Top 20 Heavyweights of all time (Video)

Vitaly unfortunately isn't in the top 20 and rightfully so. His talent far exceeds his legacy.

I personally don't have Holmes at number 3 but he's more accomplished than
Wlad. His 20 title defenses and 7 year reign as champion alone warrants a top 5 ranking.

Shavers 2x, Norton, Cooney, Witherspoon, Mercer are better than Wlad's top 5 names on his resume.

Wlad is top 20 though.

You have to remember that transcending generational boundaries doesn't mean that fighters that are icons in your generation take precedence. Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis were extremely popular during their day. Johnson was hated by white America but was later given the deference he deserved. Dempsey was an American Icon and was the "Mike Tyson" or his day in terms of popularity and his fights were events.

Joe Louis was the symbol of America when he KO'd Max Schemling in their rematch. He transcended race and was an icon. He also was champion for 12 years and had 25 defenses, to have him at anything less then number 2 means that you should probably brush up a little more on Louis. You'll appreciate him more as a fighter.

Frazier cleaned out his division unified the titles and has a victory over Muhammad Ali.

Gomez and Harrison lack the talent to last more than a few rounds with most of those champions. In fact, I'd wager that you take any of those champions and put them in today and they'd hold a belt.

 

All things considered, Jefferies actually has a very stong case for being in the top 10 let alone top 20. The guy does have KO wins over Fitzsimmons and Corbett.