5 best heavyweights post Ali (78-) & can anyone current crack it?

[Rubber Ducky]

Lewis
Holyfield
Tyson
Holmes
Wlad

[ROSS CALIFORNIA]

Holmes
Lewis
Tyson
Vitali
Wlad

[Robbie Barrett]

It's Lennox Lewis number 1. Nobody else comes close. His resume shits on everyone else and probably is the best H2H HW of all time.

[chirorickyp]

Vitali never truly beaten? I mean Lewis' punch caused the cut and though Lewis was fatigued, Vitali appeared hurt too at the end of the round. Either way a fair punch cut the eye.

I don't think it's fair to use Holyfield's Lewis fights against him like that. He was at the end by that point. They are more good for Lewis than bad for Evander.The fact he was competitive in the re-match and wins way into his twilight years like Rahman and Ruiz help his case IMO. Sure, he lost the Bowe series 2-1 but Bowe may have been the best of the era but for poor discipline. Also Holyfield was in no condition to be in the ring in the rubber match he was sick as a dog and it showed. The fact he had Bowe down and hurt again shows you more good than bad.

I think he will always have beaten Tyson. He had the measure of him but all we have to judge is Holyfield spanking him as. 26-1 underdog.

All valid points
I believe Holyfield would never beat Lewis since Lewis would always keep him away and off balance with that hard powerfull jab and nail him with those uppercuts.
The 2nd Bowe fight could have easily been scored a draw. And if Bowe used his height and reach instead of fighting on the inside it would have been a UD with some knock downs. The guy actually put a kitchen in his bedroom and was out of shape for the rematch.
Holyfield was totally outslicked by the skills of Toney. Toney's style would have messed him up 5 years earlier as well. I think Toney just had his number as styles makes fights just like Ali and Norton.

Without the roids Evan Fields would not have had the career he had at Heavyweight, however I watched all his fights and enjoyed them all because the guy had heart.

Vitali never dominated or knocked down barely lost many rounds in 40 plus fights. He was the best in my opinion

[Mr Objecitivity]

Since Ali retired after the Spinks re-match who do you all see as the best heavyweights in time since (1978-)

I'd personally go

1. Holmes
2. Holyfield
3. Lewis
4. Tyson
5. Wlad Klit

I think Vitali could have been #4 or 5 had he not retired at his peak since he was probably better than his brother. Rid**** Bowe probably had the ability to be top 3 but obviously falls short of the 5 and I think Ibeabuchi may have been the best of the 21st century had he not gone off the rails.

Do any of the current crop have a chance of breaking the top 5 or even 3? And if so, what would they have to do?

This depends on what criteria we're using to rank the boxers and how we define the term 'best'.

If this is purely based on accomplishments at heavyweight boxing, then my top 5 will undoubtedly be this list with the top 3 being in no dispute for their positions:

1) Wladimir Klitschko

2) Lennox Lewis

3) Vitali Klitschko

4) Prime Mike Tyson

5) Larry Holmes


Obviously following that list would include the likes of Alexander Povetkin, Anthony Joshua and etc.


However, from a head to head perspective (who is going to be the favorite to beat most of the other heavyweight boxers in the ring), then it's a slightly different list:

1) Vitali Klitschko

2) Lennox Lewis / Wladimir Klitschko (winner of their bout would most likely be decided by who's corner Emmanuel Stewart will be in in my opinion)

3) Prime Mike Tyson (1986 - 1988)

4) Alexander Povetkin

5) Rid**** Bowe


Of course, I could've added a few more boxers to that list, especially current ones but the ones I've listed above are the most proven against the best possible opponents at a consistent / frequent basis. As such, names like Anthony Joshua will have to await a few more years after he potentially proves himself even more.

[juggernaut666]

How is Vitali the best since 78 when his own brother accomplished more and he lost o Lennox who accomplished more? and in what reality is Joshua even close to making the list?

Wlad Klitchko would not be favored over Vitali Klitchko . Go ahead do a poll.

Vitali Klitchko was ahead on points and was more than capable of continuing . There is no evidence for Lewis that he wins a rematch and ive never gave fights to anyone that won while being down on the scorecards bc of a cut stoppage .


