Who is the greatest heavyweight with great success at lower weight classes?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by themostoverrated, Nov 23, 2024.


  1. themostoverrated

    themostoverrated Active Member Full Member

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    There are many great boxers who achieved glory at lower weight classes and moved up to heavyweight. But only a handful of them could actually taste success at the highest (heaviest) level. So, who is the greatest heavyweight with great success at lower weight classes?

    Is it Bob Fitzsimmons? Gene Tunney? Ezzard Charles? Michael Spinks? Archie Moore? James Toney? Oleksandr Usyk? Or somebody else?
     
    themostoverrated, Nov 23, 2024
    themostoverrated, Nov 23, 2024
    #1
  2. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Ezzard Charles hands down. Best lighheavy ever and was a beast at 160.

    Not going to be popular on classic, but Uysk is another guy that is just special. He is not a natural heavyweight in this era but it simply doesn't matter because he is that good.

    Michael Spinks is right up there as well.

    James Toney gets an honorable mention as well.
     
    AwardedSteak863, Nov 23, 2024
    AwardedSteak863, Nov 23, 2024
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    swagdelfadeel, The Undefeated Lachbuster, ElFrutero_46 and 6 others like this.
  3. themostoverrated

    themostoverrated Active Member Full Member

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    My own vote goes to Evander 'the real deal' Holyfield. Great success at cruiserweight followed by an ATG resume at heavyweight.
     
    themostoverrated, Nov 23, 2024
    themostoverrated, Nov 23, 2024
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    swagdelfadeel, Greg Price99, AwardedSteak863 and 1 other person like this.
  4. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Holyfield is my highest ranked HW who either won a title or had notable success below HW.

    Of my top 20 HWs of all time, Langford ranks the highest p4p and had significant success below HW.
     
    Greg Price99, Nov 23, 2024
    Greg Price99, Nov 23, 2024
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  5. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Much as I love Usyk this would probably be my answer by a hair.

    Holy is worth consideration, but I can't rate him because he was getting HGH delivered to his house under the name "Evan Fields."
     
    catchwtboxing, Nov 23, 2024
    catchwtboxing, Nov 23, 2024
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  6. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Tunney and Langford are the best HWs to win belts at LHW and MW. When looking at the HW GOAT conversation they are really the only 2 participants who have feats in the lower weight classes.

    In terms of way lower weight classes its Stribling or Mickey Walker. Stribling started at FW and won the WBA HW title in December 1930. Mickey Walker was a WW champ who drawed with Jack Sharkey.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2024
    HistoryZero26, Nov 23, 2024
    HistoryZero26, Nov 23, 2024
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  7. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster On the Italian agenda Full Member

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    Charles then Holyfield, though cruiserweight is basically cheating
     
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Nov 23, 2024
    The Undefeated Lachbuster, Nov 23, 2024
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    George Crowcroft likes this.