Which heavyweight champions fought the best fighter on the planet most often.

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by McGrain, Mar 27, 2023.


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  1. Tap Tap Makhatini

    Tap Tap Makhatini Member Full Member

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    Wasn't rated ahead of Holyfield? What about Bowe?
     
    Tap Tap Makhatini, Mar 28, 2023
    Tap Tap Makhatini, Mar 28, 2023
    #46
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Was he number one?

    That's definitely true.
     
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    #47
  3. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    If a fighter isn't champion, he has to fight the champion.

    If a fighter IS champion, he has to fight the number one contender.
     
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    #48
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  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    At the moment, Lewis ranks third all-time.

    Unless I've missed a Marciano number one?
     
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    #49
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  5. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Bowe dropped back when Holyfield beat him in their second fight and by the time he beat Holyfield in the third Vander was titleless. Golota after that didn't help either. Tyson may have been top of the world when Vander first faced him as everyone had gone loco over him again.

    You know what, Holyfield 1 possibly shouldn't be in Tysons list while Tyson may well have been #1 if Lewis wasn't which (if so) would put him in . The second Holyfield fight probably needs to be in Tyson's list.
     
    JohnThomas1, Mar 28, 2023
    JohnThomas1, Mar 28, 2023
    #50
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  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Neither Holyfield nor Tyson was the lineal champion in 1997. George Foreman was.

    If there IS a lineal champion he MUST be named in the fight for the fight to qualify here.
     
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    #51
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  7. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    The big losers would seem to be Dempsey, Tyson, Johnson, Holmes and Liston. Klitschko is a bit underwhelming too.

    Holmes and Dempsey also benefit from very weak champions who stretch the lineal respect to breaking point. Note i've moved Ali onto the Holmes list based on the thread chat, although he doesn't have to stay there.
     
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    #52
  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I've also taken Fitz II off the Jeffries list, inactivity is an absolutely fair point. He can't be the best if he's not fighting.
     
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    #53
  9. Ken Ashcroft

    Ken Ashcroft Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The unbeaten Michael Grant who then had a record of around 30-0 and had just come off a exciting knockout of Andrew Golota in his previous fight, might have been seen by many as being the best and top ranked heavyweight in the weight (apart from the reigning champion himself), when he challenged Lewis in 2000.
     
    Ken Ashcroft, Mar 28, 2023
    Ken Ashcroft, Mar 28, 2023
    #54
  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Grant was ranked behind both Lewis and Holyfield at this time. Close but no cigar for Lennox.
     
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    #55
  11. Tap Tap Makhatini

    Tap Tap Makhatini Member Full Member

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    This is the bit I'm most puzzled by. How did Evander get to #1 and jump ahead of Bowe and Lewis, when in the previous year, all's he did was get KO'd by Big Daddy and look terrible Vs Bobby Czyz?
     
    Tap Tap Makhatini, Mar 28, 2023
    Tap Tap Makhatini, Mar 28, 2023
    #56
  12. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Holmes actually dodges that loss to Mike based upon the strict lineal recognition, also - what a ride Holmes is on :lol:
     
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    #57
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  13. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Guys who have losing records currently:

    Jack Dempsey
    Sonny Liston
    Joe Frazier.
     
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    #58
  14. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Guys with winning records currently:

    Joe Louis
    Muhammad Ali
    Lennox Lewis
    Rocky Marciano

    Only four. So impressive. This is in order too.
     
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    #59
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  15. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Evander Holyfield may be the biggest beneficiary here of good fortune (Earned).

    Evander Holyfield:2-2-1
    James Douglas (W)
    Riddick Bowe (L)
    Riddick Bowe (W)
    Lennox Lewis (D)
    Lennox Lewis (L)

    Lucky with Douglas; the third match with Bowe doesn't contribute - and he has a draw that should be a loss. Should be on the losing list but breaks even. Still, if you make more very top-drawer matches than Rocky you probably deserve the rub.
     
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    McGrain, Mar 28, 2023
    #60
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