Tyson in his prime was unstoppable. Holmes was completely washed up-way past his prime. Lennox Lewis is too low. He was a pressuring fighter who was really explosive (especially with his left hook). Bruce Woodcock (1942-1950, 35-4-0): 119.3, 41. That way it was really hard for them to catch him. Mike Tyson was the best fighter I ever saw. He ended up beating the defending champion to clinch the world lightweight title. Twenty-five consecutive title defenses more than imprinted Louis as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Roy Jones Jr. Roy Jones Jr. is also one of the larger fighters on this list. Thats why it was really hard to predict when Frazier was going to throw the left hook. 10. No Tyson in the list? "I'm fighting to be the greatest fighter ever, not to be the best pound-for-pound right now," Jones said. & Lennox Lewis could? Unless perhaps Tyson Fury has anything to say about that. 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. If you dont think that has anything to do with it you are crazy. In 2005, Joe Louis was named the greatest heavyweight of all time by the International Boxing Research Organization. To be The Greatest, Ali needed rivals to push him and Frazier was one of his best. Sonny Liston: In the late 50s and early 60s Liston devastated the division with knockouts over Cleveland Williams, Nino Valdes, Roy Harris, Zora Folley and Eddie Machen, before taking the title from Floyd Patterson in 1962. When Louis first retired in 1948, he did so as champion with a 58-1 win-loss record. At a very leisurely pace over the last couple of years, The Fight City has offered its own idiosyncratic rankings of the all-time greatest boxers in each of the eight traditional weight classes. Cus was more than just his coach he was Tysons everything and guided him. Among all the professional boxers in the world, the following 30 can be considered the best boxers of all time. Tyson should be number 2 or 3. Walcott. He could do no more than beat them but, perhaps wisely, he didnt wait to face any up-and-coming boxers! Marciano fought and beat the Shadow of Joe Louis SHADOW. Tyson ADMITS he bit EH (classy) out of frustration not knowing what to do when he knew hed lose). Watch the DAZN Boxing Show and live fights on DAZN. Among his vanquished foes are Sam Langford, Tommy Burns, James J. Jeffries, Stanley Ketchel, Jim Flynn, Joe Jeannette and Sam McVea. It is a damn shame and TRAGEDY what happened to Mike. 4. woodrowmoses 1 yr. ago. But one needs to think in overall terms and career achievements. After winning the world light heavyweight title in 1968 after beating Dick Tiger with a 4th round knockout. 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. Current heavyweight superstars Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder also made the top 50. Greatest of all time, Rocky Marciano. With his 25 title defenses,Klitschko has one of the longest title reigns in the heavyweight division. He was using his left hand, mainly to throw some fast but light jabs, to keep his opponents away or to measure the distance for his right crosses or uppercuts. Larry Holmes: An awesome jab, a dangerous right hand, tremendous heart, and astonishing recuperative powers were among the attributes The Easton Assassin brought to the ring. Dempsey 14. He was poorly managed and handled. Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images. 7. Besides this strategy, his size advantage was also a huge factor in those two fights (Lewis is 65 tall with 84 reach). Sonny Liston (1953-1970, 50-4-0): 625.7, 3. Holyfields great defensive skills and toughness allowed him to withstand Tysons punches and eventually to knock him out inthe 11th round (in their first fight). Any ranking also shouldnt be about which boxer beats which in some fantasy fight. But that was way easier to be said than done. Dont let that KO reel fool ya. Top 15 All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Boxers (Style Breakdown). Peak Big George demolished unbeaten Frazier inside two rounds, then did the same to tough Ken Norton. Lewis only fought guys who were at the end of their careers. Hahahahahaha. He reinvented himself over and over again. 