How do YOU rank the Heavyweights?

1, Joe Louis
2, Muhammad Ali
3, Rocky Marciano
4, Jack Dempsey
5, Larry Holmes
6, Jack Johnson
7, Lennox Lewis
8, Evander Holyfeild
9, George Foreman
10 Mike Tyson
11, Joe Frazier
12 Jim Jeffries
13, Max Baer
14, Max Schmeling
15 Sonny Liston
16, Floyd Patterson
17, Ezzard Charles
18, Jersey Joe Walcott
19, Ingo Johansson
20, primo Carnera
21, Buster Douglas
22, Gene Tunney
23, Rid**** Bowe
24, Jess Willard
25, Jack Sharkey
26, Hassim Rahman
27, Tommy Burns
28, micheal Moorer
29, Micheal Spinks
30, Jim Braddock
31 Leon Spinks
32 Shannon Briggs.

If I were to include Vlad or Vitali I would place them at 13 and 14.

 

Personally I feel that dominance is key to assessing greatness. Owning an era. It's the key fights with the title on the line that really cuts it. So my list, with few exceptions, scores highest for those that won most of their key wins by knockout or stoppage. So a champion who wins his title by KO rates higher than a champion who wins one by split decision. Same with losing. Not getting knocked out with the title at stake is a big plus I reckon.

Old Champions going out on their shield is the natural order of things but a number of ATG champions past their best still saw the last bell losing in a tittle fight. This must count when splitting hairs between the very best champions. Nobody in the top five of all time should have been knocked out with the title on the line before a comeback.

 

For me H2H means nothing. Far too much fantasy and personal preference involved for it to be a meaningful measuring stick.

 

#1 - Dominant reign. Owning your era. Caliber of opposition.
#2 - Accomplishments. # of title defenses, regaining the title, records being broken.
#3 - Longevity.
#4 - Head to head. Fantasy match ups. Doesn't weight heavily but can be considered.

In that order, of course.

 

Interesting post. I agree with much of this. But #3 in particular, I disagree with. Some people tended to burn out quickly. Not their fault. Their style just asked for so much.

 

Hence why I put it at #3 and not 1 or 2. :hi:

 

Still, I really don't think that's to fair.

 

Liston is way to low.

 

1. Level of opponents they beat
2. Skill Level (Ring IQ, versatility ie not just a big puncher)
3. Chin

 

1. Ali
2. Louis
3. Liston
4. Holmes
5. Foreman
6. Lewis
7. Tunney
8. Dempsey
9. Frazier
10. Tyson

 

I think #15 is good for Liston. There's almost 100 years worth of all timers to include now so #15 today could be as high as #9 forty years ago.

#15 is still higher than Nat Fleicher would rate Sonny at the end of Listons career and Nat observed everyone ringside from Jack Johnson to Frazier.

 

You are entitled to your own opinion. Though I believe you are absolutely wrong.

 

1 - Joe Louis
2 - Muhammad Ali
3 - Larry Holmes
4 - Rocky Marciano
5 - Jack Johnson
6 - Mike Tyson
7 - Lennox Lewis
8 - George Foreman
9 - Jack Dempsey
10 - Joe Frazier
11 - Evander Holyfield
12 - Sonny Liston
13 - Wlad Klitschko

Louis and Ali have flip flopped a few times but as of 2016 Louis is solid at #1. Holmes lays nicely in that coveted #3 spot. Marciano being undefeated accounts for something. Jack Johnson is the most flexible, as high as #4 but as low as #12. Tyson can be anywhere between #5 and #9 for me. Lewis is on even terms with Tyson. Foreman belongs below both Tyson and Lewis. Dempsey had a nice reign. Frazier could switch with Dempsey anytime. Holyfield is a bit difficult for me to rank; better wins than Tyson but nowhere near as dominant. Liston is placed perfectly. Wlad may go as high as #5 when he retires, which pains me to think about it, really.

 

Good list and I never pick apart anyone's list because it's based on their own reasons, and biases, but Shannon Briggs at #32 is strange to me and seems a bit too high. I would love to hear an explanation!?

 

Shannon is rank bottom and only included because I compiled this list on an earlier thread about linear champions. He's not my number 32 of all time just my outright last of all time.

I dont regard alpha champs as anything more than contenders (and he's only that kind of level himself) so none of them are included.

I liked your list by the way.:good