Which decade was the strongest for the heavyweight Divison?

Pretty deep legacy wise. People rail on about the 70s and 90s which were the best top heavy wise. But deep? Not so deep. I like my 50s list which all ten are top at a minimum top 40.
50s
10) Machen
9) Folley
8) Harold Johnson
7) Ingo
6) Moore
5) Charles
4) Patterson
3) Walcott
2) Liston
1) Marciano

 

80s should of been one of the strongest but we all know why it wasn't

70s use to be considered the gold standard and is probably the best or close to it

I remember people at the time absolutely thinking the 90s was a weak heavyweight era. I did not think so and time has thankfully been more kind to it.

I think some eras can get a bad rap if champions go on a long dominant stretch. I think when that happens it can be a little harder to evaluate the division. Was it a poor division or was the champion so dominant he made it look like a poor division?

 

The common factor in the consensus strongest decades, seems to be the best fights getting made.

this suggests that other very strong decades were possible, but never happened.

 

Idk about that…maybe for the 70s (excluding Holmes n Foreman a big one)
90s many fights that could have and should have happened weren’t made.
Bowe v Lewis
Bowe v Tyson
Lewis v Holy earlier
Lewis v Tyson earlier
Tyson v Tua
Holy v Morrison
Moorer v Lewis
Foreman v Bowe
Foreman v Lewis
Foreman v Tyson
Bowe v Moorer
Can probably list a dozen more of the lesser fighters. 80s on to much politics in the sport w these alphabet titles. Made the era seem stronger then it was.

 

Very cool @Gazelle Punch

 

The 90s are the strongest era, people were nuts thinking otherwise.

 

Since the 1890s, and 1910s have been mentioned, I'll add the 1900's had a pretty good group of heavyweights too.

Jack Johnson, James J Jeffries, Bob Fitzsimmons, Sam McVea, Gus Ruhlin, Denver Ed Martin, Jack Root, Marvin Hart, Tommy Burns, Kid McCoy, James J Corbett, Philadlpha Jack O'Brien

 

The 70's followed by the 90's

 

Can't see the logic in that. Sure some could have been a a bit better but you need the core ingredients to make a stew.

 

Almost forgot old Louis and Cleveland Williams as well on the honorable mention list

 

90s for me but its close with the 70s probably just comes down to having grown up in the 90s so theres nostalgia for me

 

Loving your taste in music, Mike. I'm a slightly different generation to you but am old school. Just been listening to The Temptations - David Ruffin is my favourite male vocal ever but Marvin's not far behind. My first dance when I married Mrs Ezzard was Marv and Tammi's version of Aint no Mountain High Enough and I wore a bespoke mohair suit. We also had Al Green's Lets Get Married and L-O-V-E on the pre-wedding playlist for when the guests arrived. My dad is a huge Al fan. He had a better day than me.

And I agree it is the 70s too although the 60s has a good case, as much of the 70s early greatness was based in guys who'd made their names in the 60s. The 90s was great but I can't get round the fact that two of the stars of the 70s were still able to compete in the 90s. Everything since the 90s has munched terribly though both in terms of excitement and skills but I think that has been the case throughout the sport not just in terms of the heavies. But that's a whole new debate.

Right. I'm going to pop over to youtube and have me some of Philly's finest. Not Smokin' Joe. Teddy Pendergrass tonight. Keep well yourself.

 

90's!

Lead by Holyfield. He had to fight them all, pretty much. With some super heavyweights sprinkled in.

 

The other way around

 

The strongest era should have a top ten all in the top 50 plus a strong cast in the background. Plus it should have most of those guys having met each other. 90s fails that last point miserably. They also don’t have a top ten in the top 50. Front loaded like the 70s for sure.