Top 10 Heavies from best to worst

[-CANE-]

The thing is, I've noticed, is a lot of Tyson defenders point to Homes to justify Tyson's level of competition. So who were the weak sisters?

1. Earnie Shavers (beaten twice by Holmes) - Would have beaten any Tyson
Would have beaten every single Tyson opponent up till the Ruddock fights.

2. Gerry Cooney (beaten by Holmes) - Same as Shavers.

3. Mike Weaver (beaten by Holmes) - Better than every prime Tyson
opponent other than Ruddock and Tucker.

4. Ken Norton (beaten by Holmes) - Even at that stage of his career would
probably have beaten most of Tyson's opponents with the exceptions of
Tucker, Rudduck, Bruno, and Thomas.

5. David Bey (beaten by Holmes) - Decent fighter who would probably have
beaten all but the same as Norton.

6. Tim Witherspoon (beaten by Holmes) - A man I believe WOULD have
Tyson had they fought.

So I really don't see what the gripe about Larry's record is. It stacks up against just about everyone's except Ali's, who has the most star studded record there is for a Heavyweight.

Poet

It makes me laugh really poet. Holmes is slagged off for fighting weak opposition and Tyson is lauded for his strong competition and the manner in which he defeated them. But Holmes beat a younger stronger and better versions of the same fighters. Bonecrusher Smith,Trevor Berbick,Carl Williams,Marvis Frazier and Michael Spinks (Well he won both Spinks fights in my eyes and in others he won the second and the first was debatable).

[Hawkins]

It makes me laugh really poet. Holmes is slagged off for fighting weak opposition and Tyson is lauded for his strong competition and the manner in which he defeated them. But Holmes beat a younger stronger and better versions of the same fighters. Bonecrusher Smith,Trevor Berbick,Carl Williams,Marvis Frazier and Michael Spinks (Well he won both Spinks fights in my eyes and in others he won the second and the first was debatable).

It still wouldn't have mattered. He could have fought every single contender of the period and he would still be forgotten by most people. He was one of the most active heavyweight champions in recent memory.

So what he didn't fight Pinklon Thomas? He fought many guys that were better than Thomas and defeated them. Larry Holmes is like Ezzard Charles in the aspect that he followed in the footsteps of one of the greats and is truly cast aside in the eyes of most.

When you really look at it Larry is probably lucky he got some of the fights he did cosidering Don King had such an iron grip on the division during the decade.

[-CANE-]

It still wouldn't have mattered. He could have fought every single contender of the period and he would still be forgotten by most people. He was one of the most active heavyweight champions in recent memory.

So what he didn't fight Pinklon Thomas? He fought many guys that were better than Thomas and defeated them. Larry Holmes is like Ezzard Charles in the aspect that he followed in the footsteps of one of the greats and is truly cast aside in the eyes of most.

When you really look at it Larry is probably lucky he got some of the fights he did cosidering Don King had such an iron grip on the division during the decade.

Ezzard Charles is sort of like Larry Holmes and Evander Holyfield rolled into one. He is cast aside like Holmes was because like you said he followed one of the greatest greats, he beat a lot of good fighters as well, but is also similar to Holyfield in he had great skills and stepped up from the lower weight division and beat many fighters he shouldn't of.

Very underated with great skills.

[Burning Desire]

Ezzard Charles is sort of like Larry Holmes and Evander Holyfield rolled into one. He is cast aside like Holmes was because like you said he followed one of the greatest greats, he beat a lot of good fighters as well, but is also similar to Holyfield in he had great skills and stepped up from the lower weight division and beat many fighters he shouldn't of.

Very underated with great skills.

Ezzard Charles was amazing he beat Archie Moore 5 times and also beat the most ducked fighter in history Charles Burley twice and was the only man to go 15 rounds with Marciano i think ??

[Hawkins]

Ezzard Charles was amazing he beat Archie Moore 5 times and also beat the most ducked fighter in history Charles Burley twice and was the only man to go 15 rounds with Marciano i think ??

Yeah you're right, Ezz was the only fighter to take Marciano to the 15 rd limit, however a few others took him to decision like Applegate, Lowry and LaStarza.

Ezzard Charles was truly great. Guys like him, Larry Holmes and to a degree Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield are cast in the shadows of those who came before and not appreciated for what they were. Because of that all they accomplished is held under a microscope and looked at in the most critical of lights.

[-CANE-]

Yeah you're right, Ezz was the only fighter to take Marciano to the 15 rd limit, however a few others took him to decision like Applegate, Lowry and LaStarza.

Ezzard Charles was truly great. Guys like him, Larry Holmes and to a degree Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield are cast in the shadows of those who came before and not appreciated for what they were. Because of that all they accomplished is held under a microscope and looked at in the most critical of lights.

How do you think Holmes,Lewis,Tyson and Holyfield will be viewed in 50 years time. I mean many people view Tyson as the greatest of these 4 fighters but that's because they grew up with him and he was so exciting in clearing up the division, but what about in 50 years time when people look back and weren't there at the time how will they view them. Will Holmes and Lewis be more appreciated and held in higher asteem than Tyson.

[Hawkins]

How do you think Holmes,Lewis,Tyson and Holyfield will be viewed in 50 years time. I mean many people view Tyson as the greatest of these 4 fighters but that's because they grew up with him and he was so exciting in clearing up the division, but what about in 50 years time when people look back and weren't there at the time how will they view them. Will Holmes and Lewis be more appreciated and held in higher asteem than Tyson.

I think Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield will gain alot more acceptance as top tier champions as time goes on and 'experts' continue to look at their contributions and accomplishments. Just look at Marciano...same thing happened to him.

Tyson, on the otherhand, will suffer in a historical sense I do believe. His career will continue to be picked apart by the experts but the thing is I believe they will see the good is outweighed by the bad. Because of that I think his legacy will suffer in the eyes of alot of historians and experts.

[Jim Jeffries]

How do you think Holmes,Lewis,Tyson and Holyfield will be viewed in 50 years time. I mean many people view Tyson as the greatest of these 4 fighters but that's because they grew up with him and he was so exciting in clearing up the division, but what about in 50 years time when people look back and weren't there at the time how will they view them. Will Holmes and Lewis be more appreciated and held in higher asteem than Tyson.

Hold on WHO thinks Tyson is greater than Holmes?

[Hawkins]

Hold on WHO thinks Tyson is greater than Holmes?

Look at some of these all-time lists on here man. I've seen some that have Tyson at #3, right behind Louis & Ali.

[StarshipTrooper]

Hold on WHO thinks Tyson is greater than Holmes?

LOL! Some people who post here think he's the best EVER and could take on the entire ATG list simulataniously and beat them all LOL! Of course they think he can walk on water too.....

Poet