Comments Thread For: The Greatest Encore: Ranking the Best Heavyweights Since Ali

[topo5358]

Who in hell is this clown???

Joe Frazier an "average" heavyweight??? I think Ali might dispute this pile of crap. He had the power, speed and timing to knock Ali down in the 15th round of a heavyweight fight fought at a pace unheard of in latter day fights at any weight. How many of the murderers row of heavyweight punchers that Ali vanquished actually knocked him down? Half of the fighters rated above him never saw the 15th round. What a foolish assertion!

[The plunger man]

Not a chance bowe beats Lewis ....he got beat by him as an amateur and he gave up his belt when forced to fight Lewis as a pro......so that alone should tell you who would win that fight.
One good fight against Holyfield does not rank him above Lewis period....so poppapomp is talking out his arse

[The D3vil]

1. Larry Holmes (1982) – The most underappreciated champion in the division’s history and a legitimate No. 2 on any list of its champions, regardless of the years included. Had he been given the proper decision in the Spinks rematch, might have retired at a stellar 49-1.

2. Rid**** Bowe (1992) – If Ali is the greatest and Holmes the most underappreciated, then Bowe comes in as the most enigmatic. His post-Holyfield body of work is a pock mark, but the “Big Daddy” who fought from November to May in 1992 is as good as there’s been.

3. Lennox Lewis (2002) – Might have lost to Bowe on both men’s best nights, but otherwise did a clean-up job on the division that Rock Newman’s charge was unable to fashion. A big man’s heart and wonderful technique far outlasted an occasionally balky chin.

4. Tyson Fury (2020) – I didn’t believe Fury would beat Klitschko in 2015, and I didn’t think he’d beat Wilder in their rematch in 2020. But now I’m a believer. Given his height, skill and pop, it’s difficult to see a lot of heavyweights handling him at his 100 percent self.

5. Wladimir Klitschko (2010) – A big man who could box and punch and ultimately climbed the historic charts with every dominant performance. Wound up getting into Louis and Holmes territory in terms of title defenses before losing to both Fury and Joshua at the end.

6. Evander Holyfield (1991) – Got more out of a smallish physique than anyone outside of Atlanta ever predicted and dominated a still-dangerous Tyson long after most were sure his best days had passed. Went on a decade or more past vintage, but it didn’t tarnish a thing.

7. George Foreman (1973, 1994) – On the winning and losing ends of two of the division’s most dramatic moments – losing to Ali in Zaire and decking the overconfident Moorer 20 years later in Las Vegas. The Lampley call of the latter is as good as it gets.

8. Mike Tyson (1988) – As menacing and violent as there’s ever been while intimidating a laundry list of foes into an early defeat. Still, he took advantage of a so-so division in his prime and was no better than an also-ran against fellow elites like Holyfield and Lewis.

9. Joe Frazier (1971) – A solid pro, to be certain, but quite possibly the most overrated heavyweight in history. Was a notable foil to Ali, but wound up 1-4 with three KO losses against his two best foes (Ali and Foreman), with a whole lot of cannon fodder elsewhere.

10. Vitali Klitschko (2004) – A big man who’s made as remarkable a comeback from four years off as there’s ever been. That said, he would likely be out-skilled by the best fighters close to his own size and out-foxed by the quicker and more powerful smaller ones.

11. Anthony Joshua (2017) – Another tall, athletic and powerful Brit, though he’s not as technically skilled as Fury. The loss to Andy Ruiz revealed weakness, but the victory in the immediate rematch showed a competitive mettle many thought he lacked.

12. Deontay Wilder (2017) – Has as much one-punch power as any heavyweight in the aforementioned time frame, but it’s masked technical deficiencies that Fury revealed over 19 rounds. He’s melted down into a puddle of excuses since the initial loss and it’s hard to imagine him regaining past stature.

13. Buster Douglas (1990) – For 10 rounds on one night in Japan was among the best heavyweights of all time, but never replicated the effort in any subsequent fights. Too lazy and too fat against Holyfield, ******ly costing himself even more money than he raked in.

14. Michael Spinks (1985) – The prototype for light heavyweights wanting to move up for a shot at bigger paychecks, using guile to topple an old Holmes and talent to handle an overmatched Cooney. Loss to Tyson, however, showed he didn’t truly belong with the division’s best.

15. Michael Moorer (1994) – A light heavyweight menace who was inspired to one great heavyweight moment with Teddy Atlas calling the shots against Holyfield. The loss to Foreman, though, curtailed what might have been an interesting mid-90s run.

16. Hasim Rahman (2001) – A one-hit wonder who inspired George Foreman to song in South Africa, but was brought back to reality by a rededicated Lewis after his “Ocean’s Eleven” star turn was complete. A solid second-tier heavyweight who maintained his name value 10 years later.

