Which Heavy Champ was the toughest?

Primo Carnera, the fights against Joe Louis and Max Baer, primo got his hard repetivly, went down but got up for more, I think he was down 11 times vs Louis.....Tommy Burns at 5"7 hung in there with Jack Johnson before the cops stopped it in the 14th, I heard Tommy had a lot of heart.

 

I hate to say it, but I have to give it to Jeffries. Surviving shots with small gloves like he did, definetely took some toughness. I would place Ali at second.:good

 

Though nothing more than British Champ, honorable mention goes to Don Cockell for that beating he took in San Francisco.

 

Jeffries is the first name that springs to mind.

Other names worth mentioning are Dempsey, Tunney, Louis, Marciano, Ali, Frazier, Holmes, Hollyfield.

 

Jeffries is certainly a good pick, although it might have helped that the big punchers he faced were small, Fitz and Choynski, or at least smallish, Sharkey. But he clearly survived plenty of damage. He fought on to victory twice with broken noses.

Marciano and Dempsey deserve a mention, although their defenses were good enough to usually keep them from taking a sustained beating.

Max Baer had a poor defense and is close to the top when it comes to taking it. He gets hit a lot of clean shots on the films of his fights.

Braddock is rarely mentioned, but he seems to really have been able to take it. Louis smashed him to a pulp before he finally collapsed.

Jess Willard is another, like Baer, who could take an awful pounding and still be in the fight.

And Foreman, Holmes, and Holyfield among the recent champions.

And Ali could stand up to a pounding better than anyone.

 

I would like to mention Riddick Bowe. He may have had a weak mentality, but he always gave it all. Seeing him take that horrific beating against Golota was just insane.... especially when at the end he lay on the stretcher, knowing his career was over... he had it coming though.

 

Tommy Morrison beat Joe Hipp with a broken jaw and hand.

But then again, should you really be going life and death with Joe Hipp?

 

Come on guys, NO ONE is tougher than SMOKIN' JOE FRAZIER

 

Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield.

 

I think Marciano had to be tough the most often. He cut easily, and had to take lots of punches to get in close and win a fight. He showed his toughness in his first match with Walcott where his eye was shut and he took jab after jab for thirteen rounds. He was equally tough in his second match aghainst Charles when he had a serious nose injury and his corner wanted to stop the fight.

Burns, Schmelling, Jefferies, Braddock and Frazier also a mention.

 

Marciano. It just seems he could not be discouraged. Toughness is to never stop believing you have what it takes to win. He had that quality about him. Nothing was going to deter him.

 

You said it. :good

no. 2 would be Jeffries with Holyfield at No. 3.