Lineal Rankings System

It depends on how you appoint the replacement of the retiring champions. Technically the lineal champion and the Lineal number 1 contender are the same person. Under a purely lineal system (no recognition of Bad decisions, Sanctioning bodies etc), when the number 1 stops fighting for whatever reason, it is the number two person who should be considered the champion. After all, common sense says that if the Best person in the world loses a fight to someone and that person is no longer fighting, then the person who is considered the second best person in the world, by default should now be considered the best in the world.

For the sake of consistency, i had been using all fighters until the year end. I allowed 1 year of no fighting and if they didnt fight in the second year, they lost their ranking. I did this right the way along. If we dont use some sort of cutoff, then technically Lennox Lewis would still be the number one contender and world champion! Ali was certainly a difficult situation, as was Jeffries and even Corbett and others created a similar dilemma in the past.

I have been a little inconsistent in that so far i have retrospectively imposed this rule because we know when fighters did and didnt fight. I took ali out after 1967 even though technically under my rules he was still the champion in 1968 with no fights. and it is only at 1969 which he would have no longer been considered the world champ. i did the same with Jeffries, Marciano and Tunney. Even though i technically could not do it if say Tyson Fury (assuming he is no 1 at themoment) simply decides not to fight again for three years.

 

1970
1 Sonny Liston - W Wepner
2 Joe Frazier W Ellis Foster
3 Jimmy ellis - W Davilla L Frazier
4 Foreman W Chuvalo, Kirkman, Turnbow, peralta, O Halloran & Others
5 George Chuvalo - W Burns Ventura & Others L Foreman
6 Muhammed Ali - W Quarry Bonavena
7 Jerry Quarry - W M Foster Johnson Brassall L Ali
8 Floyd Patterson - W Green
9 Oscar Bonavena - W Lovell Homberg Pires D Paralta
10 Pires - w cruz paez lovell L Bonavena D Al Jones
11 Joe Bugner - Davilla Ramos london Wepner Corletti & others
12 Migueal Angel Paez - W Bonavena Humberto L Pires Bugner
13 Henry Cooper W Bodell Urtain
14 Jack Bodell - W Richards L Cooper
15 Mac Foster - W Rosette o halloran folley L Quarry
16 James Woody - W Harris Doyle L Foreman Bonavena
17 Tony Doyle - W Davilla Spencer & others L Woody
18 Jose louis Garcia W davilla Spencer norton & others
19 Thad Spencer - L Doyle Garcia
20 Jose Roman - W O Halloran, Brassall & Others
21 Jack O Halloran - W L Foreman Foster Roman W McAlinden
22 Chuck Wepner - W Ramos L Liston Bugner
23 Vic Brown - W Drover Askew Carter & others L Doyle
24 Bill Drover - W Roy Rochards & others L Garcia Brown
25 Jimmy Richards - W Ramos L Gizzi Debruyen & others L Prock Bodell (Pre rank)
26 Manuel Ramos - L Wepner Bugner bonavena Richards Roman D Stander
27 Santiago Lovell - L Bonavena Pires
28 Alvin Lewis - W Williams Stewart Joyner Williams
29 Cleveland Williams - W Brooks Davilla L Lewis
30 Charlie Polite - W Cardoza L Merritt Foreman (Pre Rank)
31 Robert Davilla W L Doyle williams Polite Ellis
32 Henry Clark - W Waga Fletcher
33 Jim Fletcher - L Clark
34 Brian London - L Bugner
35 Zora Folley - L Mac Foster
36 Al Jones - D Pires

Plenty of Controversy here. Leotis reires as champion, leaving sonny Liston as champion with a defence over Chuck Wepner.
Oscar Bonavena's Low Blow dq by Paez could play havoc with the lower reaches of the top 10. Although as I write this, Bonvavena corrects the blip by beating Paez' conquerer.

Joe Bugner's run was actually a verry impressive cleanout of many of the lower ranked fighters.

Billy Walker Joined champ leotis Martin in retiring as a top `0 ranked fighter although he did need to beat a contender to maintain the ranking.

Jose Luis Garcia moves into the top 20. He must have looked a decent prospect for a while. Interesting that he had already beaten a young Ken Norton.

Well done to Cleveland Williams for fighting his way back into the top 30

 

