I wouldn't favour Ike over more proven ATG's. There is no way i would favour him over Ali, Holmes, Louis, Liston, Foreman, Tyson, Frazier, Marciano, Holyfield, and while he would have a punchers chance vs Lewis, i don't think i would favour him over Lewis either. With that being said, Ike had a great chin and good power. I can't see a lot of limited hard punchers beating him (Lyle, Shavers, Cooney, Briggs, Morrison, Ruddock, etc.) So which non top 10-15 ATG heavyweight do you think had the style to beat him over 12 rounds? Personally i think Tim Witherspoon had the style to neutralize Ike and beat him. Who else would you favour over him?
I was thinking of Witherspoon as well. Vitali Klitschko is another. Jimmy Young might get a decision over him. Tyson Fury hasn’t been around long enough to be top 10 but I’d favor him too.
Agreed on Vitali. He had the chin, size, and power to stand up to Ike. It would be competitive but it would be tough for Ike to push him around. Ike would starch Wladamir though. Young is a good pick. In some ways, he was similar to Chris Byrd who could not withstand the sheer power of Ike. Then again Young beat Foreman. I can see Young potentially winning. I wonder if a fully motivated Pinklon Thomas would have a chance. He has the jab, the skill, i wonder if he could do it.
So non top 10-15. I have Riddick Bowe outside of that range and feel that he had the skill and toughness to beat Ike without question.
You seem to forget Ike was still a champ in the making. He outboxed the Puncher & blasted out the boxer & looked set for a title shot. The world was his oyster really it was a tragedy how his career was ended by a vegas hooker
David Tua, he already did it. Riddick Bowe Vitali Klitschko Tyson Fury Tim Witherspoon Tokyo Douglas I'd say that's it, but I stumbled across some amazing hypotheticals whilst racking my brain. Like holy **** imagine a fight between Ike and Ron Lyle.
George list is good. I'd add Max Baer, his unorthodox punching style would earn him decision in 15 rounds fight.
Tunney, Schmelling, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles all have chances to out box him, can’t say I’d be at all comfortable making either of them favourite, or Ike for that matter. Tyson Fury, Vitali, Bowe would all have to be favourites as they are more experienced and more proven. Then you have a whole host of more modern contenders/title holders that shouldn’t be overlook, but might not be favourite Witherspoon, Weaver, Dokes, Norton, Povetkin, Brewster and a tonne more you could add
Schmeling was great but he wouldn't be able to keep Ike off him. Schmeling had a good counter right hand but it didn't contain thunderous power. If Schmeling could throw a right hand with the power of a Baer, then he could outbox Ibeaubuchi and keep him away. But i don't think Ike would be too threatened by Max and would get close and end the fight. Tunney was rarely hit by a proper heavyweight puncher except once by Dempsey. I am not sure if he could keep a bigger heavyweight like Ike off him. IMO Tunney is too unproven vs punchers to favour him over Ike or even have him at 50-50. Had Tunney fought someone like Godfrey, we would have a better idea. I think Tunney gets stopped the way Byrd did. I would favour Ike over Tunney and Schmeling. Brewster is a good pick, a power puncher with a strong chin. I favour Ike to decision him but you never know.
Sonny Liston, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Both Klitschko’s, Prime Alexander Povetkin, Jimmy Young potentiality
