Was he the best of his era? The 100 Greatest Boxers of All Time 1 Sugar Ray Robinson 2 Henry Armstrong 3 Harry Greb 4 Jack Dempsey 5 Benny Leonard 6 Joe Louis 7 Mickey Walker 8 Sam Langford 9 Tony Canzoneri 10 Muhammad Ali 11 Joe Gans 12 Willie Pep 13 Jack Johnson 14 Barney Ross 15 Jimmy Wilde 16 Gene Tunney 17 Roberto Duran 18 Johnny Dundee 19 Rocky Marciano 20 Joe Walcott He learned his craft and perfected his style over years of fighting. Some fighters were more feared than others. Try to forget his social impact, good looks, quotes and even that unique fighting style that saw a 6ft 3in adonis float around the ring like a featherweight - his fists by his sides, daring you to hit him - what makes Ali the No 1 heavyweight ever is something far more concrete. Critics point out that Marciano was small, clumsy and only made six title defences, mainly against ageing opponents. He did what not one of the above mentioned ever did! 8), Mike Tyson (No. Theyve forgotten how good Louis was when he was young. Ohh the Tysonites who think boxing was invented in 1984 are out in full force. Required fields are marked *. After George won the belt at that age you had the idea that he could have done anything.. Johnson KO15 Jeffries. Louis had everything. Another boxings greatest robberies. Or Williams, Ellis and Folley. Rocco "Rocky" Marciano became the World Heavyweight Champion in 1952 after defeating Jersey Joe Walcott and is the only title holder to have retired undefeated as champion. Had three fights with Ali. Fury has combined pure boxing skills with underrated punching power to a supreme level amidst his growing dominance. But as David Halberstam noted, He knew how to play the role of champion, inside and outside the ring. 1. Riddick had the potential to be much higher on this list but never got there. This is no small achievement. He was a manufactured Mafia fighter. Muhammad Ali: Why is Ali number one? Jersey Joe Walcott (1930-1953, 50-20-1): 261.7, 16. Sullivan was Americas first massculture hero and the most idolized athlete who had lived up until his time. The Fifty Greatest Light-Heavyweights of All Time Part One - 50-41 Tyson should be on here all right. He is where he belongs: Honorable Mention, with a lot of other very good but not great heavyweights. How do you say Tyson beats Lewis when Lewis actually beat Tyson? Impeccable defense. I loved his response when someone asked him what he was thinking when Walcott knocked him down in their first fight: Gee, this fellow hits hard. Didnt he get beaten by a fat man? Erik Morales 78. List of current boxing rankings - Wikipedia I was knocked out by Muhammad Ali but another heavyweight hit me so If a new fan asked me what Johnsons best win was and why, Id have a hard time convincing them. Even I know THAT! Consider the competition that Marciano beat. Tyson should definitely be in the top 10. Have strong feelings about this story? But he took a better punch and was tougher than all of them. Thomas had heavy feet, but a good jab, a stocky frame, good chin, and a knack for cutting off the ring. Choynski fought in a time when San Francisco was still relevant to boxing and pro boxing was illegal in many states. No Mike Tyson is a shame!! I hope you enjoy the list and feel free to chime in with your own thoughts on the rankings, (or call me a moron for leaving out your favorite fighter, whatever works). And both components of his fighting game have been on display in all three of his fights against Deontay Wilder one of boxings biggest punchers of all time and his unanimous decision points win over Wladimir Klitschko. Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer to become the oldest Heavyweight Champion at the astonishing age of 45. Among the best pound-for-pound boxers of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson sits at the very top. Joe Frazier: The man they called Smokin Joe doesnt get enough love on most ATG lists, but overlooked are two things: 1. Unarguably the divisions greatest comeback. No substance. A 1987 version of Mike would have demolished him. Vitali didnt have the resume or talent of his brother. DANNY WILLIAMS who LOST 27 fights knocked out a 38 year-old Tyson in 4 rounds. ESPN.com: ALL-TIME GREATEST BOXERS Tunney caught Dempsey at the end of Dempseys career and after Dempsey had been out of the ring for three years. Ali finished his career with a 56-5 record with 37 KOs. Top 