1971
1 Joe Frazier W Ali
2 Muhammed Ali - W Ellis Mathis Blin L Frazier
3 Jimmy ellis - W Doyle Chuvalo L Ali
4 Foreman W Peralta Pires & others
5 George Chuvalo - W Williams L Ellis
6 Jerry Quarry - Wgosha Doyle Bodell Bailey
7 Floyd Patterson - W Forte Polite Brown & Others
8 Oscar Bonavena - W Lewis
9 Ernie Terrell - W moore hudgins Pires Davilla
10 Luis Pires - w Drover Burton L Terrell Foreman
11 Jose Urtain - W Bodell Copeland & others L Peralta (Pre rank)
12 Jack Bodell - W O Halloran Ramos Drover Bugner L Quarry Urtain
13 Joe Bugner - W Gizzi cooper blin & Others L Bodell
14 Migueal Angel Paez - W Corletti
15 Henry Cooper L Bugner
16 Mac Foster - W Boswell joiner Ros
17 Jose Garcia - W Davilla Polite Woody Griffin Lovell
18 Ken Norton - W Carter Brown Haynes Woody
19 James Woody - L Garcia Norton
20 Tony Doyle - W Spencer Gosha L Quarry Ellis
21 Ron Stander - W Spencer Carr Ohalloran Ramos & Others
22 Thad Spencer - L Stander Doyle
23 Jose Roman - W Harris Rondan Sheehan
24 Vincent Rondon - W Dupree Griffin Jones & others
25 Vic Brown - W Griffin L Terrell Norton Patterson
26 Johnny Griffin - W O Halloran L Rondon Garcia Brown
27 Ron Lyle - W Ramos O halloran Drover & others
28 Jack O Halloran - W Daniels Williams L Bodell Griffin Stander Lyle

Smokin Joe Takes over the Mantle at top with the retirement of Liston. He cements it by winning the FOTC.

Cleveland Williams snuck into the top 30 last time. But he failed to make an impression on the top 10 with his loss to George Chuvalo.

Ernie Terrell makes a surprise return to the top 10. Outside of Ali and Liston, Terrell has done very well in these rankings.

I am pretty sure that Jose Urtain's win over Jack Bodell makes him the first spanish heavyweight to sneak into the top 10.

16 ranked Jose luis garcia who is the first venezuelan to appear in the rankings has a pretty decent win list of lower ranked fighters.

Ken Norton has made his first appearance in the rankings. He has mostly fought unranked fighters.
Vincent Rondon becomes the second venezuelan into the rankings. Interestingly, Rondon is the WBA light heavyweight champion, who already beat Jose Garcia.

Not sure how or why but somehow I left off Floyd patterson from the last couple of rounds. These are a pain to fix! Okay it is fixed now. He accidentally dropped out last round.

Chuck Wepner's loss to Jerry Judge really does seem to be an atrocious loss. As bad as any loss from any previously ranked fighter, given some of the inexperienced guys the inexperienced judge subsequently lost to.

One interesting thing to note about the FOTC. Smoking Joe wasnt overly dominant over most of the top 10, although he beat Ali. Ali, in contrast, despite losing the fight, Had beaten (or would eventually beat 9 of the top 10 fighters) he hasnt reached the dominance level of Johnson or Louis yet, but the signs are certainly there that he will eventually.

 

1972
1 Joe Frazier W Daniels Stander
2 Muhammed Ali - W M foster chuvalo quarry Lewis Patterson Foster
3 Jimmy ellis - W Gosha Brooks Williams Carter
4 Foreman W Boon Paez & others
5 George Chuvalo - W Chase Christopher burns Boston L Ali
6 Jerry Quarry - Wcorletti Middleton Ali
7 Floyd Patterson - W Bonavena Agosta L Ali
8 Oscar Bonavena - L Patterson
9 Ernie Terrell - W Garcia
10 Ron Lyle - rondon Mathis Pires Middleton
11 Luis Pires - L Ron Lyle
12 Jose Roman - urtain Polite ventura Daniels
13 Joe Bugner - W Blin Doyle Cane & Others
14 Jeurgen Blin - Chase Urtain L Bugner
15 Jose Urtain - Wharris ronan L Ramos Blin
16 Danny McAlinden - W Bodelle Moore L Middleton (pre rank)
17 Jack Bodell - L McAlinden
18 Migueal Angel Paez - W Lovell Faustino L Foreman
19 Mac Foster - L Ali
20 Jose Garcia - W Harris Jones Hudgins L Terrell
21 Ken Norton - W O Hallaron Woody Clark & Others
22 Jack O Halloran - W Harris Clark Woody & others L Woody Norton
23 James Woody -W Woody Lewis O Halloran L O Halloran
24 Larry Middleton W Doyle Mcalinden L Quarry Lyle
25 Tony Doyle - W Caldwell L Middleton Bugner
26 Bob Foster - W Rondon Quarry Finnegan L Ali
27 Earnie Shavers - Polite Rondon Caldwell & Others
28 Vincent Rondon - L Foster Lyle Shavers Urtain
29 Vic Brown - W Jordan Boston
30 Johnny Griffin - W Wagner White McGill

Interesting that neither of Frazier's first year defences were top 20 fighters.

Foreman's competition was not any better

In contrast, Ali absolutely sliced through the lower ranks of the lineal top 10.

The top 10 seems to be interesting this year. Only the 60s raised fighters are actually fighting lineal ranked opponents. The 70s fighters coming through seem to have sat on their rankings and only fought mainly unranked fighters. I could be wrong but this seems to have been the start of the modern push favouring lengthy undefeated streaks against lower ranked fighters.

Danny McAlinden seems to have caused an upset to move into the top 20.
Henry Cooper retires with a top 20 ranking

Earnie Shavers and Bob Foster have made their way into the top 30.

