fight and had the look of a fighter who was on his way out. The rematch was more competitive but Lewis got the decision.

Holyfield eventually beat John Ruiz for the WBA belt and thus making him the first and only 4 time champion in the history of the sport. He continues to fight on, well past his prime, due to monetary reasons. In 2008 he outboxed Valuev for his title but didn't receive the decision.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDRqelwI4Os&feature=related[/ame]

 

4. "Big" George Foreman

76-5 (68 )

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Best wins: W12 Lou Savarese, KO10 Michael Moorer, W10 Alex Stewart, TKO5 & TKO2 Joe Frazier, KO5 Ron Lyle, KO2 Ken Norton, TKO3 George Chuvalo, W10 & TKO10 Gregorio Peralta, TKO2 Bert Cooper, KO2 Adilson Rodriguez, TKO8 Pierre Coetzer.

Good Losses: L12 Shannon Briggs, L12 Evander Holyfield, L12 Jimmy Young & KO8 Muhammad Ali.

We perhaps never quite saw the best version of "Big" George Foreman. Imagine trying to combine the wrecking ball of a Heavyweight that we saw in his first "career" with the patient slugger from his "rebirth". A lethal concoction of brute force and aggressiveness mixed with will and stamina.

Belting Joe Frazier twice and giving Evander Holyfield plenty 20 years later is ample proof. The oldest ever Heayweight champion, he beat Moorer, a man 19 years his junior, a truly incredible feat.

Foreman possessed power that was truly capable of rendering a man unconscious with one punch. George Chuvalo recently likened it to getting hit by a trunk going 60 miles per hour. He won the title knocking out Joe Frazier in 2 rounds. An easy first round knockout of Jose Roman was followed by a 2nd round slaughtering of Ken Norton.

Foreman then suffered a stunning upset in the "Rumble in the Jungle", losing his title by way of 8th round KO to Muhammad Ali. After losing to Jimmy Young, Foreman saw a vision in his dressingroom that he believed was God communicating with him. He retired immediately from the sport until his 1987 comeback.

He fought Evander Holyfield for his title but dropped a 12 round decision. Finally he reclaimed his throne, disposing of Michael Moorer with a single right hand. He did so wearing the same design of trunks that he wore in the "Rumble in the Jungle" so many years before.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvDKYYpCkZ0[/ame]

 

3. Larry Holmes "The Easton Assassin"

69-6 (44)

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Best Wins: W12 Ray Mercer, W15 Carl Williams, W12 Tim Witherspoon, TKO13 Gerry Cooney, TKO3 Leon Spinks, TKO11 & W12 Earnie Shavers, TKO12 Mike Weaver, W15 Ken Norton.

Best Losses: L12 Oliver McCall, L12 Evander Holyfield, L15 Michael Spinks.

One of the greatest Heavyweight champions of all time. Holmes made 20 successful defences, second only to the great Joe Louis. His war with Ken Norton is one of the division's finest, and the "Easton Assassin" did it through heart, something he would show numerous times throughout his career.

His left jab is one of the best in the history of the sport. His right hand, nicknamed "Big Jack" was also an imposing weapon. Early in his career, he worked as a sparring partner for Ali, Frazier, Earnie Shavers, and Jimmy Young. It was here that a young Holmes mastered his craft.

Holmes belted Shavers for 12 rounds, earning a fight with the WBC champion Ken Norton. The pair met on the 9th of June 1978 in what was undoubtedly one of the greatest title fights ever. Holmes dug deep and despite a torn bicep, won a points decision over 15 rounds.

He beat Ali who was extremely faded, in 1980. It was a bout that the public wanted, but Holmes did not. Holmes then proceeded to clean out the division. There were close calls along the way against the likes of Witherspoon and Carl Williams, but Holmes proved himself to be one of the most dominant champions ever. He faced Gerry Cooney in 1982 and won a fight that divided America along race lines once again.

Holmes moved to 48-0 before being beaten by Michael Spinks. The return bout saw Spinks earning a disputed decision and Holmes retired. He was lured out by Mike Tyson for a quick pay day and was stopped. He returned to the ring in 1991 and eventually faced Holyfield for the title. This occurred after upseting leading contender Ray Mercer on points.

During the course of the bout Holmes turned to the cameras and shouted: "I ain't no Tommy Morrison," refering to Mercer's best win. He eventually lost a razor close decision to Oliver McCall for the WBC title, before retiring for good a few years later.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IupyEYB-27c[/ame]

 

2. Joe Louis "The Brown Bomber"

65-3 (51)

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Best Wins: KO11 & W15 Jersey Joe Walcott, KO13 Billy Conn, W15 & TKO8 Arturo Godoy, TKO1 Max Schmeling, TKO6 Lou Nova, TKO11 & W10 Bob Pastor, W15 Tommy Farr, KO8 James Braddock, KO4 Max Baer.


Considered by many to be the greatest Heavyweight of all time, "The Brown Bomber" made an incredible 25 defences of his crown, over nearly a dozen years. An excellent combination puncher, with every single shot designed to break an opponent down. His jab was vicious and his right cross separated many boxers from their senses. Ring Magazine calls him the greatest puncher of all time. Louis dispatched so many challengers to his title, they became known as "The Bum Of The Month Club". He was an excellent rematch fighter, the most famous of which was his one round blitz of Schmeling.

Even past his best, he was still good enough to beat contenders such as Jimmy Bivens and Lee Savold. His career was eventually ended by Marciano. Louis was respected by all Americans, something which can't be said of many African-American athletes during those times. Reporter Jimmy Cannon once wrote that, "Louis was a credit to his race ... the human race."

Louis's championship reign lasted 140 consecutive months, during which he participated in 27 championship fights, 26 championship fights during his reign. In addition to his accomplishments inside the ring, Louis uttered two of boxing's most famous observations: "He can run, but he can't hide" and "Everyone has a plan until they've been hit."

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sv1ph-Ecf0[/ame]

 

1. Muhammad Ali "The Greatest"

56-5 (37)

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Best Wins: W15 Leon Spinks, W15 Earnie Shavers, W15 & W12 Ken Norton, W12 & TKO14 Joe Frazier, W12 & W15 Joe Bugner, TKO11 Ron Lyle, KO8 George Foreman, TKO3 & TKO7 Jerry Quarry, W12 & W15 George Chuvalo, TKO15 Oscar Bonavena, KO1 & TKO7 Sonny Liston.

Best Losses: L12 Norton, L15 Frazier.


Well we've arrived at number one and I guess there's no great surprises. I'm not going to go on all day about Ali, everyone knows all there is to know...

The self proclaimed "Greatest", Ali certainly lived up to the boast. His resume speaks for itself. He dominated the Heavyweight division during its strongest years. Ali had speed and footwork unlike any Heavyweight. He also possessed a tremendous chin, taking bombs from the divisions biggest hitters in Liston, Frazier, Foreman and Shavers.

First claimed the title when he shocked the world by beating Sonny Liston. His exile eventually lead to "The Fight of the Century" with Joe Frazier, in which Joe took a 15 round decision. He regained the title by again shocking the world by stopping the unbeaten Foreman in Zaire.

His rubber match with Frazier, "The Thrilla in Manila" is possibly the greatest Heavyweight fight of all time. It is simply 14 rounds of unbridled fury, with both fighters raining hell on each other.

Ali went on to become the only fighter at that point in time to win the title 3 times, when he beat Leon Spinks in a rematch.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De2McNcuV8E[/ame]