The guys that made up the heavyweight rankings in the 50's. Fighters like, Walls Baker Henry Norkus Moore Charles Walcott Louis if you want Gardner Williams Lastarza Wallace Slade Sys Oma Buccceroni Layne Satterfield Bivins just about Valdes Johnson How many of them would achieve a top ten ranking at HEAVYWEIGHT if they chose to compete in the division as it stands today? No hypothetical," if they bulked up on whatever ," Them as they actually were.
I'm having a hard time picturing any of em doing great in this day and age tbh. Guys like Walcott, Charles and Moore, ATGs but size wise just to small to be successful.
Depends on your definition of success Walcott, Patterson, Ingo, Charles, Marciano, Williams and perhaps Layne would all find themselves on the top 10. Marciano, being the best of that group, would become champ against anyone. So could Walcott. Patterson could beat AJ imo. Charles would beat Ruiz and Wilder. If you wanna throw in 1959 Sonny Liston I the mix i think he beats the champs too.
80 pounds of lard isn't a benefit, Walcott had footwork also , Ruiz footwork wise is a plodder next to Joe
They're kind of small. On the other hand, today's HW division kind of sucks. I'd say they do better than the "size is everything" pundits think. How well, is beyond my ken.
In the Olympic tryouts, Frazier who was 196 pounds fought the 295 pound Buster Mathis and was extremely competitive.