I see Jack Johnson has dropped on several lists. Not on mine, really. He might not look great today, but he was considered a skilled giant in his own time and has the record to prove it. Probably the greatest pre-title run at HW even though his title run was poor.
Looking at how relatively one-dimensional he was, Frazier shouldn't have breezed through Quarry and Ellis and beaten Ali (not at his best, but still formidable), but he did. That's why you should look at what a fighter actually did do, not what one may think he would do. Not sure he makes my top 10, though. Lots of guys with a solid claim. Ali and Louis, of course. Johnson, Holmes, Lewis, Wlad... Those are all above him I think. Would have to put Rocky ahead also. So, yeah, he, Tyson and Holy - in no particular order - probably takes the last three places in my top 10. Foreman has a case, though.
I don't have a top 10 but a top 5 and I list it chronologically based on who was the best of their time. It is as follows Top 5 Jack Johnson Joe Louis Cassius Clay/Ali Larry Holmes Lennox Lewis My all time favourite heavyweight is Joe Frazier but he isn't in my top 5. Previously I may have had Evander Holyfield in there based on his overall achievements and also George Foreman for regaining the title too. Compiling my to 10 list would take some time but it depends on what criteria you are basing it on? what is your ranking based off of? great bouts, knockout record, longest reigning, most defences, style, did they compete against all their contemporaries? That's where it begins to get less objective and more subjective.
Wlad does belong into the top 10. So does Fury. Holyfield and Frazier don't belong. Foreman is way too high.
In my eyes, Jack Johnson has held his position give or take. Primarily based on the nuances of his record.
Since I joined the forum, I think that James Corbett has taken the greatest hit, and Harry Wills has seen the biggest rise in his stock.
Based on two surveys I think in 15 years Lennox Lewis will be #3 ATG HW. The result of the first survey: #1 Muhammad Ali #2 Joe Louis #3 Larry Holmes #4 Lennox Lewis #5 Rocky Marciano #6 George Foreman #7 Joe Frazier #8 Jack Dempsey #9 Mike Tyson #10 Evander Holyfield The result of the second survey: https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/3-atg-hw-survey.684006/
I like your list a lot, along with your reasoning. As for for my own similarities and differences compared with my old lists... Same as in the past: I have always had Ali, Louis, Liston, Holmes, Foreman high in my top 10. And Holyfield, Tyson, Frazier, a bit lower there. Smaller men like Marciano and Dempsey were always just outside, and now trending down. Different from my past lists: Lewis skyrocketing up. Old timers like Johnson and Jeffries out. Other big men (Bowe, Klitschkos, Fury) also trending upwards. As my latest list shows, like most people, I obviously have my biases and weaknesses (fantasy H2H, I love a good story, etc). 1 Ali 2 Louis 3 Liston 4 Lewis 5 Holmes 6 Foreman 7 Holyfield 8 Tyson 9 Frazier 10 Bowe 11 Fury 12 W Klitschko 13 V Klitschko 14 Johnson 15 Usyk 16 Dempsey 17 Marciano 18 Jeffries 19 Wills 20 Norton
Don't forget Usyk, Wilder, Joshua, Ortiz, Ruiz, Vitali and Whyte too. That leaves just one spot for those hopeless old primitive rumpers. Or maybe Povetkin slips in. Nah too small.
Only if you completely ignore resume and actual accomplishements... which is the only objective way to compare fighters across eras.
