I rate Marciano #3 - mostly based on his legacy and unbeaten record. But if there were other criteria (h2h, quality of his opposition) Rocky would be around place number 10
marciano had a huge heart ,was a big puncher for his size,and his powers of recovery were second to none , but, and its a big but, he would be TOO SMALL.
I just read through the thread and have an observation - not one person commented on Sullivan in Brian's top 10! Alot of comment on Jefferies, of course, but then top 20's were posted with no Sullivan in them. Is there a defense for Sullivan so high? Does pioneer/contemporary dominence get you that far? Or did people just find it so ridiculous that it wasn't worthy of comment?
I was pretty surprised with the kid gloves with which it was handled. I have no problem with respect for others' opinions (one of the big attractions of this board, TBH) but I'm not sure a #3 Dempsey ranking is defensible either, which was something else that wasn't mentioned. I also admire the hell out of Jack Johnson and what he accomplished, but the fact is that he HAS to be hurt by his ducking of the leading contenders of the day. I can see him in a top 10, but not 2.
Johnson and, especially Dempsey, ahead of Louis and Ali is just ludicrous. There's no reasonable justification for that whatsoever.
This is a good list. I do think Johnson should be ahead of Liston, though. And personallly I'd have Ali as nr. 1, but there's a good case to be made for Louis. I've no problems with him as nr. 1.
Nope! It raised an eyebrow, then reading through the posts did the same when none of #2 Johnson, #3 Dempsey and #8 Sullivan were taken to task.
Based on h2h in primes: 1 Muhammad Ali 2 Larry Holmes 3 Lennox Lewis 4 Joe Louis 5 Joe Frazier 6 Sonny Liston 7 Mike Tyson 8 George Foreman 9 Riddick Bowe 10 Evander Holyfield
Atg H2H? so it will be 1 Lewis 2 Ali 3 Holmes 4 tyson 5 Holyfield 6 Michael Jordan 7 Schumacher 8 Zinadin Zidan 9 Pele 10 Maradona
Depends how you rank. Sullivan was king in his hey day. Had about a ten year rein, and was the first sports hero of the day. He gets a high ranking on impact of the sport, his legend, and beating the best of his prime years(Peter Jackson didnt come around until Sullivan was semi retire, kinda of like Gene Tunney to Dempsey) Yeah he would have lost to Jackson like he lost to Corbett, but it must be rember that was not prime Sullivan, but over the hill Sullivan. I guess he could be top ten, base on impact in the same way Jack Dempsey is rated.