Heavyweight who fought the best comp in the division.... Top 5

[billeau2]

Go back as long as Figg, heck, for those who can? Include the ancient Greeks! Up until Tomorrow/beyond.... A Cajun lad with a 50 50 record against nobody in particular, fights for a championship against a well matched opponent... I like Cajuns, married to one... But thats some alphabet soup extrodinaire!

What heavyweight fighter fought against the most awesome competition. Im tempted to discount any seventies heavyweights because most will automatically put them number one, and for good reason. So with that in mind lets use guys who won a championship, and lets talk about against whom they won it!

Off the top of my pinhead (not much on a pinhead ya know...)

1) Ali This is obvious

2)Gene Tunney, Dempsey, Battling Levinsky, Grebb, Tommy Lougren, Carpentier, Gibbons, Johhny Risko, Heeney... I mean the fighting marine indeed! and fighting Greb 3 times is kind of like going through a tree shredder (Fargo)... 1 time.

3) Lennox Lewis. Fought the best of his time, even if not at their best (Tyson). Fought the biggest threats (Morrison, Tua, Golota, Briggs, Golota, KLitsko, Razor Ruddock). Took on opponents percieved as dangerous, even avoiding a mandatory to do so (brownie points or that one!) Michael Grant instead of Jawney, the no hit Ruiz... Stoney, Ruiz's corner man threw more punches than Jawney did during an average bought. Dangerous opponents like Mccall and Rahman were not ducked (maybe they should have been?)

4) Holyfield. Bowe, Lewis, Moorer, Toney, Foreman the second coming... and Holy fought at the apex before becoming a heavyweight.

5) I have to think on this one.

[GhostofDempsey]

Lewis

Ali

Foreman

Holyfield

Chuvalo deserves a mention even though he fell short of beating the best, he certainly racked up quite a resume

[billeau2]

Lewis

Ali

Foreman

Holyfield

Chuvalo deserves a mention even though he fell short of beating the best, he certainly racked up quite a resume

People do not realize how many quality fighters Lewis fought...

[GhostofDempsey]

People do not realize how many quality fighters Lewis fought...

He fought everyone who was there and never ducked an opponent. Bowe ducked him though. Lewis also avenged his only two losses with knockout wins. Sign of a true champion who can come back strong from KO losses and win.

[Bundana]

No love for Joe Louis? Schmeling, Sharkey, Carnera, Baer, Braddock, Walcott, Charles, Marciano, Lewis, Conn, Bivins... with the exception of Carnera, all HOFers.

[GhostofDempsey]

No love for Joe Louis? Schmeling, Sharkey, Carnera, Baer, Braddock, Walcott, Charles, Marciano, Lewis, Conn, Bivins... with the exception of Carnera, all HOFers.

I love Joe, but Sharkey was washed up and it was his last fight, Carnera, Baer and Braddock were never that great IMHO. But he certainly deserves to be in consideration here. He fought whoever they put in front of him.

[Willie Pep 229]

I love Joe, but Sharkey was washed up and it was his last fight, Carnera, Baer and Braddock were never that great IMHO. But he certainly deserves to be in consideration here. He fought whoever they put in front of him.

Yea all true but another way to say it Joe Louis is the only champion to ever stop the fight previous HW champions. That's quite a run and deserves a nod for fighting what was the best of his time. No duck in Louis.

Also when you talk about Lewis there are only two undisputed HW champions on his resume and one was past it (Tyson) and the other still learning (the Ukrainian guy.)

But truth be told I agree with yours and Bill's list, just wanted to throw in an argument for Joe.

[Willow The Wisp]

I like the Premise. I'll bite at this.


One: Muhammad Ali: In a league of his own in this regard.

Two: James J. Jeffries: Hank Griffin (twice), Gus Ruhlin (twice), Joe Choynski, Joe Goddard, Peter Jackson, Mexican Pete Everett, Sailor Tom Sharkey (twice), Bob Armstrong, Bob Fitzsimmons (twice), James J. Corbett (twice), Joe Kennedy, Jack Munroe. - Stellar collection, the highest medium opponent quality level of any modern HWC. Quality over quantity.

