Nor did he obliterate a mediocre Tony Tucker, both title fights in 1987. But by doing that they often left their head open, which was a perfect opportunity for Iron Myke to land the knockout blow. Of course, he has a great strategy for every different opponent. Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images. Haha he was falling all over the place, shaking his head like the little bitch that he was!! 10. And they are similar in age so how can you talk about their primes? Id probably say Tommy Burns, a good but small heavyweight from whom he took the crown. He ducked Shavers, Lyle and even an old Sonny Liston. Frazier is the only man to defeat Muhammad Ali when he was anywhere close to his prime. how could you possible list frazier ahead of foreman, that is crazy, simply because foreman DESTROYED him twice. And lame. He had one of the best jabs in boxing history. Cant overlook Holmes place in heavyweight history. Tyson took the title in a lackluster period after an admittedly STRONG early run but gave out fast. However, Vitalis style was much more entertaining to watch and he was much more appreciated by the fans. You can see that in his fight against Joe Frazier. And that was exactly what he did. 16 Reasons why Lebron is greater than Jordan. Cant understand this fixation with Tyson, all these guys mop the floor with Tyson. The first fight makes our list of the "25 Greatest Heavyweight Contests of the Last 100 years. Required fields are marked *. His famous defeat six years after to Jack Johnson has, over time, obscured his achievements, but theres no arguing with victories over James J. Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, Joe Choynski and Sailor Tom Sharkey. MF & DAZN: X Series 005 Jay Swingler v NichLmao, Who won the PFL Challenger Series last night? This site is owned and operated by Dimitar Ivanov. The list obviously includes the likes of Iron Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali but where do they fall on this boxing heavy Show chat replay. I would have Tyson at #12, Frazier at #11, Dempsey #10, Holmes #9, W Klitschko #8, Liston #7, Marciano #6, Holyfield #5, Foreman #4, Johnson #3, Louis #2 and Ali #1. Lennox Lewis 11. (Legal and Illegal Clinching). He ended up beating the defending champion to clinch the world lightweight title. Best pure puncher who ever got in a ring. The Rock from Brockton (his nickname) was one of the first boxers who developed this style of boxing. He beat everyone and won all the belts. Ya uhm no. 4. 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. Youre the only one with sense. Both equally as boring and predictable. Power, toughness, and unsurpassed conditioning were Rockys calling-cards, along with a brutal relentlessness which no one in his era could withstand. Amazingly, he defended his title on 14 different occasions against 13 different boxers from the year he won it until 1974. Ketchel had no business at heavyweight. He was the mad experiment of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, boxing minds ever in Cus Damato. Critics point out that Marciano was small, clumsy and only made six title defences, mainly against ageing opponents. That way he stopped the punches even before they were thrown. Tyson gives up fast when he senses hes losing. The 20 Greatest Athletes of all Time Muhammad Ali: Why is Ali number one? When Ali first retired, in 1978, he was a three-time heavyweight champ whod avenged every defeat. The Easton Assassin was, for a long stretch, the most underrated heavyweight champion. Tyson never fought anyone in there prime or of any note before 1990. With a sublime jab, toughness and an elite boxing brain, Holmes was a terrific all-rounder. Credit: PA 50. That definitely wasnt the prime Ali but still, there arent many people who can say that they have a win over such a boxer. Fury has made a case to be considered one of the best heavyweights ever, but just how good is he? Because of his style, Wladimir took much less damage during his career than Vitali. Ted Kid Lewis 65. Signature technique:Slip the jab (outside) -> Right overhand. It lasted two rounds. Unless perhaps Tyson Fury has anything to say about that. And he was able to use it really effectively. The best lightweight boxers in the world, named and ranked The best British pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked 10. That way it was really hard for them to catch him. He would have no chance if he fought from a distance against someone with a longer reach. Back in the day, Leonard was also part of "The Fabulous Four.". He could do no more than beat them but, perhaps wisely, he didnt wait to face any up-and-coming boxers! And that automatically sets up the cross, because next time he could feint an uppercut and throw a straight right hand instead. He destroyed Holmes. He was usually circling to his left while jabbing his opponents. Lennox Lewis made the cut and Iron Mike didnt..laughable. Very impressive. He became a national hero at a dark time during the nation's history and a symbol of anti-Nazi sentiment leading into World War 2. And it was one of his main weapons. Muhammad Ali. Twenty-five consecutive title defenses more than imprinted Louis as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. Pure sweet science, master class boxing skills on display from Lewis across his brilliant career. He is like Morrison, as Stevey below says. Mike Tyson was knocking people out! He was poorly managed and handled. Which actually was a really effective strategy he beat both those guys. Holyfield , Lewis , Douglas got the best of him yet Tyson never faced Foreman or either of the Klitscko brothers I believe these three fighters could have beat Tyson as well Also Riddick Bowe would have a Big advantage over Tyson. Really? Holmes or V Klitschko never unified the title to become undisputed like the others. Smokin Joe was an absolute buzzsaw. 