Louis and Ali are the top two heavyweights, who else could have been?

Sure Patterson, ok I can buy that. But Liston?? That is a big time gap, 4 or 5 years down the road from 55. Marciano would be reaching 36 or 37. I think that would be too much to ask for him, past his prime to overcome a near prime Liston.

 

I know. Worth shouting it out though. If he were to somehow pull it out (highly unlikely), then retire undefeated, he would be 1 or 2.

 

But still, I dont think Marciano needs to wait around for 5 years for Liston, to be rank in the top 2.

That would be like asking Louis to wait around to defend his title vs Marciano after beating Walcott and Charles in defenses. Tunney to wait around for Louis after cleaining up the early 30's by 32 or so. I think all Marciano needed to relly do was beat Patterson perhaps. Not sure what victorys over Jackson, Ingo and co would mean, but that would be just beating these guys and what?? wait for 5 years for Liston?

 

Marciano because mainly being undefeated is undeniable. Tyson or Bowe with some guidance could of made a run at it no doubt.

 

Rocky Marciano belongs with Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis as the best heavyweights of all time.
others who could have been
1. Lennox Lewis. Beat everyone he faced, but did not have that air of invincibility to him.
2. Mike Tyson. 1986-1988 Mike Tyson would have a good chance to beat any heavyweight ever. Outside the rings hurt him inside the ring.
3. Larry Holmes. Only Louis defended his tittle more times and only Marciano won more without a loss. Had one of the best Jabs of all time at any weight.
4. Jack Johnson. I think only Tyson and Ali had better defenses than Johnson. I would rate him highre if he defended against other top black heavyweights. (I think he had one defense against another black heavyweight but I don't think he was a top tear guy.)
5. Jack Dempsey. Nothing to complane about as far as what he could do in the ring but like Johnson should have fought top Black contenders.
6. Joe Frazier. 2 losses to George Foreman and Muhammad Ali hurt his standing.
7. George Foreman. 2 time heavyweight champion. Beat Frazier twice. Pulled off one of the bigest upsets when he beat Michael Moorer in 1994.
8. Sonny Liston. Talent wise as good as any heavyweight there has been.
9. Riddick Bowe. Should have fought Lennox Lewis 1992-1995. Bowe would have won. Lewis peeked latter and in retospect it would have been one of the best wins in the division's history.

 

Agreed. If Larry beat say, Page when they were supposed to fight, Spoon in a rematch and say Thomas i'd have him #2. Those 3 fights would be enough for me. I have him #4 as is. A solid #4.

 

I can definitely handle someone bracketing Marciano with those two. The man was never beaten and i think he beat almost all worth beating in his day.

 

Mike Tyson

 

Holmes(may be Ali!!!),Johnson,Rocky(heart),Lewis!!!:happy

 

Sullivan, if he had been more disciplined.

Jeffries, if he had been willing to forgo the color line and done well against Johnson and the rising black heavyweights.

Johnson, if he hadn't opted for soft(er)-touch challengers, and kept in better shape.

Dempsey, if he'd kept busy and fought /beat Wills and gotten past Tunney.

Marciano .... he had a funny career: late start, retired while still formidable. I don't want to leave him out.

I think that, if any of the above guys

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-- as opposed to

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-- 'top two', then it's Johnson. However, that doesn't necessarily mean I favor him over the others for the #3 spot.

Edit 1/26: I'll throw in Holmes, too. He didn't have too much push behind him ... in some circumstances, he might have gotten to the top-crust a bit earlier and accomplished even more before he started to (very gradually) slip.

 

I don't agree. Their resumes are a notch above the rest, and are enough in themselves.

They are, for example, both in a class for themselves when it comes to wins over ranked opposition. If you add Louis's impressive rise to the top and longevity up there, and Ali's wins over Liston and Foreman to that there really is no discussion IMO.

 

foreman.. had he not retired, he would have been rather dominant in the 80´s.. he could have beaten ali in a rematch, a past prime ali, but still have gotten the win.. in the 80´s the only other fighters who would be hard for foreman, would be holmes and tyson.. had he not retired, his longevity would have been quite impressive..

all speculation of course, but had he remained focused, im inclined to believe he would have at the top for a long long time..

 

If Marciano had started as a pro some 5 years earlier, taken the title from Louis in 47-48, defended it against younger versions of Walcott and Charles, and about 10 more contenders in total, before retiring undefeated he would look a nice bet for breaking into the Louis/Ali echolon.