Who would you pick?

If i forgot one on the list just put it in a post.

I'd pick Ali. But Foreman, Louis and Lewis would do the same.

Lennox Lewis IMO.

Lewis or Ali.

Voted Lewis

Come on now. Lennox was king of his own domain for sure, but do guys really think this big, lumbering, aerobically challenged fighter has what it takes to survive in Ali's era? Can you visualize a fight between him and young George Foreman?

Come on now. Lennox was king of his own domain for sure, but do guys really think this big, lumbering, aerobically challenged fighter has what it takes to survive in Ali's era? Can you visualize a fight between him and young George Foreman?

Every other fighter has a direct style that doesn't suit them, Lewis has a chance against them all. He has the size and strength + upper cut to handle Frazier, the reach and fundamentals to bang w/ Ali, the power to tag Foreman.

I see a Prime Holyfield beating him, and I'm not saying he would beat all those guys on that list, but he has the best chance of lasting than anyone else. Even Ali showed he had problems against certain fighters, like good boxers (Norton) and pressure fighters like a Prime Frazier. I'm saying this and I'm not even that big of a fan of Lewis.

Prime Foreman demolishes Frazier, loses to Ali. Frazier beats Ali.

why isn't Holmes on that list, the guy was pushing 40 and fat, yet was still banging w/ the best.

Evander The Real Deal Holyfield

Evander The Real Deal Holyfield

I would have picked him in his Prime, but I see him losing to the 2 quicker boxer-back pedallers..Holmes and Ali. He beats everyone else on that list bar Prime Foreman, which would be a good fight.

Rating champs out of their eras is kind of silly, considering the further back you go in time the smaller and less powerful the athletes are on average.

Nevertheless, all things being equal, I have Muhammed Ali the victor. Like some of you guys, I don't see Lewis doing particularly well either; I've seen too many of his fights where his tongue was hanging out after the 2nd round. Guys like Marciano and Dempsy would be terrific in any era, prime Louis too, but in the end I have Ali as my fighter. What can I say? As he'd be the first to tell you, he is The Greatest.

No 1 HW I can say would beat anybody in any era, but if I had to pick from the list I'd say Holyfield. In his prime he was a ****in warrior. Nobody whose style I'd say was a foil that he absolutely could not conceivably beat.

ali or prime holyfield

I'd say Lewis is the worst guy there after Klitschko, how he has got 5 votes is beyond me, doesn't say much about this forum does it.

come on seriously.Jack johnson and vitali klitschko are on the list but larry holmes isn't?

there are alot of guys on that list who would have done well in any era

Big George Foreman, name an era where he wouldn't be the champion.

Come on now. Lennox was king of his own domain for sure, but do guys really think this big, lumbering, aerobically challenged fighter has what it takes to survive in Ali's era? Can you visualize a fight between him and young George Foreman?

yh spot on he was the best of a medioka era tyson was finished when he fought him. He wouldnt have won a world title in the golden age of boxing.

yh spot on he was the best of a medioka era tyson was finished when he fought him. He wouldnt have won a world title in the golden age of boxing.

Yep


I would have to go with Ali and Holyfield too.

Obviously Muhammad Ali will be the favorite but i pick Larry Holmes, he had it all great jab, great chin, great boxing skills, great heart, great stamina, ETC. And he wasn't a small Heavyweight either so he wouldn't be a small Heavyweight in any era.

He was the smartest fighter in the history of boxing. Even if a fighter was faster or more powerful, Ali would figure out a way to defeat him. As you can see by the poll, he undoubtedly would have ruled in any era!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lennox Lewis, he got all round skills to beat anybody on the list.

For me, Big George Foreman..! The man would crush anybody in any era..! Look what an old 45 year old Foreman did in the 90s !

Lewis, ali, and a sonny liston who wasnt controlled by the mob would rule at any time...

I reckon Ali would have been the business in any era,also the tyson of 86-89 was like a force of nature,which is a shame,because his self induced slide was alarmingly quick

Prime tyson could have beaten anyone but sadly prime tyson was a short lived beast indeed.

Ali was a beast for many many years and he was smart aswell.

For me, Big George Foreman..! The man would crush anybody in any era..! Look what an old 45 year old Foreman did in the 90s!

That's what I'm saying. Big George would have been a monster in ANY era of heavyweight. It took an even more special version of Heavyweight to bring him down. Walking forward, hands in front like ****in' Frankenstein, he would have scared even the toughest heavyweights of the 1920's.

I'd say Foreman or Ali. I voted for Foreman because I knew so many people were going to vote for Ali anyway.

Obviously Muhammad Ali will be the favorite but i pick Larry Holmes, he had it all great jab, great chin, great boxing skills, great heart, great stamina, ETC. And he wasn't a small Heavyweight either so he wouldn't be a small Heavyweight in any era.
Holmes did have very good boxing skills, and probably the best jab of all time. But it's hard to know his place in history since he fought in an era of bad heavyweights(though he can't be blamed for that). And his chin was suspect. But I do place him above Klitsko,Lewis and Holyfield. Ali #1, Foreman at 2, only because everyone was scared he was going to kill them when they fought him. If not for Ali showing Young how to beat Foreman, Holmes would've fought him for the title instead of Norton. And as an ex sparring partner of Foreman's, he already feared him. Definately top ten for Holmes though.

And his chin was suspect.

Huh? Larry's generally regarded as having one of the division's top chins. You don't survive shots like the one he took from Shavers without a superior chin.

Poet

Huh? Larry's generally regarded as having one of the division's top chins. You don't survive shots like the one he took from Shavers without a superior chin.