10 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers Of All Time | Sportshubnet The Top Ten. No Holyfield? Ali and George Foreman were much bigger. Klitschko won the bout by way of knockout in the second round. Walcott was 37, but he outboxed Marciano for most of their first match. The biggest myth ever. On March 8, 1971, Joe Frazier could have competed with anybody. Turns our Holmes was not overrated at all (boring maybe) and he went on to dominate the decade and prove himself as an all time great. Holmes fought real fighters men like Earnie Shavers. He reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, and is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. A metropolis where hundreds of young warriors train and battle each day in its many gyms, it is where Archie Moore, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Bernard Hopkins all found greatness. 2. And its hard to say that someone that has the highest knock out percentage and never lost isnt at least top two, or more likely number one. Everyone, maybe save Sonny Liston and Vladimir Klitschko, overcame tough situations in a fight and found a way to win. You can also order the current issue, which is on newsstands, or back issues from our subscribe page. It lasted two rounds. 9. Crazy to think Mike Tyson was not part of that list. They were great fighters who were nowhere near shot. Frank Warren EXCLUSIVE Mike Tyson responds to Wilder's claims about knocking him out Top 50 fighters of 21st century named 50-31 50:. So, without further ado, the best heavyweights of all-time. Give me a break. 7. After getting roughed up by a prime Mike Tyson, Thomas was never the same and his career quickly fizzled out. Dempsey and Babe Ruth were Americas two most important sports figures in the Roaring Twenties, when sports became an integral part of the culture. Lennox carried himself with dignity and grace for his entire career. But thats just for starters. Melio Bettina (1934-1948, 83-14-3): 189.5, 20. Boxing legends Rocky Marciano and Sonny Liston finished third and fourth respectively, with Lewis rounding off the top five. Some of the bigger names in this list include Sonny Liston, and fellow American Evander Holyfield, with the latter renowned for his rivalry with Mike Tyson which saw Iron Mike bite a chunk of his ear off during a bout. To be The Greatest, Ali needed rivals to push him and Frazier was one of his best. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 10-1, Muhammad Ali hailed Sugar Ray Robinson as the GOAT of boxing. Drinking nearly killed him in 1888, yet he whipped the next-best (white) man a year later in a bare-knuckle match that lasted more than two hours. Farr is still remembered for his brave battle against the Brown Bomber because that was when Joe was at his absolute peak. George Foreman: One of the hardest punchers in boxing history is revered both for his amazing power and his incredible comeback in the 1990s which culminated in his regaining the world title two decades after he lost it in the famous Rumble in the Jungle. His terrifying demolitions of Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, plus his legendary slugfest with Ron Lyle, will never be forgotten. Holmes was completely washed up-way past his prime. Cant make this list without Tyson and Holyfield. That should count for something. Trainers: Teddy Atlas, Pat Burns, Virgil Hunter and Don Turner. 6. Never knew defeat. To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders, Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications, .css-n1h13z{color:black;color:#fff;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-n1h13z{color:#fff;}}Published14:07,30 August 2020 BST.css-1kib7lm{color:#666666;color:#72B97D;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-1kib7lm{color:#72B97D;}}@media (min-width:1024px){.css-1kib7lm{color:#efefef;}}| Last updated15:48,12 August 2021 BST. The first boxer to set a million-dollar gate, Dempsey was the US superstar attraction of the 1920s with his savage fighting style, devastating power and rugged good looks. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 50-41, Boxing News: Tyson Fury has named Joe Joyce the second-best heavyweight in the world. Tommy had humble beginnings, fighting with intermittent success on the local pro circuit in Tonypandy, Wales during the 1920s. Despite being black, Johnson refused to meet the best black contenders while he was champion. Louis finished second in these latter three categories. Olympic champion. And some of Joes greatness rubbed off on Ali. This time, a repeated refrain was, I could do this again tomorrow and, except for the top few guys on my list, I might have a different order. He brought a whole new audience to boxing. 