Tyson, Ali and Foreman are the only truly great heavyweights of the last 50 years.

[Steak]

how can you not consider Holmes a truly great Heavyweight? thats nuts.
I would definitely(heh) consider Lennox Lewis one too.

[SBleeder]

And Tyson's opposition was no better than Holmes'. The truth is there have really been only two great eras in Heavyweight history: The mid-1960s through mid-1970s; and the 1990s. Most of the other eras lacked depth. The mid-1970s through the 1980s were subpar for Heavyweights much like the 1950s through mid-1960s were. The problem is that the past 10 years have been so truly aweful for Heavyweights that the 1980s are starting to seriously look good in comparison.

Poet

What exactly was so great about the 1990s?

[Sugarj]

What exactly was so great about the 1990s?

The 1990s is, for me the second best era for heavyweights after the 70s. Not just for worthy champions but also for sensationalism, controversy and romance.

The decade kicks off with a terrific fight in Douglas vs Tyson. There were plenty of other good heavyweight scraps too.

To be honest the best versions of Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis and Bowe that competed in this decade would certainly give any heavyweight in history a tough time. The Holyfield vs Bowe battles were superb!

You had the excellent (world class) comebacks of Foreman and Holmes, both had great fights with Holyfield. Plus Foreman winning the title. In fact, the less dominant champions like Moorer, Bruno and McCall or the better contenders like Morrison, Ruddock, Golota, Briggs and Mercer at least served up a bit of colour and a few entertaining fights too. The Golota vs Bowe fights and The Tyson vs Ruddock fights were terrific.

Bowe's meltdown, kidnapping etc, Holyfield's heart issues and Tyson's behaviour kept them all in the press. The Lewis vs McCall fights were strange but controversial.

Oh and I won at odds of 33:1 on the draw with Lewis vs Holyfield.

Great era!!

Only sadness was not seeing Lewis fight Bowe!

[BennyST]

Im not denying that Holmes, Lewis and Holyfield had good carrears. They just didnt achieve enough to be regarded as truly great like Tyson, Ali and Foreman.

Noone of Holmes, Lewis or Holyfield were close to unbeatable in their prime. The likes of Tyson, Ali and Foreman had that aura about them.

Like I said earlier what is a prime Holmes? The guy could easily have lost to Witherspoon and Norton but got gift decisons, was almost KOed by Shavers. Holyfield has a good resume but how consistent was he? For every great win theres a loss not too long away. Lewis was always vulnerable to a KO, he didnt just lose but got KTFO by Mccall and Rahman.

If you want to call those three fighters as great there needs to be a higher category for the likes of Tyson, Ali and Foreman.

Whether or not they all had that 'aura' about them, all three got beaten in their primes. Tyson and Foreman were knocked out...Tyson by a fighter not at all a great. Foreman was knocked out by Ali, and then later lost a decision to Jimmy Young. How is that unbeatable? Aura means jack **** if you are actually getting beaten.

Holmes was never beaten in his prime like that. Lewis avenged both his only losses by KO and beat what would become the next dominant HW champ for a decade. That's what a great does. Even when old, fat and out of shape they manage to beat the young, hungry, prime fighter that is giving them hell. He found a way to win a really hard fight against the next great HW. Only a great can do that.

Holmes, Lewis and Holyfield are better than Tyson I think. Anyway, having them ahead is perfectly fine but saying they (Ali, Tyson and Foreman) are so much greater that the others don't even compare and can't rate close to them as greats is crazy. Considering their accomplishments would could be easily argued as better, then it's a pretty bizarre statement.

[SBleeder]

The 1990s is, for me the second best era for heavyweights after the 70s. Not just for worthy champions but also for sensationalism, controversy and romance.

The decade kicks off with a terrific fight in Douglas vs Tyson. There were plenty of other good heavyweight scraps too.

To be honest the best versions of Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis and Bowe that competed in this decade would certainly give any heavyweight in history a tough time. The Holyfield vs Bowe battles were superb!

You had the excellent (world class) comebacks of Foreman and Holmes, both had great fights with Holyfield. Plus Foreman winning the title. In fact, the less dominant champions like Moorer, Bruno and McCall or the better contenders like Morrison, Ruddock, Golota, Briggs and Mercer at least served up a bit of colour and a few entertaining fights too. The Golota vs Bowe fights and The Tyson vs Ruddock fights were terrific.

Bowe's meltdown, kidnapping etc, Holyfield's heart issues and Tyson's behaviour kept them all in the press. The Lewis vs McCall fights were strange but controversial.

Oh and I won at odds of 33:1 on the draw with Lewis vs Holyfield.

Great era!!

Only sadness was not seeing Lewis fight Bowe!

Agree to disagree. I thought Tyson-Douglas was a boring one-sided beat-down; I've never seen and of Tyson's non-title pre-prison fights so perhaps his fights with Ruddock were as good as you say. In any event, none of the 90s heavyweights were nearly as captivating to me as anyone from even this decade.

[StarshipTrooper]

What exactly was so great about the 1990s?

The division had good depth and was strong at the top. The number of good Heavyweights during that time was unusually high. They don't need to be captivating fighters, just good fighters.

Poet

[Sugarj]

Agree to disagree. I thought Tyson-Douglas was a boring one-sided beat-down; I've never seen and of Tyson's non-title pre-prison fights so perhaps his fights with Ruddock were as good as you say. In any event, none of the 90s heavyweights were nearly as captivating to me as anyone from even this decade.

I listed Tyson vs Douglas for the sheer controversy, the knockdown and long count when Tyson did deck Douglas in round 8, 44:1 odds. Plus Douglas's boxing that night was a joy to watch and those last three rounds were very exciting.

I think you would enjoy the Tyson vs Ruddock fights. Tyson wasn't what he once was but still was impressive. Both guys took some serious leather. Ruddock hit the floor several times but always got up. These fights near as dammit finished Ruddock off at world level.

I'm suprised that you dont think the heavyweights of the last 10 years are anywhere near as captivating as those of the 90s. Heres a few thoughts, I found this lot very captivating:

In Mike Tyson you have a guy just out of prison for ****, those he didn't knock out got bits of their ear ripped off, their arms nearly broken or hit after the bell (in the case of Orlin Norris). Plus there was his extra curricular activities in the papers most weeks too! Dirty, but you couldn't take your eyes off the man.

In Evander Holyfield, you have this crazy, solid chinned guy who fought at least 10 superb fights in the decade. Foreman, Tyson 1, the Bowe fights, Holmes, Moorer 2, Lewis 2 jump to mind. Exciting is selling this guy short.

For five years of the decade Bowe was a superb heavyweight, his fights with Holyfield and Golota are classics and the guy was very entertaining out of the ring for quotes and misbehaviour!

The old grandparents Foreman and Holmes brought some real colour to the decade, as well as some excellent fights, esp with Holyfield, Moorer, Mercer.

Lennox Lewis may not have been exciting out of the ring, but no one can argue that his fights with Ruddock, Bruno, Golota, Mercer and Holyfield were exciting to watch.



Heavyweight boxing in the 90s transgressed the sport, great fights/fighters seemed to be forever in the news or on TV.


The noughties had its moments early on, watching the decline of Lewis. But to be honest the last few years hasn't been very exciting. Heavyweight boxing certainly hasn't transgressed the sport, in the news etc. The Klitschkos, should be global superstars based on dominance. But I'm pretty sure the average girl in the pub wouldn't have a clue who they are. What makes the guys in this decade so 'captivating' for you?

David Haye could have the potential for exciting fights. Who knows what we'll see this decade.