Greatest heavyweight with weakest resume?

Marciano, Holmes & Tyson. Bowe would do well head-to-head historically relative to his empty CV.

 

I think Dempsey would achieve success in just about any era, but his resume isn't anything to get excited over.

In the same vein, Tunney. You can poke holes in his resume too.

 

Sullivan or Corbett

 

Luis Ortiz, Jalolov (might make some noise), Dychko (time is running out), Ruddock, and Ibeabuchi.

Tubbs, Sanders, Thomas, and Douglas are also thin considering that they all were fairly talented champions.

 

Maybe if you believe he’s the best ever. Ten plus wins in championship fights over two reigns and the best old guy reign at heavyweight isn’t nothing though. The Lewis fight might also count for something.

 

Riddick Bowe

 

Tyson's resume is pretty great for his style and approach. Similar fighters in Dempsey, Marciano and Frazier have flimsier CV's.

 

None fought for as long as Tyson. None spent eighteen out of twenty years without the belt around their waist like Tyson.

 

Sounds like Jack Johnson

 

Marciano fought his first live body in Rex Layne in his 36th fight. He had 13 more fights before retirement.

Because of his era, Dempsey is harder to decipher, but he beat his first good fighter over a scheduled 10 round distance in Carl Morris, who, even at that was on the downside. Jack would have 23 more fights in his career including 3 guys with no wins and 7 fights scheduled for fewer than 10 rounds.

Frazier, more of a prodigy, broke into the higher ranks in his 12th fight against Bonavena and would have 25 more, a very respectable number even with likes of Ziggy and Ramos thrown in the mix.

Tyson fought Jesse Ferguson in his 18th fight had 23 more fights before his imprisonment and 13 after up until and including his final title shot. That's 36 fights at the elite level. You can take away McNeely but all these guys have their McNeely's.

So, I'm not seeing much of a difference here. If anything it's amazing how long Tyson remained relevant despite imprisonment, his diminutive stature and his penchant for cocaine and alcohol.

 

He, “remained relevant,” as a car crash & cash cow, not as a meaningful contender. His first five years were as good as could be asked of him in a mediocre era, but that comprises 25% of his entire career. Name another Heavy at this level who under-achieved for 75% of their career span.

 

You mean the Jack Johnson who was champion for more than three times as long as Tyson? That Johnson?

 

No, the Johnson who made fewer defenses than Tyson and was losing most of his fights 15+ years after losing the title.

Don't ever try to twist facts with me or you will be taken to school.

 

Tyson made a grand total of two successful defenses. Who is twisting facts?