My Top Ten Greatest Heavyweight Champs Of All Time!

[LondonRingRules]

Why is Tyson being given full credit for knocking out a far past his prime Larry Holmes?

I guess then McBride gets his credit for making the ferocious Mike Tyson quit on his stool...

** Boys, when are we gonna play some good ol' country fastball around. These softball lobs are gonna ruin my big league timing!

Holmes took 3 yrs off after Tyson and cameback at 42 to contend at the highest levels, only losing to 3 beltholders in title fights, retiring at age 53 with a record of 24-3 over 11 yrs. Funny how Holmes was good enough to compete for titles in his mid 40s without being KOed, yet he couldn't handle the pressure of young Tyson. Nobody expects to see Tyson in the ring at age 53 or even 43. The only fights Holmes ever lost in his entire career was 6 title fights and 4 of those losses were against HOFers and only one of those HOFers KOed Holmes.

Tyson has been losing non title fights against non HOFers the past few years and ain't even hit his 40s yet. He's 14-6 over the past 15 yrs since he first signed with King and his stooge trainers after going 36-0 with his old team. It's apples, pineapples, and oranges boys, not rocket science. Tyson under his old management and old team could probably KO any fighter who ever lived if not take a lopsided decision from him.

I don't care if you believe it or not. Facts are that no fighter, no heavy in history was more dominant to age 22 than Tyson. If he didn't win by early KO which was almost always, it was by lopsided decision. Moreover, he gave up height and reach in every fight he was in.

[Imira]

You have a solid argument. But the fact also remains that Holmes was unable to defeat any fighter of note after his 3 year layoff. As long as he fought outside of top-ten competition, he met with success.

Not taking away from Tyson, but his KO of past prime Holmes isn't exactly the biggest victory of his career.

[LondonRingRules]

You have a solid argument. But the fact also remains that Holmes was unable to defeat any fighter of note after his 3 year layoff. As long as he fought outside of top-ten competition, he met with success.

Not taking away from Tyson, but his KO of past prime Holmes isn't exactly the biggest victory of his career.

Holmes gave Mercer a boxing lesson and was the first to defeat him. That gave him his shot against Holy. Mercer was a top 10 contender and remained there for some time. Holmes also lost a close decision to McCall, the same McCall that knocked Lewis into LaLaLand. Little Mike KOed big Larry so bad he was crying for help to get up because he was paralyzed.

[Brassangel]

Larry Holmes had defeated (a much aged) Muhammad Ali in 1980, and then took a beating to Tyson in the late 80's. He wasn't horrendously old as far as boxers go. He even said, before his fight with Tyson, "...this punk is a son of a b****; he hasn't faced any competition, and I'm gonna school him...". Holmes even came out and played it like Ali; taunting Tyson, dancing around the ring, trying to use his reach and his jab. Well, we all know how it finished. Afterwards, Holmes was quoted as saying, "..Mike Tyson is a great champion..". During an interview in the 80's with Muhammad Ali, the Greatest said, "..he's [Tyson] a fighter that I don't think I could have handled..". There's a lot of respect shown for this guy, whose career later became a joke. His antics aside, Mike Tyson deserves a spot on anyone's top ten list, if two of the greatest had such respect for him.

I would also like to second the fact that pre-King he was 36-0, post King he was 14-6. Even so, part of that is Mike's fault..

1. Muhammad Ali (give him 3 fights against anyone and he'll win at least 2)
2. Joe Louis (c'mon; 11+ years as champ)
3. George Foreman (84 fights; possibly the hardest hitter ever)
4. Sonny Liston (often underrated due to the Ali fights)
5. Rocky Marciano (49-0 says enough)
6. Larry Holmes (incredible longevity)
7. Joe Frazier (a true warrior, through and through)
8. Mike Tyson (the most prolific/explosive puncher in history)
9. Lennox Lewis (should be in a weight class of his own; defeated Holyfield and Tyson when they were WELL beyond their years)
10. Jim Jefferies (can't forget the classics)

***NOTE***I didn't put Jack Dempsey on here because after doing a profile research paper on him, I found some disturbing information which proved that, on multiple occassions, he coated his hand wraps in plaster to get and edge against heavier opponents.

[BSD]

Larry Holmes had defeated (a much aged) Muhammad Ali in 1980, and then took a beating to Tyson in the late 80's. He wasn't horrendously old as far as boxers go. He even said, before his fight with Tyson, "...this punk is a son of a b****; he hasn't faced any competition, and I'm gonna school him...". Holmes even came out and played it like Ali; taunting Tyson, dancing around the ring, trying to use his reach and his jab. Well, we all know how it finished. Afterwards, Holmes was quoted as saying, "..Mike Tyson is a great champion..". During an interview in the 80's with Muhammad Ali, the Greatest said, "..he's [Tyson] a fighter that I don't think I could have handled..". There's a lot of respect shown for this guy, whose career later became a joke. His antics aside, Mike Tyson deserves a spot on anyone's top ten list, if two of the greatest had such respect for him.

