Ali beat the best opposition in title matches. Who's #2?

nice one:goodi don't like lewis now you've reminded me of that

 

Holyfield SUCCESSFULLY defended the Heavyweight title against (or beat the following in title bouts):


George Foreman
Larry Holmes
Mike Tyson
Lennox Lewism (a draw is a successful defense)
Riddick Bowe
Michael Moorer


I think that deserves 2nd place (or thereabouts)

 

C'mon, this is a stretch?! Holy has a solid case for inclusion in this thread without needing to tart up his resume.
And if you're giving Holy the ghosts of Larry n George, we'll certainly be giving big ol Lenny the benefit of Holy and Tyson.

But, overall I think Evander AND Lennox both have big big claims in this thread which is feels a bit odd in that they almost shared an era. Holy got the best of one end of the era, Lewis the far end, and arguably the middle.

 

Holyfield beat Vaughn Bean too !

Ali's not my number 1. But I'm not sure who is.

 

Holyfield. His win over prime Bowe, past his best but still dangerous Tyson and an older Foreman (who later won the title) IMO put him up there.

 

Plus Old Holmes, who later deserved the decision against McCall for the WBC title.

 

I think the third one should be between Louis and Lewis IMO. Louis did beat Schmeling, a very dangerous Baer, and future champion Walcott. Lewis beat an older but still good Holyfield, a completely eroded Tyson, and some other good contenders like Tua, Ruddock etc.

 

Let's just say I disagree, considering Vitaly was in his prime (while for example Charles had lost 2 of his 4 previous fights).

 

Baer wasn't a title fight.

 

Marciano and Louis

 

1) Larry Holmes
2) Muhammd Ali
3) Joe Louis
4) Rocky Marciano
5) Cassius Clay

 

How can it not be Ali..? :huh

 

Maybe I don't rate his fabled opposition. Big names perhaps, but ...

1. Liston put up almost zero resistance.
2. Foreman fought like an amateur and looked all spent after 4 or 5 rounds.
3. Frazier was past his best.

 

Those guys are still better then anyone elses opposition, despite the exscuses that you said. It was Foreman's fault that he was spent. Frazier was still a very good opponent. and Liston was supposed to still be an excellent fighter.

 

If Sonny Liston got a title fight in early 1959, like he deserved,
he would have been clearly #1.

And if Ken Norton got the rightful and deserved decision over Ali in 1976, there would be no case.