Poet
Yeah Poet, I can somewhat understand what you're saying. But Shavers lost control,chased Holmes and threw punches wildly and punched himself out, instead of relaxing and picking his shots. That contributed to Holmes stopping him in the next round when Shavers could'nt even stand cause he was so tired. Now to Holmes credit he did survive, but that was'nt the only fight. Mike Weaver had him and tired, and I know you will mention his age, but Tyson just destroyed him. I'll give him credit for surviving those fights, but to say he would'nt get finished off by a young Foreman,Louis or Ali, I just don't see it. They were just too good at finishing. But that's the fun of this whole thing,huh?

Yeah Poet, I can somewhat understand what you're saying. But Shavers lost control,chased Holmes and threw punches wildly and punched himself out, instead of relaxing and picking his shots. That contributed to Holmes stopping him in the next round when Shavers could'nt even stand cause he was so tired. Now to Holmes credit he did survive, but that was'nt the only fight. Mike Weaver had him and tired, and I know you will mention his age, but Tyson just destroyed him. I'll give him credit for surviving those fights, but to say he would'nt get finished off by a young Foreman,Louis or Ali, I just don't see it. They were just too good at finishing. But that's the fun of this whole thing,huh?

The point behind the Shavers example no one should have even been able to get up from that shot. The Tyson example, yes his age WAS a factor because he no longer had the reflexes to avoid the leather Mike was throwing at him; but that's beside the point really. Notice he got up from those knockdowns? Even the third and final one he could have risen from if they had let him. He tried in fact and they held him down. At no point could you say he was actually out. Now look at Tyson: No one questions the man's chin, but he was actually knocked cold by Lennox Lewis. Not to mention he was in la la land against both Douglas and Holyfield. The point is no matter how good a chin is you can still be KOed through an accumulation of punishment or from a monster shot you never see coming. Or from exhaustion like George Foreman.

While I don't think Larry beats Ali or Louis I think he gives both a very good down to the wire fight. As for Foreman, he always had trouble with guys that moved and jab (rewatch the Jimmy Young fight) and Holmes was one of the best at that. Just a bad matchup for Foreman.

Poet

Ali or Holyfield

Holmes did have very good boxing skills, and probably the best jab of all time. But it's hard to know his place in history since he fought in an era of bad heavyweights(though he can't be blamed for that). And his chin was suspect. But I do place him above Klitsko,Lewis and Holyfield. Ali #1, Foreman at 2, only because everyone was scared he was going to kill them when they fought him. If not for Ali showing Young how to beat Foreman, Holmes would've fought him for the title instead of Norton. And as an ex sparring partner of Foreman's, he already feared him. Definately top ten for Holmes though.

dude, have you seen holmes-shavers? Seen the big right that sounded like a gunshot? And Holmes got up from that.....And took lots of other shots from ernie

in fact holmes' chin was excellent, i dont know what you base him having a suspect chin on

dude, have you seen holmes-shavers? Seen the big right that sounded like a gunshot? And Holmes got up from that.....And took lots of other shots from ernie

in fact holmes' chin was excellent, i dont know what you base him having a suspect chin on

Exactly thats a ridiculous comment he was only stopped once in 75 fights, when he was ring rusty and way past his prime against a prime Mike Tyson. And he was only dropped like 6 or 7 times in total in 75 fights.

dude, have you seen holmes-shavers? Seen the big right that sounded like a gunshot? And Holmes got up from that.....And took lots of other shots from ernie

in fact holmes' chin was excellent, i dont know what you base him having a suspect chin on
It's just my opinion, and I base it on the number of times I seen him hurt really bad against the opposition he faced(To no fault of his own). Now, I do think he had a lot of heart and recovery skills, but I just don't think he would make out as well with some really good finishers from different eras. That's why this is fun, it's all subjective, and we all get to have a say. Good day guys.
Ernie

It's just my opinion, and I base it on the number of times I seen him hurt really bad against the opposition he faced(To no fault of his own). Now, I do think he had a lot of heart and recovery skills, but I just don't think he would make out as well with some really good finishers from different eras. That's why this is fun, it's all subjective, and we all get to have a say. Good day guys.
Ernie

Muhammad Ali was hurt by bad opposition aswell that doesn't mean he hasn't got a great chin. Every great fighter has been hurt atleast a few times by mediocre fighters. I have seen loads of Larry Holmes fights so i know how many times he was hurt.

Now to my knowledge in his championship fights in his prime, he was only ever badly stunned or knocked down. In 4 championship fights, once against Earnie Shavers in there 2nd fight which was a monsterous right. Once against Renaldo Snipes when he got caught off guard, he soon recovered 30 seconds later.

Once against Tim Witherspoon in the 9th round, but he had Tim Witherspoon. Hurt later in the round and a few times against Mike Weaver, who he took too lightly but again i don't see how this suggests Larry Holems had a suspect chin.

Seein as I had to pick one I picked Muhammad Ali,My favourite heavyweight fighter of all time.I think a PRIME Ali's natural abilty,ring intelect speed and skill would see him top the heavyweight division at any time.

Muhammad Ali was hurt by bad opposition aswell that doesn't mean he hasn't got a great chin. Every great fighter has been hurt atleast a few times by mediocre fighters. I have seen loads of Larry Holmes fights so i know how many times he was hurt.

Now to my knowledge in his championship fights in his prime, he was only ever badly stunned or knocked down. In 4 championship fights, once against Earnie Shavers in there 2nd fight which was a monsterous right. Once against Renaldo Snipes when he got caught off guard, he soon recovered 30 seconds later.