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. When the going got tough, Tyson had problems. But that way Ali was much more mobile and was able to see the punches better and to slip them. Without further ado, here is my countdown of Canada's 5 greatest boxers of all-time: 5. 6. He nearly lost twice to Ringo Bonevena and was bitch-slapped by Foreman. Get it? Jack Dempsey (1914-1927, 59-6-9): 146.7, 29. For example, they both had knockout power and they both used their size and strength to control their opponents in the clinch. Very hard to argue against your selections. Thats why it was really hard to predict when Frazier was going to throw the left hook. Following in Alis footsteps, Holmes could be as cold as Ali was charismatic but he could fight. Many boxers thoughtthat this makes him predictable and easy to deal with. 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. Ranking Explanation . Salesmanship? With his never back style, granite chin and knockout power, he was a really exciting fighter to watch. Or Williams, Ellis and Folley. Only 2 losses, and he came back and rectified them. 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. Signature technique:Left hook -> Right Cross. He was a bully and a quitter. As the other boxer threw a jab, Ali slightly moved his head, just enough to avoid being hit and then quickly returned a right cross over the top. Im Dimitar Ivanov. Modern heavyweights are often ridiculed as being a pale imitation of the legends of the 20th century whose legacies have been immortalised. 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). Maybe that was the reason why he has such a knockout power. Muhammad Ali's comic line - "Earnie hit me so hard, it shook my kinfolk back in Africa" - was meant in part for laughs but you get his point. The reason why he is one of the greatest boxers is that he has wins over boxers fighting in all styles out-boxers, brawlers, other infighters. Not his fault if he fought and beat old men as champ. But even if you take into account their overall careers, Id still give the edge to Foreman because of his comeback years. Foreman, who in 1994 knocke Whether it was avenging his loss against Joe Frazier with two victories over his rival,taking the steam out of George Foreman at The Rumble in the Jungle or earning hard-fought wins over the rugged likes of Floyd Patterson and Ken Norton, Alis GOAT legacy resides on the heavyweight throne as the best. All the people who claim he never beat anyone forget that he won the title in a tournament. Lennox has to be top five easy! Thats why it was hard for them to defend them. When talking The Greatest heavyweights, Alis name reigns supreme. Here, DAZN lists its 10 Best Heavyweights of All Time, in no particular order. A true STUDENT of the sweet science. Cant get upset by your list, since I cant even take you seriously.. The Top Ranked Boxers of All-Time from California 'Big' George, 71, won the world heavyweight championship repeatedly. Your email address will not be published. Jimmy Bivins (1940-1955, 86-25-1): 389, 7. He competed from 1996 to 2007, 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2015, and made a one-fight comeback in 2017. So Maybe Tyson is in the top10 of his era .. Hence, Ali is considered the greatest. The Philadelphia icon couldnt cope with Big Georges otherworldly power - but he gave every other boxer he faced, including Ali, absolute hell. But thats not the reason why he is on that list. Greatest of all time, Rocky Marciano. Top 10 Best UFC Heavyweight Fighters Of All time..Welcome back to Sports Paradise, today on the channel we're going to be talking about the Top 10 Best UFC H. Lennox was feinting a right cross to make his opponents lower their head to dodge the shot. Kick ass on half that page at least. He fought a total of 81 fights with 76 stunning wins. Lennox Lewis is too low. 