Educate me on the top 10 heavyweights of the 1880s, 1890s and 1900s. You can also just make a top 5, if the era is too weak to make a clear top 10. I just want to learn more about the old timers.
Initial thoughts would be 1880s 1. John L Sullivan 2. Peter Jackson 3. James J Corbett 4. Joe Goddard 5. Paddy Ryan 6. Charlie Mitchell 7. Frank Slavin 8. Patsy Cardiff 9. Jack Burke 10. All Greenfield (Below 6 in this is basically interchangeable) 1890s 1. James J Jeffries 2. Bob Fitzsimmons 3. James J Corbett 4. Peter Jackson 5. Tom Sharkey 6. Joe Goddard 7. Kid McCoy 8. Peter Maher 9. Joe Choynski 10. Denver Ed Smith 1900s 1. James J Jeffries 2. Jack Johnson 3. Bob Fitzsimmons 4. Sam McVea 5. Gus Ruhlin 6. Tommy Burns 7. Jack Root 8. Marvin Hart 9. Denver Ed Martin 10. Joe Jeanette I've almost certainly overlooked some fighters
Thank you for the effort! There are some names i never heard about, especially in the 1880s I might check them out. What about Sam Langford in the 00s? Maybe he deserves a spot in the top 10 too?
Langford's work was nearly entirely at lower weights in that decade. For the 1880s Dominick McCaffrey could have easilly been included. It's pretty hard to really rate fighters from then, the information is pretty limited.
1880's: First, guys who had some version of the World Heavyweight Title: John L. Sullivan (Bare Knuckes and Gloves Lineal), Paddy Ryan (Bare Knuckles Lineal), Joe Goss (Bare Knuckles Lineal), Peter Jackson (Black), Old George Godfrey (Black), Charles Hadley (Black), Jake Kilrain (Police Gazette). Notable Contenders: Dominick McCaffrey, Charlie Mitchell, James J. Corbett. That's 10 big names in the 80's. 1890's: First, guys who had some version of the World Heavyweight Title: James J. Jeffries (Lineal), Bob Fitzsimmons (Lineal), James J. Corbett, (Lineal), John L. Sullivan (Lineal), Peter Jackson (Black), Bob Armstrong (Black), Frank Childs (Black), George Byers (Black). Peter Maher (New York and British Empire). Notable Contender: Tom Sharkey. That's 10 big names in the 90's. 1900's: First, guys who had some version of the World Heavyweight Title: James J. Jeffries (Lineal), Marvin Hart (Lineal), Tommy Burns (Lineal), Jack Johnson (Lineal), George Byers (Black), Ed Martin (Black), Sam McVey (Black), Joe Jeanette (Black). Notable Contenders: Sam Langford (also had a version of the Black Heavyweight Title), Jack Root. That's 10 big names in the 00's.
1880 Sullivan Jackson Kilrain McAuliffe Killen Cardiff Mitchell McCaffrey Slavin Burke 1890 Jeffries Fitz Jackson Corbett Sharkey Maher Goddard Ruhlin McCoy Ruhlin 1900 Johnson Jeffries Burns Hart Jeannette McVea Langford Martin O Brien Root My take!
