ATGs who retired on top?

[crold1]

This is not true. Joe fought most of his best opponents outside of Wales.

Hopkins in Las Vegas
Mario Veit in Germany
Will Mcintire in Denmark
Bika and Lacy in Manchester
RJJ in Madison Square Garden

Ottke would have 3 losses on his record if he went half the places Calzaghe went. Im not even sure if Ottke owns a passport?

Three losses? Nice of you to low end it. Some of the scoring and officiating in Ottke fights was credibility threatening to the sport. Ottke wasn't the first to get such treatment (for instance, look at the scoring of JCC-Randall I to see how much it took to beat Chavez on points), but Ottke was purely a regional creation. He could never have traveled well.

Joe had a couple close fights his whole career and the arguments that he didn't deserve the nods (Reid and Hopkins) are usually taste items. Ottke was not, at all, a bad pro. I think it is unfortunate that the chicanery surrounding a LOT of his career has left many seeing him that way but he, in no way, should be seen as anything close to great. Only if his fights are taken purely on paper could that occur.

[Great John L]

I wouldn't say that Liston retired "on top". He was humiliated by Ali and never again received a title shot or taken seriously, and was Ko'ed by Martin. Jim Jeffries retired as King of the Heavyweights in the early 1900's but he came back and got beaten down by Jack Johnson, so his spot isn't as secured as the rest. Tunney and Rocky did well in their refusal to give in to comebacks. There really haven't been many heavyweights who retired on top. Certainly many had the potential. Joe Louis after beating Walcott by KO in 11 rounds in 1948. Muhammad Ali after beating Leon Spinks and becoming 3 time World Heavyweight Champion.

[Kid McCoy]

So unfair to be a boxer with such a poor chin. Look at him stumbling around, as you can see his legs are gone as he falls forward into the referee and even as he is held by the ref his legs continue to buckle. You should be thanking that referee, as he may have saved Lewis from taking more unnecessary punishment.

I bet Don King did afterwards.

[CarlosG815]

I bet Don King did afterwards.

And I doubt Lennox did, as he is never able to give anybody credit for any good they do.

[Scott9945]

On a scale of poor, average, good - please rate Lennox Lewis.

Footwork - Poor
Speed - Poor
Power - Average
Chin - Poor
Movement - Poor
Defense - Average
Overall athletic ability - Poor
Boxing Skills - Average

Footwork - Average
Speed - Average
Power - Good
Chin - Average
Movement - Poor
Defense - Average
Overall athletic ability - Average
Boxing Skills - Good

[Kid McCoy]

And I doubt Lennox did, as he is never able to give anybody credit for any good they do.

And I doubt Mike Weaver thanked Joey Curtis for his efforts. I bet King did though. I wonder if Larry Holmes thanked Rudy Ortega for letting him continue against Snipes when he stumbled head first into the turnbuckle.

[Scott9945]

Calzaghe was similar to Ottke in that he only fought in his back yard and against class D opponents as well as ducking Glen Johnson (thrice), Ottke & Mickelcheski

How could Calzahe have possibly ducked Michalczewski if they never even fought in the same weight class?

[joseph5620]

Based on outcome, quality of opponent, and the age they retired.

Here is how I rank the heavyweights...

1. Lennox Lewis: Age 37, WBC/IBO holder who defeated Prime champ of next era.

2. GeneTunney: Age 31, defeated Jack Dempsey

3. Sonny Liston: Age 38, TKO over Wepner

4. George Foreman: Age 48, controversial loss to prime Briggs

5. Rocky Marciano: Age 32, KO'd a 40 year old Archie Moore.

Eder Jofre definitely retired on top.

[NChristo]

Eder Jofre definitely retired on top.

I'm a massive fan of Jofre but he didn't retire on "top", he was stripped of his Featherweight title for not defending against Marcano after the Saldivar fight then stopped fighting for 2 years where he came back and only exclusively fought in Sao Paulo against some 1 or 2 good names who weren't really ranked and some club fighters.

[joseph5620]

I'm a massive fan of Jofre but he didn't retire on "top", he was stripped of his Featherweight title for not defending against Marcano after the Saldivar fight then stopped fighting for 2 years where he came back and only exclusively fought in Sao Paulo against some 1 or 2 good names who weren't really ranked and some club fighters.

Technically you're correct. But my thinking is that he retired without suffering any humiliating defeats and went out on his terms. He also didn't lose his title in the ring. To me he went out on top with his dignity.