Once against Tim Witherspoon in the 9th round, but he had Tim Witherspoon. Hurt later in the round and a few times against Mike Weaver, who he took too lightly but again i don't see how this suggests Larry Holems had a suspect chin.
Well, maybe you have a point, but I just don't agree. But his career is what it is, and that was pretty damn good! I still think prime Tyson against prime Holmes ends with the same result though. Spinks, I don't think so. But is he top 5 of all time...no, I don't think so.

Seein as I had to pick one I picked Muhammad Ali,My favourite heavyweight fighter of all time.I think a PRIME Ali's natural abilty,ring intelect speed and skill would see him top the heavyweight division at any time.

I agree. Joe Louis is my all-time favorite but I think ultimately Ali was a bit better and edges The Bomber out for the top spot.

Poet

Lewis was big and skilled but I'd feel too nervous with Lewis up against the big punchers; Ali is obviously winning this one although theres a couple more that may be able to do it.

ali was the greatest...tyson second. foreman, louis, lewis

Ali would get badly bashed by Vitali Or Lewis.

Ali would get badly bashed by Vitali Or Lewis.

You're retarded. Back on the short bus with you.

Poet

Tyson in the 80s. Impetuous style, impregnable defense, and ferocious attacks. but seriously, he was too damn fast and too damn powerful to be stopped. Ali was great but honestly, the speed and power of Tyson would have eventually caught him in the later rounds. Only if he would have never met Don King and fired Kevin Rooney...

Tyson in the 80s. Impetuous style, impregnable defense, and ferocious attacks. but seriously, he was too damn fast and too damn powerful to be stopped. Ali was great but honestly, the speed and power of Tyson would have eventually caught him in the later rounds. Only if he would have never met Don King and fired Kevin Rooney...

You're an even bigger retard than the previous idiot.

Poet

how am I a retard? Because I was joking with the first sentence? or was it because I was voicing my opinion? Its my opinion, therefore im not wrong.

All I hear from the people who say Ali is his dancing ability. Yeah that was great back then because no heavyweight did it. In the later era you see that and trainers have ways to combat that. To combine speed and power(tyson) not just speed(ali) is a winner in my book.

how am I a retard? Because I was joking with the first sentence? or was it because I was voicing my opinion? Its my opinion, therefore im not wrong.

Opinions are like *******s: The wrong people have them and they're all full of ****. Stupid opinions will get you ridiculed.

All I hear from the people who say Ali is his dancing ability.

Why don't you try WATCHING him fight hmmm?


Yeah that was great back then because no heavyweight did it. In the later era you see that and trainers have ways to combat that.

Oh yeah, 1960s were the dark ages. Sorry dude, there hasn't been any revolutionary breakthrough in boxing over the past 40 years. They use the same stratagies now that they did back then.

To combine speed and power(tyson) not just speed(ali) is a winner in my book.

Buster Douglas anyone? Rewatch that one. Or maybe watch Tyson struggle against Frank Bruno. Or prehaps watch him be utterly unable to figure out James Tillis: A fighter no where near as fast and skillfull as Ali.

PS. You're overrating power as most casual fans (ie people who really know nothing about boxing) do. It's probably the LEAST important of the major factors that go into making a fighter.

Poet

ALI.......end of story.

Opinions are like *******s: The wrong people have them and they're all full of ****. Stupid opinions will get you ridiculed.



Why don't you try WATCHING him fight hmmm?




Oh yeah, 1960s were the dark ages. Sorry dude, there hasn't been any revolutionary breakthrough in boxing over the past 40 years. They use the same stratagies now that they did back then.



Buster Douglas anyone? Rewatch that one. Or maybe watch Tyson struggle against Frank Bruno. Or prehaps watch him be utterly unable to figure out James Tillis: A fighter no where near as fast and skillfull as Ali.

PS. You're overrating power as most casual fans (ie people who really know nothing about boxing) do. It's probably the LEAST important of the major factors that go into making a fighter.

Poet

First of all I have watched him fight and I dont see anything special. I see a big heavyweight bounce around the ring with his arms down throwing stiff jabs at idiots who just try to charge in. Then when they get tired he finishes them. Oh yeah, I also seen Ali gas before, so its really nothing special at all. He also doesn't fair too well when being hit hard.

All that show boating tactics like when he sits in the corner and lets the opponent swing at him. That **** would get him knocked out if he used it against Tyson. So how about quit living back then and see the now. Or at least the not to distant past.

Oh yeah, and I dont overrate power at all. I tell it like I see it. Tyson's prime wasn't as long as everyone elses thats all. Everyone is different. After firing his regular trainer before the douglas fight all he did was look for KOs instead of letting them come to him. You know the say "if you seek it you will not find it". Now please dont tell me your too dumb to not know that.

Also, I dont give a **** about power boxing at all. I enjoy technical fighting more so than a slug fest. I like watching a brawl but I enjoy and respect tactitions more. Which is why I liked watching Floyd more than Cotto. And didn't like Pacquiao until he grew half a brain(now he needs a defense). Which is why I dont have a favorite boxer who is active and which is why I like Sugar Ray Leonard so damn much.

Well! This post proves my point about you being retarded.

First of all I have watched him fight and I dont see anything special.

Because you're stupid and know nothing about boxing?

I see a big heavyweight bounce around the ring with his arms down throwing stiff jabs at idiots who just try to charge in. Then when they get tired he finishes them.

Proof you've never really watched Ali fight.

Oh yeah, I also seen Ali gas before, so its really nothing special at all.

You saw the past-prime 1970s version gas.


He also doesn't fair too well when being hit hard.

Try convincing Sonny Liston, George Foreman, and Earnie Shavers of that.

All that show boating tactics like when he sits in the corner and lets the opponent swing at him. That **** would get him knocked out if he used it against Tyson.

