Top 10 heavies: Social impact

[JAB5239]

I've never done a list or even seen one like this before, but who are your top 10 heavies based on social impact, good or bad? Explain your choices please.

Choices were getting thin towards the bottom so I may have been reaching.

10. Lennox Lewis-The first British heavyweight to hold the title and be known as a champion by the world and not just the Brits (see Frank Bruno).

9. Tommy Burns-Had the distinction of being the man to give up the heavyweight championship to the first black heavyweight champion in history and change the sport forever.

8. Max Schmeling-While nothing he did as champion stands out, his win and loss to Louis helped set and destroy a symbol of Nazi power.

7. Rocky Marciano-retired undefeated and was the last white American to be the undisputed champ. His name is synonymous with the heavyweight title.

6. John L. Sullivan-The first gloved champion and a certified star of his era. Everyone knew who the Boston string boy was.

5. Joe Louis-His win over Schmeling was a crushing defeat to Nazi propaganda and his patriotic devotion made him loved by blacks and whites alike during a turbulent time in the countries history.

4. Mike Tyson-His star burned so bright everybody in the world knew his name and stopped to watch him fight. They also stopped to watch his tragedies and turbulent life as if it were a car wreck.

3. Jack Johnson-The first black heavyweight champion and its most despised during his reign. So hated that white America actively pursued a "white hope" to wipe the golden smile of his face.

2. Muhammad Ali-Never had a fighter gone from being so disliked to so beloved. His stance on Vietnam brought a surreal amount of disdain for Ali. But his first loss to Frazier proved his conviction and courage so much the masses got behind him. He went from one end of the spectrum to the other and did it with flair not seen before or since.

1. Jack Dempsey-No fighter was ever so revered in their era. Never did so many people flock to see one man fight. So popular was Dempsey that his name alone conjures up images of the roaring twenties.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

There are newspaper clippings & reports on Dempsey's fights & various outer-ring exploits I have seen from as far afield as New Zealand...in the 20's! That is just insane when you give it the proper thought, & a huge testimony to Rickard & Dempsey both (especially Rickard, though).

[kebark]

Think I'd have Ali or Johnson ahead of Dempsey personally.

[mickey malone]

I've never done a list or even seen one like this before, but who are your top 10 heavies based on social impact, good or bad? Explain your choices please.

Choices were getting thin towards the bottom so I may have been reaching.

10. Lennox Lewis-The first British heavyweight to hold the title and be known as a champion by the world and not just the Brits (see Frank Bruno).

9. Tommy Burns-Had the distinction of being the man to give up the heavyweight championship to the first black heavyweight champion in history and change the sport forever.

8. Max Schmeling-While nothing he did as champion stands out, his win and loss to Louis helped set and destroy a symbol of Nazi power.

7. Rocky Marciano-retired undefeated and was the last white American to be the undisputed champ. His name is synonymous with the heavyweight title.

6. John L. Sullivan-The first gloved champion and a certified star of his era. Everyone knew who the Boston string boy was.

5. Joe Louis-His win over Schmeling was a crushing defeat to Nazi propaganda and his patriotic devotion made him loved by blacks and whites alike during a turbulent time in the countries history.

4. Mike Tyson-His star burned so bright everybody in the world knew his name and stopped to watch him fight. They also stopped to watch his tragedies and turbulent life as if it were a car wreck.

3. Jack Johnson-The first black heavyweight champion and its most despised during his reign. So hated that white America actively pursued a "white hope" to wipe the golden smile of his face.

2. Muhammad Ali-Never had a fighter gone from being so disliked to so beloved. His stance on Vietnam brought a surreal amount of disdain for Ali. But his first loss to Frazier proved his conviction and courage so much the masses got behind him. He went from one end of the spectrum to the other and did it with flair not seen before or since.

1. Jack Dempsey-No fighter was ever so revered in their era. Never did so many people flock to see one man fight. So popular was Dempsey that his name alone conjures up images of the roaring twenties.

It's a difficult compilation but i think James J Corbett deserves a mention as being the first scientific pugulist. He was also the first in a rare breed of socially cultured fighters, to be revered by all the classes.

I may be inclined to put Jack Johnson at the top as he really did rock the boat. If he was told not to do something, he'd go out and do it twice. When you consider the era he fought in, the social impact of his behaviour must have been electric.