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. And not only that but also his hands were huge. That way he stopped the punches even before they were thrown. His record is no different than Tommy Morrisons, same tomato cans, Tommy had an even higher KO %. Tyson would never beat Sonny Liston or Joe Frazier or Deontay Wilder for that matter. A boxing enthusiast who is always eager to learn something new about boxing and share it! ESPN rates Fury as the best current heavyweight and one of the heaviest heavyweight boxers of all time with 126 kg in November 2021. Pure sweet science, master class boxing skills on display from Lewis across his brilliant career. The Easton Assassin was, for a long stretch, the most underrated heavyweight champion. Then he threw a wide, almost straight elbowed right overhand over the top. Muhammad Ali. Who is the Greatest Boxer of All Time? However, Vitalis style was much more entertaining to watch and he was much more appreciated by the fans. The top 10 heavyweights of all time Matt Christie lists the history's finest heavyweights 1. When talking The Greatest heavyweights, Alis name reigns supreme. Frazier at #6 ABOVE Foreman? To be The Greatest, Ali needed rivals to push him and Frazier was one of his best. Larry Holmes is the very definition of a warrior. Today I saw alacrity used correctly (perfectly, for that matter). Smokin Joedid most of his knockouts, with that punch, while he was walking his opponents down. A staggering 49-0 record 43 of which by knockout and counting wins over the likes of Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore, Marciano was among the most feared heavyweights of all time. Joe Louis The brown bomber, was a mix of several boxing styles. Listons Jab-Cross wasnt the normal 1-2 (jab-cross) combination with light but quick jab and powerful right hand. Holyfield held his own, 15 rounds, against a young Lennox Lewis (who destroyed Tyson), and, beat (not on the scorecards) Nikolai Valuev LATE in EVs career. However, Louis was able to take revenge for this match after two years. Twenty-five consecutive title defenses more than imprinted Louis as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Lennox was most dangerous at a long distance where he can throw his right cross or uppercut with devastating power. Jack Johnson usually prevented his opponents from entering into a clinch by resting his hands on their shoulder and pushing them back. Final record: 66-3, with 52 knockouts. DAZN uses cookies to help us deliver our services and improve your user experience. 17 Reasons why Jordan is greater than Lebron. Ted Kid Lewis 65. Stone-faced, unstoppable, with a jab that felt like someone jammed an electric light bulb in your face (said opponent James J Braddock). This technique is risky and requires good speed. Ali and George Foreman were much bigger. All the people who claim he never beat anyone forget that he won the title in a tournament. Plus, hes the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. Tyson Fury (2008 - present, 30-0-1): 173.2, 23. Unarguably the divisions greatest comeback. Famous fight: Archie Moore vs Yvon Durelle I. Holmes style was similar to the style of Muhammad Ali (a classical out-boxer). But honestly, his career and overcoming personal obstacles along the way to date already have him among the greatest heavyweights of all time on our list. Joe Frazier (1965-1981, 32-4-1): 340.3, 12. Frazier was a very carefully managed fighter who could not win against power punchers. As one of the world's greatest boxers of all time, Roberto Duran had 31 consecutive wins before he stepped into the ring with Ken Buchanan in 1972 for his first shot at the title. Most of the knockout blows came from his right hand. It was a powerful, stiff jab and Liston put all his weight behind it to make it even harder, trying to knock his opponents out. Tyson makes lists because he talked trash with alacrity and had an unbelievable EARLY (ultra early) great run. He spent five years of his prime in jail and then people fought him. 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. Plus, he's the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. Jon Jones doesn't believe Conor McGregor is one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time. Zurcher vs. Evans full card results. Signature technique:Bob and weave->Left hook to the head. Top 19 Heavyweights of all time - The Grueling Truth Today we rank the 20 greatest Heavyweights of all time, some on this list may surprise you while others may not. The technique was simple he leaned all his weight on his front foot before throwing the punch. 10. Holyfield, for example, beat Tyson twice. And those are things you cant see very often back then. Joe Baksi (1940-1954, 61-9-3): 109.8 49. Beat every fighter he ever faced, avenging his two defeats plus the (ridiculous) draw he got in the first Holyfield fight. Mike Tyson earn his stripes. He was very precise with this counter. Ali used this counter while he was circling to his left and jabbing his opponent. Before he went to jail and before Cus DAmato died, he couldnt be touched. Had three fights with Ali. Without a doubt for me. Thats why many of his wins are on points (which wasnt highly appreciated by the fans, who want to see knockouts). There are many great heavyweight boxers now like Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder but the names that made people fall in love with heavyweight boxing are the Tyson's and Ali's. This list consists of the greatest heavyweight boxing bouts in the history of the sport. He is where he belongs: Honorable Mention, with a lot of other very good but not great heavyweights. The first fight makes our list of the "25 Greatest Heavyweight Contests of the Last 100 years. Pure sweet science, master class boxing skills on display from Lewis across his brilliant career. Once boxers lose their quickness, theyre never the same. Famous fight:Jack Dempsey vs Jess Willard. Lennox Lewis: Defeats to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, both of which he avenged with emphatic wins, do not obscure the fact that Lewis was the dominant heavyweight of the 1990s. The only four-time heavyweight world champion in boxing history, Holyfields victory over Riddick Bowe and wins over Mike Tyson, in particular, more than illustrate his warrior footprint in the sport's lore. Amen!! Ya uhm no. Even so, Wills holds wins over a host of top heavyweights including Luis Firpo, Big Bill Tate, Kid Norfolk, Sam Langford, Billy Miske, Sam McVea, Battling Siki, and the also criminally underrated Joe Jeannette. You can see that in his fights with Mike Tyson and his fight with Evander Holyfield where he was just pushing them back or pushing their heads down every time they closed the gap. No substance. Tags: Evander Holyfield George Foreman Greatest Heavyweight Boxers Jack Johnson Joe Frazier Joe Louis Larry Holmes Lennox Lewis Mike Tyson Muhammad Ali of all time Rocky Marciano Tyson Fury. 9) Sugar Ray Leonard. For example, they both had knockout power and they both used their size and strength to control their opponents in the clinch. Im Dimitar Ivanov. As fate would have it, the most gifted athlete the heavyweights ever saw emerged just when the division was stacked with formidable talent like never before or since. Show some respect. And Ali proved himself the best of them all. But by doing that they often left their head open, which was a perfect opportunity for Iron Myke to land the knockout blow. As did fights from the greatest of the greats, from Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali to Larry Holmes . Then he just waited for his opponents to take the bait, so he can counter them with a short lead hook to the head. Muhammad Ali (1960-1981, 56-5-0): 757.9. What time is the Jay Swingler vs. NichLMAO fight tonight. And he had more power than Ali, especially with his jab. The style he developed required goodhead movement and timing. Lennox Lewis 11. When talking The Greatest heavyweights, Alis name reigns supreme. He knew that Foreman was bigger and stronger than him and also that he deals pretty handily with infighters (as you can see in his fight with Joe Frazier). Then show me a fight where Tyson did anything similar. The 20 Greatest Athletes of all Time 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-qdg7d1{color:#72B97D;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-qdg7d1{color:#72B97D;}}| Last updated15:48,12 August 2021 BST. Here are the top 25 greatest boxers of all time: 26 Honorable Mentions: Gene Tunney, Marvin Hagler, Julio Cesar Chavez, Manny Pacquiao & The Klitschko's The history of boxing is such that this could be a list of the 250 greatest boxers of all-time, and there would still be some great names left out. *golf clap*. But strictly off resume, he belongs closer to the bottom of this list than to the top. So I know it reasonably well. Is it the toys? Jack Dempsey (1914-1927, 59-6-9): 146.7, 29. 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. Behind that crisp, piercing jab of his, Holmes enjoyed an eight-year run as world heavyweight champion, defeating the likes of Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers and Muhammad Ali along the way. I agree with you. There will be many famous names and some iconic fights, knockouts, and upsets. They were both under six feet and 200 pounds. Ranking Explanation . Holyfield was a completely different fighter in his fight against George Foreman. The biggest myth ever. He fought a way past his prime Tyson, almost lost to Holyfield in their second fight, and Vitaly would have knocked him out if they hadnt stopped it because of the cut. Rocky Marciano (1947-1955, 49-0-0): 692.2, 2. Definitely, George Foreman is one of the most intimidating and exciting boxers to watch. Joe Frazier (32-4-1, 27 KO) Joe Frazier had beaten many great opponents including Buster Mathis, Doug Jones and Muhammad Ali (once). Kick ass on half that page at least. 