Compiled over some discourse with fellow posters: 1. Ray Leonard over Marvin Hagler 2. Muhammad Ali over Big George 3. Joe Louis over Max Schmeling 4. Henry Armstrong over Barney Ross (126 lb champ beating the 147 lb champ to unify 2 weights) 5. Harry Greb over Gene Tunney 6. Cassius Clay over Sonny Liston 7. Buster Douglas over Mike Tyson 8. Jake Lamotta over Ray Robinson 9. Joe Frazier over Muhammad Ali 10. Roberto Duran over Ray Leonard 11. George Foreman over Michael Moorer 12. JC Chavez Sr. Over Meldrick Taylor 13. Ray Leonard over Thomas Hearns 14. Ray Robinson over Gene Fullmer (best KO in history IMO) 15. Fritzie Zivic over Henry Armstrong 16. Salvador Sanchez over Wilfredo Gomez 17. Ezzard Charles over Archie Moore 18. Jimmy McLarnin over Barney Ross 19. Sam Langford over Joe Gans 20. George Foreman over Joe Frazier
No disagreement with your comment, however I have a vague memory that Duran gave up his belt when he took the Hearns fight, I think he was supposed to fight a mandatory. I forget. Can anyone remember if Duran gave up his belt in order to fight Hearns?
Mixed feelings about the Hearns/Duran KO. It was devastating but there were just so many physical shortcoming Duran would have had to have overcome in order to win, a Hearns win IMO was a foregone conclusion in comparison to other ATG wins.
Likes Duran UD15 Leonard and Leonard TKO14 Hearns over SRL's split decision over Marvin. Massive, near-if-not-prime obstacles to overcome. Very conclusive.
Fair points, even if the Duran W over Leonard gets annoying when talking about Duran... "but he beat LEONARD" - Then you bring up the rematch, and out comes the excuse train. I try and stay away from it TBH.
No excuses. :smoke I dont even excuse Tyson for Douglas FFS. I enjoy considering his prime '86-'91 regardless of the deterioration. Calling a two or three year prime is embarrassing.
One of the few excuses I give is Holyfield in the third Bowe fight. A healthy, prime Evander couldn't be stopped with a ****ing SLEDGEHAMMER. :deal
But you're unbiased. Most of the hardcore old timeys love themselves some Duran and no matter what most of his losses came from unfavourable circumstances, in their view.
Maybe you'll warm up to him. Hell just a few weeks ago I didn't think you cared much for Tyson at all, but it doesnt seem that way anymore. :huh
I'm a huge Duran supporter and always list him as a top ATG but when we get nit picking there are always excuses like Duran was out of his best weight when he lost to Dejsus. Excuses just bug me. I think it's because I'm new to boxing media and everywhere I go there will be an excuse voiced. Do I give Oscar a pass because Mosley was apparently on roids and Oscar was all coked up and doing a grammy album instead of training? Definitely not, and I consider it Mosley's biggest win.
I'm also a big Tyson supporter, it's just a shame he lost a lot with his jail sentence. He could have had Big George, Moorer, Bowe or Holyfield on his resume.
He would've gotten a crack at Holyfield before he went in if King hadn't signed him up for Another Ruddock fight. Totally unnecessary fight and the first stoppage wasn't controversial IMO -- Ruddock would've gotten tied up in the ropes and ruthlessly Destroyed by what would've been Tyson's ultimate coup de grace.
I honestly find nothing wrong with the KO of Ruddock either. I'm safety first as far as boxers go and Ruddock doesn't need anymore Tyson hookercuts at that stage. Tyson was even going to take a pay cut against Holy in the early 90s if I recall correctly. It really sucks it never came off.
