How do you rank these four heavyweights all time?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Del Boy, Nov 9, 2021.


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  1. Del Boy

    Del Boy R.I.P Darren Sutherland Full Member

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    Floyd Patterson
    Sonny Liston
    Joe Frazier
    Evander Holyfield

    I’m working on my lineal heavyweight champion list and I know one of these guys is next but can’t decide who.
    For me, each man could be ranked ahead of each other for different reasons and I’m struggling with how to place them.

    Patterson, in my opinion, made a huge achievement by winning the title again, something so many others had failed at. He also had a tremendously credible run in his post championship reign.

    Liston, essentially cleaned out a division and dethroned a sitting champ in perhaps the most definitive fashion ever. (Note, I don’t rank on H2H so Patterson could be still be ahead of Liston)

    Frazier, again in my opinion holds the single greatest win in heavyweight history.

    Holyfield, possibly defeated the most lineal champions of any other, Douglas, Holmes, Foreman, Tyson, Bowe, Moorer, Rahman.
    (Crusierweight should be counted, Evan Fields probably should be.)
     
    Del Boy, Nov 9, 2021
    Del Boy, Nov 9, 2021
    #1
  2. Tonto62

    Tonto62 Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    Liston and Holyfield make my top ten, Frazier is just outside it,Floyd doesn't make the cut.
     
    Tonto62, Nov 9, 2021
    Tonto62, Nov 9, 2021
    #2
  3. djanders

    djanders Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Wherever you are on your list, below #2, Holyfield should be next. (IMHO, of course).
     
    djanders, Nov 9, 2021
    djanders, Nov 9, 2021
    #3
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  4. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Liston
    Frazier
    Holyfield
    Patterson
     
    Gazelle Punch, Nov 9, 2021
    Gazelle Punch, Nov 9, 2021
    #4
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  5. TipNom

    TipNom Active Member Full Member

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    1.Holy
    2.Frazier
    3.Liston
    4.Patterson
     
    TipNom, Nov 9, 2021
    TipNom, Nov 9, 2021
    #5
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  6. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Holyfield
    Smoke
    The Bear
    Floyd
     
    Fergy, Nov 9, 2021
    Fergy, Nov 9, 2021
    #6
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  7. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    Frazier
    Sonny
    Holyfield
    Patterson
     
    cross_trainer, Nov 9, 2021
    cross_trainer, Nov 9, 2021
    #7
  8. Man_Machine

    Man_Machine Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Frazier
    Holyfield
    Liston
    Patterson
     
    Man_Machine, Nov 9, 2021
    Man_Machine, Nov 9, 2021
    #8
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  9. ChrisJS

    ChrisJS Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Same as mine.
     
    ChrisJS, Nov 9, 2021
    ChrisJS, Nov 9, 2021
    #9
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  10. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    Evander Holyfield
    Joe Frazier
    Sonny Liston
    Floyd Patterson
     
    George Crowcroft, Nov 9, 2021
    George Crowcroft, Nov 9, 2021
    #10
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  11. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    Great minds, lads. Great minds.
     
    George Crowcroft, Nov 9, 2021
    George Crowcroft, Nov 9, 2021
    #11
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  12. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Haha yes it's nice when your friends agree with you. The right answer:

    Frazier
    Liston
    Holyfield
    Patterson
     
    McGrain, Nov 9, 2021
    McGrain, Nov 9, 2021
    #12
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  13. Drew101

    Drew101 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Frazier
    Holy
    Liston
    Patterson

    Could be talked into switching Holy and Liston, but the top and bottom positions remain static.
     
    Drew101, Nov 9, 2021
    Drew101, Nov 9, 2021
    #13
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  14. bboyrei

    bboyrei Member Full Member

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    Frazier
    Holyfield
    Liston
    Patterson
     
    bboyrei, Nov 9, 2021
    bboyrei, Nov 9, 2021
    #14
  15. Glass City Cobra

    Glass City Cobra H2H Burger King

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    Liston
    Frazier
    Hoylfield
    Patterson

    Liston was the most dominant overall, aside from the terrible outings against Ali. Truly had the division quaking in fear at his best and blazed a trail.

    Frazier has the best signature win and brought down some very good names on his way to the title. Only lost to other ATGs.

    Hoylfield has sheer quantity on his side...lots of VERY good names on his resume. Problem is he also has a high number of losses too. In that sense, he was a throwback fighter who turned over every stone willing to fight everyone and kept going far past his best. His record is a mixed bag of greatness, average showings, and letdowns. Good bad and ugly.

    Patterson is criminally underrated. He made up for the lack of top contenders during his reign by becoming the first 2x champ and had some very great performances after he lost the title giving a good account of himself. However, the above three names each have major signature wins and Patterson doesn't have many aside from Johanson that could remotely compare to theirs.

    That's how I see it if you factor in wins, losses, overall ability, and dominance. The whole career.
     
    Glass City Cobra, Nov 9, 2021
    Glass City Cobra, Nov 9, 2021
    #15
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