3. Thats a boxer who likes to exchange. Look at the fear Tyson compounded with ferocious punches for Trevor Berbick, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno and Donovan Ruddock to name a few amidst his reign of terror during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s. Melio Bettina (1934-1948, 83-14-3): 189.5, 20. A former champion in PRIDE and the UFC, he had an extremely impressive run from 1996 to 2006, where he went 28-3-1. Top 12 All-Time Greatest Welterweight Fights, Top 12 All-Time Greatest Muhammad Ali Performances, Top 12 All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Punchers, Top 12 Reasons Why Muhammad Ali Is Forever The Greatest. 11. In other situations, he even used his left hook as a counter for right uppercuts or straights. Muhammad Ali-56-5--(37): In terms of social and historical impact no one even comes close. He is an out-boxer (someone who maintain a distance from their opponent and throws fast and long punches) but unlike the most out-boxers, he has knockout power in both his hands. Joe Louis won his first world heavyweight title in 1937 and held that title for . Before he went to jail, everyone ducked him. Mike Tyson should be in the top 12! Not his fault if he fought and beat old men as champ. The fighters, listed chronologically, are John L. Sulllivan, James Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, James Jeffries, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko. And Joe knew exactly how to do that he was able to time almost every punch and to dodge it or block it. Larry Holmes won the WBC title in 1978 after he defeated Ken Norton. Boxing legends Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis have all secured a place in the top 10 heavyweight boxers of all time. Very surprising. When it comes to the best heavyweight boxers of all time, the name Larry Holmes shines brighter like the sun. For your information, 38 isnt your prime, so yeah. Roscoe Toles (1931-1950, 45-10-6): 140.1, 31. 28 Jack Britton. Tyson usually used that combination when his opponents were covered up and were pressed against the ropes. Instead, Lennox Lewis represents their era as an all time great, and the 11th best ever? A more intelligent fighter and harder puncher than Ali. Mike Tyson 5. Thats important because sometimes the greatest boxer doesnt necessarilyneed to be able to beat everybody else. He boasts solid wins over David Tua, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer and Vitali Klitschko. Tyson, maybe, but I have no issue with him being left off. With respect you talk rubbish when you assert that a peak Tyson would obliterate a peak Lennox Lewis!!! A tall, rangy, Olympic gold medallist with a pulverising jab, high ring IQ and KO power, British-born Lewis could be even higher on this list. A one-dimensional fighter. Evander Holyfield (1984-2011, 44-10-2): 357.7, 10. David Haye (2002-2018, 28-4-0): 133.4, 36. Couldnt agree more. OP doesn't seem to be asking for P4P. This is a list of current professional boxing rankings, which includes the latest rankings by each one of the sport's four major sanctioning bodies, . None of the fighters listed knocked out opponents the way Tyson did with speed and fury!!!! Muhammad Ali The Greatest was not only one of the best heavyweights of all time, he was also one of the most colorful. His prime was a bit like Iron Mike himself: short, sharp and explosive. There are many different ways to define who is the greatest boxer. Go back and watch the Norton fight, even just round 15 if you dont have the time. At 31-0-1, all thats left for the reigning WBC and lineal world heavyweight champion and former unified world champ is to snatch undisputed glory as the cherry on top. Elmer Ray (1933-1949, 99-23-11): 170.8, 24. He was a pressuring fighter who wasnt afraid to exchange. 18.. 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. Signature technique:Slip the jab (outside) -> Right overhand. Shut the hell up! The combination is very tricky becauseby attacking the body first, he made his rivals lower their guards so they can block the body shots. He was known for his deadly hitting power throughout his famous boxing career. BoxRec ranked heavyweights, both past and present, and awarded each fighter with an overall score based on its points system. It was full power with every punch. He has done it all from being a boxing sensation to enjoying a successful career as an actor and a rapper. He fought a total of 81 fights with 76 stunning wins. A master boxer, Johnson didnt own the raw one-punch power of other heavyweight greats but he was a cunning defensive genius who knew how to land his own shots. Scoring a pair of second-round TKOs of Joe Frazier and Ken Norton are a sample size of how terrifying Foreman was in his era. Posted below are the top 50 heavyweight boxers of all time. This group included Leonard himself and three others; Roberto Durn, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler. Frazier 