Who Was the 3rd Best Heavyweight of the 1980s?

My list goes something like this:

1. Holmes

2. Tyson

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4. Weaver

5. Berbick

 

1) Holmes
2) Tyson
3) Weaver

Like many fans of the era, I have a soft spot for Hercules which may cloud my judgement. But his honesty, dignity, heart, resilience, grace, modesty and diffidence, combined with evolving an immense degree of
self-improvement in his boxing won my admiration. When others like Leroy Jones, Greg Page, Trevor Berbick, Tony Tubbs, Mike Dokes and numerous prominent heavyweights let themselves get fat and lazy, Mike never stopped applying himself, and was the most credible WBA champion of the Holmes era. He returned from one round losses to both Smith and Dokes to go the distance with each in rematches.

He had an early reputation as somebody who faded late, yet conditioned himself into an excellent endurance performer. He demonstrated one punch championship round knockout power in both hands, against Tate with the left hook, and Coetzee with the right hand. He proved against LeDoux that he could dominate a 12 round bout on the road with his jab and boxing skill. His knockout win over Carl Williams was set by one of the shrewdest traps I've seen a boxer spring in the last 30 years. He continued to win until he was past 45, and if he hadn't been screwed twice against Dokes, he would have remained the WBA Champion through the duration of Holmes's undefeated streak.

 

I'd say Witherspoon.

 

Witherspoon based on resume. Thomas had the potential to be the #3 and of course beat Witherspoon.

 

Id say Weaver based on standing within the era.

He was the only person to be ranked in the top 2 three years running.

At least that is the answer that a computer would give.

 

What about Berbick? Seemed to come out on top in a lot of fights.

 

Witherspoon. He gave the #1 guy ( Holmes ) a heck of a fight. The #2 guy
( Tyson ) never picked him for a title shot. Head to head, Witherspoon got the better of the rest alphabet champions / contenders in general.

 

Overall:

1. Tyson (Devestating title reign, behind Holmes overall though)
2. Holmes (Best years were from '78-82, starting to fade slightly by '83)
3. Witherspoon
4. Thomas
5. Weaver
6. Berbick

HM's: Page, Dokes and Williams.

 

Terrible Tim gets the nod for me. Although beaten by Smith who also took Tyson the distance.

But yeh, Witherspoon.

 

Hmmm, funny you don't even mention the two biggest rivals to Weaver in that lot of 5, Thomas and Witherspoon. These are the two guys that comfortably run him closest.

When talking 80's we must envelope the complete 10 years to get the most worthy of contenders. Truth be told all 3 best have their flaws. Pink did nothing of note in the second half of the decade but wasn't defeated a single time in the first half. Witherspoon has a very solid run from 82 all the way to thru to the 90's. Lets face it, the man lost just 3 fights for the entire decade, one a probable fix type event and another to the great Holmes as a mere up and comer. The third was to the superb performing Thomas. His consistency over the entire decade must put him past Thomas. Weaver too had a disappointing second half with 4 losses. His best efforts were wins over Tate, Coetzee and Tillis as well as a great fight vs Dokes in the rematch. And a wild KO over the weak chinned Williams. Witherspoon beat Tillis, Page, Smith, Tubbs and Bruno. Weaver may have a slight edge in wins but loses out badly in the loss department. Thomas beat Tillis, Witherspoon and Weaver and had a fine draw vs Coetzee. He had 3 second half losses but two were against Tyson and Holy and the other a resurgent Berbick. I think he might even edge Weaver.

Tho subject to change, i gotta go Witherspoon, then Thomas then Weaver. My list is

1. Tyson
2. Holmes
3. Witherspoon
4. Thomas
5. Weaver
6. Berbick

This of course leads to a more pressing point, Tyson over Holmes.

Let us remember, Tyson was never beaten in the 80's and the benefit of our 90's hindsight must count for NOTHING. From 1980 to 1985 Holmes beat an average lot overall and also dodged the fastest bullets at times. This is fact. His wins over Shavers, Norton and Weaver came in the 70's of course. 85 and 86 saw Holmes beaten twice by Michael Spinks. From 85 to 90 (which is basically HALF the decade) Holmes only has the two losses to Spinks and a loss to Tyson. A terrible second half when judging via the decade only, as we are.

Tyson by comparison took on all comers, demolishing almost every man that got in his way in very convincing fashion. He unified all the titles, decimated the man who beat Holmes as well as beating Holmes himself. He looked close to invincible. His record in the 80's stands at 37-0. About 33 ko's. Granted his decade only started midway thru, but it is absolutely flawless and he did enough in 5 years to easily cover the 10.

I rate Holmes comfortably above Tyson when talking ATG heavyweights, but if we use the 80's decade only then Tyson gotta be the man.

 

Trouble is tho he fought a mere two times in 80, just once in 81 and didn't fight all the way thru until December in 82 when ko'ed in 1 by Dokes. That's 4 fights from November 79 to December 82. He wasn't justifying his position and not fighting enough to seriously endanger it.

 

Tremendous post. Agree entirely with your Top 6, and reasoning. Well done. :good

 

Hey thanks! I did notice after my post we have the same 6, definitely makes me confident about my picks.

 

Pinklon Thomas or Witherspoon. I'll go with Thomas.