Three: Jack Dempsey: Joe Bonds, "Agile" Andre Anderson, John Lester Johnson, Fireman Jim Flynn (twice), Willie Meehan (x4), Charlie "Motorman" Miller, Bob McAllister, Ed "Gunboat" Smith (twice), Carl Morris (twice), Homer Smith, Bill Brennan (twice), Billy Miske (x3), Arthur Perkey, "Cowboy" Tom McCarthy, Bob Devere, Porkey Dan Flynn (twice), Fred Fulton, Battling Levinski, Jess Willard, Georges Carpentier, Tommy Gibbins, Luis Firpo, Jack Sharkey, Gene Tunney (twice). - Hard to beat collection. People forget that Dempsey did much of his work before winning the title. As champion, he made more money per fight than Red Grange, Bobby Jones, Bill Tilden, Babe Ruth and Jim Thorpe would earn in their combinded lifetimes; so the hunger was lacking after awhile.


Four: Joe Louis: Buck Everett, Al Delaney, Charley Massera, Lee Ramage (twice), Patsy Perroni, Donald Red Barry, Roy Lazer, Primo Carnera, King Levinski, Max Baer, Paulino Uzcudun, Charley Retzlaff, Max Schmeling (twice), Jack Sharkey, Al Ettore, Bob Pastor (twice), Jim Braddock, Tommy Farr, Nathan Mann, Harry Thomas, John Henry Lewis, Jack Roper, "Two Ton" Tony Galento, Arturo Godoy (twice), Johnny Paycheck, Al McCoy, Red Burman, Gus Darazio, "Skysc****r" Abe Simon (twice), Tony Musto, Buddy Bear (twice), Billy Conn (Twice), Lou Nova, Tami Mauriello, Jersey Joe Walcott (twice), Ezzard Charles, César Brion, Omelio Agramonte, Freddie Beshore, Lee Savold, Jimmy Bivins, Rocky Marciano. - Bum of the Month club was a reference to how easy the Bomber made it look. 14 fights vs. Hall of famers in there. By contrast, Mike Tyson Fought only 5, winning just 2.



And remember kids, if you can’t talk a bit about the fighter being listed, or you discover in a moment of enlightenment that you're supporting IN ANY WAY your pushback with assumptions; stop! That **** kills brain cells, and I don't engage that dialog. And be careful interpreting resources like BoxRec (to which I am a research contributer). For the benefit of younger fans, Randy Couture was a 19 - 11 fighter and B.J. Penn could only manage 16 - 14 - 2. But they are two of the greatest ever.

[Willie Pep 229]

I like the Premise. I'll bite at this.


One: Muhammad Ali: In a league of his own in this regard.

Two: James J. Jeffries: Hank Griffin (twice), Gus Ruhlin (twice), Joe Choynski, Joe Goddard, Peter Jackson, Mexican Pete Everett, Sailor Tom Sharkey (twice), Bob Armstrong, Bob Fitzsimmons (twice), James J. Corbett (twice), Joe Kennedy, Jack Munroe. - Stellar collection, the highest medium opponent quality level of any modern HWC. Quality over quantity.

Three: Jack Dempsey: Joe Bonds, "Agile" Andre Anderson, John Lester Johnson, Fireman Jim Flynn (twice), Willie Meehan (x4), Charlie "Motorman" Miller, Bob McAllister, Ed "Gunboat" Smith (twice), Carl Morris (twice), Homer Smith, Bill Brennan (twice), Billy Miske (x3), Arthur Perkey, "Cowboy" Tom McCarthy, Bob Devere, Porkey Dan Flynn (twice), Fred Fulton, Battling Levinski, Jess Willard, Georges Carpentier, Tommy Gibbins, Luis Firpo, Jack Sharkey, Gene Tunney (twice). - Hard to beat collection. People forget that Dempsey did much of his work before winning the title. As champion, he made more money per fight than Red Grange, Bobby Jones, Bill Tilden, Babe Ruth and Jim Thorpe would earn in their combinded lifetimes; so the hunger was lacking after awhile.


Four: Joe Louis: Buck Everett, Al Delaney, Charley Massera, Lee Ramage (twice), Patsy Perroni, Donald Red Barry, Roy Lazer, Primo Carnera, King Levinski, Max Baer, Paulino Uzcudun, Charley Retzlaff, Max Schmeling (twice), Jack Sharkey, Al Ettore, Bob Pastor (twice), Jim Braddock, Tommy Farr, Nathan Mann, Harry Thomas, John Henry Lewis, Jack Roper, "Two Ton" Tony Galento, Arturo Godoy (twice), Johnny Paycheck, Al McCoy, Red Burman, Gus Darazio, "Skysc****r" Abe Simon (twice), Tony Musto, Buddy Bear (twice), Billy Conn (Twice), Lou Nova, Tami Mauriello, Jersey Joe Walcott (twice), Ezzard Charles, César Brion, Omelio Agramonte, Freddie Beshore, Lee Savold, Jimmy Bivins, Rocky Marciano. - Bum of the Month club was a reference to how easy the Bomber made it look. 14 fights vs. Hall of famers in there. By contrast, Mike Tyson Fought only 5, winning just 2.