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. His prime was a bit like Iron Mike himself: short, sharp and explosive. The pair met in Las Vegas in April 2000 and Holyfield was awarded a highly controversial 12-round unanimous decision to emerge as boxing's first-ever four-time heavyweight champ. Montreal is The Fight City. Definitely, George Foreman is one of the most intimidating and exciting boxers to watch. What about Tyson? US legend Louis made a record 25 heavyweight title defences and only lost once in his prime: to Max Schmeling, who picked out a flaw in Louiss technique. But Wladimir beat better boxers and has much more title defenses and thats why is ranked higher in this list. Sometimes he feinted a punch to the head but then went to the body. Ive read a couple of bios and researched that era. Like most of the brawlers, Liston wasnt the fastest boxer which caused him problems against quick out-boxers, as you can see in his fight with Ali. Thats a boxer who likes to exchange. Some sort of elaborate prank? McVea and Jeannette were great, but were at their best several years after they last fought Johnson. ESPN rates Fury as the best current heavyweight and one of the heaviest heavyweight boxers of all time with 126 kg in November 2021. March 3, 2023 8:50 am ET. He was able to knock everyone out with every type of punch, even with a simple jab. Posted below are the top 50 heavyweight boxers of all time. Never knew defeat. Jon Jones doesn't believe Conor McGregor is one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time. The Ring magazine ranked him the No.53 of the 100 greatest punchers of all time. And Jersey Joe Walcott, who made him look amateurish and dropped him at like 39 years of age. Whos ranked an all time great? But they, too, are among the greatest of all time, so thats not too shabby. 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. For example, in the fight with Myke Tyson, he fought from a close distance, because he knew that Myke is very good at slipping jabs and long punches. Big George knocked the hell out of Frazier twice and Smoking Joe is ranked over Foreman? Retired undefeated. A few years ago I've started boxing and I've quickly fallen in love with this awesome sport. Holyfield I choose him because hes very contemporary to MT) doesnt talk trash. Joe Frazier: The man they called Smokin Joe doesnt get enough love on most ATG lists, but overlooked are two things: 1. When talking The Greatest heavyweights, Alis name reigns supreme. Listons Jab-Cross wasnt the normal 1-2 (jab-cross) combination with light but quick jab and powerful right hand. Cant overlook Holmes place in heavyweight history. But they, too, are among the greatest of all time, so thats not too shabby. Larry Holmes won the WBC title in 1978 after he defeated Ken Norton. Without a doubt for me. Your email address will not be published. His right overhand was a really had punch, because Luis was able to transfer the power from hisfeet, through the body, to the fist very efficiently with a crisp technique. How do you say Tyson beats Lewis when Lewis actually beat Tyson? Although he didnt make the list, it doesnt mean he isnt a major problem for the legends at the top of this list. For example, Ali has better footwork and used it much more than Holmes, who liked to pressure his opponents more. He was constantly changing levels, bobbing and weaving, feinting and throwing body shots. Most of the knockout blows came from his right hand. Also, this is a ranking of the greatest boxers and not of the best ones. 30 Terry McGovern. Plus, hes the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. No Holyfield? Before he went to jail, everyone ducked him. 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. Top 50 fighters of 21st century named 50-31 50: Andy Ruiz 49: Ray Mercer 48: Frank Bruno 47: Jack Sharkey 46: Paddy Ryan 45: David Tua 44: Ron Lyle 43: Gerry Cooney 42: Michael Spinks 41: Roy. Brawlers are willing to take a punch so they can land one. Sugar Ray Robinson 3. Unlike his brother (Wladimir), who was an out-boxer, Vitali was a brawler. Click Agree to accept our use of cookies or you can choose to opt out of our use of cookies by following the instructions in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice. TGT Tips! Ali is a three-time heavyweight world champion and is widely considered the best boxer of all time. 2.1 Heavyweight (201 lbs+ - 91.18 kg+) 2.2 Cruiserweight (200 lbs - 90.72 kg) 2.3 Light heavyweight (175 lbs - 79.38 kg) . After that, he finished the combo with a powerful lead hook to the head. MF & DAZN: X Series 005 Jay Swingler v NichLmao, Who won the PFL Challenger Series last night? Signature technique: Uppercuts in the clinch. Foreman demolished Frazier in both their fights, the only man that did or could. Pacquiao .more #1680 of 1,902 Remove altitude and behavior, he is the greatest. 7. Louis' points total puts him well clear of the 'Greatest,' who finished second with an impressive 757.9 points. 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. (explanation), Can you Headlock in Boxing? That way he knocked some of his opponents out, with a quick lead hook, right after exiting the clinch. 