Joshua has more of an arsenal than any SHW ever had and can fight without relying on a jab ,what SHW have you ever seen with 82 inch reach capable of that coupled with capabilities of 15 punch combos ?

You do realise Lewis lost in his 26th fight right ? Wlad Klitchko in his 25th , Hoyfield has one top win with anyone over 230 and undersized Holmes at 210 defeating Joshua is HIGHLY unlikely with not enough punching power ........just watch his ACTUAL fights .

Which Holmes fight would you suggest would tell me he would defeat Joshua ?

Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitchko are the best candidates to defeat him. (FOR NOW )

[Mr Objecitivity]

Vitali never truly beaten? I mean Lewis' punch caused the cut and though Lewis was fatigued, Vitali appeared hurt too at the end of the round. Either way a fair punch cut the eye.

I don't think it's fair to use Holyfield's Lewis fights against him like that. He was at the end by that point. They are more good for Lewis than bad for Evander.The fact he was competitive in the re-match and wins way into his twilight years like Rahman and Ruiz help his case IMO. Sure, he lost the Bowe series 2-1 but Bowe may have been the best of the era but for poor discipline. Also Holyfield was in no condition to be in the ring in the rubber match he was sick as a dog and it showed. The fact he had Bowe down and hurt again shows you more good than bad.

I think he will always have beaten Tyson. He had the measure of him but all we have to judge is Holyfield spanking him as. 26-1 underdog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtdOteT5G0Q&t=16s

That was the cause of the eye injury. Lennox Lewis clearly sc****d Vitali Klitschko's left eye with his thumb (an illegal punch). Thus, the eye damage wasn't even caused by a legal boxing move and anyone arguing that Lennox Lewis is superior or better than Vitali Klitschko because he damaged Vitali's eyes with his thumb, is using an illegal move from Lewis to prove that point. Which means Lewis only proved that he was 'superior' and 'better' at using illegal moves to win bouts.

[Robbie Barrett]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtdOteT5G0Q&t=16s

That was the cause of the eye injury. Lennox Lewis clearly sc****d Vitali Klitschko's left eye with his thumb (an illegal punch). Thus, the eye damage wasn't even caused by a legal boxing move and anyone arguing that Lennox Lewis is superior or better than Vitali Klitschko because he damaged Vitali's eyes with his thumb, is using an illegal move from Lewis to prove that point. Which means Lewis only proved that he was 'superior' and 'better' at using illegal moves to win bouts.

Please look up the definition of "clearly"

[Rubber Ducky]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtdOteT5G0Q&t=16s

That was the cause of the eye injury. Lennox Lewis clearly sc****d Vitali Klitschko's left eye with his thumb (an illegal punch). Thus, the eye damage wasn't even caused by a legal boxing move and anyone arguing that Lennox Lewis is superior or better than Vitali Klitschko because he damaged Vitali's eyes with his thumb, is using an illegal move from Lewis to prove that point. Which means Lewis only proved that he was 'superior' and 'better' at using illegal moves to win bouts.

Lol and the monster right hand he took before that had nothing to do with the cut? And how about the other cuts did they magically just appear of Vitali's face or was it the multiple hard right hands he took that caused the multiple cuts.

I'm a Vitali fan have been since he KO'ed Hide but the bull**** that surrounds his fight with Lewis is ludicrous.

[Mr Objecitivity]

Lol and the monster right hand he took before that had nothing to do with the cut? And how about the other cuts did they magically just appear of Vitali's face or was it the multiple hard right hands he took that caused the multiple cuts.

I'm a Vitali fan have been since he KO'ed Hide but the bull**** that surrounds his fight with Lewis is ludicrous.

I'm not stating that other punches that Lennox Lewis landed didn't inflict visible damage on Vitali Klitschko's face. My point was that the fight ending eye injury itself was caused by the illegal thumb scraping from Lewis. None of those other legal punches appeared fight ending.

Vitali Klitschko also landed many legal punches which inflicted a lot of visible damage on Lennox Lewis's face too.