 

1973
1 George Foreman W Frazier
2 Joe Frazier W Bugner L Foreman
3 Muhammed Ali - W Bugner Norton Lubbers L Norton
4 Ken Norton - W Ali L Ali
5 Jerry Quarry - Neuman lyle woody Doyle Shavers
6 Ernie Shavers - W Young Carter Ellis L Quarry
7 Boone Kirkman - W O Halloran, Johnson & Others
8 Jimmy ellis - W Harris Harris Brooks Jones Kirkman L Shavers
9 George Chuvalo - W Ventura Boswell
10 Oscar Bonavena - W Cordwell Wallace Bailey Sorrell
11 Chuck Wepner W Marquart Terrell
12 Jeff Merritt - W Terrell Stander
13 Ernie Terrell - W Garcia
14 Ron Lyle - W Sterling Peralta Garcia Blin Middleton & Others L Quarry
15 Luis Pires - L Silveira Monagorri
16 Pedro Agosta - Johnson Polite Lawson McCarter Roman L Neuman (Pre rank)
17 Jose Roman - W Brown L Foreman Agosta
18 Joe Bugner - W Lubbers ros Foster L Ali Frazier
19 Jeurgen Blin -W Machado L Lyle
20 Jose Urtain W Ortiz
21 Bunny Johnson W Rogers Stevens Jackson Dunn
22 Morris Jackson W McAlinden Bailey L Johnson
23 Danny McAlinden - W Ventura McIntosh L Jackson)
24 Ray Anderson - W Paez Ahumada L Wallace (pre rank) D Dupree
25 Guiseppe Ros - W Ortiz Paez L Bugner D Faustino
26 Avenamar Perralta - W Paez & others L Loyola (pre rank)
27 Mike Schutte - W paez & Others L Britz (pre rank)
28 Migueal Angel Paez - W sounkalo L Andersen Ros Perralta Schutte
29 Bob Stallings - W Foster Green L Lyle
30 Mac Foster - W Mcgill Williams L Stallings Bugner
31 Joe Alexander W Caldwell Garcia
32 Jose Garcia - W Polite L Alexander Lyle

The top 10 looks pretty solid at the moment.

Interestingly Muhammed Ali by the end of his career will have a positive win loss record over the entire top 10. Technically though he only ranks 3rd at the moment despite having wins over number 8-10. Foreman and Frazier had only beaten a couple of the top 10 contenders each. Looking at things, you can see that Ali Foreman should not have been seen as anywhere near the upset it was, if you look at the lineal rankings. Ali was a real standout challenger.

The other interesting thing, I see is that despite this being considered a golden age, it does seem that the old average and retiring 60s trained fighters have really competed favourably against younger fighters of similar level. Bonavena Chuvalo Patterson, Terrell seem to be as successful in the 70s as they were in the 60s despite aging. Later guys like Thad Spencer or Bob Stallings level fighters were still having success against lower level guys. I can certainly imagine several old timers of the era saying they didn’t make fighters like they used to in the 50s and 60s and being laughed away. But the actual results make a pretty decent argument. Maybe this also coincided with when the last of the Pioneer style Jack Johnson era fighters died off?

Floyd Patterson retires in 7th spot after his loss to Muhammed Ali. The end of a very good carreer.

Age finally seemed to catch up with Ernie terell with his losses to Jeff Merritt and Chuch wepner

Jack Bodell also retires within the top 20.

 

1974
1 Muhammed Ali W Frazier Foreman
2 George Foreman W Norton L Ali
3 Joe Frazier W Quarry L Ali
4 Ken Norton - W Kirkman L Foreman
5 Jerry Quarry -W Alexander L Frazier
6 Bob Stallings - Woody Mashburn Shavers
7 Earnie Shavers - W Wallace L Stallings D Young
8 Al Jones - W kirkman Rodrigues Olivera
9 Ron Lyle - w Bonavena Ellis Kirkman Jones
10 Boone Kirkman - L Jones Norton Lyle
11 Joe Bugner - w Lovell Ellis Garcia Baruzzi Duncan
12 Jimmy ellis - D middleton L Lyle Bugner
13 Oscar Bonavena - W Middleton Renault & Others L Lyle
14 Chuck Wepner W Williams Neuman Polite Hinke
15 Henry Clark - W Merritt Foster Gilmore Williams
16 Jeff Merritt - W Henry Clark
17 Luis Pires -W Davilla
18 Pedro Agosta - No fights
19 Jose Roman - W Perrer Rondon D Urtain
20 Jeurgen Blin -W Machado L Lyle
21 Jean Pierre Coopman - W Campbell Faustino & others L Lubbers (pre rank)
22 Rocky Campbell - W Urtain Rodan L Coopman
23 Santiago Lovell -W Jose Urtain L Ekwulum Belves (pre rank) Bugner
24 Jose Urtain W Roman Dunn & others L Campbell lovell
25 Bunny Johnson W Wallace Vailia Wright
26 Morris Jackson D Stander
27Mike Weaver - W Vaka Quals L Bobick Bobick (pre rank)
28 Mani Vaka - W Mcleay Kruger Duncan Green L Weaver Bonavena
29 Rodney Bobick - W Rondon Weaver Stander & others
30 Pat Duncan - W mca linen McCleay L Bugner Vaka Bobick
31 Danny McAlinden - L Duncan
32 Galindes - W Anderson Oquendo& Hutchinson & others
33 James Scott - W Anderson Vaila Loyola & others
34 Ray Anderson - W Paez Ahumada L Wallace (pre rank) D Dupree
35 Guiseppe Ros - W Ortiz Polite Brooks D Cane