And remember kids, if you can’t talk a bit about the fighter being listed, or you discover in a moment of enlightenment that you're supporting IN ANY WAY your pushback with assumptions; stop! That **** kills brain cells, and I don't engage that dialog. And be careful interpreting resources like BoxRec (to which I am a research contributer). For the benefit of younger fans, Randy Couture was a 19 - 11 fighter and B.J. Penn could only manage 16 - 14 - 2. But they are two of the greatest ever.

True but Dempsey made that over eight fights; for the first five Kearns was taking 50%.

Ruth was making top baseball salaries (obviously diminished by the reserve clause) from 1918 to 1932.

Then again to go along with how much money was in boxing . . . 1924 Wills (a negro) made 125K for one fight, Firpo (before his manger and others robbed him of course). That same season Ruth only made < 60K.

That boxers made that kind of money wasn't lost on Babe Ruth who finally held out for part of the 1930 season until they met his 80K demand.

But I agree in the big picture, Dempsey had a grueling road to the top and after Firpo he was exhausted and I think truly wanted to find a different way to make money, only returning for Tunney because the money was just too big, 800K plus when it all washed out.

P.S. I don t think Bobby Jones ever made any money always insisting to compete as an amateur. I could be wrong.

[Anthony342]

I like the Premise. I'll bite at this.


One: Muhammad Ali: In a league of his own in this regard.

Two: James J. Jeffries: Hank Griffin (twice), Gus Ruhlin (twice), Joe Choynski, Joe Goddard, Peter Jackson, Mexican Pete Everett, Sailor Tom Sharkey (twice), Bob Armstrong, Bob Fitzsimmons (twice), James J. Corbett (twice), Joe Kennedy, Jack Munroe. - Stellar collection, the highest medium opponent quality level of any modern HWC. Quality over quantity.

Three: Jack Dempsey: Joe Bonds, "Agile" Andre Anderson, John Lester Johnson, Fireman Jim Flynn (twice), Willie Meehan (x4), Charlie "Motorman" Miller, Bob McAllister, Ed "Gunboat" Smith (twice), Carl Morris (twice), Homer Smith, Bill Brennan (twice), Billy Miske (x3), Arthur Perkey, "Cowboy" Tom McCarthy, Bob Devere, Porkey Dan Flynn (twice), Fred Fulton, Battling Levinski, Jess Willard, Georges Carpentier, Tommy Gibbins, Luis Firpo, Jack Sharkey, Gene Tunney (twice). - Hard to beat collection. People forget that Dempsey did much of his work before winning the title. As champion, he made more money per fight than Red Grange, Bobby Jones, Bill Tilden, Babe Ruth and Jim Thorpe would earn in their combinded lifetimes; so the hunger was lacking after awhile.


Four: Joe Louis: Buck Everett, Al Delaney, Charley Massera, Lee Ramage (twice), Patsy Perroni, Donald Red Barry, Roy Lazer, Primo Carnera, King Levinski, Max Baer, Paulino Uzcudun, Charley Retzlaff, Max Schmeling (twice), Jack Sharkey, Al Ettore, Bob Pastor (twice), Jim Braddock, Tommy Farr, Nathan Mann, Harry Thomas, John Henry Lewis, Jack Roper, "Two Ton" Tony Galento, Arturo Godoy (twice), Johnny Paycheck, Al McCoy, Red Burman, Gus Darazio, "Skysc****r" Abe Simon (twice), Tony Musto, Buddy Bear (twice), Billy Conn (Twice), Lou Nova, Tami Mauriello, Jersey Joe Walcott (twice), Ezzard Charles, César Brion, Omelio Agramonte, Freddie Beshore, Lee Savold, Jimmy Bivins, Rocky Marciano. - Bum of the Month club was a reference to how easy the Bomber made it look. 14 fights vs. Hall of famers in there. By contrast, Mike Tyson Fought only 5, winning just 2.



And remember kids, if you can’t talk a bit about the fighter being listed, or you discover in a moment of enlightenment that you're supporting IN ANY WAY your pushback with assumptions; stop! That **** kills brain cells, and I don't engage that dialog. And be careful interpreting resources like BoxRec (to which I am a research contributer). For the benefit of younger fans, Randy Couture was a 19 - 11 fighter and B.J. Penn could only manage 16 - 14 - 2. But they are two of the greatest ever.

Good point about records. One must also look at the names and the quality of the opposition faced and beaten.