Dempsey, Liston, Holyfield, Frazier.

Tyson and Frazier both had 3-4 years during which they clearly established themselves as the dominant force in the division. Holy and Dempsey never did to that extent, but Holy's longevity clearly elevates him above Dempsey. Therefore, I'd have Holy as the first among these four and Dempsey as the last. Frazier and Tyson are trickier to choose between.

 

It's about who beat the better fighters. Did Dempsey beat the better fighter during this period? Perhaps, but it's not that clear cut. When it comes to Frazier and Tyson, they had 3-4 years where no one can be held up to their standard. Ali also beat Bonavena, Quarry and Ellis, but he was well beaten by Frazier. Tyson beat everyone in the late 80's bar perhaps 'Spoon and Dokes, but 'Spoon was beaten by guys that Tyson comfortable beat and neither had nearly the same kind of wins that Tyson had.

Dempsey was never a stand-out in that manner. Had he beaten Greb and Wills, he would have been, though.

 

I was out skating there for a while.

Hmm. Nah, Liston must be behind Frazier, I suppose. Not by much, though. And he's ahead of Dempsey, by virtue of clearly being the best in the division for some 3-4 years. I can see a case of having Dempsey ahead of him perhaps, though. It's thin, but it can be made.

 

Ok. Then we're on the same wavelength there at least.

 

I like Melio Bettina and all but let us not compare him to Harry Greb. Better comparison, the name Billy Conn ring a bell? And even then Greb had a deeper heavyweight resume.

 

Im not saying bettina is comparable to greb but I am saying bettina, like greb, was a fighter from another divison rated at HW, who the champion never got round to fighting. nobody says anything about bettina not geting a shot because it was not a big deal. why is it a big deal dempsey didnt get around to greb, its not like greb was ever his #1 contender?

Conn did make it to #1 contender and he was curent LH champ. Louis fought conn, just like dempsey fought carpentier.

 

Louis enlisted to the army at the time Bettina was a contender. Dempsey enlisted as a Hollywood celebrity. Bit of a difference there.

It was very smart on Carpentier's part not to put his title on the line against Greb. Good thing he was taking on welterweights like Ted 'Kid' Lewis too instead of ranked heavyweights like Billy Miske, Bill Brennan, not to mention what Tunney, Loughran and Gibbons did to him later on. I guess the big DQ win over Gunboat Smith 7 years previous was enough to convince Dempsey to give him a shot instead of more deserving challengers.

To be honest, I'm tired of picking apart Dempsey's heavyweight record because it is too easy a feat. It cannot be helped though when comparisons like this are made.

 

Frazier
Dempsey
Holyfield
Liston