More like he'd make Tyson look like a bigger dope than he's already proved himself to be.

So how about quit living back then and see the now. Or at least the not to distant past.

How about looking at the whole picture instead of your tiny insignificant little segment of it. Boxing is lot bigger than just the past 20 years. I get the feeling that you're one of these ill edcucated dopes who that everything today is automatically superior to anything past. Worshiping at the alter of the modern I call it. Sorry, boxing didn't start when you discovered the sport and fighters don't suck because they happen to pre-date YOU.

Oh yeah, and I dont overrate power at all. I tell it like I see it. Tyson's prime wasn't as long as everyone elses thats all. Everyone is different. After firing his regular trainer before the douglas fight all he did was look for KOs instead of letting them come to him. You know the say "if you seek it you will not find it". Now please dont tell me your too dumb to not know that.

Same tired and discredited excuses Tyson's brainwashed fan-bois always make for him.

Also, I dont give a **** about power boxing at all. I enjoy technical fighting more so than a slug fest. I like watching a brawl but I enjoy and respect tactitions more. Which is why I liked watching Floyd more than Cotto. And didn't like Pacquiao until he grew half a brain(now he needs a defense). Which is why I dont have a favorite boxer who is active and which is why I like Sugar Ray Leonard so damn much.

Then you're contradicting your previous statements where all you could do was gush that he was fast and hit hard.

Poet

Well! This post proves my point about you being retarded.



Because you're stupid and know nothing about boxing?



Proof you've never really watched Ali fight.



You saw the past-prime 1970s version gas.




Try convincing Sonny Liston, George Foreman, and Earnie Shavers of that.



More like he'd make Tyson look like a bigger dope than he's already proved himself to be.



How about looking at the whole picture instead of your tiny insignificant little segment of it. Boxing is lot bigger than just the past 20 years. I get the feeling that you're one of these ill edcucated dopes who that everything today is automatically superior to anything past. Worshiping at the alter of the modern I call it. Sorry, boxing didn't start when you discovered the sport and fighters don't suck because they happen to pre-date YOU.



Same tired and discredited excuses Tyson's brainwashed fan-bois always make for him.



Then you're contradicting your previous statements where all you could do was gush that he was fast and hit hard.

Poet

Okay? I dont think I can make a logical argument with you. You just dont see past your nose.

Tyson doesn't just charge in, he closes distance and weaves at the same time. The Tyson im talking about, im not talking about the one who believes he can put anyone away with one punch.(two different mentalities)

The guys you mention foreman etc. Just charge in. Thats a big difference, getting hit trying to fight your range and not getting hit trying to fight your range. Do you see that? Because thats basic infighting, or are you still living in the 60s?

Also, I never said anything about Ali being trash(in your words "suck"). I think he is great for his time because heavyweights then didn't know how to fight dancers. Now-a-days it wont be surprising to see someone move and prance about the ring at higher weight class in part to Ali revolutionizing the sport.

Contradicting my statements? Im not doing that at all. Im just not the type of person who will totally disregard one thing because I like something opposite. Just because I like technical boxing doesn't mean im gonna go with it no matter what.

I think thats your problem right there. You talk about me brain washed, look in the mirror. You love Ali so damn much you cant even fathom him losing to anyone now-a-days. ****ing stupid.

Wy no love for Jack Johnson? He surely would have given every single person on that list some trouble and could have beaten anyone on that list imo. He was an incredible boxing mind who no doubt would have benefited from todays technology by being able to view and analyze video of his opponent. Both Ali and Holmes thought that Johnson would have given them more trouble than any other fighter before them. I also think Johnson would have beaten Joe Louis. After all, he did predict that Louis would lose to Max Schmeling the first time because he felt Joe was off balance all the time. He also felt a clever sharp shooter with a right hand would beat Louis.

Okay? I dont think I can make a logical argument with you. You just dont see past your nose.

Tyson doesn't just charge in, he closes distance and weaves at the same time. The Tyson im talking about, im not talking about the one who believes he can put anyone away with one punch.(two different mentalities)

Tyson would be better off charging in than fighting in his prefered style. Against Ali all that gets him is an extended head whipping.

The guys you mention foreman etc. Just charge in. Thats a big difference, getting hit trying to fight your range and not getting hit trying to fight your range. Do you see that? Because thats basic infighting, or are you still living in the 60s?)

I know infighting better than you do. Joe Frazier was a superior infighter to Tyson as Mike prefered to fight at mid-range to get maxium leverage on his punches.

Also, I never said anything about Ali being trash(in your words "suck"). I think he is great for his time because heavyweights then didn't know how to fight dancers.

You just demonstrated your bias yet again: "great FOR HIS TIME" implies a belief that compared to the past 20 years his time sucked. Obviously you are in the "modern cult" and drink plenty of KoolAid. The idea that no one knew how to fight dancers back then is pure bull****. Dancers had been around since the turn of the century and was nothing new at the time Ali fought. The idea that someone has come up with some revolutionary strategy to deal with the is equaly bull****.


Now-a-days it wont be surprising to see someone move and prance about the ring at higher weight class in part to Ali revolutionizing the sport.

That made no phucking sense. Why not just ask if I've seen your baseball?
You said you like Gayweather who's not a dancer but rather a track star: If he thinks you can hurt him he'll run like a thief.

Contradicting my statements? Im not doing that at all. Im just not the type of person who will totally disregard one thing because I like something opposite.

You've done it every post.

I think thats your problem right there. You talk about me brain washed, look in the mirror.

I think your problem is you approach boxing with a preconceived notion that everything NOW is automatically superior to THEN which is just brain-washed ignorance.

You love Ali so damn much you cant even fathom him losing to anyone now-a-days. ****ing stupid.

