Mike Tyson was #1 p4p for a few years; who else would've been?

KO, May 1987.

1. Hagler
2. Tyson
3. Spinks.

Mistake, for #3 as this list is above, Holyfield was wrong.

 

Curry wasn't seriously right up there, until he stopped McCrory. Dec 1985.

 

A lot of hindsight is being used, I do not think Ali would of been #1 at anytime in the 60s, people were never quite sold on him then. Like you suggest Griffith would of been #1 for longest overal in the 60s.

When the Rumble in the Jungle happened you had Duran and Monzon in dominant form with Napoles not a million miles behind and Cervantes being discovered. Post Rumble there was a debate about how overrated Foreman was which would of tarnished Ali's argument for pound for pound supremecy.

I think as well people forget pre internet, pound for pound lists were only ever there if the Heavyweights were boring (not really a problem in the 70s) or to state Ray Robinson was Pound for pound the finest ever.

 

Tyson was #1 post Hagler/Leonard until he got Busted . Then Chavez took over for a month before in the only ever #1 verses #2 match-up (spin me thinks) he proved himself by beating Taylor; Chavez remained #1 until Whitaker in 1993, which shows you how good JC Superstar was because he actually peaked three/four years and 5/10lbs earlier than when he fought Taylor.

 

Where would Frazier have ranked p4p after beating Ali in the fight of the century?

Considering he was coming off KO's of Quarry,Foster and Ellis before this I'd say he'd have to be rated close to number 1.

Remembering that Duran wasn't yet champ,Monzon's reign was only in its infancy and that Jofre was only just coming back from a three year layoff,then I can't think of who'd be rated higher except for maybe Foster at Lt Heavy.

 

These type of lists were not around then. I know Boxing News had some in the mid 70s (thanks to My Dinner with Conteh), but I know of none from 71. But I am guessing as well as Foster; Napoles would be ahead of Frazier once he avenged the Backus slip up.

 

I was just speculating who would've been a Heavyweight number 1 p4p but you're right Napoles probably would've been rated higher as well.

Actually it's hard to come up with many periods when the Heavyweight Champion would've been the best fighter in the world.Pre-World War 2 Joe Louis would definately merit consideration but apart from that and mid 60's Ali I can't think of too many other times,which say's a lot about the Heavyweight division's quality.

 

In the Ring/K0 but Boxing Illustrated had Whitaker at #1 long before the Chavez fight.

 

Yeah, they did them sparingly (every 18 months or so). Ring did one in 1976, Boxing Illustrated did one in 1974 and 1977. BI also did one from the years: 1963-1975. A Top 12 of the last 12 years- Jofre won. I think Ali AND Frazier were both featured.

 

Napoles was regarded as #1 bascially from 1969 through to 1974 with ALL the boxing mags. He was also oft called Top 5, or even Top 3 of pfp of ALL TIME while he was fighting. Funny, how he seems to have dropped out the Top 20 since.

 

Griffith was very incosistant and had many losses, I don't think he was P4P material and don't think any of his wins would rate over Liston (twice), Patterson, Terrell etc

Duran in retrospect is great, but in 1974 he had been a 1 weight champ for a few years with only 1 belt and had lost to DeJesus.

Monzon is a good choice for P4P no1 but how many years had he been champ for then I forget?

As a career achevement wise Alis resume is far better than Monzons. So I'd have him P4P ahead anyway in 1974/1975

 

I think Ali, Louis, Marciano all have claims to P4P no1 status despite other top P4P fighters being around in their eras.

 

Ali and Louis yes but Marciano? I'm quite sure about that.

 

You are using hindsight; Duran was loved by the critics in the 70s; and Monzon was at his peak. The shock of the The Rumble in the Jungle was not that Ali won, it was that Foreman lost.

Again the 60s few had time for Clay/Ali, read the magazines they accepted to a point he was agood fighter, but the political situation at the time meant he was given as little kudos as possible.

You also forgetting that in the 60s and 70s a defeat was not considered the end of a fighter like it is today, especially when your defeats were to fighters the quality of Rodriguez and DeJesus and you gained redemption.