Recently, (in historical terms) we have had a variety of a HW ATGs retire or close to it. I know that many of the posters on NSB think that some are the current HWs deserve to be included in the top 10. What do you think?
Here's my take:
1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Jack Johnson
4. Jack Dempsey
5. Lennox Lewis
6. George Foreman
7. Larry Holmes
8. Sonny Liston
9. Joe Frazier
10. Gene Tunney (happy to explain that one).
NOTE: I know this subject is old, but I'm very interested to hear what some of you guys think, and if especially the two Klitschko brothers, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and the likes should be in the mix and why.
Well, Holyfield (aged 37) fought Lewis after a 5 wins streak, if we include the "bite fight", I grant you that. But after that he went on to lose two of his next 5 bouts (2-2-1). He surely wasn't prime, although it's still a good win.
As for Tyson, he wasn't past his prime, he was over.
It was the version of Tyson who hit Norris after the bell, who smoked weed prior to the Golota fight etc. After losing to Lewis Tyson went 1-2 against low level competition, then retired.
Although I have no problem with Lewis being a top 10 atg, I don't think his resume can be compared to Ali or Louis. I would also put Holmes and Foreman above him.
PS: Holyfield wasn't exatcly a "easy work" , in neither fight..
He wasn't in his prime obviously, but neither was Lennox. But he wasn't as washed up as some say.
Tyson was way past prime and had been for 10 years.
I think name wise, Lewis' is def up there. Actual reality, Ali is #1 Louis #2.
People often say that Holyfield was past his prime. I don't buy into that. And Lennox is older than Tyson, though I appreciate Tyson was past his prime.
A lot of people thought Holyfield would beat Lennox, many thought Tyson would beat Lennox. But because Lennox made easy work out of both of them, Holyfield twice, the general consensus is that they were way beyond their prime.
His resume is filled up with extremely good opposition. I dare say he possibly has the best resume of any HW in any era.
Well, Holyfield (aged 37) fought Lewis after a 5 wins streak, if we include the "bite fight", I grant you that. But after that he went on to lose two of his next 5 bouts (2-2-1). He surely wasn't prime, although it's still a good win.
As for Tyson, he wasn't past his prime, he was over.
It was the version of Tyson who hit Norris after the bell, who smoked weed prior to the Golota fight etc. After losing to Lewis Tyson went 1-2 against low level competition, then retired.
Although I have no problem with Lewis being a top 10 atg, I don't think his resume can be compared to Ali or Louis. I would also put Holmes and Foreman above him.
PS: Holyfield wasn't exatcly a "easy work" , in neither fight..
Yeah. But why didn't Lummox give the return? that's what I am in effect asking you, but rather I would have preffered McCall being vetted fully medically first time and the rematch being postponed, surely the right way to do things. I want prime versus prime, and I certainly don't want to be kept waiting till someone is 34 before facing them again, you see, that would be utter crap.
Whether he got lucky or not, the thing is that Lummox got flattened against a guy that surely no top 5 HW had any business losing to. yes, that's my point again. You seem to be paraphrasing what I wrote. Thats all good though, and its your prerogative.
Well all-time rankings are by definition highly subjective. Personally I find such a high ranking far-fetched at best. I am glad you have at last added a fresh statement.
I think in MacCalls case, yes you have a point - in fact I believe that 2nd fight should have been postponed on medical grounds till McCall was well. A rubber match at least was expected.
Yeah. But why didn't Lummox give the return?
In Rahmans case, we all know the Rock would have broken 2nd time round too.
No we don't.
He was a heavy hitter who got lucky against a daydreaming Lewis but not much more.
Whether he got lucky or not, the thing is that Lummox got flattened against a guy that surely no top 5 HW had any business losing to.
I am personally a bit oooo errrr about Lewis being top five, though I have him at 4 baed on his prime attributes and accomplishments that are pretty fiendish, I am very tempted to shift him down out of the top five.
Well all-time rankings are by definition highly subjective. Personally I find such a high ranking far-fetched at best.
Good good, you are improving. Post without mentioning Wlad.:fing02: Why would I, that's your job. But now you've mentioned him again.
Now lets hear your top10 :)
its already been posted a long time ago,
I think in MacCalls case, yes you have a point - in fact I believe that 2nd fight should have been postponed on medical grounds till McCall was well. A rubber match at least was expected.
In Rahmans case, we all know the Rock would have broken 2nd time round too. He was a heavy hitter who got lucky against a daydreaming Lewis but not much more.