Try again. I'm not even an Ali fan: I'm a Joe Louis fan. I don't particularly care for Ali as a person for a number of reasons. While I may admire his abilities in the ring his out of the ring deficiencies preclude me from being a fan. I do like Joe Frazier though.

YOU, on the other hand, are fan of post 1980s boxing: All well and good until you start trying to push it's fighters forward as being better than anything that comes before. That's just ignorant.

On the other hand I don't push any era of boxing as a whole as superior to any other as I believe there are great fighters in every era. Consequently I rate Bernard Hopkins, Marco Antonio Barerra, Manny Pacquiao for example from today or the very near past as ATGs. I DO, however, recognize that individual weight classes have ups and downs: Sometimes great, sometimes terrible, and it has nothing to do with where they fall on the chronological timeline. The Heavyweight division sucked in the 80s, it was great in the 90s, and sucks again now.

Poet

Wy no love for Jack Johnson? He surely would have given every single person on that list some trouble and could have beaten anyone on that list imo. He was an incredible boxing mind who no doubt would have benefited from todays technology by being able to view and analyze video of his opponent. Both Ali and Holmes thought that Johnson would have given them more trouble than any other fighter before them. I also think Johnson would have beaten Joe Louis. After all, he did predict that Louis would lose to Max Schmeling the first time because he felt Joe was off balance all the time. He also felt a clever sharp shooter with a right hand would beat Louis.

I rate Jack Johnson as my number 3 ATG Heavyweight which is a lot higher than most. There's a built in antipathy on this forum for any fighter that fought pre-1930. It's not as obnoxious as the "every prior to 1980 or 1990 sucked" crowd but it IS a bias shared by many of the intelligient, knowledgable posters here. This is a subject I don't call people out on because it's one that's shared by people who are otherwise great posters that I'm loath to get in a brawl with over one ***** their otherwise impeccable track records.

Poet

whatever bro. two different opinions. just leave it at that.

whatever bro. two different opinions. just leave it at that.

As I said, opinions are like *******s: The wrong people have them and they're all full of ****. I prefer reading posts by people who actually KNOW what the phuck they're talking about rather than people who deal in OPINIONS I could wipe my ass with.

Poet

Prime Holyfield based on constant pressure alone...especially in the era of the 15 rounders

Prime Holyfield based on constant pressure alone...especially in the era of the 15 rounders

Ironically Holyfield was one of the principles in the last great 15 rounder against Dwight Qawi.

Poet

Ironically Holyfield was one of the principles in the last great 15 rounder against Dwight Qawi.

Poet

this is quite true

yeah, weird that jack johnson does not get the recognition. i could tell just by the manner and way he handled fighters that he would be a handful for anyone. i would say he could beat ali. i dont overrate ali, so...

i will go with vitali klitschko. he's big, fast enough, and has that instinct that allows him to out-move smaller, quicker heavyweights. and, because of how he moves, his stamina is above formeans i would say. so, a guy like ali wouldnt be able to just tire him out.

lewis by far.bigger,stronger,faster than any hw.he was technically sound with a full arsonal of punch.lost twice by taking opponents lightly & got 1 punch.he never got clearly beat in any fight.he avenged the loses.basically he got hit TWICE hard.2 punches! Foreman(who everyone over 3 decades except Tyson,lewis & bowe) even said he was the best ever.he said he ducked him in his comeback & said he would have ducked him in his prime.lewis is just a rare athlete with god size & talent.a true one of a kind.emanuel steward was in mccall corner when he beat lewis but resigned & joined lennox lewis.he molded him into the greatest hw ever.oh & people get over the vitali fight...look at his eye it was only the 6th round if goes longer vitali don't see the big rights coming & he would have got ko'd!

lewis by far.bigger,stronger,faster than any hw.he was technically sound with a full arsonal of punch.lost twice by taking opponents lightly & got 1 punch.he never got clearly beat in any fight.he avenged the loses.basically he got hit TWICE hard.2 punches! Foreman(who everyone over 3 decades except Tyson,lewis & bowe) even said he was the best ever.he said he ducked him in his comeback & said he would have ducked him in his prime.lewis is just a rare athlete with god size & talent.a true one of a kind.emanuel steward was in mccall corner when he beat lewis but resigned & joined lennox lewis.he molded him into the greatest hw ever.oh & people get over the vitali fight...look at his eye it was only the 6th round if goes longer vitali don't see the big rights coming & he would have got ko'd!


My man, Lewis wasn't faster than anyone. Just because he's the best HW of recent memory doesn't mean he could accomplish jack **** against the likes of prime Ali or Louis.

yeah, weird that jack johnson does not get the recognition. i could tell just by the manner and way he handled fighters that he would be a handful for anyone. i would say he could beat ali. i dont overrate ali, so...

i will go with vitali klitschko. he's big, fast enough, and has that instinct that allows him to out-move smaller, quicker heavyweights. and, because of how he moves, his stamina is above formeans i would say. so, a guy like ali wouldnt be able to just tire him out.

** Much more weird that the only fighter who actually did rule an era, Joe Louis, is ranked only 6th by the numbers.

Johnson did not rule his era since there were over a half dozen heavy contenders with over 1000 wins between them and only a few dozen losses that he wasn't defending against.

That Lewis gets 15% and Ali 50%, why that's 65% they're hogging, reflecting a certain British and American bias for more modern fighters.

Pick a ten year slice out of any of the fighters listed, and you're gonna find plenty of weak spots in that span, EXCEPT for Louis.

Good shout for the attributes Vitali shows, very underrated as is his brother, but my friend, Joe Louis has already been there and done that in spades.

