My timeline of the premiere HW in the world.

I think at the verry least you would have to rate Carnera over Lasky, who he did after all beat.

 

It seems you're juggling who the lineal champion was with who you think the best was at a particular moment. For instance:

George Foreman: 1994-1995 (1 year) - there were probably 10 different HWs who could have beaten Foreman around this time

Mike Tyson: 1996 (1 year) - would the Tyson of 96 have beaten Lewis, Holyfield?

IN allot of cases we don't know who the best HW. Wills may have been the best in the world for the whole of Dempsey's reign or maybe Dempsey was the best for most of his reign. Maybe LEwis was the outright best from 92-03 with a few slip ups. Although maybe from 92-96 Holyfield was better, maybe from 92-94 Bowe was the best.

No way was Chris Byrd ever the best HW in the world, Wlad would have beaten him at any stage of his career and did at the beginning and end of his prime.

Just to make it more complicated in some of those cases you may have an A beats B, B beats C but C beats A scenario. Where there just isn't a stand out best.

 

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Bivins.

 

Terrific idea and effort.


*The one real disagreement I have is Joe Louis not being considered the best in 1935. He was 2-1 over Baer and 8-1 over Schmeling in 1936. I think everyone considered him the best in the world, which is why the Schmeling fight was such a big upset.

 

Great thread :good

My opinions differ in a few matters,though.

I don't consider that Michael Spinks was ever the best heavy in the world. I reckon that a couple of guys could have beaten him at that point. In fact it would n't have surprised me if Tyson was already the world's best from late 1985 onwards up until 1990.

I consider Muhammad Ali the best from 1964-67,when he was forced into inactivity. Then again from 1971 (Post FOTC - Frazier was best from May 1967 - 8-3-71) up until and including the Thrilla. Yes,Norton defeated Ali in their first go in 1973,but if he was in shape,he'd still have beaten anyone in the world.

I see Joe Louis as being the best from the Sharkey fight in 1936 up until 1947.

 

I'd have to give a lot of thought as to whether I agree with each exactly/what changes I might make for my own go, but I really like the idea very much. Great thread, Luf.

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I think their results after their fight were fairly comparable, leading up to the Schaaf fight which I throw out.

 

Agreed 43-44

 

You still consider Louis as best for the 2 1/2 years he was in the forces and not fighting?

 

Interesting that so many are happy to accept Louis as still the best while inactive, Yet Dempsey is not considered the best while he was semi active. Also Ali is not considered from post 67 while in exile, yet it could be argued by the acceptance of Louis remaining the premier heavy through inactivity that Frazier probably didnt eclipse Ali till much closer to 1970 than 67.
I have no problem with Ali and Dempsey being usurped during inactivity but Louis should be held to the same criteria

 

great list

 

You could make the argument that Bivins was the best during Louis's inactivity.