I would also like to second the fact that pre-King he was 36-0, post King he was 14-6. Even so, part of that is Mike's fault..

1. Muhammad Ali (give him 3 fights against anyone and he'll win at least 2)
2. Joe Louis (c'mon; 11+ years as champ)
3. George Foreman (84 fights; possibly the hardest hitter ever)
4. Sonny Liston (often underrated due to the Ali fights)
5. Rocky Marciano (49-0 says enough)
6. Larry Holmes (incredible longevity)
7. Joe Frazier (a true warrior, through and through)
8. Mike Tyson (the most prolific/explosive puncher in history)
9. Lennox Lewis (should be in a weight class of his own; defeated Holyfield and Tyson when they were WELL beyond their years)
10. Jim Jefferies (can't forget the classics)

***NOTE***I didn't put Jack Dempsey on here because after doing a profile research paper on him, I found some disturbing information which proved that, on multiple occassions, he coated his hand wraps in plaster to get and edge against heavier opponents.

Lewis would not be on my list. He's a ***** for retiring when everyone wanted to see him in a rematch with Vitali. A guy that's too scared to step in the ring wouldn't be in my top 20.

[leff]

Larry Holmes had defeated (a much aged) Muhammad Ali in 1980, and then took a beating to Tyson in the late 80's. He wasn't horrendously old as far as boxers go. He even said, before his fight with Tyson, "...this punk is a son of a b****; he hasn't faced any competition, and I'm gonna school him...". Holmes even came out and played it like Ali; taunting Tyson, dancing around the ring, trying to use his reach and his jab. Well, we all know how it finished. Afterwards, Holmes was quoted as saying, "..Mike Tyson is a great champion..". During an interview in the 80's with Muhammad Ali, the Greatest said, "..he's [Tyson] a fighter that I don't think I could have handled..". There's a lot of respect shown for this guy, whose career later became a joke. His antics aside, Mike Tyson deserves a spot on anyone's top ten list, if two of the greatest had such respect for him.

I would also like to second the fact that pre-King he was 36-0, post King he was 14-6. Even so, part of that is Mike's fault..

1. Muhammad Ali (give him 3 fights against anyone and he'll win at least 2)
2. Joe Louis (c'mon; 11+ years as champ)
3. George Foreman (84 fights; possibly the hardest hitter ever)
4. Sonny Liston (often underrated due to the Ali fights)
5. Rocky Marciano (49-0 says enough)
6. Larry Holmes (incredible longevity)
7. Joe Frazier (a true warrior, through and through)
8. Mike Tyson (the most prolific/explosive puncher in history)
9. Lennox Lewis (should be in a weight class of his own; defeated Holyfield and Tyson when they were WELL beyond their years)
10. Jim Jefferies (can't forget the classics)

***NOTE***I didn't put Jack Dempsey on here because after doing a profile research paper on him, I found some disturbing information which proved that, on multiple occassions, he coated his hand wraps in plaster to get and edge against heavier opponents.

hmmmm

i would rank lewis and holy over tyson, put tunnet in instead off jeffries, and where is dempsey?

apart from that the list is decent

[butterfly1964]

i'll change some of that.

1) Muhammad Ali
2) Sonny Liston
3) Larry Holmes
4) George Foreman
5) Joe Frazier
6) Mike Tyson
7) Jack Johnson
8) Joe Louis
9) Evander Holyfield
10) Lennox Lewis

i'll change some of that again!

1) Muhammad Ali
2) Sonny Liston
3) Larry Holmes
4) George Foreman
5) Joe Frazier
6) Mike Tyson
7) Joe Louis
8) Jack Johnson
9) Evander Holyfield
10) Lennox Lewis

[leff]

i'll change some of that again!

1) Muhammad Ali
2) Sonny Liston
3) Larry Holmes
4) George Foreman
5) Joe Frazier
6) Mike Tyson
7) Joe Louis
8) Jack Johnson
9) Evander Holyfield
10) Lennox Lewis

how bout dempsey and marciano?

[Brassangel]

If you read that big part that said ***NOTE*** I explained why I didn't put Dempsey. Don't just read the list; read the post.

Furthermore, I put Lennox Lewis on there because he was 6'5", over 240 pounds, and in shape; he would have been tough in any era. I didn't put him above Tyson because it took him more than 8 rounds to beat a 36-37 year old Tyson who didn't like boxing anymore. Holyfield got the belt because of Tyson's collapse. I will concede, however, that Holyfield was tough. He was an excellent counterpuncher. I'm a little tired right now, so I apologize for the lack of detail in this argument. Usually I'm a big poster.

[butterfly1964]

how bout dempsey and marciano?

they're 11 and 12, respectively.