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. All of the fighters on this list were great. Unarguably the divisions greatest comeback. He first made a name for himself as an amateur sparring partner when Muhammad Ali complimented him to the press. The biggest myth ever. 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. Muhammad Ali: Why is Ali number one? Tyson took the title in a lackluster period after an admittedly STRONG early run but gave out fast. Few fighters have had the menacing aura Tyson carried to the ring and while brutal punch power was his trademark, peak Tyson also boasted fast hands, a sneaky jab, head movement and a strong chin. Muhammad Ali (1960-1981, 56-5-0): 757.9. Jack took full advantage of the free lesson and went on to become one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time. Holmes was 38 when he fought a 21-year-old, peak Tyson, same age as Ali was when he fought Holmes. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 30-21. The size differential between fighters from different eras is too great. 17), and James Corbett (No. Power, speed, stamina, a textbook style. This episode is well documented, also the fake rape and prison term, his schizophrenic mental affliction, needing medications and not diagnosed then, His loss to Douglas was a farce, and due to the 15 sec count that Douglas got, he won. Elmer Ray (1933-1949, 99-23-11): 170.8, 24. But they were great. What time is the Canelo vs. Ryder press conference? Page is the first of many to come that falls into that group, only in his case, he has no one to blame but himself. Fiercely independent, Boxing News magazine strives to guide fight fans through the complicated boxing world with . Tyson ADMITS he bit EH (classy) out of frustration not knowing what to do when he knew hed lose). Here are the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the 100-plus-year history of the sweet science. Go play somewhere else, child. Roscoe Toles (1931-1950, 45-10-6): 140.1, 31. Feel free to add your thoughts and comments! Heavyweight champions have resonated in the culture. And then there are fighters like Ali, Frazier, Holmes, Holyfield and Marciano. Mike Tyson is looked at now as a bully who folded when things got tough. Oliver McCall (1985-2019, 59-14-0): 121.6, 40. None of the fighters listed knocked out opponents the way Tyson did with speed and fury!!!! When they met again with the championship on the line, Louis knocked Schmeling out in the first round. Frazier was a very carefully managed fighter who could not win against power punchers. You can also order the current issue, which is on newsstands, or back issues from our subscribe page. Jimmy Ellis (1961-1975, 40-12-1): 114.2, 47. Holyfield was only person fought well with tyson in his prime. 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. When Louis (the symbol of American democracy) knocked out Schmeling (Adolf Hitlers favorite fighter), Louis became white Americas first black hero. All rights reserved. So to see him ahead of Muhammad Ali is huge for him, however, neither of those greats were worthy of top spot in Boxrecs opinion, with Sugar Ray Robinson, who recorded a staggering 109 knockouts in 174 victories, being crowned the GOAT of boxing. 77. Erik Morales 78. GEORGE FOREMAN was knocked out by Muhammad Ali in their legendary Rumble in the Jungle - but The Greatest wasn't the hardest-hitting heavyweight he'd ever faced. Tyson would have destroyed a peak Holmes. 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. Frazier 6. List of the 10 greatest heavyweight boxers of all time: Has Tyson Fury It took Corbett 21 modern rounds to stop Sullivan when Sullivan was 34 years old, had been inactive for three years and was drinking constantly. The Klitschkos are two big, well-conditioned guys fighting in an era when the best big guys are going into sports other than boxing. The order in which we presented the respective lists had no logic; we started with the middleweights, before going on to rank the bantamweights, light heavyweights, flyweights, featherweights, welterweights and, most recently, the lightweights but naturally, we saved for last the guys at the top of the beanstalk: the big men; the heavyweights. Most Famous Fight(s): 10 round points loss to Jersey Joe Walcott in 1945, TKO11 loss to Ezzard Charles in 1948. Notable Wins: UD10 over Tami Mauriello in 1944, won 2 of 3 from Lee Savold in 1944. 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). His prime was a bit like Iron Mike himself: short, sharp and explosive. A thunderous left hook, relentless work ethic and an awkward pressure-fighting style: Smokin Joe was a force of nature. He beat four other guys on this list: Tyson, Bowe, Holmes, and Foreman. Walcott and Charles are derided now as old men when he fought them. Baksi traveled around the east coast circuits building his record and learning his craft in the early 1940s, but was not a highly regarded prospect. John Ruiz. A more intelligent fighter and harder puncher than Ali. Several electors didnt feel comfortable rating Sullivan, Corbett, Fitzsimmons, Jeffries or Johnson because theres virtually no film footage of Johnson in action and none of the other four. Fury has combined pure boxing skills with underrated punching power to a supreme level amidst his growing dominance. One of the more underrated British fighters of all time in Joe Calzaghe gets some recognition in this list, being ranked 1 place above Manny Pacquiao, the Brits perfect 46-0 record definitely goes some way to his ranking in this list, with Saul Canelo Alvarez narrowly above him. 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. Anyone who puts Joe Frazier ahead of a serious power-puncher is ignorant. 12. Lennox has to be top five easy! Ketchel had no business at heavyweight. 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. The best American pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked, The best super-middleweights in the world, named and ranked, The best lightweight boxers in the world, named and ranked, The best British pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked. 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. It may well be that the best defense is a good offense, and Tyson had been an unstoppable force when coming forward, but he was lost when things didnt go his way. 