Foreman's record when he met ali had him with an early KO string that was very similar to that of Bob Fitzsimmons or John L Sullivan where virtually nobody went 4 rounds with him. Even better maybe when you combine the Sonny Liston type dominance over previous champion Frazier and top contender Norton. Ali, in contrast, had victories over an unprecedented number of contenders. With both in form (and I will probably look closer at the numbers when I finish the rankings) but I think this is a standout as the biggest title match (or match) of all time. One of the most dominant champions ever from an Early KO point. And the most proven and accomplished challenger ever. And Both close to their prime. Looking back this was the equivalent or better of Jackson Sullivan taking place or any other dream match you can think of. I don’t think there was ever two better qualified (as a whole) fighters who ever stepped in the ring together.

Awesome effort from old Bob Stallings in his 10th year as a pro and after really struggling in the 60s. He took the step up into the top 10 with a win over Earnie Shavers. Huge Upset unless you have been subscribing to the drop in quality of the 70s theory I floated earlier.

Add George Chuvalo to the list of guys who retired with a top 10 ranking.

Pedro "Schoolboy" Agosto became one of the few top ranked fighters to take a year off and sit on his ranking.

Joe Bugner is on a solid winning run, albeit campaining mostly in England.

Jeurgan Blin is another 60s fighter who retired at the end of his career with carreer high top 20 contender status.

Special Mention to Jean Pierre Coopman who becomes the first ever Belgium fighter to enter the rankings.

Santiago Lovell did well to return to the top 20 with his last hurrah win over Jose Urtain. But it seems that Joe Bugner would be too much Lovell is about to go on a losing streak.

Ray Anderson I think needs a special mention. Not only is he one of the rare light heavys to make it into the rankings but he managed to turn a plain name into a great one. "Sugar Ray the Magnificent" Anderson. Also., from memory, he is the highest ranked "Sugar" Ray, ever.

Victor Galindez makes the top 30 in the same year that he wins the WBA Light heavy championship.

James Scott Snuck into the rankings as well. He was an interesting fighter. Soon after beating Ray anderson he was sent to prison but he would go on to win 9 from 11 with all fights being fought inside jail including a match with Dwight Muhammed Qawi. Seems a wasted talent.

Henry Clark has been added, as i somehow missed him. Another 60s fighter doing well in the 60s. He actually has a verry good record.

 

1975
1 Muhammed Ali W Wepner Lyle Bugner Frazier
2 George Foreman No Fights
3 Joe Frazier W Ellis L Ali
4 Ken Norton - W Brooks Quarry Garcia
5 Jerry Quarry -W Johnson L Norton
6 Bob Stallings - No Fights
7 Ron Lyle - W Shavers L Young Ali (Pre Rank)
8 Earnie Shavers - W Shore Norris Wright Howard L Lyle
9 Johnny Boudreaux - W Atlas Doyle Wallace
10 Atlas - W Jones L Boudreax
11 Jimmy Young - Lyle Lloyd Al Jones
12 Al Jones - W Brown L Atlas Young
13 Duanne Bobick - W Wallace Duncan Neuman & others
14 Randy Neuman W Kirkman, Walker & Others L Bobick Joseph (Pre Rank)
15 Boone Kirkman - L Neuman
16 Joe Bugner - w Cane L Ali
17 Jimmy ellis - W Baker L Frazier
18 Oscar Bonavena - W Gorasito
19 Chuck Wepner W Evans Dolan L Ali
20 Henry Clark W Richards Ballard
21 Jeff Merritt - No Fights
22 Luis Pires -W Faustino
23 Richard Dunn - W Campbell Johnson McAlinden & Others
24 Bunny Johnson - McAlinden Agosta Anderson Oquendo & Others L Dunn
25 Pedro Agosta - Johnson Bobick
26 Yaqui Lopez - W Quarry Burnnett & Others L Burnett
27 Jessie Burnett - W Brewer Lopez L Lopez Scott(pre rank)
28 Mike Quarry - W Roman McIntosh & Others L Lopez Loto
29 Wendell Joseph - W Neuman Roman Thomas Lee
30 John Dino Denim - Bosman Daniels Roman And others
31 Mike Schutte- Ortiz Wallace Roman & Others L Richards (pre rank)
32 Jose Roman - W White L Quarry Joseph Denim Schutte
33 Jean Pierre Coopman - W Lubbers Daniels & others
34 Rocky Campbell - L Dunn
35 Alfredo Evangelisto - W lovell Visini
36 Santiago Lovell -W Augusto L Evangelista

Bob Stallings sitting on his top 10 Ranking!

Jimmy Ellis retires just outside the top 10 in 11th Spot.