6. We saw the skill but we were ROBBED of the will, his future, and his full potential. Jack Dempsey 7 5 If a new fan asked me what Johnsons best win was and why, Id have a hard time convincing them. For example, Muhammad Ali is a much greater boxer than Anthony Joshua, because of his competition and the things he accomplished but I dont think that he is able to beat Joshua if they fought in their primes. Wladimir Klitschko (1996-2017, 64-5-0): 537.5, 5. But that way Ali was much more mobile and was able to see the punches better and to slip them. Tyson could never deal with adversity, which is why he doesnt belong on the list of ATGs. In my opinion, Moore was a boxer-puncher (someone who is good everywhere inside, outside, can fight in any stance, etc) because he was fighting effective no matter if it was in the clinch or from a long distance where he was circling around his opponents and jabbing them Muhammad Ali style. #3 Cain Velasquez (UFC record: 12-3, MMA record: 14-3) At his best, Cain . Of course, he has a great strategy for every different opponent. So, after we made that clear, its time to dive into the rankings: Jack Dempsey was a heavyweight champion for 7 years (from 1919 to 1926). Your email address will not be published. A prime Holmes would have battered Tyson into submission. In his short prime, Tyson is a serious challenge for anyone. But can we put him up there with the absolute all-time greats just yet? A gift and a curse. Not a bad list, but a few observations: Yes, Frazier is a better fighter than a Foreman, even though Foreman beat him up, twice. Dont be a hater all your life! Weight: 201 lbs (91.1 kg) Not all heavyweight boxers are fast, but that does not stop Michael Hunter from landing quick jabs and hooks on his opponent. Arturo Gatti (1972- 2009): Arturo Gatti was born in Cassino, Italy, but moved to Montreal as a child and . And they enabled him to vanquish, among others, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney,Tim Witherspoon, Mike Weaver and Trevor Berbick. Simply, he beat more great heavyweights than any fighter before or since. THATs reality, Tyson fans. James J. Jeffries: The Boilermaker was revered for decades as one of the greatest ringman in the history of the sport as his combination of bone-crunching power, durability and amazing stamina allowed him to retire undefeated in 1904. Belcher, a 15-fight UFC veteran, wrapped up his MMA career after a loss to Michael Bisping in April 2013. Go to YouTube and watch his comeback wins (after nearly being stopped) vs Mike Weaver, Earnie Shavers, Renaldo Snipes. Signature technique:Lazy Jab -> Powerful cross to the head. Signature technique: Right cross counter over the jab. Except that he was a fighter who occasionally, frustratingly, came in unprepared and fought below his level. No. Defeating a 26-year-old Michael Moorer at the age of 45 back in November 1994 to once again be crowned as heavyweight champion demonstrated how a heavyweights power is the last to leave his hands. Drederick Tatum is The Simpsons equivalent of former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. With a sublime jab, toughness and an elite boxing brain, Holmes was a terrific all-rounder. Lennox Lewis made the cut and Iron Mike didnt..laughable. And Jersey Joe Walcott, who made him look amateurish and dropped him at like 39 years of age. Muhammad Ali has been named the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time and the greatest athlete of the 20th century by the magazine 'Sports Illustrated'. Henry Akinwande (1989-2008, 50-4-1): 126.7, 37. TGT Play! Odds Deals Podcasts US USA Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maryland Michigan New Jersey I take Lennox Lewis by knockout in later rounds. Granted you can say in his era there was a lack of talent, but this is beyond his control. Thats because he has knockout power, especially with his right hand, but he wasnt effective at all when he needed to fight at a close range. The record speaks for itself. And lame. Evander also won their second fight after Tyson was disqualified after he bit Evanders ear several times but it was clear that Mike did that out of desperation. Bob Pastor (1935-1942, 53-7-5): 259.8, 17. 26 Eder Jofre. All eyes will be on Jon Jones at UFC 285 as arguably the greatest MMA fighter in history makes his long-awaited return as a heavyweight after three years away.. Expectations are high as Jones, 35 . Many cite this as a feat of Marciano. Notable Wins: TKO6 over Bill Brennan in 1918, KO1 over Fred Fulton in 1918, KO1 over Carl Morris in 1918, KO3 over Billy Miske in 1920, KO12 over Bill Brennan in 1920, 15 round points win over . But they were avenged and the degree to which Rahman and McCall were supposed to stand no chance is exaggerated.