17. Leon Spinks (1978) – Became a late-70s sensation with one stunning night in Las Vegas, then gave it all back seven months later in what should have been Ali’s goodbye. Forty-plus years later, though, he remains the undisputed champion of toothless grins.

What a shxtty list.

He says it's based on guys peak years, but then bases guys like Tyson on what they did past their peak year.

He also ignores that Larry Holmes never unified and feasted on a subpar heavyweight division in the late '70s and early '80s before being dethroned by a guy Tyson anihilated in 90 seconds before he himself was annihilated by Tyson.

He's got Buster Douglas & Hasim Rahman on here, but not Oliver McCall, who was better than both of their asses.

As was David Tua, as is Joseph Parker, as was Ike Ibeabuchi.

My List:

1. George Foreman 1973
2. Tyson 1988
3. Lewis 2000
4. Bowe 1992
5. Holmes 1982
6. Frazier 1971
7. Tyson Fury 2020
8. Vitali Klitschko 2004
9. Evander Holyfield 1991
10. Wladimir Klitschko 2010

[Boxknowledge75]

Joe Frazier an "average" heavyweight??? I think Ali might dispute this pile of crap. He had the power, speed and timing to knock Ali down in the 15th round of a heavyweight fight fought at a pace unheard of in latter day fights at any weight. How many of the murderers row of heavyweight punchers that Ali vanquished actually knocked him down? Half of the fighters rated above him never saw the 15th round. What a foolish assertion!

Totally agree, I believe Frazier beats Mike Tyson.

[Monty Fisto]

The list doesn't stick to its own rules. The criteria seems to be stated as HW champs since Ali regained the crown in 1974 and based on their single peak year. So why is Frazier there (for 1971, no less)?

Then Tyson is downgraded for his later losses to Lewis and Holyfied, even though he is on the list based on 1988.

Vitali Klitschko seems notably too low. Bowe ridiculously high. And judging heavyweights on one year of activity seems a poor way to do it -- especially with the rate at which modern day heavyweights fight.

[Bandman]

This is easy... Lennox

[Franchise1218]

What is the criteria for this list? It seems the columnist went all over the place. I’m not sure a single person would agree with his list from 1-3 never mind the rest of it. Plus the comment of Mike Tyson fought so-so competition. Mike only unified the titles after nearly 10 years, defended the damn undisputed championship 6 times. The most defenses of the undisputed title since Ali. We’ve only had 4 of those since who have defended the undisputed title a grand total of 3 times with all those defenses coming from 1 guy who was also devalued on that list (Holyfield).

As for the number 1...Holmes..really? You say Mike fought so-so competition and lost to the so called elite. Who did Holmes beat? Ali? Past his prime. Norton? Past his prime. Witherspoon? A blown up cruiserweight. Holyfield? Lost. Tyson? Lost. Michael Spinks? Lost twice....maybe he considers that Butterbean win to make you number 1

[Removed Now]

Lennox not only has more the twice as good of a resume, but would smack the daylights out of Holmes prime for prime.

List all of Holmes' world class wins and i'll list those for Lennox.

Trevor Berbick
Leon Spinks
Cooney
Tim Witherspoon
Earnie Shavers
Ken Norton
Ray Mercer

Notice I didn’t put down Ali cuz Ali was washed up. So don’t add that washed up Tyson or that one hit wonder rah men.

So what you going to use that bad call to stop the fight on Klitschko and Shannon Briggs. F out of here.

[Removed Now]

What a shxtty list.

He says it's based on guys peak years, but then bases guys like Tyson on what they did past their peak year.

He also ignores that Larry Holmes never unified and feasted on a subpar heavyweight division in the late '70s and early '80s before being dethroned by a guy Tyson anihilated in 90 seconds before he himself was annihilated by Tyson.

He's got Buster Douglas & Hasim Rahman on here, but not Oliver McCall, who was better than both of their asses.

As was David Tua, as is Joseph Parker, as was Ike Ibeabuchi.

My List:

1. George Foreman 1973
2. Tyson 1988
3. Lewis 2000
4. Bowe 1992
5. Holmes 1982
6. Frazier 1971
7. Tyson Fury 2020
8. Vitali Klitschko 2004
9. Evander Holyfield 1991
10. Wladimir Klitschko 2010

Holm’s was not in his prime when he fought Tyson. The man was damn near 40! The hate on Holm’s is real !

[Szef]

1lewis (best ever)
2.ali
3.holmes.
4.hoylfield.
5.bowe.
6.foreman
fury will never ever in the history of boxing get on that top 6 list as the heavyweight division is rubbish now with that gutless ed ***** fighter holding the alphabet belts to ransom

Why do holyfield and bowe belong to the top 6 but Fury doesn't?