Top 10 heavies: Social impact

[Barn]

No arguments for George Foreman? He went from a surly intimadator to a burger eating satire of his old self as well as being the face and spokesman of his lean, mean grilling machine.

Foreman didn't really have a social impact to the extent of the others in things such as political and social affairs at their retrospective era's in my opinion. He also didn't bring many casual fans to the sport as far as I know.

[JAB5239]

Foreman didn't really have a social impact to the extent of the others in things such as political and social affairs at their retrospective era's in my opinion. He also didn't bring many casual fans to the sport as far as I know.

When Foreman came back in 1987 it was thought of as a joke. As he progressively took on better comp people started taking notice. When he finally got to a title shot he had full blown celebrity status and was on tv and the cover of magazines (not just boxing mags) all the time. He struck a blow and was an inspiration to the middle aged man. when he starting selling the grill his boxing celebrity crossed over to the masses.His impact was not political,but it was hugely social.

[Barn]

When Foreman came back in 1987 it was thought of as a joke. As he progressively took on better comp people started taking notice. When he finally got to a title shot he had full blown celebrity status and was on tv and the cover of magazines (not just boxing mags) all the time. He struck a blow and was an inspiration to the middle aged man. when he starting selling the grill his boxing celebrity crossed over to the masses.His impact was not political,but it was hugely social.

I suppose but, the only person I see him as bigger than on my list is possibly Langford and he was all over the papers and very popular and famous in his day so I went with him.

I also forgot about George at the olympics with his little flag

[Joeyzagz]

1. Lennox Lewis- Defeated all the best Americans, the best Eastern European, the best Brit, the best Samoan and basically any country that matters in the Heavyweight division. No Heavyweight has pissed off more nations, and destroyed more icons than Lennox Lewis.

2. Max Schmelling- Max knocking out a PRIME undefeated Joe Louis is probably the single greatest win in the history of boxing. The fact that he pulled this off in Yankee Stadium in 1936 when **** Germany was at the height of its power makes him a close second to Lennox Lewis.

3. Bob Fitzsimmons-This little basterd had heart. First British HW champ.

4. George Foreman- Sold more frying pans than any person in the history of mankind.

5. Joe Louis- He was to America what Max was to Germany.

[GJC]

No arguments for George Foreman? He went from a surly intimadator to a burger eating satire of his old self as well as being the face and spokesman of his lean, mean grilling machine.

PersonallyI'd put Liston in my top ten

[McGoorty]

I've never done a list or even seen one like this before, but who are your top 10 heavies based on social impact, good or bad? Explain your choices please.

Choices were getting thin towards the bottom so I may have been reaching.

10. Lennox Lewis-The first British heavyweight to hold the title and be known as a champion by the world and not just the Brits (see Frank Bruno).

9. Tommy Burns-Had the distinction of being the man to give up the heavyweight championship to the first black heavyweight champion in history and change the sport forever.

8. Max Schmeling-While nothing he did as champion stands out, his win and loss to Louis helped set and destroy a symbol of **** power.

7. Rocky Marciano-retired undefeated and was the last white American to be the undisputed champ. His name is synonymous with the heavyweight title.

6. John L. Sullivan-The first gloved champion and a certified star of his era. Everyone knew who the Boston string boy was.

5. Joe Louis-His win over Schmeling was a crushing defeat to **** propaganda and his patriotic devotion made him loved by blacks and whites alike during a turbulent time in the countries history.

4. Mike Tyson-His star burned so bright everybody in the world knew his name and stopped to watch him fight. They also stopped to watch his tragedies and turbulent life as if it were a car wreck.

3. Jack Johnson-The first black heavyweight champion and its most despised during his reign. So hated that white America actively pursued a "white hope" to wipe the golden smile of his face.

2. Muhammad Ali-Never had a fighter gone from being so disliked to so beloved. His stance on Vietnam brought a surreal amount of disdain for Ali. But his first loss to Frazier proved his conviction and courage so much the masses got behind him. He went from one end of the spectrum to the other and did it with flair not seen before or since.

1. Jack Dempsey-No fighter was ever so revered in their era. Never did so many people flock to see one man fight. So popular was Dempsey that his name alone conjures up images of the roaring twenties.

Not bad.... Dempsey for sure, first 4 million dollar gates and all that..... Yep, Jack at no' 1. ------------------ Ali #2. for sure, he even became bigger than Boxing, but he owes so much to Dempsey's trailblazing. ------------------- But #3. is wrong,..... It was Louis that became a true icon to his people, and a hero to most of white America too, and his fame was on a scale only succeeded by Ali since........... Sullivan and Johnson must be on this list,... Johnson succeeded despite all possible odds, apart from his great ability...... and It was Sullivan who was the true father of the Gloved game, it was purely through his popularity and his insistence on fighting with gloves, and by utilizing a most exciting style.......... It was chiefly John L. Sullivan who led boxing with his magnetic personality from being completely illegal to a legal sport............ Thanks to Sullivan, the likes of Dixon, Nelson, Gans, Walcott and many others were the guys who rode the boxing boom which John started.

[TheCobra]

Id have Ali top, like its been said it was not just the Us it was international. His appeal for people, his beliefs.

Just how people hung on to his everyword