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. One fight can go a long way toward defining a fighters legacy. Henry Cooper (1954-1971, 40-14-1): 118.8, 42. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 50-41, Boxing News: Tyson Fury has named Joe Joyce the second-best heavyweight in the world. Notable Wins: TKO8 over Max Baer in 1941, 15 round decision win over Tommy Farr in 1938. Holyfield, for example, beat Tyson twice. Honorable Mentions:Joe Jeannette, Jersey Joe Walcott, Max Schmeling, James J. Corbett, Max Baer, Jack Sharkey, Sam McVea,Peter Jackson, Evander Holyfield, Tom Sharkey, Floyd Patterson, Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko, George Godfrey, John L. Sullivan, Johnny Risko. 48. Theyve forgotten how good Louis was when he was young. Tyson Fury (2008 - present, 30-0-1): 173.2, 23. How important was a fighter in his era? This is supposed to be joke right? Bob fought as a light heavyweight for the first part of his career, and even had a couple middleweight bouts. ESPN.com: ALL-TIME GREATEST BOXERS Flyweight Ring career: 1910-23 Record: 131-3-2 (99 KOs) and 13 no-decisions Career notes: One of the smallest world champions ever . To be The Greatest, Ali needed rivals to push him and Frazier was one of his best. No substance. Aged 46 and pudgy and smiling, rather than sculpted and scowling, the American KOd heavyweight champ Michael Moorer with one punch in 1994, claiming back his crown 21 years after he first won it. Both ruined the division for a decade. Most Famous Fight(s): KO2 loss to Jack Dempsey in 1923. Notable Wins: KO12 over Bill KO Brennan in 1923, TKO2 over Charlie Weinert in 1923, KO8 over Jess Willard in 1923. Nova found a home in the top 10 heavyweight rankings for half a decade in the late 1930's and early 1940's. Most Famous Fight (s): TKO11 over Max Baer in 1939, TKO6 loss to Joe Louis in a 1941. He peaked early, lost Cus DAmato, then lost all focus because he was very immature. Thats a long time in boxing. Not a bad list, but a few observations: The 10 Best Heavyweight Boxers In The World Right. Walcott was 37, but he outboxed Marciano for most of their first match. Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 80-71, Mike Tyson has criticised Hulu for making a series about his life without his consent. The Best Heavyweights Of All Time, Named And Ranked Ali wasnt always a good sportsman. There was an inclination on the part of the panelists to make pound-for-pound comparisons, thereby elevating fighters like Dempsey and Marciano above todays much larger champions. In his short prime, Tyson is a serious challenge for anyone. Then show me a fight where Tyson did anything similar. Boxing legends Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis have all secured a place in the top 10 heavyweight boxers of all time. His fighting style proved to be awkward and difficult for Louis because Farr put up a good fight and lasted the distance. A gift and a curse. A giant who fought with finesse. Sullivan fought for 13 years, the last 10 of which he was a fullblown alcoholic. He was a manufactured Mafia fighter. Joe surprised the boxing world when he had success stepping up in class against top ranked heavyweight opponents. Tyson never fought anyone in there prime or of any note before 1990. Huh? And inane. Wilbur's 100 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time: 90-81 Dont be a hater all your life! Joe Louis would have discouraged Tyson real fast. He wanted to end fights as quickly as possible. The punch Rahman hit him with in South Africa would have KOd anyone, and there was the issue of altitude in South Africa. Jack Dempsey was a heavyweight champion for 7 years (from 1919 to 1926). There are more and more recognisable names on this list for those that arent boxing encyclopaedias, with the likes of Carl Froch making his appearance in the ranking, however the biggest name has to be Gennady Golovkin, who lost his trilogy fight with Canelo Alvarez last month in one of the biggest fights of the year. Now, Kossobutskiy will make his North American debut against his best opponent to date. Holyfield 9. Very surprising. But they, too, are among the greatest of all time, so thats not too shabby. What a jab! I agree with you. He came back to beat the only two fighters who beat him in the pros. Email THE RING Magazine and your comments could be printed in our next issue: [emailprotected] Emailed letters will include a writers email address unless a city and state of origin is provided. That night changed the experience of being black in America. Watch the DAZN Boxing Show and live fights on DAZN, Sterling vs. Cejudo preview, how to watch. He could punch. Thanks for signing up! Also, both loses clearly because he didnt take the fights as seriously as he should have, but when he did, he made quick work of both. As did fights from the greatest of the greats, from Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali to Larry Holmes . I think he is one of the greatest boxers not only because of the fact he was a champion or because of his title defenses but also because of his unique style. Thats Alis power ranking, which put him in first place. Three time champ and he was the king of the 90s, which was a very good generation for heavyweights. And after being heavyweight champion, he came back more than a decade later to do it again. Choynski fought in a time when San Francisco was still relevant to boxing and pro boxing was illegal in many states. I agree, those two losses are crap. Primo Carnera (1928-1946, 89-14-0): 111.2, 48. But he has the O and none of the other fighters on this list do. He was a powerful puncher and the most relentless fighter ever. No one better to learn from. Tyson is completely overrated. Marciano 4. At twenty, he couldve beaten anyone on the list EXCEPT Ali. He was also competing in the light heavyweight division although never got the belt there. Ive read all the criticism of Tyson and it is, in my opinion, not merited. Shut the hell up! Beat every fighter he ever faced, avenging his two defeats plus the (ridiculous) draw he got in the first Holyfield fight.

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