Are there TEN GREAT HEAVYWEIGHTS ?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Unforgiven, Jul 17, 2015.


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  1. LittleRed

    LittleRed Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    If we count anyone who fought at heavyweight then yes, absolutely. If they could only be heavyweights...

    Ali, Louis, Lewis, Holmes,Johnson, Dempsey, Marciano, Tyson. Wills maybe, then it breaks down and we could argue over Liston Patterson . Certainly there are guys like Foreman that are only ATG'S because they're heavyweights.
     
    LittleRed, Jul 17, 2015
    LittleRed, Jul 17, 2015
    #16
  2. lora

    lora Fighting Zapata Full Member

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    I think Holmes might be one that would REALLY struggle in this kind of discussion.

    Hard to think of many very good\ excellent\great lighter weight jabber he could beat.His defence would be comparitively non-existent to most.
     
    lora, Jul 17, 2015
    lora, Jul 17, 2015
    #17
  3. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    This depends on each individuals criteria . I think the word is grossly over used.
     
    mcvey, Jul 17, 2015
    mcvey, Jul 17, 2015
    #18
  4. Perry

    Perry Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Since Jeffries:

    Jeffries
    Johnson
    Dempsey
    Louis
    Marciano
    Ali
    Foreman
    Holmes
    Tyson
    Lewis
     
    Perry, Jul 17, 2015
    Perry, Jul 17, 2015
    #19
  5. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    What is your criterion for greatness? Why are the likes of Tunney and Charles not included?
     
    TBooze, Jul 17, 2015
    TBooze, Jul 17, 2015
    #20
  6. LittleRed

    LittleRed Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I can't speak for him but they did a lot of work that wasn't at heavyweight. Otherwise Langford would be there.
     
    LittleRed, Jul 17, 2015
    LittleRed, Jul 17, 2015
    #21
  7. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    This is going to be unpopular but I think that Louis struggles in lower weight classes where he has to handle more skilled mobile fighters.

    The best case scenario comparison, Alexis Arguello, is a p4p great but some of the other potential comparisons, not so much.


     
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 17, 2015
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 17, 2015
    #22
  8. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I would say Langford is there too! My point is part of their greatness comes from their Heavyweight run. Thus they were Heavyweights, who were greats...
     
    TBooze, Jul 17, 2015
    TBooze, Jul 17, 2015
    #23
  9. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    There are 15-25 great ones, who for the most part could beat a top 5 guy on a given night.
     
    Mendoza, Jul 17, 2015
    Mendoza, Jul 17, 2015
    #24
  10. Wass1985

    Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It's not unpopular its fact, Billy Conn proved that. The Giants were easy picking for Louis...
     
    Wass1985, Jul 17, 2015
    Wass1985, Jul 17, 2015
    #25
  11. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Yes, I've often argued that HW boxing brings its own set of challenges and HWs shouldn't be penalized for lacking the intricacies and finesse of the greats in lower weight classes.

    On the other hand, I believe many HW champs have perhaps set themselves back by being "victims of their own (financial) success".
    The achievers at HWs have perhaps being quicker to lose that hunger and slack off actual ring acitvities, or find the easier route fights, due to the status and celebrity that has historically been granted HWs.
     
    Unforgiven, Jul 17, 2015
    Unforgiven, Jul 17, 2015
    #26
  12. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    You criteria is clearly a definable period of dominance.

    You would have to throw Wlad in, in order to be consistent.

    Then there would have to be pleas for a couple of guys, who did not have that definable period, but might still merit inclusion.

    Sonny Liston
    Joe Frazier
    Evander Holyfield
     
    janitor, Jul 17, 2015
    janitor, Jul 17, 2015
    #27
  13. Perry

    Perry Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    No. These were the ATG talents IMO. Wlad does not rate with any of them IMO. This being the case his career is yet over so proper historian methodology would be not to rate him until his book is closed.
     
    Perry, Jul 17, 2015
    Perry, Jul 17, 2015
    #28
  14. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Well proper historians would point out, if for instance Ali was an all time great, we would known before he was even born! ;)
     
    TBooze, Jul 17, 2015
    TBooze, Jul 17, 2015
    #29
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    He is with them.

    There is no loss that he could suffer now, so disastrous, that I would leave him off the list.
     
    janitor, Jul 17, 2015
    janitor, Jul 17, 2015
    #30
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