Max Schmeling is a great inclusion.. He was put in an absolutely awful situation by Hitler but managed to conduct himself impeccably throughout the war. He was also a great humanitarian who took care of many poor people including his old mate Joe Louis who fell upon hard times after retiring.

Just one other thing, shouldn't no 10 be Bob Fitzsimmons?

[drade]

I don't think any of todays heavyweights have the impact they would have had before pay per view. The past few decades have seen a decline in the social impact boxers have. For example would they recognize Lennox Lewis in France, Italy, Spain or Germany? They would sure recognize David Beckham and he isn't nearly as good in football as Lennox was in boxing.

[joseph5620]

I've never done a list or even seen one like this before, but who are your top 10 heavies based on social impact, good or bad? Explain your choices please.

Choices were getting thin towards the bottom so I may have been reaching.

10. Lennox Lewis-The first British heavyweight to hold the title and be known as a champion by the world and not just the Brits (see Frank Bruno).

9. Tommy Burns-Had the distinction of being the man to give up the heavyweight championship to the first black heavyweight champion in history and change the sport forever.

8. Max Schmeling-While nothing he did as champion stands out, his win and loss to Louis helped set and destroy a symbol of Nazi power.

7. Rocky Marciano-retired undefeated and was the last white American to be the undisputed champ. His name is synonymous with the heavyweight title.

6. John L. Sullivan-The first gloved champion and a certified star of his era. Everyone knew who the Boston string boy was.

5. Joe Louis-His win over Schmeling was a crushing defeat to Nazi propaganda and his patriotic devotion made him loved by blacks and whites alike during a turbulent time in the countries history.

4. Mike Tyson-His star burned so bright everybody in the world knew his name and stopped to watch him fight. They also stopped to watch his tragedies and turbulent life as if it were a car wreck.

3. Jack Johnson-The first black heavyweight champion and its most despised during his reign. So hated that white America actively pursued a "white hope" to wipe the golden smile of his face.

2. Muhammad Ali-Never had a fighter gone from being so disliked to so beloved. His stance on Vietnam brought a surreal amount of disdain for Ali. But his first loss to Frazier proved his conviction and courage so much the masses got behind him. He went from one end of the spectrum to the other and did it with flair not seen before or since.

1. Jack Dempsey-No fighter was ever so revered in their era. Never did so many people flock to see one man fight. So popular was Dempsey that his name alone conjures up images of the roaring twenties.

I would put Ali over any of the other fighters. His impact was/is not limited to the US. It's international. None of the other fighters have/had that that type of social impact

[Miburo]

Dempsey has sort of been lost in the mists of time, along with everyone else from that era other than Babe Ruth.

[RubenSonny]

I would put Ali over any of the other fighters. His impact was/is not limited to the US. It's international. None of the other fighters have/had that that type of social impact

Thats very true and a good point, in Nigeria everyone knows who Ali is, one of the most famous people of all time.

[Barn]

1. Jack Johnson - Pretty much disobeyed everything he was told to do when the sport of boxing was in the hands of the whiteman, Jack Johnson smiled and did as he pleased. Causing many to hate him. He was also involved in on of the biggest fights of public intrest vs Jeffries

2. Muhammad Ali - Even casual fans know the name, he stood up for his religous and moral views and battled a whole country and proceeded to win, gaining much support and also much hate.

3. Jack Dempsey - One of the most popular Champions ever as proved by the gate money.

4. John L. Sullivan - The King of the Bare Knuckle era. Everyone knew Sullivan.

5. Joe Louis - The second Schmeling fight helped diminish the Nazi parties rants on Aryan superiority but, also got the nation joined together in support for a black-man in a fight. A feat never seen before. He helped break-down the first racial barriers and even helped troop morale in the World Wars. He was considered a true American hero.

6. Mike Tyson - Iron Mike is another fighter who all casual fans know. Involved in his fair share of controversy and his style of fighting and path of destruction helped bring many new casual fans into the sport.

7. Jim Jeffries - Involved in the Mega-fight with Jack Johnson as stated earlier.

8. Rocky Marciano - The only Champion who finished undefeated and is was extremely popular in his time and today.

9. Max Schmeling - Got destroyed in one of the biggest fights in Heavyweight history which meant a lot in current affairs.

10. Sam Langford - More to do with how well known he was, his destructive power, the pure legend of the "Tar Baby" and the controversy involving Johnson etc.

[JAB5239]

No arguments for George Foreman? He went from a surly intimadator to a burger eating satire of his old self as well as being the face and spokesman of his lean, mean grilling machine.