I vote that we take Louis out of the poll since it's an insult to his legend.

My man, Lewis wasn't faster than anyone. Just because he's the best HW of recent memory doesn't mean he could accomplish jack **** against the likes of prime Ali or Louis.

Lennox lewis would have absoloutley demolished little Joe Louis, when i see comments like that man..........

Lennox would smash Louis to kingdom come, I'm not doubting louis was good in his time but lennox would kill him to death

Lennox lewis would have absoloutley demolished little Joe Louis, when i see comments like that man..........

Lennox would smash Louis to kingdom come, I'm not doubting louis was good in his time but lennox would kill him to death



I don't know about that, stamina was never one of Lewis' strong points. Modern superheavyweights kind of disgust me when I see their tongues hanging out after the 3rd or 4th round of a championship fight.. And Louis wasn't all that little; had they met in Lennox's era he would probably be quite the thoroughbred (having availed himself of recent nutrition, training methods and drugs)

I don't know about that, stamina was never one of Lewis' strong points. Modern superheavyweights kind of disgust me when I see their tongues hanging out after the 3rd or 4th round of a championship fight.. And Louis wasn't all that little; had they met in Lennox's era he would probably be quite the thoroughbred (having availed himself of recent nutrition, training methods and drugs)

When you are 6'5 240+ lbs its generally harder to keep up a fast pace in comparison to a 200 lb 6'2 fighter.

That's a 40 lbs difference. If weight classes went higher, Lewis would be a few weight classes up.

I'm not making excuses for guys like Chris Aereola and Samuel Peter, those guys are not legit 250 lb fighters, they are fat and should be coming in at 225-230.

Lewis and Klitschko are legit big men.

Lennox Lewis? He was a technically flawed fighter that got knocked out by two mediocre fighters in his prime and he never got a legit win over a great fighter in his prime either (Vitali doesn't count as Lewis was clearly losing that fight). He also had questionable stamina as well, in fact he never had a KO past the 8th round, so imagine him in the era of 15 rounders. In fact, imagine him during Jack Johnson's era of fighting 20+ rounds. Lewis was good for his time, but I am not sure he could have ruled any era.

First of all I have watched him fight and I dont see anything special. I see a big heavyweight bounce around the ring with his arms down throwing stiff jabs at idiots who just try to charge in. Then when they get tired he finishes them. Oh yeah, I also seen Ali gas before, so its really nothing special at all. He also doesn't fair too well when being hit hard.

All that show boating tactics like when he sits in the corner and lets the opponent swing at him. That **** would get him knocked out if he used it against Tyson. So how about quit living back then and see the now. Or at least the not to distant past.

Oh yeah, and I dont overrate power at all. I tell it like I see it. Tyson's prime wasn't as long as everyone elses thats all. Everyone is different. After firing his regular trainer before the douglas fight all he did was look for KOs instead of letting them come to him. You know the say "if you seek it you will not find it". Now please dont tell me your too dumb to not know that.

Also, I dont give a **** about power boxing at all. I enjoy technical fighting more so than a slug fest. I like watching a brawl but I enjoy and respect tactitions more. Which is why I liked watching Floyd more than Cotto. And didn't like Pacquiao until he grew half a brain(now he needs a defense). Which is why I dont have a favorite boxer who is active and which is why I like Sugar Ray Leonard so damn much.

you're a ****ing moron is all i will say, i cant be bothered to dissect every idiotic sentence of your post

Tyson in the 80s. Impetuous style, impregnable defense, and ferocious attacks. but seriously, he was too damn fast and too damn powerful to be stopped. Ali was great but honestly, the speed and power of Tyson would have eventually caught him in the later rounds. Only if he would have never met Don King and fired Kevin Rooney...

hahahaha tell that to buster douglas :rofl:

My man, Lewis wasn't faster than anyone. Just because he's the best HW of recent memory doesn't mean he could accomplish jack **** against the likes of prime Ali or Louis.
Ali was what 212lbs lol! All them all time great were great but lewis was a solid big 245 in his prime at 6'5.Frazier, Johnson were cruiserweights for duck sake!

"Ali doesn't fair too well when being hit hard. " Watch the left he takes from Cooper and especially the left he takes from Frazier. Most people would still be out.

I have to go with George, hes proved he can take it all in different eras. Joe Louis is one of the tyop CWs in history, but Big George knocks him out of his shoes. Some of these SHWs have the reach and power to keep boxers like Ali at bay, but Foreman is big enough and strong enough to catch up with any of these 6'6" 250lb+ boxers from the past 10yrs.

And people criticize Tyson for losing to Douglas the Douglas that beat Tyson gives any fighter on this poll trouble.

"Ali doesn't fair too well when being hit hard. " Watch the left he takes from Cooper and especially the left he takes from Frazier. Most people would still be out.

I have to go with George, hes proved he can take it all in different eras. Joe Louis is one of the tyop CWs in history, but Big George knocks him out of his shoes. Some of these SHWs have the reach and power to keep boxers like Ali at bay, but Foreman is big enough and strong enough to catch up with any of these 6'6" 250lb+ boxers from the past 10yrs.

And people criticize Tyson for losing to Douglas the Douglas that beat Tyson gives any fighter on this poll trouble.

Cruiserweight is an illigitimate division. If you're over 175 your a Heavyweight.

Poet

Cruiserweight is an illigitimate division. If you're over 175 your a Heavyweight.

Poet

A heavyweight with little chance of success. There comes a point where you can be so much physically smaller it's simply too much to ask in modern times. These fellows need to build themselves up to a certain weight just to take a certain amount of punishment. Look at Chris Byrd [who I admire for his gonads], he thought he had at least be around the 208lb mark, and he's as skilled and slick as they've came. A 175lbs guy vs a 245lb skilled man is just too much for even the best.