2023 RING TV LIVE. He boasts solid wins over David Tua, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer and Vitali Klitschko. Tyson was not even the best of his era - Lost to Douglas, Holyfield TWICE, Lennox Lewis,Danny Williams and McBride.. Tyson NEVER beat anyone who beat him and Never came back when he was down in a fight . Huh? But Marciano did one thing really well: win. THATs reality, Tyson fans. FOUR. Baksis hard-nosed fighting style and rock solid chin proved to be a difficult out. Ruiz is the most hated heavyweight of his generation because of his aggravating fighting style. Thankfully, respected boxing stats website Boxrec have compiled the list of the greatest fighters across all divisions and time periods, so lets dive into the list and see who they believe to be the greatest boxer of all time. Current heavyweight superstars Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder also made the top 50. But even if you take into account their overall careers, Id still give the edge to Foreman because of his comeback years. Hard to justify given what Foreman did to Frazier twice, but of course, styles make fights and Foreman was the worst possible match for Frazier. Big heart, just would not be beaten. Bob Pastor (1935-1942, 53-7-5): 259.8, 17. The 1935 US amateur heavyweight champion turned pro in 1936 and hammered his way up the rankings. Hed be too small for guys like Ali and Foreman. I hope you are ready to take a trip into the history books because . No iron Mike on top of the list? Matchmakers: Eric Bottjer, Don Chargin, Don Elbaum, Bobby Goodman, Ron Katz, Mike Marchionte, Russell Peltz and Bruce Trampler. Top 10 Best Heavyweight Boxers of All Time - SportsGeeks Bob Fitzsimmons won championships in three weight divisions. He was also competing in the light heavyweight division although never got the belt there. Lennox Lewis made the cut and Iron Mike didnt..laughable. Joe Louis: Deadly power, astonishing timing and accuracy, and an amazing 25 defenses of the heavyweight crown make The Brown Bomber one of the greatest boxers who has ever lived, at any weight. Gene Tunney (1915-1928, 79-1-4): 464.7, 6. Tyson Fury (2008 - present, 30-0-1): 173.2, 23. Respect. To what extent does the mythology that enshrouds a fighter factor into his greatness? No way. Sorry, if Holmes is on they should both be in the top 5. Delivery time is estimated using our proprietary method which is based on the buyer's proximity to the item location, the shipping . Twenty-five consecutive title defenses more than imprinted Louis as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. The history of the modern fight game, which dates back to the 1880s, is rich in history and full of interesting and amazing characters. The Jeffries fight was a huge event, but I didnt think this a popularity contest and I dont know how to explain that a 6-year retired ex-champion could be considered one of a guys best wins. The Greatest was not only one of the best heavyweights of all time, he was also one of the most colorful. He spent five years of his prime in jail and then people fought him. My gripe is not fully with the omissions of Tyson, and Holyfield, as much as it is that those two were put in the same so called, Honorable pool as one of the god damn Klitschko brothers. Absolutely, Mr. Weiler. Nineteen of the 30 electors ranked Ali first. He was old, washed up beyond even patching, had NOT wanted to fight any more for at least 7-8 years, Lewis either took him to court or threatened to ,to make the fight which had a predetermined conclusion. Throw in Norton, Quarry, Patterson, Lyle and Bonavena too. A true STUDENT of the sweet science. Deontay Wilder! 1 and Louis No. Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield tied for 11th place with 328 points each. Johnsons defense should rank him number one. More, and better, accomplishments. Langford was tiny when he fought Johnson. Joe Louis should be #ONE, Ali 2, Tyson 3, Johnson 4, Holmes 5, Holyfield 6, Bowe 7, Foreman 8 Lewis 9 Vitali Klitschko 10. Foreman demolished Frazier in both their fights, the only man that did or could. He was wildly popular. Then show me a fight where Tyson did anything similar. Louis too, though I think Louis courage would put him over Tyson. Zora Folley (1953-1970, 79-11-6): 134.3, 35. Louis 3. In sum, the criteria diverged significantly from elector to elector. Hahahahahaha. 