Ring Magazine's 20 Greatest Heavyweights (1998)

[Great John L]

What is your choice for No. 1 and No. 2?

Well my personal choice for 1 and 2 are Louis first, then Ali. I think Louis had more impact during his tiem politically and sociologically, and I also give him the nod due to his 25 defenses and 12 year reign. But it's a very cloe edge. If Ali was a 10 point fighter, Louis on my list would be a 10.5. Very close but I just give Louis a slightly higher rating.

I guess your right when you say Tunney's previous fights had nothing to do with the list, but I just think it's an extra plus to him as a fighter in general, not just at heavyweight or lightheavyweight.

[Barn]

Well my personal choice for 1 and 2 are Louis first, then Ali. I think Louis had more impact during his tiem politically and sociologically, and I also give him the nod due to his 25 defenses and 12 year reign. But it's a very cloe edge. If Ali was a 10 point fighter, Louis on my list would be a 10.5. Very close but I just give Louis a slightly higher rating.

I guess your right when you say Tunney's previous fights had nothing to do with the list, but I just think it's an extra plus to him as a fighter in general, not just at heavyweight or lightheavyweight.

Oh right I thought you were saying someone apart from those two was in your top 10, and I agree with you on the Louis stance.

[Scott9945]

Ahhh thanks don't know how i missed the title lol That would explain Holyfield being so high i guess.

Yes, all of the sudden after beating Tyson he went from being a "blown up cruiserweight" to Top 3 all time. I don't think I've ever seen anything like it.

[Hitman Hodgson]

I always think Tyson gets overrated in these lists, but I think his place in this list is about right. Foreman is too high, somewhere between 7 and 10 would be about right. I'd put Lewis at 3 behind the top 2.

[Barn]

I don't think Lewis' resume warrants a Top 5. I find you have Ali and Louis and the rest the order is pretty much acceptable in any order, no-one has an outstanding resume after that.

[Joeyzagz]

I don't think Lewis' resume warrants a Top 5. I find you have Ali and Louis and the rest the order is pretty much acceptable in any order, no-one has an outstanding resume after that.

My top 4 consists of boxers who defeated the top contemporaries of their era..

1. Ali (def Frazier/Foreman/Liston/Patterson)
2. Louis (def Baer/Schmelling/Walcott/Braddock/Sharkey/Carnera)
3. Lennox (def Bowe/Tyson/Holyfield/Klitschko)
4. Marciano (def Walcott/Charles/Moore/Louis)

5. Foreman

Foreman is the only member of my top 5 who didnt dominate his own era, but I give him HUGE points for winning a beltin a foreign era. No one else has done this.

[RubenSonny]

My top 4 consists of boxers who defeated the top contemporaries of their era..

1. Ali (def Frazier/Foreman/Liston/Patterson)
2. Louis (def Baer/Schmelling/Walcott/Braddock/Sharkey/Carnera)
3. Lennox (def Bowe/Tyson/Holyfield/Klitschko)
4. Marciano (def Walcott/Charles/Moore/Louis)

5. Foreman

Foreman is the only member of my top 5 who didnt dominate his own era, but I give him HUGE points for winning a beltin a foreign era. No one else has done this.

C'mon Lennox didn't defeat Bowe and Tyson was done, not to say Lewis isn't a top HW.

[BennyST]

My top 4 consists of boxers who defeated the top contemporaries of their era..

1. Ali (def Frazier/Foreman/Liston/Patterson)
2. Louis (def Baer/Schmelling/Walcott/Braddock/Sharkey/Carnera)
3. Lennox (def Bowe/Tyson/Holyfield/Klitschko)
4. Marciano (def Walcott/Charles/Moore/Louis)

5. Foreman

Foreman is the only member of my top 5 who didnt dominate his own era, but I give him HUGE points for winning a beltin a foreign era. No one else has done this.

Please don't say you're talking about him beating the amateur version of Bowe?

Does that mean Lewis also has losses to Gonzales, Biggs and Ruddock? I always thought he beat Ruddock....Obviously they are 1-1 according to you. That would also mean he didn't beat everyone he faced and lost to guys like Biggs and Gonzalez. Geez, that has to kill his standing a fair bit especially as Bowe easily knocked Gonzalez out.

[Barn]

My top 4 consists of boxers who defeated the top contemporaries of their era..

1. Ali (def Frazier/Foreman/Liston/Patterson)
2. Louis (def Baer/Schmelling/Walcott/Braddock/Sharkey/Carnera)
3. Lennox (def Bowe/Tyson/Holyfield/Klitschko)
4. Marciano (def Walcott/Charles/Moore/Louis)

5. Foreman

Foreman is the only member of my top 5 who didnt dominate his own era, but I give him HUGE points for winning a beltin a foreign era. No one else has done this.

Fair enough but, as said earlier it's Ali, Louis at Top and then there is no standout candidates and any order is acceptable. Lewis didn't defeat Bowe though lol. He does have a lot of good wins, Lennox but, no wins a la Foreman, Frazier, Schmeling etc which is his only downfall but, not really his fault and Bowe would have been that super-fight that bever happened for whatever reason but, don't want to get into it as it gets debated at least once per week on this forum for some reason.