Greater accomplishment in boxing, Foreman, Ali, Marciano, Tyson

I might give you your Marciano argument, except there was a rumor that said Marciano was planning on a comeback, but when he went to the gym he had one workout and said forget it, he didn't have it anymore...also, he knew the value of being the only undefeated Heavyweight Champion to retire, so it wasn't as hard as you think...if he would of had just one loss, it could tarnish his career...Marciano's legacy really is all about being 49-0...not saying that the way he fought wasn't part of it too, but being undefeated is what he is really known for. I wonder if there was a guy like Foreman around when Marciano was 31, what he would of done

I'd say Marciano closely followed by Ali. Marciano not just for remaining undefeated, but also for having the strength of will to stay away from the ring when it seems impossible for almost every other boxer at the end of their career.

I think another critieria for juding this would be: Which feat would most easily or likely be duplicated. 1) Rocky retiring 49-0 Can anyone really doubt that if (Ali, Foreman, Holmes, Frazier, Louis, Lewis or even a Bowe or Evander) were an up and comer in the last 3 years in the HW division that they wouldn't retire undefeated? In the HW division you can have 20-30 fights before you actually even fight someone remotely dangerous. Then 5-6 fights versus other contenders. 1 more fight for an alpha bet belt. 3-4 fights to unify the belts mixed in with 3-4 so so fighters. All he has to do then is fight a decent contender every other fight for 5-6 more fights and retire. 2) Ali coming back after everything and changing his style and still compete with some of the HW greats. Could Byrd change into a boxer puncher instead of a slick boxer? Could Peter change his stripes and become a slick boxer puncher instead of a slugger. Could the Vlad change into a phone booth slugger? Only person who comes close is JT and he has the skill of an Ali but not the physical talent at HW that Ali possessed. 3) A HW coming back after 10years of retirment and winning the championship belt at his age. With the depleted HW division and the considerably longer shelf life of HW's as opposed to lighter divisions I could see Lewis coming back in a few years and winning back a belt if he so chose to. 4) A HW winning the belt at a young 20years old. This is tough to quantify since the HW division is usually a much older division than others in boxing since the body usually needs to fully develope and fill out to compete against todays bohemiths. However a truly talented, exciting and marketable HW *Especially if he was American would probably get a very quick title shot against a fringe champion and could possibly win a belt.

It was close between Ali and Foreman; but I had to go with Muhammad because he wasn't facing a chinny former Light-Heavyweight when he regained the title the first time, he was facing a young, fierce, monster who had destroyed both Frazier and Norton, the two men who had beaten him and given him such trouble. Foreman's accomplishment was great, no doubt; but it was against Michael Moorer, not Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, nor even Evander Holyfield.

i think alis was a biggger feat because he came back and after foreman had beaten the champ and the number 1 contender within 2 rounds he beat foreman, that made him a hero foreman is a close second

1. Ali: beating the draft, a layoff, and another giant puts him at the top. 2. Foreman: His comeback was impressive, but Foreman wanted the money, not the greatness. 3: Marciano: Sven The Stealer Ottke retired undefeated, and he sucked. this is not the case with rocky, but it goes to show that streaks and undefeated records aren't special anymore. 4: Tyson: Winng the title at 20 was a great feat, but not THAT great.

marciano is not ahead of tyson becuase tyson came out of jail weighing 280 pounds and reclaimed the heavy weight title Tyson's was in pretty good shape 220 if I remember when he came out of jail. He went in weighing about 260 or so. I could be wrong, just going by memory.

so not only is tyson the youngest but he was also in exile and reclaimed the title

This one is almost too tough to call between Ali and Foreman. On one hand, the odds of Foreman coming back after a 10-year layoff to even become worthy contender were pretty long, but not only did he do that he took it all the way to winning a peice of the HW championship again. Enjoy it, because you will probably never see something like that again. On the other hand, Ali came back after his exile and again became the dominant HW in an era that was loaded with talent ... Foreman, Frazier, Norton, Shavers, Lyle among others. I think Marciano's accomplishment, while definitely noteworthy, came in an era of very small heavyweights and one where there wasn't a whole lot of talent around. Tyson's accomplishment trails all of those, as he became the youngest champ in a pretty weak era. marciano is not ahead of tyson becuase tyson came out of jail weighing 280 pounds and reclaimed the heavy weight title

I would say Foreman's is the greatest accomplishment. He was in retirement for ten or more years before he came back. I don't know of any fighter in history who could have done this. Even if he would have never beat Moorer, just the fight he gave Holyfield at his age was incredible. Ali's style when he came back wasn't as good he became too much of a headhunter. Marciano's record at that level would be hard to duplicate. It could be done like Valuev if you were matched carefully. Tyson's record of being the youngest champ is probably safe, since Heavyweights are usually older and don't fight near as often as he did.

I went with Foreman because I couldn't decide between Ali and Foreman, but many of the things Ali went through he brought upon himself and I'm a Foreman fan lol Seriously though, IMO Foreman went through tougher fights in his comeback than Ali did with him, Foreman had the hell beat out of him by Holyfield and Moorer before he KO'd him, a true testiment to his heart. Not saying Ali didn't have heart, but George was 45 years old. I think Marciano comes in behind them no matter who you have at the top because he fought in a weak era but he never lost a fight he was supposed to win. Tyson is last because he got the belt in a weak era and couldn't hold onto it.

i think foreman winning at 45 was the hardest to accomplish, he stayed outta the sport for alot longer than ali, but beating micheal moore wasnt as hard as when ali fought him back when he was the baddest, so i go with ali

Ali Tyson Foreman Marciano

BTW, If I had to sort those, it would be something like this: 1 - Tyson 2 - Marciano 3 - Ali 4 - Foreman

Forget about the Names and their legacy... Others will change their styles. There will be champs over 40 49 – 0 will be the hardest to achieve, but not impossible (Valuev is the next candidate being 5 fights away) I voted for Tyson... The reason being is that any of the other three achievements can and will be duplicated. With today's politics in Boxing, I don't see anyone doing enough to get and win a title by the age of 20. Peter was the youngest prospect and he got his shot at 26. There is no one under the age of 20 and who is even in the top 100. Thus I think it will be Tyson's legacy and unreachable accomplishment for others.

Ali.....he beat the system....how many people can say that...

This one is almost too tough to call between Ali and Foreman. On one hand, the odds of Foreman coming back after a 10-year layoff to even become worthy contender were pretty long, but not only did he do that he took it all the way to winning a peice of the HW championship again. Enjoy it, because you will probably never see something like that again. On the other hand, Ali came back after his exile and again became the dominant HW in an era that was loaded with talent ... Foreman, Frazier, Norton, Shavers, Lyle among others. I think Marciano's accomplishment, while definitely noteworthy, came in an era of very small heavyweights and one where there wasn't a whole lot of talent around. Tyson's accomplishment trails all of those, as he became the youngest champ in a pretty weak era.

ali, he went through so much in his life outside and inside boxin

i think clinton woods beatin glen johnson is 1 of the best accomplishments i have ever seen k im jokin chill :nonono:

Ali / Foreman Tyson Marciano That would be my order of accomplishments.