What is ur HW top 10?

If I could gamble on Vitali - Sonsowski I would.
I don't have a credit card , it costs money in itself .
And mismatches such as Vitali-Louis , Tua-Louis don't happen in our era too often.

 

What a bad list. see my reply to Seamus for a partial explanation to why.

 

This one is simple. Louis went undefeated for 26 consecutive heavyweight title bouts over 12 years against the best fighters in the world. Until he retired, he won every title bout he ever fought in. Muhammad Ali did not, his title reign was shorter and was punctuated by several defeats. Louis did what a boxer is supposed to do - beat all-comers for as long as possible - far better than Ali did. At the time of his retirement he was 58-1 and had avenged his only (non-title) loss with a pulverizing first round KO. That is the best championship record in the history of boxing, no one else is even close.

As for skills, which are far less important than achievements (since achievements prove skills, not the other way round) he stands comparison with Ali easily. #1 on the Ring Magazine best punchers of all time, 5 first round KOs in title fights (a record), a beautiful combination puncher, great boxing technique, solid chin, devastating power, a great jab. No boxer has everything and Ali lacked power, had glaring technical flaws such as leaving his right down and being open to the left hook, not doing bodywork etc.

It is open for debate whether Louis or Ali was the better boxer. It is not open for debate who had the better championship record or achievements.

 

If you describe a list as bad, that is a ringing endorsement

 

Well done you would have made a whopping 1 euro for every 20 wagered on that fight!

And betting doesn't require a credit card, just some small change and a set of balls.

 

Seamus,

While Dempsey did beat the bejesus out of the bigger guys, most of those big men were untalented and unathletic. That is why a fight with Harry Wills was so important. Wills was far more athletic, talented, powerful than the big men Dempsey fought.

 

How do we know he was more "athletic"? Did he compete in a decathlon? Did he have some exploits in another sporting endeavor? Or do we just characterize all fighters of color as "athletic"? He was fairly slow according to the accounts I have read. He was a talented boxer with a good punch. However, that list of fighters Dempsey beat was pretty talented, too.

 

#1. Muhammad Ali
#2. Joe Louis
#3. Larry Holmes
#4. Lennox Lewis
#5. Sonny Liston
#6. Jack Johnson
#7. Evander Holyfield
#8. George Foreman
#9. Joe Frazier
#10. Mike Tyson
btw this should be a sticky

 

Are you attempting to suggest 3 year inactive Willard, Firpo, Fulton, Morris are on the same level as Harry Wills? :shock:

They were not as good as Wills. The best one of the lot, Fred Fulton, was dominated and knocked out in 3 rounds by harry wills and received 3 broken ribs in the process.

Reports vary. Bottom Line is "slow" or not, Wills was by far the biggest challenge of the era to Dempsey, and Jack did not fight him.

Because I have read reports from reliable sources.

 

Okay, now I'll try to construct a serious list.

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Rocky Marciano
4. Larry Holmes
5. Lennox Lewis
6. Mike Tyson
7. George Foreman
8. Joe Frazier
9. Evander Holyfield
10. Jack Johnson

 

Luis Angel Firpo must have been pretty close. He did fight a 12 round no decision fight with Wills.

Anyone know how this fight went down? Would be interesting to know the full details. I cant imagine Firpo fighting too defensively, so you would imagine they must have both been similarly matched, or did Firpo just clinch and hold?

 

Thanks Tommy, your list is nice too.
I was actually under a lot of stress regarding posting my list, as I was nervous about being heavily penalised for the ranking of certain names.
In the end I had the courage to post my honest list, but it took long enough!

Agreed.

 

Wills knocked Firpo down twice and easily won almost every round.. It wasn't a ND, it was an easy Newspaper Decision win for Wills. Wills never hit the floor, unlike Dempsey who was floored 3x and knocked out of the ring by Firpo. Take notice Wills was a bit long in the tooth when this fight took place.

 

No. They were not similarly matched. Wills was in leagues above Firpo. He proved it in their fight and throughout there careers. Wills was also 35 years old when the fight with Firpo too place. He was over the hill and still battered Firpo.

 

:good
maybe you would consider getting liston in that list. I can understand if not. Good List tho.