Ranking Heavyweight Contenders

Bert Cooper beat Orlin Norris and went neck in neck with undefeated Gold Medalist and future WBO Champion Ray Mercer shortly before getting his title shot. And, he ended up giving a prime Evander Holyfield one of his toughest fights. Calling Bert Cooper an "F" Tier Heavyweight Contender is not only disrespectful, it is just plain ignorant. There are literally dozens of fighters who have gotten title shots over the last 10 years that would have had the living **** kicked out of them by Cooper.

 

Starting in the 1880's, the following heavyweights never got a lineal title shot, but could have

1880's Peter Jackson, Frank Slavin. Both on Sullivan's championship tenure. Both could be viewed as the #1 contenders for a while.

1890's Joe Choynski - Both on Fitzsimmions, and Corbett's tenure. While Choynski probably wasn't the #1 contender he was certainly a good one.

1900-1909. Langford, Jeannette, Mcvey. Both on Burns and Jack Johnson's tenure. All three could be viewed as #1, #2, or #3 from 1907-1909

1910-1919. Langford, Smith, Jeannette, and Mcvey for Jack Johnson from 1910-1915 All four could be viewed as #1, #2, #3, and #4 contenders. Harry Wills on Jack Dempsey's tenure. Wills was #1 for a while.

 

Bert took the Holyfield fight on less than 10 days notice and gave prime Holyfield hell for several rounds. And the version of Mercer that Bert went down to the wire with was better than the overweight version of Mercer that almost upset Lennox Lewis. Bert had documented drug problems that destroyed his career. But, when he was clean, the man could fight. Watch his destruction of undefeated Olympian Willie Dewitt, or his fight with potential Hall of Famer, Michael Moorer. When Bert was on, he was no easy night for anybody. I can't imagine how badly an in shape Cooper would destroy most of the challengers Deontay Wilder has faced so far. A guy like Eric Molina wouldn't have lasted 2 rounds with Cooper.

 

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I think Frank Moran was fairly well regarded, probably atleast C Tier. Firpo should probably be lower, Tom Sharkey higher.

Peter Jackson belongs in S Tier
Luther McCarty is hard to assess, but probably atleast B Tier.

 

Sullivan was way past his best, but there was almost certainly a period of time where Peter Jackson deserved to be champion.

I should maybe do a quick Sharkey thread with a few of his key wins.

 

Cooper stopped then #6 ranked HW contender Orlin Norris, as well as he had few other decent wins.
I think he should be up to D tier.

Grant too high, he has also scored one win over top-10 HW (Golota) where he was on the verge of being KO'd in 1. Few other decent wins outside of top-10. So Grant down to a D tier for me.

Surely, Cooper lost more but he has faced far more ranked HWs.

Carl Williams, Bowe, Foreman, Norris, Mercer, Holyfield, Moorer compared to Grant's Golota, Lewis and McCline

Grant had higher expectations of the two though.