Except on the top 3, I can change every few months, I do not rate active fighters in the ATG area except Evander because his better days are behind him. Best on this list lb4lb Marciano no question 2nd would be Charles or Langford with Tunney at 3rd 1) Louis 2) Ali 3) Marciano 4) Lewis 5) Walcott 6) Dempsey 7) Foreman/Frazier 8) Evander/Tyson 9) Charles 10) Holmes 11) Baer 12) Jeffries 13) Tunney 14) Johnson/Sharkey 15) Langford/Schmeling
Not a bad list, depending on what your using as criteria. I find Holmes at 10 odd and no Liston in the top 19 is odd but not unheard of I guess. Like I said, it depends on what you like. The only thing I would just disagree with is Foreman and Frazier tied. I think Foreman is better head to head and legacy wise.
Marciano is an odd one to rate, certainly. Walcott did nothing to deserve ranking over Tyson, Vander or Holmes, NOTHING. Dempsey is pure fiction.
I have not really been big on Liston lately, He looked great vs Patterson but the Ali fights ruin it for me I have him figured in somewhere possibly at 16 on that list.... Holmes 2 big wins were over Cooney and Shavers but he had a lot of close calls and was navigated with care, he avoided many, never unified and never re-matched a tough fight, I think Charles beats Cooney and Shavers and Ezzard always gave a rematch as tough as they were. I think Foreman proved he had Frazier's number H2H but Joe was not the same guy as when he beat Ali prime for Prime. Frazier had a very short prime but in his prime he gave Ali his first loss and 2 other hellish wars and I think that counts for something.
I'm not so sure Suzie, Baer took a good shot was a capable guy when in condition and not sure Sonny ever fought a puncher like Baer....I have been a little down on Liston lately but really not so convinced he was so good, he had 2 great impressive wins over Patterson but Floyd was mentally (subconsciously) prepared to lose that way and the way Sonny lost to Ali brings him down heavy for me. I mean its not like Ali had so many 1st rd. KO's
Walcott has no business in the top 10, and Dempsey probably doesn't either. Holmes ranking last requires some serious justification. And there are a few fighters that I can think of who should replace some of the men listed in your top 15...
I guess it depends on how high you rate Louis and Marciano because JJW came close to beating them each in one of the 2 fights they had. I have them rated in my top 3 Also I am impressed with Walcott although sometime erratic and not in condition early on. Walcott had a very good chin and beat some very good punchers of his day not to mention the left hook KO over Charles. I really believe Walcott had the tools to beat Foreman and Tyson but these ratings are all a matter of opinion. Dempsey is the only old timer I really rate high and I had him at 4 at one time. Dempsey was the first of the modern fighters and although I wish he would have fought Wills I also think he would have KO'd Wills. I have always been impressed with Dempsey's power, relentless killer instinct and speed and ability to bounce back after being hurt.
Its all a matter of personal opinion and my thoughts are only that of one man like yours. I am pretty firm in my opinion at the top 3 and for me Lewis is the best of the big guys but the last few spots are not written in stone and could be pretty interchangeable
I rate top four all time as Marciano, Dempsey, Louis, and Tyson, not in that order. They are four who deserve consideration to me for number one spot. I Tyson was as polular with media for political stances as Ali, we would have statures of Tyson built in every major city by now. Ali gets way to overrated due to popularity, and writers who control things always praising him. Walcott belongs, he was able to beat almost anyone on his best nights. Holmes toughness earns him tough ten to me too, it's an overlooked trait of his, very determined fighter. I also think Baer beats Liston. I think Tunney belongs in top 10, but his holding title so short a period is good enough reason for some to lower his ranking. John L. Sullivan fought in such a different tme period it is tough to rank him up there in a way, but what he did, bridging gap from bareknuckle to glove era (And not getting Credit for it, Corbett incorrectly getting credit) earns Sullivan some recognition from me on historical significance/greatness. Louis holding undisputed title so long, and competing against so many different eras (He beat fighters of 1930's, 1940', and some contenders from th every competitive 50's) makes him number one on all over consideration. Vitali Klischko, by staying on top so long, and never being actually ko'd, only being stopped on cut and on shoulder injury, plus having streak he is on now, deserves to be included once he retires.
