Top 5 heavyweights from the 60s

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Sanxion, Jun 3, 2019.


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  1. Sanxion

    Sanxion New Member Full Member

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    Hi all

    This is my list of the top 5 heavyweights from the 1960s to the present time. I have added 6 distinct categories in order to substantiate my ranking with a rating of either: Poor, Average, Above Average, Good, Very Good and Excellent.

    1. Muhammad Ali
    (a) Boxing ability: Excellent
    (b) Power: Good
    (c) Chin: Excellent
    (d) Stamina: Excellent
    (e) Resume: Excellent
    (f) Heart: Excellent

    2. Larry Holmes
    (a) Boxing ability: Excellent
    (b) Power: Good
    (c) Chin: Very Good
    (d) Stamina: Excellent
    (e) Resume: Good
    (f) Heart: Excellent

    3. Lennox Lewis
    (a) Boxing ability: Very Good
    (b) Power: Very Good
    (c) Chin: Good
    (d) Stamina: Good
    (e) Resume: Good
    (f) Heart: Very Good

    4. Evander Holyfield
    (a) Boxing ability: Very Good
    (b) Power: Good
    (c) Chin: Good
    (d) Stamina: Good
    (e) Resume: Good

    5. George Foreman
    (a) Boxing ability: Above Average
    (b) Power: Excellent
    (c) Chin: Very Good
    (d) Stamina: Above Average
    (e) Resume: Above Average
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2019
    Sanxion, Jun 3, 2019
    Sanxion, Jun 3, 2019
    #1
  2. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Good list.
     
    choklab, Jun 3, 2019
    choklab, Jun 3, 2019
    #2
  3. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Over the same period I have it

    1,Ali
    2,Holmes
    3, Lewis
    4, Frazier
    5, Tyson


    I think the order of dominance for their time is a strong indicatior.

    Frazier cleaned out the house and was universally accepted (once he beat Ali) as being the best if not unbeatable during his time so I feel he deserves to go ahead of other champions who never quite managed to get out of the shadow of other champions within their own era. Tyson too he qualified under this reasoning. Lewis endured. He righted wrongs retiring haven beaten every man he fought so I have him ahead of those who did not right the wrongs. And Larry was the most prolific winner for the longest time, unbeatable until he aged.
    Ali? Well he’s simply better than the rest.
     
    choklab, Jun 3, 2019
    choklab, Jun 3, 2019
    #3
  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Ali, Lewis, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes.
     
    McGrain, Jun 3, 2019
    McGrain, Jun 3, 2019
    #4
  5. Sanxion

    Sanxion New Member Full Member

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    Your inclusion of Frazier is interesting and there is a powerful argument for him, particularly based upon his performance in the Fight of the Century.
    However, with Tyson, if he had just defeated Holyfield or Lewis or another "great", I could understand. But the manner in which he lost and his own admission that he never had the heart of a champion leads me to think he would be out of the top 5.
     
    Sanxion, Jun 3, 2019
    Sanxion, Jun 3, 2019
    #5
    choklab likes this.
  6. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Yes but Tyson was about the most widely accepted “best thing” (at the time) the heavyweight division has ever seen. That rates above others who were not so universally celebrated for dominance. He knocked out who had to be knocked out in order to be considered great at his time. At any one time in history there is a short list who would need to be emphatically knocked out in order for an individual to appear great. Tyson knocked out the names on a short list. Berbick, Thomas, Holmes And Spinks. Out of those who were available he did it. There were no greats to beat, I agree, but that’s why he is no higher than 5. Frazier beat a great, so he’s higher. Ali beat Frazier and Foreman who would be my number 6. Lewis only beat Holyfield but he was not that decisive with him..and it was only Holyfield, a guy who could not destroy old men in Holmes and Foreman and lost to Moorer. I would still rate Evander at number 8, one spot behind Sonny Liston who makes my number 7.
     
    choklab, Jun 3, 2019
    choklab, Jun 3, 2019
    #6
  7. Golden_Feather99

    Golden_Feather99 Active Member Full Member

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    1. Ali
    2. Holmes
    3. Foreman
    4. Tyson
    5. Lewis
    6. Frazier
     
    Golden_Feather99, Jun 3, 2019
    Golden_Feather99, Jun 3, 2019
    #7
  8. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I have not heard this before. Do you have a link or source so I can check it out in context?
     
    PhillyPhan69, Jun 3, 2019
    PhillyPhan69, Jun 3, 2019
    #8
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  9. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ali
    Holmes
    Lewis
    Foreman
    Wlad
    Frazier/Holyfield/Tyson for me
     
    PhillyPhan69, Jun 3, 2019
    PhillyPhan69, Jun 3, 2019
    #9
    George Crowcroft, Golden_Feather99 and The Undefeated Lachbuster like this.
  10. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster On the Italian agenda Full Member

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    1. Ali
    2. Foreman
    3. Holmes
    4. Lewis
    5. Frazier
     
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Jun 3, 2019
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Jun 3, 2019
    #10
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  11. Sanxion

    Sanxion New Member Full Member

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    I will have a look for it.
    It was in an interview he gave when asked if he could beat Ali, he responded by saying "no" and that he was never willing to do what the other [great] fighters were prepared to sacrifice in order to win.
     
    Sanxion, Jun 3, 2019
    Sanxion, Jun 3, 2019
    #11
  12. The Long Count

    The Long Count Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ali
    Holmes
    Wlad
    Tyson
    Lewis
    can really change the order of these 5 as long as Ali remains at 1

    Frazier career just a little short for me
    Foreman got bumped off early in his first title reign then got picked off on the comeback trail. second career while a great achievement had a lot to do with matchmaking.
     
    The Long Count, Jun 3, 2019
    The Long Count, Jun 3, 2019
    #12
    Golden_Feather99, George Crowcroft and choklab like this.
  13. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    Ali
    Lewis
    Foreman
    Holmes
    Wlad
     
    George Crowcroft, Jun 3, 2019
    George Crowcroft, Jun 3, 2019
    #13
    Golden_Feather99 likes this.
  14. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Holyfield and Foreman didn't have a heart :D
     
    JohnThomas1, Jun 3, 2019
    JohnThomas1, Jun 3, 2019
    #14
  15. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    Ali
    Liston
    Foreman
    Frazier
    Holyfield
     
    swagdelfadeel, Jun 3, 2019
    swagdelfadeel, Jun 3, 2019
    #15
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