Have to make a special Mention to Henry Clarks opponent Jimmy Gilmore (1 year late). Not sure if it is a mistake or not but boxrec has him listed asa carreer high 5 10 310 pounds Seems like he was built like a tank. Or he didn’t really train for this fight. Not sure which one.

Duanne Bobick, who beat Larry Holmes in the amateurs is on a pretty decent win streak.

Jose King Roman, who has been inconsistent at best throughout his career had a really poor year.

25th Ranked John Dino Denim seems to have snuck in by beating the out of form Roman, but he is undefeated and on a collission course towards none other than George foreman as well as cooney and bugner so it will be interesting to plot his progress.

Mike Schutte recovered from losing his South African Heavyweight title fight to make the top 10. It is funny how certain countries seem to go through stages of competiveness. The bonavena lead Argentina stage seems to be finishing. We went through a german stage and we seem to be on the threshold of a bit of a South African golden era

Alfredo Evangelisto makes the top 30 in his debut year.

 

1976
1 Muhammed Ali W Coopman young Dunn Norton
2 George Foreman - Lyle Frazier Le Doux Denis
3 Joe Frazier L Foreman
4 Ken Norton - W Stander Middleton Ali
5 Jerry Quarry -W Jerry Quarry
6 Gregory Johnson - W Rodrigues Stallings L Stallings Isaac(prerank)
7 Bob Stallings - W Johnson L Johnson
8 Jimmy Young - W Roman Rogan Boswell Lyle
9 Ron Lyle -W Isaac L Foreman Young
10 Earnie Shavers - W SW Clark Williams
11 Howard Smith - W Bordreaux Johnson Jordan
12 Johnny Bordreaux W O Melia Ghoulston L Smith
13 Tom Prater W Ballard Jones & Others
14 Leon Shaw W Ballard Grant
15 Mike Weaver W Ballard Sekona
16 Jody Ballard W Atlas L Prader Shaw Weaver
17 Al Hogan - W Atlas Armstrong & Others
18 Charles Atlas L Ballard Hogan
19 Lynn Ball - W Dixon SMith Collins
20 Robert Echols W Greer Avilla Smith Dixon
21 James Dixon - W Cisco Mclendon Jones L Ball Echols
22 Ibar Arrington - W Daniels Jones Arrington & Others
23 Al Jones L Dixon Arrington
24 Duanne Bobick - W Middleton Ledoux Johnson Wepner Houpe
25 Randy Neuman - No Fights
26 Boone Kirkman - No Fights
27 Joe Bugner - w Dunn
28 Oscar Bonavena - W Joiner
29 Chuck Wepner W Sheehan L Bobick
30 Henry Clark L Shavers
31 Stan Ward - Foster Merritt
32 Jeff Merritt - L Ward
33 Luis Pires -W Musladino Castellono Da Silva
34 Richard Dunn - W August L Ali Bugner
35 Bunny Johnson - W Brisland Martin L Bobick
36 Pedro Agosta - W Freeman D Lassiter
37 John Conteh - W Lopez
38 Yaqui Lopez - W Lee Smith Castaneda & Others l Conteh
39 Victor Galindes - Burnett Kates Douglas
40 Jessie Burnett - W Brewer Mundine Taylor jones Rascon V L Galindes
41 Rosman - W Quarry Elliot & others L Licata (pre rank)
42 Mike Quarry - W gates Freeman Bethea & others L Rosman
43 Wendell Joseph - No Fights
44 John Dino Denim - W LeDoux L Foreman D English
45 Gerrie Coetzee - Richards Stander Schutt knoetzee
46 Mike Schutte- W lubbers Ros & others L Coetzee

Muhammed Ali has a great dominance with wins over 9 of the top 12.

Bob Stallings and Gregory johnson looks to be the most vulnerable of those around.

18 th ranked luis pires appears to have remained fighting the south american champions.

It is interesting that the light heavys seem to be holding solid in the 20 -30 bracket.

Gerrie Coetzee moves into the top 30 with DQ win.

 

