How Many British Heavyweights Have Truly Been World Class?

I'd say 11 at the most make the cut and thats counting Fitzsimmons.
What do you think?

 

When are we starting from, and do we include Ireland when it was part of the UK?

 

Starting from the earliest Ring Rankings:

Tommy Farr
Bruce Woodcock
Don Cockell
Henry Cooper
Brian London
Joe Bugner
Frank Bruno
Herbie Hide
Henry Akiniwande
Lenox Lewis
David Haye
Tyson Fury
Anthony Joshua
Dillian Whyte
Joe Joyce
Daniel Dubois

We should probably also throw in Gary Mason and Dereck Chirora.

 

Obviously if we take in the bareknuckle era then we will be here all day.

 

Great list. Was Jack Bodell world class ?

 

Sorry if it's an obvious question. What's the criteria for world class here?

 

Lee Savold

 

I understand that he was born in the USA, albeit he held the British Title.

 

My interpretation of world class is how the subjects of the question line up with their contemporaries. In this case how many British heavyweights have been world class. Based on this criteria all who have been mentioned on this thread are. Frank Bruno,to name one,was as good as most of his fellow top contenders of the time. Okay,he was beaten by the best men of the time - Tim Witherspoon,Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis but Frank was still as good as most of the others whom those guys beat.

 

Borderline case.

 

You're right. I saw he held the British title and thought he was British too.

 

Thanks, that makes sense. Just thought would double check.

 

The definition of "World Class" is expansive, looking at that list.

I suppose that any heavyweight who was universally rated during their career is counted here?

 

What's your definition of world class ? Because I wouldn't class Bodell, London, or even Cooper as world class.

 

Speaking only for Henry Cooper, he was ranked in rings top ten for about a combined seven years. Frankly I think it’s kinda hard to be rated as one of the ten best fighters on the planet for the better part of a decade and NOT be world class