Max Baer and Earnie Shavers in place of McCall vs Lennox Lewis

Yes, but the same could be said of any heavyweight who could punch a little. It doesn't really make for a great argument.

 

It's polite to rank Schmeling so high but I find him to be simple, undersized by modern standards and not exceptionally athletic on film.

Classicists rank him highly out of necessity. To do otherwise would be to admit some very uncomfortable realities.

 

When did McCall?

This thread is specifically matching the pre Stewart Lewis who had some short comings, and could certainly be took out by Shavers and Baer.

 

The original question was "could they", not "would they".

I was simply responding to that question.

 

OK so Ramhan has the best win of the two.

When we start looking at second, third, and fourth best wins we see the true picture.

Ramhan is a fighter with one good knockout, while Baer has a whole myriad of them.

 

McCall's knockout of Lewis reflects more upon Lewis on that night than McCall on that night, I feel. So, yes, on that occasion Baer or Shavers could possibly have done him, along with a few other heavyweights I wouldn't normally pick.

 

Sanders fits in way up there. I would say, at worst, Rahman has #1 and #3. And that is being very complimentary to Baer's era.

 

Why don't you list Sanders five best wins then?

One good win would not be enough to put him at #3.

 

Are you going to put Lou Nova, head to head, above Sanders?

Or fat Tony Galento?

 

Without hesitation.

Sanders literally only has one good win as far as I can see.

 

Not biting.

 

You have to factor in probability as well, else the argument becomes a simple binary. I mean Bert Cooper could potentially have knocked out Lewis if he landed right, but the chances of him ever doing so are miniscule.

I'd say the chances for Baer and Shavers aren't that much better, though I'd lean towards Shavers to pull the trick over Baer anytime.