OK so this is something I've been thinking about. Ranking all of the great heavyweights throughout history, but on a P4P basis. Some of the criticisms held against earlier fighters is that they are too small, so let's remove that from the equation. As a P4P fighting machine, how do the great heavyweights throughout history stack up? Spoiler Alert: Charles and Langford look pretty good imo.
Charles, Fitz and Langford should be top tier here. I'd also pick Louis and Ali among the best ever just for pure ability.
I have Langford at #1 (although it could be #2, and I'd let LHW claim him if any one weight was to - same with Charles) and Charles at #2. Fitz and Ali are top 10 locks imo, with Louis just outside the top 10. After that guys like Holyfield and Marciano come later on, much later, with Holy being better imo. After that it's a very very far drop.
I reckon Charles, Langford, Ali and Louis are the top 4. I think I'd have Holyfield way higher up, inside the top ten tbh.
Probably something like 1. Bob Fitzsimmons 2. Ezzard Charles 3. Sam Langfrod 4. Muhammad Ali 5. Gene Tunney 6. Joe Louis 7. Rocky Marciano 8. Evander Holyfield 9. Jack Johnson 10. Mike Tyson
