Ranking The Best

[soul_survivor]

I was thinking about all the best, top 20 fighters in all of boxing's major divisions (historical divisions, so that essentially takes away many of the junior and super weight classes). So I'm going to start a new weekly thread, where I rank the top 20 fighters in the following divisions:

Heavyweight
Light Heavyweight
Super Middleweight
Middleweight
Welterweight
Jr Welterweight
Lightweight
Featherweight
Bantamweight

I've included the 168 and 140 divisions because they have produced some very good - great fighters over the years and have become historically significant divisions. 154 and other classes were not included because I just don't think they have the relevant important, although both superbantam and light middle are growing in stature.

So, I'm going to start off with the sport's premier division:

Heavyweight

1. Muhammad Ali

Easily the greatest heavyweight of them all, Ali had everything, speed, timing, accuracy, exceptional defence and possibly the best footwork of any fighter in history. His resume at the weight is second to none and his chin was indestructible. A 3 time heavyweight champion for a reason.

2. Joe Louis

A distant second but a truly great heavyweight in his own right, Louis did the basics well and also possessed KO power which adds to his "x factor". His lengthy reign as champion is testament to his longevity and in all honesty, some clever matchmaking. But take nothing away from him, a great champion.

3. George Foreman[/CENTER]
At his peak, one of the most feared fighters in history, his KOs of Norton and particularly Frazier are not only fearsome but possibly two of the most important KOs in boxing history. The fact that he regained the title against a much younger man at 45 is legendary, add to that the fact that even as he fought into his last 30s and 40s, he was never once beaten up or embarrassed in the ring, fighting guys like Holyfield, a great heavyweight in his own right.

4. Larry Holmes

Holmes was a forgotten champion in his own time, preceded by Ali and followed by Tyson. It's sad because in terms of technical ability Holmes was one of the best, add to that 20 title defences and you have a man who was a true champion. His resume isn't the best because the opposition in those years wasn't the strongest but he had credible opponents in Spinks, Tyson and Norton.

5. Jack Johnson[/CENTER]
Johnson was controversial, his entire title reign shrouded in mystery, scandal and racism is one of the most interesting sporting legacies of all time. Watching footage of Johnson shows you just how skilled he was but he could also be cruel, baiting his opponent, making a mockery of him at times but more often than not he did it because he could. He was just that damn good.

6. Joe Frazier

The greatest left hook in boxing? Check. A heart big enough to withstand the toughest of battles? Check. Lightning fast head movement? Check. Joe Frazier was America's greatest heavyweight when Ali was in exile and even when the GOAT came back to regain the title he had never lost, he was beat up, KD and hurt by a rampaging Frazier. It was a close fight but Joe would not be denied that day. It took a beast like Foreman to snatch the championship away from Smokin' Joe. Joe would never reach those heights ever again.

7. Lennox Lewis

Lewis had all the makings of a great champion, he was tall, big, hard hitting and had quick hands. Technically, there have been very few fighters as well schooled as the great Lewis but his chin let him down on two major occasions against admittedly average opposition. That stops him from being any higher on my list. But lengthy title reign, a list of solid opponents and recognition as THE man at heavyweight bring him into the top 10.

8. Rocky Marciano

Marciano retired undefeated, as champion, no one else in the history of the division can say that. Marciano may not have had the best possible opponents, mainly because there were none, his best wins being aged Charles and Louis but it doesn't take away from the fact that he was a truly great heavyweight.

9. Jack Dempsey

A hard hitting, mauling, brawling type of fighter, Dempsey was very much in the Tyson/Frazier mold. Dempsey's reign is marred by never having fought a man who beat two of his best opponents. That's a difficult stain to remove but Dempsey was the legitimate champion for a long time and hit as hard as anyone in the sport. He was feared. He was champion.

10. Sonny Liston

Liston was Tyson and Foreman before anyone knew they even existed. He was supposed to destroy Ali in 2, may be 3 rounds but no one expected a skinny kid from Louisville to dethrone the most feared champion since Dempsey. God knows how long Liston would have reigned if it hadn't been for a kid called Cassius.

11. Evander Holyfield

12. Mike Tyson

13. Ezzard Charles

14. Gene Tunney

15. James J. Jeffries

16. Wladimir Klitschko

17. Vitali Klitschko

18. Rid**** Bowe

19. John L. Sullivan

20. Bob Fitzsimmons[/CENTER]


Next week it's the turn of the Light Heavyweights!

[LeG00N]

Jack Johnson 5?.........


at least you didn't go full history romanticizer and include the laughable none champ Harry Wills

[soul_survivor]

Jack Johnson 5?.........


at least you didn't go full history romanticizer and include the laughable none champ Harry Wills

Jack Johnson was a legit champ, first African/American champ, reigned in a decent division and was regarded the best heavy of his era. I try and avoid cross era comparisons and try ranking guys based on their own time.
If we were talking h2h, I see a lot of modern heavies probably KHO but that's neither here nor there.

Who would you have in your list?

[Daddy T]

Jack Johnson was a legit champ, first African/American champ, reigned in a decent division and was regarded the best heavy of his era. I try and avoid cross era comparisons and try ranking guys based on their own time.
If we were talking h2h, I see a lot of modern heavies probably KHO but that's neither here nor there.

Who would you have in your list?

True, but why does this have anything to do with his ranking? it's like adding in a caveat about ali saying ... 'he was the first champion to recite awesome poetry' and use that as a reason to rank him higher.

[Flash13]

Jack Johnson was a legit champ, first African/American champ, reigned in a decent division and was regarded the best heavy of his era. I try and avoid cross era comparisons and try ranking guys based on their own time.
If we were talking h2h, I see a lot of modern heavies probably KHO but that's neither here nor there.

Who would you have in your list?

I pretty much agree with the list however with the top 10 i would switch foreman and Louis so foreman 2 and Louis 3. Then just move jack Johnson to around 10-11 probably 10 behind Liston.

[thuggery]

I really dislike putting Frazier and Louis on my lists. They weren't swagged out enough in my honest opinion. I'll always rank guys like Ali higher.

[SBleeder]

I really dislike putting Frazier and Louis on my lists. They weren't swagged out enough in my honest opinion. I'll always rank guys like Ali higher.

Huh? "Swagged out"?

[Bolo Punch]

I really dislike putting Frazier and Louis on my lists. They weren't swagged out enough in my honest opinion. I'll always rank guys like Ali higher.

[soul_survivor]

True, but why does this have anything to do with his ranking? it's like adding in a caveat about ali saying ... 'he was the first champion to recite awesome poetry' and use that as a reason to rank him higher.

Ranking any athlete on such lists, you have to take into account their cultural relevance. Having said that, like I have already posted previously, there are other reasons for having JJ at 5. Or in fact any position in the top 10, outside of that is almost blasphemous.

[soul_survivor]

I pretty much agree with the list however with the top 10 i would switch foreman and Louis so foreman 2 and Louis 3. Then just move jack Johnson to around 10-11 probably 10 behind Liston.

I was very close to having Foreman at 2. But I think 3 suits him well enough. He is quite probably the greatest offensive heavyweight of all time.