1977
1 Muhammed Ali W Evangalista Shavers
2 Ken Norton - W Bobick Zanon Young
3 Jimmy Young - W Foreman Ballard L Norton
4 George Foreman - W Agosto L Young
5 Jerry Quarry -W Zannon
6 Joe Alexander - W Carr Johnson Davis Maldonado
7 Leroy Jones - Wallace Dennis Johnson
8 Roy Williams w Carter Atlas Johnson
9 Earl Trip - w Johnson
10 Gregory Johnson - W Alexander Jones Williams Trip
11 Bernardo Mercado - W Robinxon Stephens & Others
12 Horace Robinson - W Stallings Stander L Holmes (Pre Rank)
13 Bob Stallings - L Robinson
14 Ron Lyle -W Bugner Ward
15 Earnie Shavers - W Bugner Ward
16 Howard Smith - W Clark James L Shavers
17 Stephens W Bordeaux Brown L Mercado (Pre Rank)
18 Gerry Coetzee - W Foure Shutte Prater Bourdreax
19 Johnny Bordreaux W LeDeux L Stephens Coetzee
20 Larry Holmes W Prater Robinson Houpe Arrington
21 Mike Koranicki W Prater Wells & Others
22 Le Deoux W Soto Prater D Spinks L Bordreaux Bobick
23 Tom Prater W Atlas L Holmes Koranicki Ledoux Coetzee
24 Leon Shaw W Baker Kaspeer & others
25 Mike Weaver W Bonds Sharkey Martinez Lovell
26 Stan Ward - W Ballard Isaac L Lyle
27 Jody Ballard W Wilson L Ward Young
28 Al Hogan - Morris Baker
29 Chuck Gardner - W McAuley Edwarts Tinsley L Echols (Pre Rank)
30 Nick Wells - W Alexander Atlas & Others L Karanicki
31 Charles Atlas - Williams Garnder Wells
32 Lynn Ball - W Ray Green Young
33 John Tate - W Jordan Schram Santemore & Others
34 Robert Echols W Greer Gardner Alexander Santemore & Others L Santemore
35 Walter Santemore W Echols Armstrong & others L Tate & Echols
36 Jerry Celestine - W Dixon Le Garza & Others
37 Tom Nickson - W Rocket Walker L Shaw Occasio Santemor (PreRank)
38 Roberto Rocket W Martin Dixon Baines L Nickson
39 James Dixon - W Bass L Calestine Rocket
40 Boone Kirkman - W Roman Stander Agosta
41 Victor Galindez W Lopez Muhammed & others
42 Yaqui Lopez - W Lloyd Geigger & others L Galindez & Bennett (Pre Rank)
43 Bobby Lloyd - W Roman Lewis & others L Lopez
44 Marlon Lewis - W Roman L Lloyd
45 Jose Roman - W Arrington Smith & Others L Kirkman Lloyd Lewis
46 Greg Sorentino - W arrington smith Molynaux L Canalito
47 Ibar Arrington - W Jackson Neumann foley Gardner L Roman Sorentino HOlmes
48 Duanne Bobick - W Ledoux Agosta L Norton
49 Randy Neuman - L Arrington
50 Kallie Knoetzee - Schutte Dunn & Others
51 Mike Schutte - W Wepner memela L Coetzee Knoetzee
52 Horst Geisler - Anthony Wepner
53 Chuck Wepner L Schutte Geisler
54 Howard Smith W Clark James L shavers
55 Henry Clark L Smith
56 Luis Pires -W Sosa Musladino
57 Richard Dunn - L Knoetzee
58 Aldo Traverso- w Johnson Galvez & Others
59 Bunny Johnson - W mintus white wood
60 Leon Spinks - W Agosta Ledoux & others
61 Pedro Agosta - W Freeman L Foreman Spinks Kirkman Bobick
62 John Conteh - W Hutchins



Joe Frazier bows out, while George Foremans Loss and Jerry Quarrys win means this is the last year for two long serving top 10 stalwarts.

Greg Johnson looks to have created a major blip in the system.

With that being said, Leroy Jones, who took 7th with a win over Johnson did have a nice win streak which would lead him all the way to Larry Holmes. He actually looks talented. Anyone know much more about him.

Earl Trip actually made the top 10 on debut

It is very ineresting that Larry Holmes just missed out on the top 15 due to a pre rank win, and he was leap frogged by future wba title holders John Tate and Mike Weaver.

Ali Still has wins over the top 5 fighters, but the new wave is clearly starting to emerge as the 80s fighters start to make their mark.

Boone Kirkman has returned to the ratings with a final purple patch of form.

 

