Third greatest heavyweight of all time?

I agree by and large with your reasoning. If the measure was limited to championship reigns then I would not have Johnson at #3. The question asks who is the third greatest "heavyweight" of all time.

 

Excellent thread...

I have to go with Johnson. He has a great record and fine skills.

Holmes would probably be next.

I think Holyfield was the best of the 90s HWs (just) and I'm surprised he's not on the poll.

 

Good points.
Whatever we think of those opponents - I certainly dont want to exaggerate their prowess - I doubt anyone can seriously argue that any of those guys were like some of the no-hoper bums and patsys we've seen other heavyweight champions make defenses against.

Muhammad Ali fought some disgraceful challengers at his height of popularity, and plenty of dubiously qualified ones. Same with Joe Louis and Larry Holmes. Everyone Tyson fought in his prime would have pummelled Don Cockell.

 

Putting aside Ali and Holyfield, who fought a sum total of tougher opposition ? Not Dempsey, not Louis not Marciano, no way ... maybe Holmes (Weaver, Shavers, Cooney, Snipes, Witherspoon, Bey, Smith and Williams ) maybe not ...

It's easy to despise Tyson and he truly deserves it. His behavior is inexcusable. However, the claim that he lost to the first man who ever stood up to him is pure crap and an insult to the fighters mentioned above. In his prime Tyson was a tremendous force and a fighter few could have ever handled.

 

For me Holmes is a relatively safe pick, if not an original one.

What clinches it for me is his victory over (the admittedly one-dimensional, but dangerous) Mercer, at a time when his legs were gone. That was impressive, as was his overall career.

 

Jack Johnson is NOT the third best heavyweight of alltime.








He is the second best.!

 

Jeffries....

 

i might think to highly of that Era compared to others but i think his Wins over Corbett, Fitz, Sharkey, Griffin, Jackson*, Draw With Choynski, Win and Draw with Ruhlin gets him in there.....Add to that He Was pretty Fast(looks like it on Film) for a Man his Size, Great Power and Chin.

(*comeing off a long Layoff)

 

This is probably the best post HEgrants ever made. Well done. I do think the holmes victory is signifigant. Holmes going into the fight had never been stopped before. After tyson knocked him out cold, Holmes went on to fight for another decade against world class opposition and was NEVER stopped again. Shows you mike's true finishing powers at his peak.

 

Thank you SQ. While we go round and round over Rocky, I respect your posts and opinions ...

 

I voted Johnson, i can wholeheartedly see the reasoning for Lennox Lewis though, and i really don't like the man. Rocky Marciano is my other choice, but as i say, i voted Johnson.