My All-Time Top Ten Heavyweight List

I agree.

I think many are so close so I prefer to do it in tiers:

1. Ali, Louis (Ali's my number one)

2. Johnson, Holmes, Lewis, Marciano (very hard to rank them individually)

3. Frazier, Tyson, Liston (Frazier is the first one of these, since he never came close to embarass himself in the ring)

4. Holyfield, Foreman

This is eleven, though.

 

If one fighter looks near unbeatable on film while his resume is only good, he deserves to be ranked above someone who can barely muster out wins against subpar opposition but has a similar resume in terms of wins.

H2H/domination over their opponents should be a part of these lists.

 

And he hunted adult Grizzly Bears with his bare hands and after he strangled them, he carried them 25 miles back to his camp for breakfast.

 

Beating poor to average opposition easily means ****. Look at Ali who struggled with quite a few mediocre fighters and how he fared against fellow greats. And then we Tyson who looked great against average Joe but fell short when he stepped up.
And it´s also a styles thing. A boxer looks less dominant and invincible as puncher should the puncher ranked higher because of that?

H2h is pure speculation. You can do it but I for myself think you list holds not much water because of that. I like facts.

 

1.Muhummad Ali
2.Joe Louis
3.Larry Holmes
4.Rocky Marciano
5.George Foreman
6.Mike Tyson
7.Evander Holyfield
8.Lennox Lewis
9.Sonny Liston
10.Joe Frazier

 

Do You guys think an argument for Larry Holmes at 2 could be reasonable?

 

As much as I admire Holmes, I really don't think such an argument can be made. Holmes was stripped of a world title for refusal to fight a mandatory, and continued to use selective methods when chosing opponents, while other titlists were running around. I still rate him very highly due to the fact that 20 title defenses and reaching 48-0 is a very impressive feat. But, to be a top 3-4 fighter, you have to do something that no other did...

 

MAGOO, I like most of your list. But consider this ommission:

Retired still holding the world heavyweight championship. Overall record of 80 wins (48 by KO), 2 losses (0 by KO) and 3 draws.

One of the losses in his record is actually listed as a win or a no contest in some versions. The only clear loss being to legendary Harry Greb (a loss that was later revenged 4 times). Other notable wins included two over Jack Dempsey!

How could you rate Mike Weaver & Tim Witherspoon (to name only two) ahead of GENE TUNNEY?

 

Tunney probably deserves to be rated above several guys on that list. As I said before, I'm not always consistant about how I rate these guys. I will say however, that as impressive as Tunney is, his greatest claim to faim was beating an inactive Dempsey, and had spent much of his career at lightheavyweight. That said, your point is still well noted. Tunney's career was very impressive, and he is one of the few fighters to have beaten every man he ever faced.

 

I'd accept 3, and used to have him there. But not 2, no chance.

 

This wouldn't be my list, but I think all the fighters you put in the top ten are justified for at least strong consideration for a top ten spot. Jeffries? Well, many have considered him the #1 man at one time or another.

 

I second this post.

 

"he is one of the few fighters to have beaten every man he ever faced."

Did Tunney ever defeat Tommy Gavigan?

 

No he didn't. I never cought the fact, that he drew with Gavigan....My mistake....

 

Trying to use no opinion/speculation on these lists is flawed as well though. If a guy wins the title today and decides to defend his title 27 times against the Vinny Maddalones of the world, that would put his title reign above The Brown Bomber correct because after all how do we know that Maddalone was any worse than Walcott? And ranking Louis's resume above his simply because you think he fought better fighters is pure speculation, and sticking with the facts Joe is second best in that.

Head to Head IS pure speculation obviously, but deciding whose resume is the best and ranking them off of that is ALSO speculation.

By the way, your list isn't too bad in my opinion anyway, although in my opinion Jeffries and Tyson should be switched.