Holyfield did pretty well at 205lb, but he was exceptional, and even then he had problems with Bowe.

A heavyweight with little chance of success. There comes a point where you can be so much physically smaller it's simply too much to ask in modern times. These fellows need to build themselves up to a certain weight just to take a certain amount of punishment. Look at Chris Byrd [who I admire for his gonads], he thought he had at least be around the 208lb mark, and he's as skilled and slick as they've came. A 175lbs guy vs a 245lb skilled man is just too much for even the best.

Holyfield did pretty well at 205lb, but he was exceptional, and even then he had problems with Bowe.

There aren't very many legitimitately 245 lb fighters out there and those that are have serious flaws. If a "small" Heavyweight named Chagaev can kick the crap out of 7 foot 300+ lb Valuev than you have your answer. As someone pointed out ealier, most of these 250 lb Heavyweights are simply fat and should be fighting at 225. Wlad Klitschko is a 245 pound fighter with a glass jaw. Vitali is slow and clumsy and easy to hit. The point is there aren't any 245 monsters out there that are complete fighters.

Poet

There aren't very many legitimitately 245 lb fighters out there and those that are have serious flaws. If a "small" Heavyweight named Chagaev can kick the crap out of 7 foot 300+ lb Valuev than you have your answer. As someone pointed out ealier, most of these 250 lb Heavyweights are simply fat and should be fighting at 225. Wlad Klitschko is a 245 pound fighter with a glass jaw. Vitali is slow and clumsy and easy to hit. The point is there aren't any 245 monsters out there that are complete fighters.

Poet

Oh I agree with that, absolutely. People like Samuel Peter should be fighting at 225-230. I'll give the Klitschkos' one thing - they are in optimum fighting shape for their size. Valuev is just so freakish that it's maybe not fair to use him as an example. For instance I don't think even an exceptionally good 110lb fighter is going to beat even a rubbish 210lb fighter. It's just too ridiculous. The smaller heavyweights are still legit heavyweights. But as far as anyone below 200lbs beating a decent heavyweight? I suppose it's possible. Roy Jones did it fairly recently. But then again, it would have only been a matter of time before he took a bomb and put a dent in the canvas.

Oh I agree with that, absolutely. People like Samuel Peter should be fighting at 225-230. I'll give the Klitschkos' one thing - they are in optimum fighting shape for their size. Valuev is just so freakish that it's maybe not fair to use him as an example. For instance I don't think even an exceptionally good 110lb fighter is going to beat even a rubbish 210lb fighter. It's just too ridiculous. The smaller heavyweights are still legit heavyweights. But as far as anyone below 200lbs beating a decent heavyweight? I suppose it's possible. Roy Jones did it fairly recently. But then again, it would have only been a matter of time before he took a bomb and put a dent in the canvas.

I would give Hopkins better chances as he has a far better chin than Jones had. Only problem is Hopkins is well past it and no longer an elite fighter. Valuev is just another specimen in a long line going back through Carnera and Willard: Large men who can't fight. With Heavyweights there would seem to be a point of diminishing returns as far as size is concerned with additional size providing less and less of advantage than say the difference between a Welterweight and a Featherweight.

Poet

A heavyweight with little chance of success. There comes a point where you can be so much physically smaller it's simply too much to ask in modern times. These fellows need to build themselves up to a certain weight just to take a certain amount of punishment. Look at Chris Byrd [who I admire for his gonads], he thought he had at least be around the 208lb mark, and he's as skilled and slick as they've came. A 175lbs guy vs a 245lb skilled man is just too much for even the best.

Holyfield did pretty well at 205lb, but he was exceptional, and even then he had problems with Bowe.

Holyfield was only 205 (I thought he usually came in at 208) Because he was in elite physical condition. Holyfield while smaller, never looked severely undersized or weak.

There are only a few real SHW's. Lewis and Vitali are some I can think of. The others are fat. Foreman when he came back was 257 lbs, but it was fat, and even he wasn't as fat as Sam Peter, who weighed less. Ali walked around at what 235-240? he could have easily come in at that weight and still not have been as fat as Aereolla.

Tyson was 217, he was beating on SHW's w/ ease. Size doesn't matter as much when you can hit as hard as the heavyweights, the head doesn't grow in proportion ether, unless you are a freak (valuev). David Haye and Roy Jones look like they have middleweight heads on heavyweight bodies.

Holyfield was only 205 (I thought he usually came in at 208) Because he was in elite physical condition. Holyfield while smaller, never looked severely undersized or weak.

There are only a few real SHW's. Lewis and Vitali are some I can think of. The others are fat. Foreman when he came back was 257 lbs, but it was fat, and even he wasn't as fat as Sam Peter, who weighed less. Ali walked around at what 235-240? he could have easily come in at that weight and still not have been as fat as Aereolla.

Tyson was 217, he was beating on SHW's w/ ease. Size doesn't matter as much when you can hit as hard as the heavyweights, the head doesn't grow in proportion ether, unless you are a freak (valuev). David Haye and Roy Jones look like they have middleweight heads on heavyweight bodies.

I would point out too that fat is dead weight: You gain no benefit from it and it hurts you conditioning wise. Lifting weights and bulking up is also self-defeating as it kills your reflexes: Something fighters depend heavily on so any benefit you gain from additional strength is off-set by the loss of reflexes. There is also a greater propensity for injury by bulking up to a weight your body wasn't naturally designed to carry: This is seen among linemen in the NFL where men who are naturally 260 pounds bulk up to well over 300. The unnatural weight puts severe stress loads on joints, bones,
and ligaments not designed to take those loads with predictable results.

