Past champions opinions on who was the best

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Mendoza, Jun 29, 2009.


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  1. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. Full Member

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    I find it fascinating to read past champions opinions on whom was the best. Its often confined to generations, but interesting nonetheless.

    Foreman and Tyson felt Ali was the best. If Frazier or Liston said anything on this topic, I never heard it before.


    Corbett, Fitzsimmons, Burns, Johnson, and Dempsey thought Jeffries was the best.


    Ok, which former champions felt Louis was the best?
     
    Mendoza, Jun 29, 2009
    Mendoza, Jun 29, 2009
    #1
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Frazier felt Louis was best. He had Louis at #1, himself at #2 and Ali at #3! Post FOTC this might have seemed reasonable to some, I guess.

    Liston felt Louis was best too, body and soul.
     
    McGrain, Jun 29, 2009
    McGrain, Jun 29, 2009
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  3. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    sorry to hijack but wouldnt other weights except heavy be intresting too
     
    GPater11093, Jun 29, 2009
    GPater11093, Jun 29, 2009
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  4. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    It's only a few posts old, i don't think it quite needs hi-jacking just yet!

    Ali said Robinson pound for pound anyway.
     
    teeto, Jun 29, 2009
    teeto, Jun 29, 2009
    #4
  5. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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    In 1 of Ali's books there was a transcript of a phone conversation between Ali and Frazier. Both ended up agreeing that Jack Johnson was the greatest HW above the rest. Mendoza will love that answer :D
     
    PowerPuncher, Jun 29, 2009
    PowerPuncher, Jun 29, 2009
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  6. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Didn't Robinson himself feel it was Armstrong? I know he admired him greatly. His hero?
     
    teeto, Jun 29, 2009
    teeto, Jun 29, 2009
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  7. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. Full Member

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    Very intersting on Frazier. OK--So Frazier and Liston were most impressed by Louis. Anyone else?

    Also, what Rocky Marciano think?
     
    Mendoza, Jun 29, 2009
    Mendoza, Jun 29, 2009
    #7
  8. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    janitor, Jun 29, 2009
    janitor, Jun 29, 2009
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  9. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. Full Member

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    Not sure what to make of this as it contradicts what McGain said.

    I do know the young Ali, who had some racy and militant views was fond of Johnson and felt their stories in life were similar. I never head / read Ali say anything in print on Johnson being the best. Boxing books can be great but sometimes un-recorded / undocumented conversations distort the truth.

    I saw Ali watch films of many past champions. He thought Louis was over rated. Ali had some respect for Marciano, and liked Tunney a lot.
     
    Mendoza, Jun 29, 2009
    Mendoza, Jun 29, 2009
    #9
  10. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member

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    The book is called The Greatest My Own Story ,and ,as you say, has a transcript of the phone conversation between Ali and Frazier, you are correct as to their pick too:good
    Im glad someone else posted this:lol:
     
    mcvey, Jun 29, 2009
    mcvey, Jun 29, 2009
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  11. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    "Even though people say 'Ali would have beat him', it is yet to be determined because it never actually happened. How you rate a fighter is by his longevity. Look at him with his longevity."
     
    McGrain, Jun 29, 2009
    McGrain, Jun 29, 2009
    #11
  12. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I actually think Tyson thought highest of Dempsey, although he stopped short of labelling him #1 and also admitted to being "biased...because I love Jack Dempsey."

    Following on from his opinion of Louis, he picked Louis-Conn I as one of his favourite fights, saying he watched it all the time, how he picked it out when he felt depressed.
     
    McGrain, Jun 29, 2009
    McGrain, Jun 29, 2009
    #12
  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member

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    I read Liston picked Louis. Johnson said of the Black fighters he met Mcvey was the toughest ,but I wouldnt put much credence in that, Jack liked Mcvey and hated Langford. Johnson called Corbett the Father of Modern Boxing,and Corbett who disliked Johnson said Johnson is the finest defensive fighter ever. Dempsey was a huge Jeffries fan ,and never particulalrly complimetary towards Louis.Tom Sharkey picked Johnson. I dont know who Jeffries picked ,but it wouldnt have been Burns or Hart ,he wa totally unimpressed by both of them.
    Marciano was a big Louis fan ,I dont know that he picked him as the best though .Jack Sharkey picked Dempsey.
     
    mcvey, Jun 29, 2009
    mcvey, Jun 29, 2009
    #13
  14. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    Peter Jackson fares prety well by this criteria.

    Corbett, Slavin and Fitzsimmons all said he was the greatest ever.
     
    janitor, Jun 29, 2009
    janitor, Jun 29, 2009
    #14
  15. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Didn't Frazier have Marciano as nr 2, behind Louis? I'm pretty sure of it.

    As Mendoza said, Ali wasn't too impressed by Johnson when watching him on film. But he put it down to the era (righfully so) rather than Johnson himself. He was impressed by Louis' punching, but not his footwork. Charles and Walcott was right up his alley, though.

    Holmes was very impressed by Johnson. Had him at the very top (but behind himself of course).
     
    Bokaj, Jun 29, 2009
    Bokaj, Jun 29, 2009
    #15
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