So who were the greatest heavyweights?

[bravestone]

Lets see what you got? I have Ali, Louis, Holmes, Marciano, Lennox, Foreman, Frazier, Holyfield, Johnson, Tyson..... in that order.

Dempsey, Liston and Wlad are close though

[rightsideup]

Lets see what you got? I have Ali, Louis, Holmes, Marciano, Lennox, Foreman, Frazier, Holyfield, Johnson, Tyson..... in that order.

Dempsey, Liston and Wlad are close though

good list ali and Louis are 1a and 1b Interchangerble

[bravestone]

I love Louis anyone rating him #1 is A OK with me.

[Panthershock]

Lets see what you got? I have Ali, Louis, Holmes, Marciano, Lennox, Foreman, Frazier, Holyfield, Johnson, Tyson..... in that order.

Dempsey, Liston and Wlad are close though

my list from the sticky

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Larry Holmes
4. Jack Johnson
5. Rocky Marciano
6. Joe Frazier
7. Jack Dempsey
8. Lennox Lewis
9. George Foreman
10. Mike Tyson

Same top 3, easiest part of the list for me to do.

I have Johnson at 4 because he was head and shoulders above his peers. The fight footage I've seen is of a man toying with boys.

I give Dempsey a boost for changing the sport. An aggressive swarming power puncher rises to the top in a sport that had been a battle of defensive attrition.

[Anthony342]

I got Louis first for the 25 title defenses and Ali a close second. Agree with the other choices too. Where would Liston rank among heavyweights anyway? Top 20, 30?

[bravestone]

Dempsey!?! He ducked Wills blatantly. Wouldn't even fight Greb who spanked Tunney. Barely defended his title.

[bravestone]

I got Louis first for the 25 title defenses and Ali a close second. Agree with the other choices too. Where would Liston rank among heavyweights anyway? Top 20, 30?

Top 20 surely for Liston.

[Panthershock]

I got Louis first for the 25 title defenses and Ali a close second. Agree with the other choices too. Where would Liston rank among heavyweights anyway? Top 20, 30?

It's a fair argument. He certainly has the resume claim top spot.
I give it to Ali based on what I've seen of his 60's fights. The way the guy could move was just other worldly. Then add him coming back to win the title in a loaded 70's era with skills that had clearly declined. That puts him over the top IMO.

Liston is definitely top 20

Dempsey!?! He ducked Wills blatantly. Wouldn't even fight Greb who spanked Tunney. Barely defended his title.

A black man wasnt getting a shot at the title during that time, its the sad truth of the era.

Yes Dempsey wasn't that active, but if you go back to 1910 and look at the frequency of title fights you'll see how sporadic they were.

Dempsey's resume isn't what got him that spot. The way in which he fought turned the orthodox strategy of the time on its head and changed heavyweight boxing forever. In my book, that's about as powerful of a legacy as you can leave.

Remember, not only are these lists subjective, but the criteria to appear on the lists is subjective as well.

[bravestone]

Changed heavyweight boxing forever? Just because he was able to KO some decent contenders doesn't make you a top 10 heavyweight great. Great, he was able to KO people. Tua should be top 10 too then.

He had impact as a Heavyweight champion becoming a celebrity, thats about it.

[GeneralZod]

a top of the head top group kind of in order

Joe Louis
Muhammad Ali
George Foreman
Joe Frazier
Mike Tyson
Larry Holmes
Rocky Marciano
Sonny Liston
Jack Dempsey
Jack Johnson
Lennox Lewis
Evander Holyfield

didn't think that hard on it