best opening 20 fights at heavyweight?

Rademacher fought a bad list--Patterson, Chuvalo, Moore, jones, Folley and others. The only notables he beat were Chuvalo and LeMarr Clack though.

 

In his first 20 fights at HW, Holyfield fought-

1. Tillis KO5
2. Thomas KO7
3. Dokes KO10
4. Rodrigues KO2
5. Stewart KO8
5. McDonagh KO4
6. Douglas KO3
7. Foreman W12
8. Cooper KO7
9. Holmes W12
10. Bowe L12
11. Stewart W12
12. Bowe W12
13. Moorer L12
14. Mercer W10
15. Bowe LKOby8
16. Czyz KO 4
17. Tyson KO11
18. Tyson WDQQ
19. Moorer KO8
20. Bean W12

 

I think Jeffries is probably the best if we're only looking for one answer. To dominate your entire division and establish ATG status with less than 20 bouts is something we'll likely never see again.

 

I think that's bending the intent of the thread.

 

Jeffries.

Virtually all of his 20 were either contenders, or fringe contenders.

The guy didn’t know what a journeyman looked like!

 

Oleg Maskaev
Tyrell Biggs
Mark Wills
David Bey
Pete Rademacher
James Smith
Greg Page
Oliver McCall
Jesse Ferguson
Dee Collier

 

Big John Tate.

He was never spoon fed and was doing things like being the road warrior against guys like Animal lopez in those early developing fights. Giving up lots of experience and fighting in the other guy's backyard are tough fights to win decisions. Mercado early when folks were buying into him. Bobick.

And this was prior to taking his act on the road to South Africa.

A tough tough road to negotitate considering how badly he was stopped in his final amateur fight.

 

Well, he went 18-0 (14) before moving above 190/195 Lbs. At this point he was 6-0 (5) in CW World title fights and 3-0 (2) vs. Hall of Famers Qawi and DeLeon, he had also defeated world title holders Ocasio, Parkey, and Booze. He beat Olympic HW Gold medalist Henry Tillman. Only Qawi was able to last the distance (their first fight) which was Holyfield's 12th pro fight.

In his next 2 fights he beat Tillis and Thomas, both by KO. 20-0 (16) overall and 6-0 (5) in World Title fights.

It's worth mentioning. I'll take these 20 fights over most HW greats first 20 fights. He was a serious HW title threat at 20-0 and would win the HW title in his 25th pro fight.

 

Jeffries was the first man I thought of seeing this thread.

 

Within his first 20 fights as a heavyweight, Jimmy Ellis faced Leotis Martin, Oscar Bonavena, Jerry Quarry, Floyd Patterson, Joe Frazier, George Chuvalo and Muhammad Ali. That's tough to top.

 

I wonder how he would have done had he not been rushed like that? I also wonder if he would have earned a title shot had he tried to work his way up the rankings.

 

Marvis Frazier fought Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, James "Bonecrusher" Smith, Joe Bugner, James "Quick" Tillis and Jose Ribalta in his first 20.

"Neon" Leon Spinks faced Muhammad Ali twice, Larry Holmes, Gerrie Coetzee, Bernardo Mercado and Carlos DeLeon.