Top 10 fighter by social impact

[Dempsey-Louis]

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.

We are very close in attitude but I don't understand Tyson at all.

On Social Impact:

1. Jack Dempsey - the million dollar gate becomes the norm
2. Muhammad Ali - made prize fighting and American culture inseparable (Your point about hated to loved is so true.)
3. Jack Johnson - made everyone have an opinion about prize fighting, even if it wasn't about prize fights
4. Joe Louis - first accepted Black HW champion
5. John L. Sullivan - first American (non-military) national hero
6. James J. Corbett - 'boxing' becomes a sport
7. Harry Wills - the 'color line' in your face whether you want it or not
8. Primo Carnera - now prize fighters could be created and deliberately marketed
9. George Foreman II - Baby Boomers rejoiced; the 'old man' made it cool to be middle aged
10. Rocky Marciano - white people could fight too; made Black domination of the HW division OK with white people, so long as they could "pull Rocky Marciano, out their asses" every once in a while

I believe Tyson could have been on this list as a rival to Dempsey and Ali, but in the end he was just reality TV; he was watched, but never embraced.

[QueensburyRules]

--- Tyson was the poster boy for the hiphop thug culture that need a real badass to prop up their preening, crotch grabbing histrionics.

When Tyson finally blew apart, they adopted TUE who lived the idyllic rich thug culture with his own record biz.

Tyson was the first boxer who made endorsement income until he famously melted down while with Givens and crossed over to that thug lifestyle. By age 22 he was the richest fighter in history with most of it secured in retirement portfolio, but then came King and sayonara to the ****** kid made good.

Also the youngest and best fighter in history thru his first 5 years...Amen...

[HOUDINI563]

Burns being a Canadian was not infused with American Culture. He was warned by everyone not to give Johnson a title shot but in the end he did. The color line which was an American cultural tradition did not burden Burns. Interesting that the bout occurred just about as far away from American soul as possible.

[Joe Beamish]

Ali is the #1 most socially impactful athlete of all time. Probably the most famous and most recognizable human being in his own lifetime, the world over.

[Blue54]

Here we go

10 Ray Macini his fight with kim ik s soul reason we have 12 rds alone now and it's become a much safer sport.

9 Julio Cesar Chavez greatest Mexican fighter of all time and really put the spot light big back on the Mexican fighters.

8 Ray Robinson hailed as the greatest to ever fight the sole reason we have the pound for pound rankings.

7 Dempsey invited a fighting style while becoming the most famous boxer of his era revolutionizing boxing popularity at his time

6 Tyson brought the heavyweight division back to the spot light once again after the fall of Ali and Holmes reign

5 Floyd changed the face of boxing as we know it today making it more of a business than anything and showing the sport that the bad guy is the best to be on top.

4 Louis the dude made it safe for black fighters to be heavyweight champs again and represented an entire country during a world war.

3 John L Sullivan he is the first recongonize world champ and the god father of boxing as we know it today being the last of bare knuckle era and first of the gloves era.

2 Jack Johnson the first black heavyweight champ and the first to show the American public times were changing and one of the main reasons modern boxing is the way its is today due to his impressive skills he help bring yo the sport.

1 Ali the most famous boxer of all time not just a 3 time world champ but he help become voice of the people when no one listen help bring heavyweight boxing to it's most important era in the eyes of the public and the sport.

[QueensburyRules]

--- In the largest ever international public ratings poll with thousands of votes cast, the p4p best chosen were:

1. Sugar Ray Robinson
2. Manny Pacquiao
3. Ali

Nobody else close. Thing is the OP is asking for cultural impact. Alexander the Great had a huge cultural impact, but I'd gather 95% of graduating HS students don't know who he is because of time. Turns out in fickle public memory, Jesus, Buddha, and Mohammad are better remembered, but as to subjective cultural impact, like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder...

[travestyny]

10 Ray Macini his fight with kim ik s soul reason we have 12 rds alone now and it's become a much safer sport.

9 Julio Cesar Chavez greatest Mexican fighter of all time and really put the spot light big back on the Mexican fighters.

8 Ray Robinson hailed as the greatest to ever fight the sole reason we have the pound for pound rankings.

7 Dempsey invited a fighting style while becoming the most famous boxer of his era revolutionizing boxing popularity at his time

6 Tyson brought the heavyweight division back to the spot light once again after the fall of Ali and Holmes reign

5 Floyd changed the face of boxing as we know it today making it more of a business than anything and showing the sport that the bad guy is the best to be on top.

4 Louis the dude made it safe for black fighters to be heavyweight champs again and represented an entire country during a world war.

3 John L Sullivan he is the first recongonize world champ and the god father of boxing as we know it today being the last of bare knuckle era and first of the gloves era.

2 Jack Johnson the first black heavyweight champ and the first to show the American public times were changing and one of the main reasons modern boxing is the way its is today due to his impressive skills he help bring yo the sport.

1 Ali the most famous boxer of all time not just a 3 time world champ but he help become voice of the people when no one listen help bring heavyweight boxing to it's most important era in the eyes of the public and the sport.

This is a great list.

Not only because Ali HAS to be number one, but also your other choices and reasons. Good stuff!

[Archie_Leach]

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.

Is that you in your sig and avi??

[BattlingNelson]

No, this is my only account.

Only non-banned account.....

[Blue54]

This is a great list.

Not only because Ali HAS to be number one, but also your other choices and reasons. Good stuff!

Thanks so much!