1978
1 Muhammed Ali W Spinks L Spinks
2 Leon Spinks w Ali L Ali
3 Larry Holmes - W Shavers Norton Evangelista
4 Ken Norton - W Stevens L Holmes
5 Ossie Occassio - W Young
6 Jimmy Young - WL Occassio
7 Kevin Isaac - W Alexandeer Creel Sanders L Occassio
8 Joe Alexander - W Isaac
9 Leroy Jones - W Mike Weaver
10 Roy Williams w Moala Moore
11 Larry Frazier - Waddud
12 Bashir Waddud - Bryant Mills L Frazier
13 Rick Mills - W Ones Bryant Muhammed L Waddud
14 Robbie Bryant - L Waddud W Muhammed Lewis
15 Rahman Muhammed - W Tripp L Mills & Bryane
16 Earl Trip - w Smith Gordon Pulu & Others
17 Trevor Berbick w giesler johnson& others
18 Alfio Rigetti W Johnson Roman & Others
19 Gregory Johnson - L Trevor Berbick Alfio Rigetti
20 John Tate - Wboudreaux Carter Wallace & others
21 Stephens - w Prater Ward L Coetzee (pre rank) Norton
22 Stan Ward - W Weaver KhanL Stephens
23 Mike Weaver - W Creel Mercado Khan L Ward Jones
24 Bernardo Mercado - W Robinson L Tate Weaver
25 Ron Lyle - W Robinson
26 Horace Robinson - W Mercado Lyle
27 Bobby Jordan W Stallings Haring & Others L Capasso & others (pre rank
28 Tyrone harleeW Stallings Byrd Wilder Chaplin
29 Bob Stallings -W Giesler Hilton & others L Jordan Harlee
30 Earnie Shavers - W Girell Gorokowski Carter
31 Albert Syben - W Wallace Adinolphi & Others
32 Roy wallace w Rodriguez Bordreaux L tate Syben
33 Johnny Boudreaux W Draper L Wallace Tate
34 Gerry Coetzee - W Stephens Arrington
35 Mike Koranicki W thompkins
36 Le Deoux W Beattie Donato Brown D Sharkey
37 Kallie Knoetzee W L Bobick W Bobick Ruddock Maldonado
38 Duanne Bobick - W Shutte Thompkins Prater & Others L Knoetzee
39 Tom Prater W Mudgett L Stephens Bobick
40 Lottie Mwale - W Lloyd Sibson johnson & others
41 Marvin Camel - W Lood Arrington Bethea & Others
42 Bobby Lloyd W Shaw Roman L Mwale Camel Wasaje
43 Leon Shaw W Baker Ballard L Lloyd Tate
44 Alfredo Evangelista W Ballard Cane & Others L Holmes
45 Jody Ballard W Johnson L evangelista Shaw
46 Al Hogan - Morris Baker
47 Tom Fischer - W Carter Beattie Daniels & others L Mostardini (Pre Rank)
48 James Beattie W Gardner Askew L Fischer
49 Fred Askey - W Gardner L Beattie
50 Chuck Gardner - L Beattie Askew
51 ST Gordon Maldonado & Others
52 CG Maldonado W Wells L Cooney Knoetzee
53 James Scott - W Roberson Brown Muhammed
54 Eddie Mustafa Muhammed W turner Dixon & others L Scott
55 Don Martin W Dixon clayton Haynes L Dixon Otts Porter (pre rank)
56 James Dixon - W Martin Sloan Grice Wells L Tate, Dominey Brown Turner(prerank)Muhammed Martin
57 Nick Wells - W Gaskins L Maldonado Dixon
58 Boone Kirkman - W Roman Stander Agosta
59 Ron Stander - W Mudgett Atlas & Others
60 Charles Atlas -L Kirkman Stander Cross Stander
61 Lynn Ball - W Alexander Parrot Jackson
62 Willie Shannon W Armstrong Santermore Nickson & Others
63 Elton Armstrong W Echols L Shannon
64 Robert Echols W Gardner Smith Price L Armstron
65 Walter Santemore W Echols Armstrong & others L Tate & Echols
66 Marvin Johnson W Parlov Celestine L Mwale(PreRank)
67 Jerry Martin - W McLean Brown Celestine
68 Jerry Celestine - W Townsend Brown Jones L Johnson Martin
69 Tom Nickson - L Shannon Bobick
70 Ivy Brown - W Evans Dixon Rocket & others L Martin
71 Roberto Rocket W Ivy Turner L Brown Hallacy
72 Guy Casale - W Tooker Sheehan Roy & others L Roy D Tarawewich ND FOley
73 Conrad Tooker w Turner Black Foley L Roy Rodrigues (prerank) Casale
74 Eugene Stimson W Turner
75 Ed Turner - W Dixon Hallacy L Muhammed Brown (Pre Rank) Rocket
76 Tony Licata - Hallacy Patterson Thomas
77 Ned Hallacy - W Rockett Donato Bethea L Turner Licata
78 Mike RossmanW Galindez Traverso & Others L Lopez (Pre Rank)
79 Victor Galindez W Lopez Paulino & Others
80 Mathew Saad Muhammed - Kates Grant Bright Lopez
81 Yaqui Lopez - W Rossman & Others L Galindez Saad Muhammed
82 Marlon Lewis - W Carter
83 Walter Moore - W Roman terrell Daniels & Others L Williams
84 Harry Terrell W Giesler Smith Johnson L shavers
85 Charlie Johnson - W Bond Hairston Arrington L terrell
86 Ibar Arrington - W Roman Jerome & others L Camel Johnson coetzee
87 Glen Morgan W Roman
88 Jose Roman - W Jerome D Forte L Lloyd Moore Arrington morgan Righetti
89 John L Gadrner W Jordan Aird Sorention
90 Greg Sorentino - W Brown Sharey Warr L Berbick Gardner
91 Mike Schutte - W Nyalunga L Bobick

It is interesting that the 80s fighters seem to have moved into the top 10 in droves. I wonder if the lower rungs will but up a brave fight, like the 60s fighters seemed to.

George foreman retired the first time inside the top 10 in 7th spot surprisingly just one spot ahead of Jerry Quarry. Quarry stuck around longer than foreman, but never really reached the same heights at the top.

Kevin Isaac and leroy Jones look dodgy on the surface as top 10 contenders. But Jones just did beat future title holder mike weaver and Jones despite losing to fellow top 10 occassio is on track to beat another world champion leon spinks. So once again, the system seems to be holding out as good despite the blip a year or two ago in the top 10.

Old Bob Stallings upset win back into the rankings is really creating chaos with the ratings although interesingly it has led to trevor Berbick making his way into the top 20.

