Who is the H2H Heavyweight GOAT in your opinions? poll

Top stuff. But I’ve got better things to do & knowledgeable members to converse with. I won’t put you on the spot with a question you can’t answer again, fret not.

 

Well, if we're counting physical traits as talent (which is what most mean when they talk about talented fighters), then Vitali had an incredibly sturdy chin, was a huge 6'7 man, had fast reflexes, had a good engine, fast feet for a HW, fast hands, was a heavy puncher, managed distance well, and had a good sense of timing. It sounds cliche but you don't get to the level that Vitali did without being talented, even being a solid if unremarkable pro takes a tremendous amount of hard work and physical gifts, let alone being world title level fighter.

 

He had a very good chin which is absolutely a talent. Height? I cannot consider that a talent, in all honesty. I disagree that he was heavy handed entirely. I don’t think his footwork or timing ever exceeded an average or adequate level, but that’s moot as neither are talents (they are skills).

You can get to or near the top without much talent or ability. He’s proof. Carnera is proof. Galento is proof. Hundreds more are proof. Klitschko arose during a redemptionless age for the Heavyweight talent pool, further diminished by lazy, uncommitted contenders & overly cautious match-making.

 

Looking back on this, only 1 vote for Larry Holmes is kinda messed up…

 

He's not well liked on here because he didn't do magic tricks.

 

I know what you mean. Larry Holmes is one of my all time favorite fighters. But for me, it was a process of elimination for choosing a winner on this list, and the last two guys it came down to in my head were Ali and Holmes. At their absolute best, I see Ali nicking it, so I had to choose him. Holmes is a very close second though, for me at least.

 

Totally agree.

 

If former world light-welter challenger Andy Holligan was on this forum, he'd have more than one vote. I used to drink with Andy and he thought Peanut Head was the best.

 

I voted for Lennox, was torn between he and Ali. Somewhat difficult to understand how some of these choices were used and other better fighters were excluded but given this list that’s my pick.

 

Ali IMO because he had speed, power, reflexes, movement, chin, heart, stamina, etc. Ali had technical flaws but so did every heavyweight. Ali isn't unbeatable but at his best I would take him over any heavyweight that lived. Shoutout to Lennox Lewis though. He would probably be second for me. He doesn't rate over Ali because of his chin but other than that, Lennox was the complete package.

 

By the votes -

1. Ali
2. Lewis
3. Louis
4. Liston