Larry Merchant's Top Ten All Time Heavies

“OK, I probably won't be around for much longer, so here it is - my list of the best* heavyweights of all time:
10. Joe Frazier
9. George Foreman
8. Mike Tyson
7. Evander Holyfield
6. Jack Dempsey
5. Rocky Marciano
4. Lennox Lewis
3. Joe Louis
2. Larry Holmes
1. Muhammad Ali
*Taking into account technical ability and achievement. Obviously the list might look a little different if it was based on them fighting each other.”
- LARRY MERCHANT

 

There's been much, much worse

 

Is this recent?

 

To judge on “technical ability & achievement,” you must really like the former category to find a way to place Tyson above Foreman.

 

The phrase, “I probably won’t be around much longer,” would suggest so.

 

I don't agree with it all. But I like Merchant and I think it's a reasonable and understandable list. Surprised he had Lewis so high (as in I wouldn't have expected him to place Lewis top 5)

 

I like the Top 5, interesting.

 

I don’t mind the list but Holmes at 2 seems a bit much.

 

To put it in perspective, this list could have been 3 years old and he still would have been in his 90s

 

Like who, Pacheco?

 

I think he and Louis should swap places.

 

Definitely, at 93 your not thinking TOO far ahead

 

I’d have a lot less problem w that. I don’t even think he should be three but I at least get that argument. Having him ahead of Louis makes no sense

 

Yeah Holmes is too high. Surprised that Tommy Burns isn't on the list as Merchant saw a couple of his fights.