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. But when it came time for Tyson to fight top prime guys, Hes 0-6 in fights that actually matter. And they enabled him to vanquish, among others, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney,Tim Witherspoon, Mike Weaver and Trevor Berbick. Tyson makes lists because he talked trash with alacrity and had an unbelievable EARLY (ultra early) great run. Frazier 6. It is a city of fights and fighters, of hockey and heroes, of broken dreams and immortal glory, a city unlike any other. Signature technique: Multiple hooks to the body. Beating Sonny Liston to win his first championship as a 7-to-1 underdog, defeating chief rival Joe Frazier two out of three times, stopping the undefeated George Foreman as a 4-to-1 underdog (to regain the title), outpointing Kenny . This group included Leonard himself and three others; Roberto Durn, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler. Frazier was a very carefully managed fighter who could not win against power punchers. Drederick Tatum is The Simpsons equivalent of former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. What is clear is the amount of opponents Tyson overwhelmed with his devastating power. So he was a thought matchup for everyone. Was the baddest man on the planet!!!! Pure sweet science, master class boxing skills on display from Lewis across his brilliant career. And as the other boxers tried to close the distance, Wladimir got into a clinch or headlocked them (which is much easier when fighting with shorter boxers). Three time champ and he was the king of the 90s, which was a very good generation for heavyweights. All a fighter can do is dominate their own era and prove their greatness in their own time. The mold of a perfect fighter. At twenty, he couldve beaten anyone on the list EXCEPT Ali. But they were avenged and the degree to which Rahman and McCall were supposed to stand no chance is exaggerated. Johnson 12. If a new fan asked me what Johnsons best win was and why, Id have a hard time convincing them. I take Lennox Lewis by knockout in later rounds. A young Holmes most likely beats Tyson, but apart from that, Holmes is without a doubt in the top ten all-time, while Tyson, to the surprise of many, is not. Ohh the Tysonites who think boxing was invented in 1984 are out in full force. More, and better, accomplishments. Rocky Marciano (1947-1955, 49-0-0): 692.2, 2. Boxing legends Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis have all secured a place in the top 10 heavyweight boxers of all time. Nationality: Japanese. A jab and a right hand. Biggest joke of the year . Thats an old-school boxing technique which Foreman effectively applied during the golden age of boxing. He was a longtime contender who fought ranked fighters regularly beginning in the mid-1970s. 8. If he had people around him who had cared about him he may have won every fight. A gift and a curse. The video game? You can check out the heavyweights that finished outside of the top 50 over at BoxRec. Some were renowned for their speed while others were famous for being heavy hitters. Sonny Liston (1953-1970, 50-4-0): 625.7, 3. Topics:.css-wpf514{color:#72B97D;}Mike Tyson, Boxing News, Boxing, Joe Louis, Lennox Lewis, muhammad ali, Wladimir Klitschko, Drake has made TWO mammoth bets on Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, fans think he's 'cursed' one of them, 'Hold my hands up!' Antonio Cervantes 69. 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'. He boasts solid wins over David Tua, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer and Vitali Klitschko. Which makes your opponent lower his guard to protect his body and you can land a hard hook to the head. 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. Lennox Lewis (1989-2003, 41-2-1): 547.9, 4. During the whole fight, he stood his ground and waited for Myke to attack first so he can counter him. Tyson could never deal with adversity, which is why he doesnt belong on the list of ATGs. Both ruined the division for a decade. Louis is the prime example of what it means to be a boxing legend. When was Tyson ever able to overcome anyone who fought back? Ken Norton. Max Baer, Max Schmeling, James J. Braddock and Jersey Joe Walcott all felt Louis wrath. He had a record of 56-5 and his fights were always highly-anticipated . Do people not know that Lewis beat Tyson in 8 rounds? Tyson had little heart but plenty quit in him. No Tyson in the list? No iron mike?? Walcott. He was 61 tall, but his reach was really impressive (84 in). THATs reality, Tyson fans. Required fields are marked *. Click Agree to accept our use of cookies or you can choose to opt out of our use of cookies by following the instructions in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice. Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis didnt fear Tyson and were able to subsequently bully the bully. Journeyman Leroy Caldwell fought many of the best heavyweights from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. There is no way Frazier can be ranked above Foreman. No one could take him, bigger fighters were not given the room or the time to punch. Holmes was well old by then and took the fight with only a few weeks to train after a long lay off. More athletic and aggressive than Liston. 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. The technique of that punch wasnt perfect at all, (every boxing coach will be shocked if he sees it), but that doesnt mean it wasnt effective. 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.