The 50 greatest fighters ever! Revised

I look at what he did on the way to the top. He had a Tyson like metoric rise. Only he was more active than Tyson was when he captured the crown also. I think Zarate had 9 or 10 title defenses. Then he moves up and gets TKO'd by Gomez at 122. No shame in that.

Goes back down in weight and loses a very close fight to Pintor that could have gone either way. That loss pissed him off so bad he retired for 5 or so years and when he came back he was never the same.

I certainly think he is a top 5 ATG bantamweight. Top 3 in my book.

I see what you are saying about Barrera though. You put it into perspective quite nicely. Barrera certainly makes a case for being the overall greater fighter.

 

I thought Ali and Doug Jones could have gone either way. Frazier clearly outpointed him. He really lost to Norton at least 2 of their 3 fight. Lyle was beating him until Ali landed the bomb, Shavers gave him hell, and then Spinks.

Pre-exile Ali was faboulous but after 1970 he was too inconsistent to be considered a clear cut #1.

I consider Louis' performances against Max Baer and Max Schmelling the 2nd time as the pinnacle of heavyweight dominance. His combinations looked much more controlled and accurate than Ali's did even during the Cleveland Williams fight.

Louis' big knock is the 1st Schmelling fight. Sure we saw his chin could be dented but he showed some grit in that fight getting up from the KD and lasting as long as he did. Many say he barely trained for that fight too. We saw what happened in the rematch.

Ali and Louis could certainly both have their carrers split up into two parts and both were not quite the same the same after the layoff.

Pre-exile 1960-67
Post-exile 1970-1981

Pre-War 1935-42
Post-War 1946-51

It's a matter of who you like. Both certainly make their claim on who is the best ever.

25 defenses over 12 years against great fighters too (Schmelling, Conn, Joe Walcott) is what will probally have me leapfrog Joe Louis into the GOAT status at heavyweight.

 

So did Louis

 

He was in my top 25 the last time I made a list as well.

McGrain talks about Fitz having power. Now Demon Walcott is someone who had some power. An ATG welterweight who was KO'ing heavyweights.

 

One of my earlier posts I said I forgot Gavilan. That along with Barbados Joe Walcott were the best names I left off the list. Kid Chocolate and Rodriguez are just outside my top 50.

Gavilan is in my top 30 though.