Is it time to reEvaluate the HW Top 10 to include guys like Lewis, Tyson, and Holyfie

I see Lewis, Tyson and Holyfield in plenty of top ten lists, this is not some new revelation.

 

Lewis is pretty much featured on any heavyweight top 10 I've seen recently. Some leave out Holyfield for Tyson, others do the opposite. But at least 2/3 make the list.

I have all 3 in my top 10.

 

A Top 15 pretty much includes all the "modern greats". Otherwise, Jack Johnson, Tunney, Dempsey, are pushed off the List. Nos. 1, 2, & 3 will always be close on anyone's list. (Lewis, Tyson and Holyfield are deserving somewhere in the Top 15 List) Rearrange the fighters as you like.

 

evander and lewis are in the top 10 100%, tyson is also in my view, being the youngest hw ever puts him here

 

h2h tyson ranks much higher

 

As mentioned it is hardly revolutionary putting any of them in.

I have Lennox and Evander in and Tyson just missing out.

But being the second youngest Heavyweight Champion of the World and having that aura he did in the late 80s means plenty do have him in there.

 

If the said fighters are put in based on achievement, then fine. It's when size becomes the main consideration that things get problematic.

I still have Louis as number one because there is nobody I don't think he'd beat at least once.

 

My top ten has included Tyson and Lewis for many years.

Ali
Louis
Holmes
Foreman
Lewis
Johnson
Tyson
Dempsey
Tunney
Marciano

 

I see what you did there and I like it!

The HW Top 10 is constantly being reevaluated on forums like this.

How we rank all-time great heavyweights depends on an individual's criteria. How much weight do we give accomplishments & legacy versus head-to-head? I rank Marciano higher than Lewis in my all-time greats list (that resides in my head and changes by the second) but I'd pick Lewis over Marciano if they ever fought.

Furthermore, do we rate people like Liston & Tyson based on their relatively short reigns as champion or by how much they cleaned out the division prior to winning the title? (Yeah, I'm a linealist. Tyson became THE champion in 1988. Before that he was a very strong contender who happened to be recognized as a titlist by corrupt organizations.). Personally, I'd rank guys based on their careers and thus would factor in several contenders in making some sort of ATG list.

 

All three of these men are highly respected by classic fans, and routinely appear in top ten lists.

Classic fans will generally back you, if your resume stacks up in the real physical universe!

 

Tyson did not become champion until be beat Spinks. Spinks beat Holmes who was considered by anyone who knew anything the champion at that time.

 

iv lewis in mine, tyson is top 10 too, however that peds disgrace holyfield doesnt even make my top 1000

 

It's my belief that most if not all the top hwts have taken performance enhancement drugs since the Tyson era. The huge size and muscularity seen in these fighters is not normal. It's also common knowledge in the major gyms around the tri state area that PEDS are rampant at a high level......and everyone wants to get to that high level. What would we have seen in Tyson, Holy, others if they were not pumped up with PEDS? Much more ordinary fighters for sure, probably still excellent but smaller and less athletic.