Top 10 heavyweights divided into two distinct timespan

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dmt, Sep 11, 2025.


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  1. Gudetama

    Gudetama Active Member Full Member

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    (Pre-1958)
    1. Louis
    2. Marciano
    3. Dempsey
    4. Johnson
    5. Jeffries
    6. Wills
    7. Charles
    8. Walcott
    9. Langford
    10. Tunney
    ... Sullivan was next in line.

    (1959 onwards)
    1. Ali
    2. Lewis
    3. Holmes
    4. Foreman
    5. Liston
    6. Tyson
    7. Usyk
    8. Holyfield
    9. Frazier
    10. Bowe
    ... Wlad was next in line.
     
    Gudetama, Sep 12, 2025
    Gudetama, Sep 12, 2025
    #16
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  2. thistle

    thistle Boxing Junkie

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    List TOP...

    Bareknuckle Champions & Contenders
    Early Gloved Era Champions & Contenders - 1930
    Classic Era Champions & Contenders - 1990

    S-HW Era Champions & Contenders

    then Rate each group as you please Era - Era
    then Rate fighters per Era
    then Cross Fighters - Era's

    then compare with S-HW's to the Greats P4P then H2H.
     
    thistle, Sep 12, 2025
    thistle, Sep 12, 2025
    #17
  3. Overhand94

    Overhand94 Active Member Full Member

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    Post 1958 :
    Ali
    Holmes/Foreman
    Tyson/Holyfield/Lewis
    Frazier
    Wlad
    Liston
    Patterson
     
    Overhand94, Sep 12, 2025
    Overhand94, Sep 12, 2025
    #18
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  4. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Love the dynamic
    1 Louis
    2 Marciano
    3 Johnson
    4 Dempsey
    5 Langford
    6 Charles
    7 Willis
    8 Walcott
    9 Patterson
    10 Archie Moore

    1) Ali
    2 Lewis
    3 Foreman
    4 Frazier
    5 Tyson
    6 Wlad
    7 Holmes
    8 Liston
    9 Holyfield
    10 Usyk
     
    Gazelle Punch, Sep 12, 2025
    Gazelle Punch, Sep 12, 2025
    #19
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  5. Man_Machine

    Man_Machine Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    1892 to 1958

    1. Joe Louis
    2. Rocky Marciano
    3. Jack Johnson
    4. Jack Dempsey
    5. Sam Langford
    6. Harry Wills
    7. Ezzard Charles
    8. Floyd Patterson
    9. James J. Corbett
    10. Max Schmeling


    1959 to present...

    1. Muhammad Ali
    2. Larry Holmes
    3. Lennox Lewis
    4. George Foreman
    5. Joe Frazier
    6. Mike Tyson
    7. Evander Holyfield
    8. Sonny Liston
    9. Wlad K
    10. Ken Norton
     
    Man_Machine, Sep 12, 2025
    Man_Machine, Sep 12, 2025
    #20
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  6. Spreadeagle

    Spreadeagle Active Member Full Member

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    Good thread and good post.
     
    Spreadeagle, Sep 12, 2025
    Spreadeagle, Sep 12, 2025
    #21
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  7. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    How is Sonny Liston ahead of Usyk or Holyfield

    Most overrated heavyweight on here
     
    Joeywill, Sep 12, 2025
    Joeywill, Sep 12, 2025
    #22
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  8. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    yes
     
    mr. magoo, Sep 12, 2025
    mr. magoo, Sep 12, 2025
    #23
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  9. themaster458

    themaster458 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    1892 to 1958 don't know enough about the era I'll just do top 5
    1. Joe Louis
    2. Rocky Marciano
    3. Jack Johnson
    4. Ezzard Charles
    5. Jack Dempsey
    1959 to present
    1. Muhammad Ali
    2. Wladimir Klitschko
    3. Lennox Lewis
    4. Larry Holmes
    5. Mike Tyson
    6. Evander Holyfield
    7. George Foreman
    8. Joe Frazier
    9. Oleksandr Usyk
    10. Vitali Klitschko
     
    themaster458, Sep 12, 2025
    themaster458, Sep 12, 2025
    #24
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  10. Spreadeagle

    Spreadeagle Active Member Full Member

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    1892-1958

    1) Joe Louis
    2) Jack Johnson
    3) Jersey Joe Walcott
    4) Ezzard Charles
    5) Sam Langford
    6) Jack Dempsey
    7) Rocky Marciano
    8) Floyd Patterson
    9) Max Baer
    10) Max Schmeling

    1959-present

    1) Muhammad Ali
    2) Lennox Lewis
    3) Larry Holmes
    4) Sonny Liston.
    5) Vitali Klitschko
    6) George Foreman
    7) Joe Frazier
    9) Mike Tyson
    10) Wladimir Klitschko

    I was very tempted to put Oleksandr Usyk in at no 10.
    I suspect that Usyk will eventually be in a lot of folks' top 10
    heavyweight ATGS,including mine.
     
    Spreadeagle, Sep 12, 2025
    Spreadeagle, Sep 12, 2025
    #25
    dmt likes this.
  11. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    I think its more based on our perception of his ability. By all accounts, he was a massive puncher. Yes, majority of his opponents were smaller but guys like Foreman who sparred with him said he was amongst the hardest punchers they had ever shared a ring with.

    You have a guy like Liston who genuinely had close to 10/10 power. He had long arms. His reported reach of 84 inches is probably an overstatement but he had freakishly long arms. Probably around 81-82 inches. His jab was terrific. He had a devastating left hook and a good hard right. He could box well.

    He was nearly as powerful as a young George Foreman but with considerably better boxing skills. I think his power and skills would help him even more vs bigger slower heavyweights of the modern era.
     
    dmt, Sep 12, 2025
    dmt, Sep 12, 2025
    #26
  12. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    louis
    marciano
    johnson
    dempsey
    jeffries
    langford
    wills
    sharkey
    charles
    patterson

    ali
    holmes
    lewis
    wlad
    usyk
    foreman
    frazier
    holyfield
    tyson
    liston
     
    mattdonnellon, Sep 12, 2025
    mattdonnellon, Sep 12, 2025
    #27
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  13. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He fought an elite heavyweight twice and quit both times. Everything else is Bigfoot mythology
     
    Joeywill, Sep 12, 2025
    Joeywill, Sep 12, 2025
    #28
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  14. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Mercer is a guy who lost to Ferguson and nearly lost to Ossi Occasio. He.was a flat-footed stalker with good power, a great chin, and nothing special.
     
    catchwtboxing, Sep 12, 2025
    catchwtboxing, Sep 12, 2025
    #29
  15. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    He was also a dude who gave prime Lewis his toughest fight. Gave Holyfield a good fight too. Dude could fight but was prone to having off nights.
     
    dmt, Sep 12, 2025
    dmt, Sep 12, 2025
    #30
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