Larry Merchant's Top Ten All Time Heavies

When was this from ?

 

He's ninety three ... it could be from ten years ago ...

 

Not bad at all! I wouldn't put Larry above Joe Louis, and Holy's a little low imo.

 

Has Dempsey and Marciano way too high also I would include Wlad somewhere in there but otherwise list is fine

 

He has 8 of my 10 including the top three, I just have Louis and Holmes reversed. The only ones not in my 10 are Holyfield and Dempsey and I have them at 11 and 12. Absolutely defensible list IMO.

 

Not terrible, although ranking Louis as anything but #1 or #2 is questionable. At the least to make the snub of Louis not as bad, swap Holmes and Lewis on that list.

 

Lennox Lewis should be second, I’d swap him with Holmes

 

True, but would that change anything on this list? He might change his mind, of course, but no fighter has come along in the last ten years to enter this list.

 

Very good.

 

We share the same top 4 (in slightly different order) and there are justifications for all the rest. Not a bad list.

 

And then, in 2024, Holmes became a very overrated fighter.

 

Yes I think it's possible today he might think a prime Tyson Fury, Joshua or Usyk might defeat a Dempsey or Marciano, pushing them out of his top ten.

 

Holmes a bit high but excepting Dempsey he's got all the right names.

 

I consider lists without Wlad in top 10 as poor in most cases but I respect Merchant and it’s a solid list otherwise. Outside of Dempsey whom no longer cracks my top 10 it’s solid. Obviously Holmes should not be over Louis but Merchant was in his own prime as a reporter during Holmes reign and probably holds a special place for him. Good list

 

I am inspired to have a go of my own.
I’ve never done this it won’t be very good be warned. I’m only doing 8 but note I find all of 5-8 very close.

1. Joe Louis
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Larry Holmes
4. Wladimir Klitschko
5. Oleksandr Usyk
6. Evander Holyfield
7. Lennox Lewis
8. George Foreman