11. And each of these incredible heavyweights did that: from titanic punchers to dazzling boxers. Louis' points total puts him well clear of the 'Greatest,' who finished second with an impressive 757.9 points. Also, previous polls in this series were limited to fighters from boxings modern age (roughly 1940 to date). Boxing legends Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis have all secured a place in the top 10 heavyweight boxers of all time. Which elite fighters who were in their prime did he beat? Baksi was a son of a coal miner from Pennsylvania who boxed, not for love of the sport, but as a way to get out of a life of mining. In 2004, the Boxing Writers Association of America honored Hauser with the Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence in boxing journalism. Getting off the floor the way he did against Earnie Shavers and Renaldo Snipes, coming back and knocking those guys out that showed a special kind of greatness. Nobody ever got more out of what he had as a fighter than Marciano. Henry Akinwande (1989-2008, 50-4-1): 126.7, 37. Tyson spent all his time in Tokyo with Geisha prostitutes, and I saw him myself walking down the Ginza with 3-4 of them. The entire world stood still on . Your destination for the best boxing news, videos and live streams! I couldnt get tickets . Vernon Forest 74. Kick ass on half that page at least. Maybe Tyson would beat prime Lennox Lewis, but a prime Larry Holmes? Standing at 62 and over 200 pounds, Nova was considered a large heavyweight for his era. For others, it wasnt. READ: Bill Caplans 20 greatest heavyweights (2016). Boxing's 50 Greatest Heavyweight Fighters Of All Time Have Been And his role as a serious player in Ukrainian politics adds to his stature. This to me is mind-boggling and tells me that Sullivan, in his prime, would have whipped Corbett. But he lost some of his desire before he retired. In more recent times, Deontay Wilder and his 10 consecutive title defenses demonstrated his own feared punching power and greatness that shouldn't be overlooked, either. Did some of Alis greatness rub off on Joe? How many other great heavyweights fought in his era? Dempsey 12. Most boxing was done in amateur athletic clubs, which is where early greats like Choynski and Jim Corbett learned their craft. Salesmanship? 9 Best Boxing Matches of All Time - Men's Journal Best Heavyweight Boxers | Top Heavy Weight Boxer List - Ranker 2 Joe Louis Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 - April 12, 1981), best known as Joe Louis was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. A four time heavyweight champion (not to mention cruiserweight champion), The Real Deal never ducked anyone and fought through adversity too many times to count. Nor did he obliterate a mediocre Tony Tucker, both title fights in 1987. Once again, a weighted average of the rankings from the other electors was used to fill the void. Ali inspired the world. Note: This story appeared in the May 2017 issue of THE RING Magazine. He could have had the greatest career in history, but the circumstances above which Ive barely touched on, were against it. But if they fought, Id pick Vitali. He has no comeback ability. Lets set the record straight. One elector ranked Ali as low as fourth. One fight can go a long way toward defining a fighters legacy. Norton 11. Charles was 32 years old in the first Marciano fight. Mike tyson in his prime was unstoppable. But as a fight, it was like Ali- Holmes. Whoever made this list is a Damm fool if you dont put Mike Tyson either 2 or 3 and to not even have Evander Holyfield on the list but Lennox Lewis have to be the dumbest people ever.I mean ever, Youve got to be the dumbest. Harry Wills: Vastly underrated today, its easy to forget that for a time in the 1920s The Black Panther was the best heavyweight in the world, and there was great demand for a showdown with official world champ Jack Dempsey, but it never came to be. After three years in prison, Tysons quickness was gone. Another thing: Joe Frazier and Rocky Marciano would be light heavyweights today. Fury