Also explain to me why Holyfield is the only man who had a 10 heart? Marciano and Frazier both fought through hairier situations and won. Evanders heart is a bit overrated these days. I mean he seemed to have no quit in him, but neither did most of the guys on the list. It's hard to justly say he had more heart than a guy like Marciano who fought through split noses and some of the worst cuts seen on a fighter in a heavyweight championship match.
I just don't see moments in Holyfield's career where he exhibited so much more heart than Marciano against Charles, Frazier against Ali, Foreman, and Bonavena, or Willard against Dempsey, Carnera vs. Baer and Louis etc. He just never got wrecked or beat up in the same way as those other guys did so we can't say for sure if he'd fight on in their situations.
I'd put Evander's heart at 9 and Marciano and Frazier at 10.
Very interesting post very well thought out! Just my opinion for adjustments!
Jack Johnson deserves 7-8 for power!
Jack Dempsey deserves an 8 for physical attributes! he was over 6' 1" and had great power!
Rocky Marciano deserves 8-9 for inside work! He was notorious for busting his opponents up on the inside and even fracturing and breaking blood vessels on forearms with punches!
Muhammed Ali was a very smart fighter and deserving of possibly a 9 in that category!
Joe Frazier had good physical attributes! he was a larger version of Rocky Marciano! Big enough for his era! I say 8!
Tyson deserves no higher than a 5-6 for inside fighting. Purely average. He was not an inside fighter, he just finished guys on the inside occassionally after he had put them on queer street. He did most of his damage slipping punches on the outside range and then getting inside only to land a few punches and then out he went again.
He was great at navigating into the inside range but did not have the skills to hang there. A mere clinch negated all of his inside fighting ability. Not what I'd call a 10 or even an 8 for that matter. Joe Louis and Dempsey would be 10 on the inside.
Edit: BTW I appreciate you doing this and the time you spent. I just get pissed when people attribute Tyson talents and skills he did not really posses simply because he is remembered as having them as a shorter guy.
Now I'm not sure if this was your personal opinion, however I disagree with a few fighters and their "ratings":
Rocky Marciano
Power 9
Accuracy 6
Physical Attributes 6
Hand Speed 6
Footwork 6
Defense 6
Durability 9
Killer Instinct 8
Outside Work 5
Inside Work 7
Heart 9
Endurance 9
Ring Generalship 7
Smartness 7
Overall Score 100
Rock should be 10 durability. He's recognized as being one of the most durable fighters in the history of the sport, regardless of the weightclass.
His Killer Instinct should be higher. I'm not sure how many of his fights that you've seen, but he was a relentless puncher who went after someone moreso than any heavy I've seen after their opponent was hurt.
Inside Work...you must be joking, right?
Heart...no heavy has had more heart, and that includes Holyfield.
Muhammad Ali
Power 6
Accuracy 8
Physical Attributes 9
Hand Speed 9
Footwork 9
Defense 6
Durability 9
Killer Instinct 6
Outside Work 9
Inside Work 5
Heart 9
Endurance 9
Ring Generalship 10
Smartness 7
Overall Score 111
Accuracy...One of the most accurate (aside from Larry Holmes and Joe Louis) heavies.
Smartness...once again, you must be out of your mind. The most intelligent fighter I've ever seen.
Mike Tyson
Power 9
Accuracy 9
Physical Attributes 7
Hand Speed 9
Footwork 8
Defense 9
Durability 8
Killer Instinct 9
Outside Work 6
Inside Work 9
Heart 5
Endurance 8
Ring Generalship 8
Smartness 6
Overall Score 110
Durability 8 of 10? Are we talking about the same Tyson?
Smartness...part of this is learning to adapt your fighting technique, which Tyson NEVER did.
1. Joe Louis
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Larry Holmes / Mike Tyson
5. Joe Frazier / Jack Dempsey
7. Jack Johnson
8. Riddick Bowe / Evander Holyfield / Lennox Lewis
11. Sonny Liston / George Foreman
13. Rocky Marciano
14. Jim Jeffries / Max Schmeling
16. Floyd Patterson
17. James J. Corbett / Gene Tunney
19. J. Joe Walcott
20. Ezzard Charles