Rank the eight heavyweight champions

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021.


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  1. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    You raise a fair point. But I am, and always will be, a Jacobite.
     
    cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021
    cross_trainer, Sep 25, 2021
    #31
    The Fighting Yoda likes this.
  2. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    1) Johnson
    2) Dempsey
    3) Jeffries
    4) Tunney
    5) Fitzsimmons
    6) Sullivan
    7) Willard
    I think 1-4 can be placed reasonably in any order
    8) Corbett
     
    Gazelle Punch, Sep 25, 2021
    Gazelle Punch, Sep 25, 2021
    #32
  3. Greb & Papke 707

    Greb & Papke 707 Active Member Full Member

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    Imo I maintain that Morphy would’ve beat Steinitz as well .
     
    Greb & Papke 707, Nov 16, 2021
    Greb & Papke 707, Nov 16, 2021
    #33
    cross_trainer likes this.
  4. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 MONZON VS HAGLER 2025 banned Full Member

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    Where the devil is Burns!
     
    Journeyman92, Nov 16, 2021
    Journeyman92, Nov 16, 2021
    #34
  5. Omega74

    Omega74 Member Full Member

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    This is how my list would look like. Top 4 has the right names and the ordering is also good
     
    Omega74, Nov 16, 2021
    Omega74, Nov 16, 2021
    #35
  6. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    1. Jack Johnson
    2. James Jeffries
    3. John L. Sullivan
    4. Jack Dempsey
    5. Bob Fitzsimmons
    6. Gene Tunney
    7. Jim Corbett
    8. Jess Willard

    Probably that order, though it's tough for me to rank Sullivan. Other than him, I'm pretty comfortable with my picks. I see a lot of people picking Tunney over Fitzsimmons, but I don't see that at HW.
     
    70sFan865, Nov 16, 2021
    70sFan865, Nov 16, 2021
    #36
  7. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    01 - Johnson
    02 - Jeffries
    03 - Dempsey
    04 - Corbett
    05 - Sullivan
    06 - Tunney
    07 - Fitzsimmons
    08 - Willard
     
    McGrain, Nov 16, 2021
    McGrain, Nov 16, 2021
    #37
  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Here's a related question not worth a thread.

    Is it reasonable to assume that the good draw Corbett boxed with Jackson is better than any result Sullivan achieved?

    And if you think otherwise, is it because you think any of Sullivan's challengers should be favoured over Jackson?
    This content is protected
     
    McGrain, Nov 16, 2021
    McGrain, Nov 16, 2021
    #38
    cross_trainer likes this.
  9. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Absolutely unrelated but, do you hate people who share the names of great fighters and return more results on google?

    I hate singer songwriter Jack Johnson and hobbitface director Peter Jackson for this, and no other reason :lol:

    I mean, I really do hate them.
     
    McGrain, Nov 16, 2021
    McGrain, Nov 16, 2021
    #39
    cross_trainer likes this.
  10. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

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    Not lineal under the conditions of the thread. Burns (and Marvin Hart) never beat Jeffries in the ring. Johnson only became lineal after he beat old man comebacking Jeffries.
     
    cross_trainer, Nov 16, 2021
    cross_trainer, Nov 16, 2021
    #40
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  11. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    On what basis do you have Corbett ahead of Fitzsimmons? I don't think it's defensible to be honest.
     
    70sFan865, Nov 16, 2021
    70sFan865, Nov 16, 2021
    #41
  12. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    1 - I think his style would translate better against the wider field.

    2 - I think in his prime he would have bested Fitz

    Once you introduce "an element of head to head" you can basically start ranking them any way you see fit.

    Certainly Fitz's size counts against him on any all-time list though. It's but a handful of guys who make a top 100 who could also have made 154 at some point in their pro careers.
     
    McGrain, Nov 16, 2021
    McGrain, Nov 16, 2021
    #42
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  13. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    It didn't happen in the real world though. Corbett struggled against pressure fighters, while Fitzsimmons dominated them. Corbett wanted no part of the biggest hitters of te division (Maher and Goddard), Fitzsimmons took Maher twice.

    Fitzsimmons fared better against mutual opponents as well for what it's worth. There is no deny that Fitzsimmons was the best fighter in the world at some point, while Corbett likely never was.
    Is there any reason to believe that Corbett was past his prime against Bob? Sure, he had a lay-off but Corbett was never active and he had some strong showings after Fitzsimmons fight (McCoy and Jeffries I).
     
    70sFan865, Nov 16, 2021
    70sFan865, Nov 16, 2021
    #43
    cross_trainer likes this.
  14. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Delighted you mentioned Ruby Robert, George!!
     
    Clinton, Nov 16, 2021
    Clinton, Nov 16, 2021
    #44
    George Crowcroft likes this.
  15. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Who do you think was better than Corbett the day after he won the title?

    Yeah, I don't think that is even in mild dispute.

    Corbett hadn't won a fight for more than three years. Post February 1894 he went 1-1-4 and he fought Fitz in 1897. He'd boxed four rounds between these two dates. What possible argument exists that he was anything but post-prime?
     
    McGrain, Nov 16, 2021
    McGrain, Nov 16, 2021
    #45
    cross_trainer likes this.
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