Does 1988 cruiserweight Holyfield make the top 5 in the 1967- 1970 heavyweight division?

I think so, yes. This is before he was a drug cheat so I have no trouble crediting him at this stage. Why couldn’t he be top 5? Only two positions lock in definitively ahead of him around 1967-70, Ali & Frazier.

 

Oh it was 100% before he was on PEDs? - how do you know? Because he was making weight at 190lbs? lol guys on PED’s can make weight too, guys as early as the 70s 1000% took PED’s and it has been possible since the 60s. Chances are nearly EVERYONE was using in the 80s-90s.

 

I think the cruiserweight rendition of Evander would have made for good fights with Quarry, Ellis, Bonavena and a few others at that time

 

No, I don’t know, the same way I don’t know shenanigans weren’t afoot for Ali’s miraculous victory over Foreman, of which rumours have always abound. I am looking at Holyfield’s drastic change in physique, loss of hair, heart trouble & inconsistency from 1993-onward. Common sense tells me he either started juicing after the initial loss to Bowe, or massively upped his treatment from then on. I throw out his whole career post-1992, & refuse to rank him in any way as a Heavyweight (positive or negative, I regard him as exempt from classification).

 

Yes, he would.

 

Yep I think Holy would have been a top guy.

 

That's more than certain.
Holy is a great boxer, most fighters back then weighed around 190-200.

 

Absolutely.

 

1967-70 didn't have Ali and Foreman, so I think Holyfield would be TOP 5 by default.

 

He won’t beat Frazier but he will make it a hard night’s work.

 

I wouldn't even say "by default."

 

That would mean a fight with Frazier. I would favor Joe as the heavier guy.