Who do you consider the best heavyweight of all-time?

Holmes reigned for 7 years (would of been longer if he was given the breaks) and was a top fighter well into his 40's. he has a strong claim to be better than both ali and louis

 

primo canera was a joke champ but max baer was quality. so you have to credit louis there

 

Louis never showed the great recovery holmes showed when he was sparked by shavers. IT WAS SIMPLY AMAZING TO SEE LARRY RECOVER FROM THAT

ali amazed me in the last round against frazier in 71

 

The heavyweight division was stronger in Louis' era and much stronger in Ali's than in the late 70's to mid 80's. Holme's is hindered by this fact unfortunately.

 

Even Carnera was a prety tough asignment for a kid nine months into his rookie season. He had been the champion only months ago and whatever you say about him he did legitimately knock out Jack Sharkey and beat about three ranked contenders to get his title shot.

 

Even more shocking, Holmes began to control that round with his jab again before the round ended. Also Ali took an unbelievable shot from Shavers as well, but his great chin mixed with a good "acting" job allowed him to survive. Shavers tested both of their chins for sure.

 

that is subject to a lot of debate. Have you heard of the BUM OF THE MONTH CLUB in louis day AND ALI was given some gift decisions (NORTON 3 and Jimmy Young

many believe that frazier beat him in the second fight and ken norton beat him in his second fight with him

 

I think Louis recovered from some prety dire straights also. Tami Maurellio had him hurt prety badly.

 

I would argue that what decisively drops Holmes out of the top two is the fact that he did not fight a few of the better contenders and did not give rematches when he needed to.

 

who did he dodge from 78 to 82. i know that from 83 to 85 he probably decided to take it easy

 

I voted Louis. I guess I just like his style a little more.

 

Ken Norton might have won the third fight, but no way Frazier won the second. But, just look at their best wins...

Ali: Liston 2x, Frazier 2x, Foreman, Norton 2x
Holmes: Norton (post Ali three fights to be fair), Shavers 2x, and Cooney.

 

Not directing this to you in particular Wealthy Elite, but why does Ali get so much crap about this issue but his opponents never have to answer? were'nt Frazier, Foreman, Quarry etc. all of age to participate in Vietnam? Hell, even Rumsfeld and Chaney did not serve.

 

what about ALI not giving foreman a rematch or norton after the robbery in 76 or jimmy young

if you hold it against holmes for not giving norton, weaver, cooney, snipes and co a rematch you have got to hold it against ali for not giving joe bugner, richard dunne AND ron lyle a rematch

 

Whoa....don't stir that up again. It was on the verge of getting kind of ugly a few pages ago.