Teddy Atlas' top ten heavyweights of all time, do you agree? If not, what is your list??

Ali nor Holmes were as good boxers as Billy Conn, neither guy was also capable of moving the way he did BECAUSE they were 40lbs heavier… size isn’t the only advantage, Louis would defeat Ali for my 0.2 too savvy, the moments and close fights in the 60s he had, Bonavena, Frazier Norton, Lyle… yeah I’d say Louis gets him his gifts disguised a comparatively pedestrian boxer, Blackburn and Louis would see right through it the way Norton and Futch did.

 

Tunney at #7 is verging on the absurd. I'd struggle to have Dempsey ahead of the likes of Holmes and Frazier.

 

Right off the top I'd remove Tunney and Usyk from this list and replace them with Frazier and Liston. (After that adjustment I'd have to think about how to rank them 1 through 10 but removing Tunney and Usyk altogether is a no-brainer!)

PS--If I'm watching film of Mike Tyson at his overpowering mid-late 80's peak I might be inclined to sneak him in the top-10 list as well--(would have to ponder who to remove--possibly Johnson or Marciano.)

 

It's a testament to how great and special Usyk is that he doesn't need to be in a 'do or die'

Although Fury 1 was close and very competitive.

 

That's a really good point. But I'd love to see a Fury-Wilder 3 or Bowe-Holyfield I.

I do have to add that I ADORE do or die fighters (Holmes is a great example, Frazier, the abovementioned Holy).

 

Decent list....'cause it's close to mine

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


Usyk is still active, but I expect he'll make my list eventually.

 

Damn good list there. But I would bump Frazier or Tyson for Holyfield.

 

Louis
Ali
Holmes
Lewis
Wlad
Holyfield
Tyson
Usyk
Frazier
Vitali

 

I’m always torn w Wlad and Liston and both end up being in there occasionally.

 

If and when Usyk joins my list, either Wlad or Sonny will have to drop off.

 

Mine:
1. Ali
2. Louis
3. Holmes
4. Foreman
5. Frazier
6. Lewis
7. Holyfield
8. Marciano
9. Liston
10. Johnson

 

People don't seem to talk about it but at one point in the first Fury fight it looked like Fury had taken over and Usyk was heading for a loss. Fury really put some heat on him one round. That Usyk could turn it around, and pretty quickly, told me an awful lot about him. He's also fighting much bigger harder hitting guys than himself almost every outing at heavyweight. He's definitely got the stones and the mettle for mine. I do get where you are coming from tho.

 

Liston by a mile should be discarded down to like 15th… his best win is either Machen (a win he shared with 168lber Harold Johnson) or Patterson a guy known for not taking a punch and being very small…

 

Usyk and Tunney don't belong in the top 10 they don't have enough of a resume at Heavyweight.

Dempsey and Johnson I also wouldn't have in my top 10 but for the impact they had on the sport I can maybe understand it.

My personal top 10 in no order would be....

Ali
Holmes
Marciano
Louis
Lewis
Frazier
Wladimir
Tyson
Foreman
Frazier
Holyfield

Well that's actually 11 names....but I don't know who I would remove but those are the names that immediately come to mind for me.

 

Bob Swerski will take a Baker's Dozen!!

1.) Louis
2.) Ali
3.) Holmes
4.) Johnson
5.) Marciano
6.) Tyson
7.) Lewis
8.) Foreman
9.) Wlad
10.) Frazier
11.) Dempsey
12.) Holyfield
13.) Liston

My first attempt at putting Wlad in the Top 10. Do I feel shame?

Edit: Just caught a glimpse of a Holyfield-Wlad bout being the ultimate mish mash at heavyweight fantasy bouts. Mish mash meaning the most contrasting scenarios and outcomes. I see Holy brawling with a bigger guy afraid to get hit but same guy is powerful and holds on tight like a tiger!