Ranking his 10 forgotten heavyweight champions: Bermane Stiverne, Charles Martin, Oleg Maskaev, Siarhei Liakhovich, Samuel Peter, Lamon Brewster, Sultan Ibragimov, Ruslan Chagaev, Hasim Rahman, Leon Spinks. In my opinion : 1- Lamon Brewster 2- Samuel Peter 3- Ruslan Chagaev 4- Sultan Ibragimov 5- Bermane Stiverne 6- Siarhei Liakhovich 7- Leon Spinks 8- Hasim Rahman 9- Charles Martin 10- Oleg Maskaev
Of all the claimants its probably Mike Schreck. He was a claimant at HW in 1907 and LHW in 1905. Neither claim is really acknowledged similar to Jack Twin Sullivan who took his LHW claim. But while Twin Sullivans claimed HW title he supposedly got by beating Jack Palmer meant little, Schrecks destruction of Hart left a statement. Kaufman who took both Schreck and Twin Sullivans HW claims and was referred to in papers as the "nearly heavyweight champion" would be up here but Kaufman had a pretty short career. Schreck had over 100 fights. In hindsight Schreck might have been a top 2 HW for a few years in the mid 00s. I would have favored him over the three lineal champs from this period in Jeffries, Hart and Burns who he beat at MW. Theres really no other HW at that level in any era who gets less attenton than Schreck does. Not just as a champion but in terms of being discussed period. Like his name just doesn't come up at all.
Lineal champions only: 1. Tommy Burns 2. Max Baer 3. Jess Willard 4. Michael Spinks 5. Ingemar Johansson 6. James Braddock 7. Michael Moorer 8. Hasim Rahman 9. James Douglas 10. Leon Spinks
Of these guys: Rahman Chagaev Spinks Brewster Peter Sultan Liakovich Stiverne Martin Maskaev Of these guys: Burns Michael Baer Ingo Moorer Willard Douglas Braddock Rahman Leon