 

1979
1 Muhammed Ali No fights
2 John Tate - W Bobick Knoetzee Coetzee
3 Gerry Coetzee W Spinks L Tate
4 Leon Spinks L Coetzee
5 Larry Holmes - W W Occasio Weaver Shavers
6 Earnie Shavers - W Norton Parotte L Holmes
7 Ken Norton - L Shavers D Le Doux
8 Ossie Occassio - W Young Sterling L Holmes
9 Michael dokes - Martin Bailey Sorrentino McIntyre Young
10 Jimmy Young - W Gardner Bailey L Occassio Dokes
11 Kevin Isaac - W Tripp
12 Johnny Warr - W Alexander L Capasso (pre rank)
13 Joe Alexander - L Warr
14 Leroy Jones - W Moala Terrell Beattie
15 Roy Williams w Brown
16 Larry Frazier - W McLeay Black
17 Mate Parlov - W Mundine D Camel
18 Tony Mundine - W Ecimovic Mcintyre & Others L Parlov
19 Pete McIntyre W Ali Provo L Mundine
20 James Scott - W Lopez Johnson & Others
21 Yaqui Lopez - W albers Brown Barr ali L Scott
22 Bash Ali - W Waddud McPherson L Mcintyre Lopex
23 Bashir Waddud - W Johnson Dokovic & others L Ali
24 Rick Mills - W Johnson
25 Percell Davis - Muhammed Kahan Hohn Phillips
26 Jimmy Abott - W Santemore Shore & others L Lopez (pre rank)
27 Leon Shaw W Baca Smith L Mack (pre rank) Abbott
28 John Baca - W Muhammed L Shaw
29 Rahman Muhammed - W Echols Dominey L Davis Baca
30 St Gordon - W Tripp Gatewood
31 Earl Trip - w neuman ingham & Others L Isaac StGordon
32 Trevor Berbick w Macleay Ekwalum L mercado d Caldwell

Larry Holmes low ranking prior to the Ali fight next year is actually a bit of a surprise. If Ali had stayed retired rather than come back, Larry would have most likely not been the lineal champion!

Michael Dokes moved into the top 10 and would have been quite an exciting prospect as he had a pretty good winstreak going.

Bash Ali's loss to Yaqui Lopez and Pete McIntyre robbed the potenial 16 vs 17 Dream Match up of Ali vs Frazier. We could have had Larry Frazier vs Bash Ali. Now that would have been interesting.

Its been a long time since an Aussie made the rankings. Good to see Tony Mundine take a top 20 position. Decent year for an aging Mundine who took was the australian Heavyweight champion.

 

1980
1 Larry Holmes -W Zannon Jones Ledoux Ali
2 Muhammed Ali No fights
3 Mike Weaver - W Tate Coetzee
4 Trevor Berbick - W Warr Date Roselle Fidnlay
5 John Tate - L Weaver Berbick
6 Gerry Coetzee W Coranicick L Weaver
7 Leon Spinks W Evangealista Isaacs Mercado D Lopez
8 Berrnard Marcado - W Shavers Prada L Spinks
9 Ken Norton - W Randall Cobb
10 Randall Cobb -Shavers Echols Wallace Hernandez L Norton
11 Earnie Shavers - W Boone Wadkins L Mercado Cobb
12 Michael Dokes - W Tripp Rodrigues Occassio Fischer
13 Ossie Occassio - W Funches L Dokes D Dokes
14 Gerry Cooney - W Young Lyle
15 Jimmy Young - W Halpin L Cooney
16 Kevin Isaac - D Caldwell L Spinks
17 Rochelle Norris - W Warr
18 Renaldo Snipes - W Atlas Warr Mostadini & Others
19 Floyd Cummins - W Atlas Warr Mastadini & Others
20 Steve Zouski - W Sorrentino Warr & Others
21 Johnny Warr - L Norris Berbick Snipes Cummins Zouski
22 Joe Alexander - No Fights
23 Leroy Jones - L Holmes
24 Larry Frazier - W Aldrige Kreuger nc Sims
25 Carlos De Leon - W Paulino Rosa Camil
26 Marvin Camel - W Parlov L De Leon
27 Mate Parlov - L Camel
28 Tony Mundine - W Acsell Betham and Others
29 Michael Spinks - W Conteh Lopez & Others
30 Mathew Saad Muhammed - W Conteh Lopez & others
31 Yaqui Lopez - W Mcintyre Lloyd Ivy L M Spinks SaadMuhammed
32 Pete McIntyre W Riddles Davis L Lopez

Larry Holmes wins the lineal title with a win over an old Ali. It was a great win, but given the shape of Ali and the previous low ranking of most of Holmes victims, I can actually see why there was a bit of a reluctance to rate him, for a long time. Certainly his dominance over the top 1 was nowhere near that of Say Louis or Ali. It will be interesting to see how it compares a few years into his streak or how it compares to say a mike tyson.

Leon Spinks' win streak wasn’t that bad based on these rankings.

One thing which does seem to be taking over is the trend of building big wins Without fighting the top Lineal contenders. The top 20 seem to fight each other less than in previous decades and most of the top 20 seem to fight only 1 to 4 times a year at most.

Interesting that Michael Spinks made his way into the top 30 so early, as light heavy champion.