Send in your best to beat these guys Part 1

Not commenting on the typo... I just don't know what to think of that guy.

 

Jack Dempsey- Lennox Lewis
Joe Louis- Muhammad Ali
Rocky Marciano- George Foreman
Sonny Liston- Evander Holyfield
Muhammad Ali- Joe Frazier
Larry Holmes- Wladimir Klitschko
Mike Tyson- George Foreman
Evander Holyfield- Joe Frazier
Riddick Bowe- Lennox Lewis
Lennox Lewis- Larry Holmes
Wladimir Klitschko- Tim Witherspoon
Anthony Joshua- Sonny Liston
Tyson Fury- Muhammad Ali

I've doubled up on a few and Witherspoon over Wlad might be a touch out of left field but Tim's overhand right was lethal and Wlad is the perfect height for him to deliver it to cause maximum damage. Joshua is unproven to an extent but I've a sneaky suspicion that he might be susceptible to left hooks (Whyte landed a peach on him) and Listons left hook was devastating and he was an elite finisher once he has his man hurt.

Good thread this really got me thinking.

 

Why thank you.

 

You don't fancy my pick against Holyfield, I think Vitali had the size, style, chin and workrate to beat Holyfield on points.

 

With only using a fighter once! Which limits around 3 guys I don't think would win but have a good chance.


Jack Dempsey : G. foreman ( 70's )
Joe Louis : G. Foreman ( 90's)
Rocky Marciano : Ali
Sonny Liston : W. Klitschko
Muhammad Ali : Holmes
Larry Holmes : Bowe
Mike Tyson : V. Klitschko
Evander Holyfield : This is my last one I got to , gotta go.....IDK?? BUTTERBEAN!
Riddick Bowe : Fury
Lennox Lewis : Joshua
Wladimir : Holyfield
Anthony Joshua : M. Tyson
Tyson Fury : Lewis

 

I tried doing that but ran out of fighters with around 3 to go.

 

True, Wilder is an anomaly in terms of style since he's so raw, added to his build, athleticism and chin, I think Ali would least like to fight Wilder, then Tyson, Lewis and AJ. All good scraps though, fwiw, a 6'6"+ Ali probably minces everyone.

 

Having sobered up, I gained some slightly different insights. I'd pick Frazier to beat Ali, favoring Smokin' Joe by a small margin.

I recently rewatched most of Tyson's career, the last time I did that was over a decade ago. His destructive power is still as astonishing as it ever was, but his lack of true grit became much more apparent to me now. Back then, I always thought poster "My Dinner with Conteh" was overly critical on Tyson's lack of resilience. The more time passes, the more I agree with him.

To paraphrase Steward: "The real great fighters always have some extra in the tank during the late rounds, regardless of whether they are losing: Holmes vs Norton, Leonard in the 14th&15th vs Duran and Hearns, Holyfield vs Bowe, etc." Tyson simply didn't have that overdrive, and I think it'd cost him, since he's closely matched with many ATGs otherwise.

I think 96 Holyfield would've beaten any version of Tyson. Too much of big vs little brother; man vs boy. I also think Holmes takes him, though it's close.

Interesting list!

 

What happened to My Dinner With Conteh?

He was a great poster who knew his boxing and his music. I once had a huge argument about The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society album with him where I said it sucked and he vehemently disagreed with me. Well years later I re-listened to it and now it's one of my favourite albums.

So My Dinner With Conteh wherever you are I'm sorry. You were right and I was wrong.

 

Tyson was so far removed from his prime when he lost to Holyfield and Lewis. They were much closer to theirs. I don't see it as outrageous at all to favor absolute prime Tyson over the guys I picked him to beat, including those two.