Poet

I would give Hopkins better chances as he has a far better chin than Jones had. Only problem is Hopkins is well past it and no longer an elite fighter. Valuev is just another specimen in a long line going back through Carnera and Willard: Large men who can't fight. With Heavyweights there would seem to be a point of diminishing returns as far as size is concerned with additional size providing less and less of advantage than say the difference between a Welterweight and a Featherweight.

Poet
I sometimes think there should be a weight limit with the heavyweights, or at least some sort of evaluation before they fight to assess how fit they are - and if they're not deemed fit enough, a replacement could be brought in. Kirk Johnson, Danny Williams and Samuel Peter all fell into the same trap with Klitschko. Coming in like a whale doesn't work. I know Peter had muscle, but it was useless.

Holyfield was only 205 (I thought he usually came in at 208) Because he was in elite physical condition. Holyfield while smaller, never looked severely undersized or weak.

There are only a few real SHW's. Lewis and Vitali are some I can think of. The others are fat. Foreman when he came back was 257 lbs, but it was fat, and even he wasn't as fat as Sam Peter, who weighed less. Ali walked around at what 235-240? he could have easily come in at that weight and still not have been as fat as Aereolla.

Tyson was 217, he was beating on SHW's w/ ease. Size doesn't matter as much when you can hit as hard as the heavyweights, the head doesn't grow in proportion ether, unless you are a freak (valuev). David Haye and Roy Jones look like they have middleweight heads on heavyweight bodies.

I think it matters to a degree. Chris Byrd, for example, may not have been able to take the shots he did if he weighed 180lbs. A thicker neck and structure can help up to an extent. But I do agree it's overrated for the most part.

I would point out too that fat is dead weight: You gain no benefit from it and it hurts you conditioning wise. Lifting weights and bulking up is also self-defeating as it kills your reflexes: Something fighters depend heavily on so any benefit you gain from additional strength is off-set by the loss of reflexes. There is also a greater propensity for injury by bulking up to a weight your body wasn't naturally designed to carry: This is seen among linemen in the NFL where men who are naturally 260 pounds bulk up to well over 300. The unnatural weight puts severe stress loads on joints, bones,
and ligaments not designed to take those loads with predictable results.

Poet

Weights will not kill your reflexes when used properly. A lot of athletes use resistance training. For boxing, high weights and low reps are used. A lot of explosive force is required as opposed to typical 10 rep weight lifting that body builders use.

Boxers need a balance of anaerobic and aerobic training. An example would be Sprinting..then walking..then sprinting etc, it get's the body used to using lots of energy then slowing down (rest periods) the running simply helps a fighter make weight and gives him re -cooperative abilities.

The quickest fighters to date have used resistance training (weights), Manny Pacquiao, Roy Jones jr, even Ray Leonard was using bits and pieces of it.

Power lifters are incredibly strong, but they aren't that bulky. I will agree that getting too big on a small frame will slow you down and tire you out, but in most cases the fighter has some room to gain some strength. Shane Mosley was the smaller guy against Margarito, but he was much stronger ( and it showed). If you can make weight at 122 and be benching 200+ lbs, why not?

Last but not least, it comes down to what the fighter is born with, Ali and Robinson for example.

There aren't very many legitimitately 245 lb fighters out there and those that are have serious flaws. If a "small" Heavyweight named Chagaev can kick the crap out of 7 foot 300+ lb Valuev than you have your answer. As someone pointed out ealier, most of these 250 lb Heavyweights are simply fat and should be fighting at 225. Wlad Klitschko is a 245 pound fighter with a glass jaw. Vitali is slow and clumsy and easy to hit. The point is there aren't any 245 monsters out there that are complete fighters.

Poet

Vitali can afford to be easy to hit. I hear about how hard Louis hit, but Im willing to bet he wouldnt put down Vit. Wlad is an overall better fighter than Schmeling, and Wlads right hand would end Louis' career.

Vitali can afford to be easy to hit. I hear about how hard Louis hit, but Im willing to bet he wouldnt put down Vit. Wlad is an overall better fighter than Schmeling, and Wlads right hand would end Louis' career.

Get real. Nuthuggers like you give Vitali a bad name.

Poet

LOL at Wack Dempsey getting votes..

I picked Lewis. I would have picked Ali but the way he held hands at his waist, he's open for Tyson's left hook, Lewis' overhand right etc. George Foreman is good too, but he is too slow and can be outboxed. Holyfield is just too small. And where the hell is Larry Holmes???? He would have been my second choice.

LOL at Wack Dempsey getting votes..

I picked Lewis. I would have picked Ali but the way he held hands at his waist, he's open for Tyson's left hook, Lewis' overhand right etc. George Foreman is good too, but he is too slow and can be outboxed. Holyfield is just too small. And where the hell is Larry Holmes???? He would have been my second choice.

I rate Dempsey 4th all time: After only Ali, Louis, and Johnson; and just ahead of #5 Holmes.

Poet

Wlad is a china-chinned ****.

For me, Big George Foreman..! The man would crush anybody in any era..! Look what an old 45 year old Foreman did in the 90s !

Well, he didn't crush Ali, so there are conceivably others he wouldn't be able to bang out who could out-last him and then break him down the stretch, especially in his prime years when he gassed from going all out too quickly.

Well, he didn't crush Ali, so there are conceivably others he wouldn't be able to bang out who could out-last him and then break him down the stretch, especially in his prime years when he gassed from going all out too quickly.

Oh no. That ! Dude ! With ! The! Exclamation ! Points ! Is ! Back !

PS. Not you Benny, the dude you responded to.

Poet