I am personally a bit oooo errrr about Lewis being top five, though I have him at 4 baed on his prime attributes and accomplishments that are pretty fiendish, I am very tempted to shift him down out of the top five.
Good good, you are improving. Post without mentioning Wlad.:fing02: Now lets hear your top10 :)
But yet he didn't give Rahman or McCall a return. It's 1 all.
I think in MacCalls case, yes you have a point - in fact I believe that 2nd fight should have been postponed on medical grounds till McCall was well. A rubber match at least was expected.
In Rahmans case, we all know the Rock would have broken 2nd time round too. He was a heavy hitter who got lucky against a daydreaming Lewis but not much more.
I am personally a bit oooo errrr about Lewis being top five, though I have him at 4 baed on his prime attributes and accomplishments that are pretty fiendish, I am very tempted to shift him down out of the top five.
Still waiting for Wlad to 'Golota' somebody in the first round as Lennox and every other great did in their title defenses. Hell Id be happy if he could 'Michael Grant' an opponent at this point.
WLad spent more time with 40 year old midget Mormeck than Lennox spent with GOlota/Grant combined. Its sad really.
I don't really put that much weight on 1st round KOs. It's more due to style. Wlad likes to box, nothing wrong with it - I get more value for my ticket =)
Moreover I believe Wlad's KO ratio is greater than Lennox's (again this doesn't carry lot of weight for me).
Not the McCall rematch, McCalls demons took care of that and he never rematched mercer, even though a lot believe mercer won
Through no fault of his own. -he beat Mercer.
Still waiting for Wlad to 'Golota' somebody in the first round as Lennox and every other great did in their title defenses. Hell Id be happy if he could 'Michael Grant' an opponent at this point.
WLad spent more time with 40 year old midget Mormeck than Lennox spent with GOlota/Grant combined. Its sad really.
Not that Austin is in golotas league, but he took Austin out early with some nasty left hooks, but yes he could be more aggressive early on
Lennox took care of his own rematches.
Not the McCall rematch, McCalls demons took care of that and he never rematched mercer, even though a lot believe mercer won
1. Ali
2. Louis
3. Foreman
4. Wlad
5. Lewis
6. Tyson
7. Marciano
8. Holyfield
9. Holmes
10. Fraizer
Still waiting for Wlad to 'Golota' somebody in the first round as Lennox and every other great did in their title defenses. Hell Id be happy if he could 'Michael Grant' an opponent at this point.
WLad spent more time with 40 year old midget Mormeck than Lennox spent with GOlota/Grant combined. Its sad really.
I dont want people to think I'm being to harsh on Lewis I still rate him very highly, I have him as my no.6 ATG heavyweight, but that is as much to do with h2h and dominance as it does with resume, people love to highlight the purity, sanders and Brewster losses for wlad but they downplay the McCall & Rahman losses, the McCall rematch was a farce of epic proportions. People hype up Tyson then say, he only lost to Douglas because he was unmotivated, any other day he'd destroy him. I just think that if one is to make excuses for or criticise a certain boxer, then they have to do it for them all.
Lennox took care of his own rematches.
I dont want people to think I'm being to harsh on Lewis I still rate him very highly, I have him as my no.6 ATG heavyweight, but that is as much to do with h2h and dominance as it does with resume, people love to highlight the purity, sanders and Brewster losses for wlad but they downplay the McCall & Rahman losses, the McCall rematch was a farce of epic proportions. People hype up Tyson then say, he only lost to Douglas because he was unmotivated, any other day he'd destroy him. I just think that if one is to make excuses for or criticise a certain boxer, then they have to do it for them all.
People with there revisionist history, Holyfield was washed up when he fought Lewis. The only reason people gave him a glimmer was because he beat a washed up Tyson that people thought was still prime because he knocked out mcneeley, Bruno, seldon? Holyfield wasn't just beaten 7 years earlier by bowe, he was knocked out by a washed up bowe 4 years earlier, a fight which people were calling for him to retire after. I don't count Lewis as ever beating Tyson. Morrison was a one dimensional brawler who had been brutally ko'd by Michael bentt before he fought Lewis and ruddock was finished from the Tyson fights. He achieved nothing before and even less afterwards. Ray mercer was one of my favirote boxers but he was limited, as proved by gettin outboxed by an old Holmes and many, including myself believe Lewis was given a gift that night.
Some great points! Although I still rate Lennox resume highly.