Most talented 80's heavyweight titlist not named Holmes, Spinks, Witherspoon or Tyson...

I'd pick Dokes of these. He had great speed and reflexes, good skills and power.
Tucker was gifted too, as were Page, Tate.

The least talented of these fighters were Smith and Weaver, but still they weren't less successful than the more talented guys mentioned above.

 

It's between Dokes, Tubbs and Tucker imo.

 

Tucker ,Doke s ,Thomas or page .Hard to ssy who's the top of the tree .

 

I picked Thomas but tubbs was close .Smith was less Talented as a boxer but was very dangerous as a fighter .On the right night could of beaten any on the list.

 

Tucker I guess. Because no one held the belt for anytime they all DQ themselves from the discussion. They had a chance to prove it. None accomplished the feat.

 

Interesting that no one is mentioning Trevor Berbick. He beat more guys on the list than anyone, and never lost to any of them.

Berbick knocked out John Tate. Handed Greg Page his first loss. And Berbick took the WBC title from Pinklon Thomas.

Tucker never fought or beat any of the other guys on the list.

 

Tucker and Dokes were the most talented to me. I'd lean towards Tucker as he had size to go along with it, but both guys were capable of a lot more than they achieved.

Berbick and Weaver in contrast were overachievers, and probably had better careers than nearly everyone else on the list.

 

I was going to say exactly the same thing.

 

Tubbs... size, speed, gumption.

 

I’m about where you are. For a few years Thomas was very good. He had a Strong stiff hard jab, a cement chin and good boxing mechanics, he deteriorated quickly because of his drug issues. His wins over Tillis and his Draw vs Coetzee (which I thought he won) and then winning the title over a good in Shape Witherspoon were all solid as was he spectacular 1 punch KO over Weaver. He was starting to slip vs Weaver, you could see it.. Berbick would take him next fight..

like you I also hold Tubbs in very high regard. Tony was so slick and fast.. Phenomenal reflexes for a man his size. Thru most of the early and mid 90’s unless you caught him cold or with a perfect shot he’d box circles around you. He put on a clinic vs Bowe. Dropped and dominated Seldon. Guys like Ferguson who would score upsets from time to time Tony would outbox 100-90 on the cards. He was smooth, but if you caught him like Lionel Butler did he’d go out...

Berbick and Weaver were just hard working grinders. You better be in top shape and stick to your game plan or they’d get ya! Weaver had a big punch but could be chinny.. Berbick wasn’t really a big puncher but he was tough, awkward and took a great shot and would literally grind you down..

Bonecrusher was painfully slow and could easily be outboxed but had ligit ONE PUNCH FIGHT ENDING POWER!!!!
He’d hit guys and they’d freeze but he wasn’t always the best finisher he would start teeing off and sometimes guys could stay out of trouble long enough to get back. He was always in shape though and kept coming (like the Bruno fight) His first round wins over Witherspoon and Weaver are both solid!!!! I grew up in this Era and could “literally” talk 80s heavyweights all day long.. Good stuff..

 

Crazy how inconsistent those guys were one fight they would great the next terrible. Voted for Page although Tubbs and Dokes had a lot of talent as did Tucker who was the first black guy I remember with a mullet.

 

All of these guys had flaws. Most weren’t dedicated or consistent.

I’d go with Page as the most talented but he wasn’t very disciplined. Tubbs was similar.

 

Same here. He was the pick purely on talent and above Witherspoon and Spinks for me as well as a heavyweight.