has made a case to be considered one of the best heavyweights ever, but just how good is he? Boxing legends Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis have all secured a place in the top 10 heavyweight boxers of all time. Bob Baker (1949-1959, 51-16-1): 134.4, 34. Simply, he beat more great heavyweights than any fighter before or since. Tyson is completely overrated. Thats a long time in boxing. Ray Mercer. Joe Frazier 11. He was known as the Wild Bull of the Pampas. He was thrill-a-minute, exemplified by his fight with Luis Angel Firpo, where Dempsey knocked his opponent down seven (7) times, got blasted through out of the ring himself, then scrambled back through the ropes to eventually knock out Firpo. In some instances, the panelists offered commentary with regard to their rankings. Holmes went, what, 48-0. He could do no more than beat them but, perhaps wisely, he didnt wait to face any up-and-coming boxers! Follow up wins over a faded Max Baer and the German heavyweight champ Walter Neusel earned him a shot at the Joe Louiss world title. Some of the margins that separated fighters were razor-thin. This group of 10 fighters has a lot to unpack. Or what about a match between fellow Nigerian power punchers, Ibeabuchi vs. Sam Peter? Sonny Liston, Floyd Paterson (twice), Foreman, Frazier (twice), Norton (twice) and many more hall of famers around that. Wladimir has never seemed to have his heart in it. Many cite this as a feat of Marciano. Thats Alis power ranking, which put him in first place. Lennox Lewis (1989-2003, 41-2-1): 547.9, 4. You can check out the heavyweights that finished outside of the top 50 over at BoxRec. Most Famous Fight(s): UD12 over David Tua in 1997. Notable Wins: TKO5 over Chris Byrd in 1999. Larry Holmes could knock you out with his jab. Iron Mike is many peoples go to for the GOAT, so to see him outside the top 75 is mind boggling. Tyson in his prime was unstoppable. He beat an old drunk (John L. Sullivan) for the title, defended it once against an aging British middleweight (Charlie Mitchell) and lost it to another aging British middleweight (Bob Fitzsimmons). Marciano would have beaten Tunney down. He didnt starting campaigning full time as a heavyweight until the 1950s and weighed between 178 and 185 in his prime. Hello readers, I would like to welcome you to part one of a ten part column in which I chronicle, in order, the 100 best heavyweight boxers in history. Possessing an uncanny ability to absorb punishment and keep coming until he landed his crushing right hand, Marciano never looked like an elite boxer but try telling that to all the men he pulverised in the ring. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 70-61. However, we are still yet to see an undefeated boxer on this list, although its surely only a matter of time before we see someone with that coveted 0 in their losses column. These are hardly heavyweight limelights and I mention Tysons age 38 because considering the legit comebacks going on, Tyson was NOT that old. Having held the world title for seven years, his late career comeback saw him defeat Ray Mercer and almost upset Oliver McCall. The Easton Assassin was, for a long stretch, the most underrated heavyweight champion. Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield are all easily among the best heavyweight boxers ever. So, are we talking about boxings greatest heavyweight fighter or boxings greatest heavyweight champion? 10. The cartoon? Mike Tyson W: 50 (44 KOs), L: 6, N/C: 2 Best win: KO1. Ferocious. You could see the sudden halt in his leg. He came back to beat the only two fighters who beat him in the pros. Any ranking also shouldnt be about which boxer beats which in some fantasy fight. Kudos on not putting Tyson in the top 12. And a peak Tyson would have obliterated a peak Lennox Lewis too. The fans' top 5 greatest boxers of all time. Ken Norton (1967-1981, 42-7-1): 135.2, 32. Bobs downfall was what made him so popular, his all out approach that left him overextended, open for counter punches, and out of gas in the later rounds if the early KO did not come. Underrated offense (he carried many opponents). That means this isn't a ranking from 1 to 10; rather the ten who, in this writer's opinion, make the cut. Some sort of elaborate prank? Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 90-81, Cuban boxer Luis Manuel Rodriguez pictured punching a poster of rival and champion Nino Benvenuti prior to their upcoming fight, at the Sport Palace in Rome, November 1969. Louis was in and out of Sanatoriums, and according to his son, when out, would hide under the table with the cloth pulled down. Like Louis, Ali changed what it meant to be black in America. That night changed the experience of being black in America. 6) edged out George Foreman (No. Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time - TheTopTens Jack Johnson: Boxings first Black champion of the big men was remarkably quick, very hard to hit, and dangerous with either fist. The Greatest Boxers Of All Time ranked - The Delite 25. Twenty-five consecutive title defenses more than imprinted Louis as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. After knocking out a very green Jack Johnson, both Choynski and Johnson were arrested and sent to jail, which was quite common in those days since boxing was illegal. Frazier at #6 ABOVE Foreman? Holmes was 38 when he fought a 21-year-old, peak Tyson, same age as Ali was when he fought Holmes. Let's go to the video: 50 Greatest: Gene Tunney. With so much raw talent you cannot help but wonder what he could have achieved if he had the training spirit of Manny Pacquiao. Foreman finished third among the matchmakers. For some, character mattered. Thanks for signing up! He nearly lost twice to Ringo Bonevena and was bitch-slapped by Foreman. Most Famous Fight(s): TKO11 over Max Baer in 1939, TKO6 loss to Joe Louis in a 1941 title fight. Anyone who puts Joe Frazier ahead of a serious power-puncher is ignorant. *golf clap*. He was relentless and had a will of iron. Jack Dempsey: Fast, aggressive and powerful, The Manassa Mauler revolutionized boxing with his swarming, all-action style. Holmes was a deadbeat along with Klitschko. Put symbolism aside for a moment. Renault was also famous for his battles with smaller boxers Harry Greb and Gene Tunney. He beat every available contender. Farr was different than the stereotypical European heavyweight because he fought from a crouch. It fell apart too soon for the youngest ever heavyweight champ, whose life and career unravelled quickly - but in the 1980s Tyson tore through the division like nobody before or since. Shut the hell up! Two comeback fights, when he was pushing 40, spoiled that record - but nothing can change the fact that he is indeed The Greatest. Tyson never beat anyone great and he held the title for only three years. Lewis 7. Johnson never granted a title shot to another African-American boxer - maintaining the odious colour bar during his six-year reign - but he was ahead of his time in the ring. Heavyweight champions have resonated in the culture. Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time. Except that he was a fighter who occasionally, frustratingly, came in unprepared and fought below his level. There was never a Plan B, and theres a point in every boxers career when hes going to need one. 100 greatest Heavyweight boxers (Boxing.com) Quiz Stats - By Dickycanio Popular Quizzes Today 1 Find the US States - No Outlines Minefield 2 Companies Spelling Bee 3 Find the Countries of Europe - No Outlines Minefield 4 Countries of the World Sports greatest QUIZ LAB SUBMISSION Random Sports or greatest Quiz All the people who claim he never beat anyone forget that he won the title in a tournament. Though he did achieve a certain level of success as a contender in his own right, Baksi is perhaps most famous for being the springboard for the great Jersey Joe Walcotts career, losing his #3 ranking to Walcott in 1945. But lurking in the back of many minds was the question: Which of these fighters took boxing to a new level in terms of skills, societal importance, or both? Was the baddest man on the planet!!!! Max Baer, Max Schmeling, James J. Braddock and Jersey Joe Walcott all felt Louis wrath. Pure sweet science, master class boxing skills on display from Lewis across his brilliant career. Bruce Woodcock (1942-1950, 35-4-0): 119.3, 41. My own preference is to rank Ali No. Most Famous Fight(s): UD15 loss to Joe Louis in 1937. Notable Wins: 15 round points win over Ben Foord in 1937, 12 round points win over Max Baer in 1937, KO3 over Walter Neusel in 1937. If only every era of heavyweight boxing had a few Bob Satterfields, the sport would never have lulls in popularity like we are currently experiencing.
Mayor Of Houma Louisiana,
Articles OTHER
