Top 12 h2h heavyweights in history

[Anthony342]

1. jack johnson: the greatest defensive fighter who was very good on the inside, excellent fundmentals, great chin, very high boxing IQ, very fast hands, excellent power, mentally strong, when focused almost impossible to defeat

2. muhammed ali: excellent defensive fighter, very high boxing IQ, excellent chin, blistering speed, he has mastered the art of fighting of the back foot, only way to win against him is to get a decision, mentally impossible to defeat.

3. joe louis: greatest fighter coming forward ever, back breaking power, very good chin, standing toe to toe with him near impossible, if your not an excellent defensive fighter your not going to win against him.

4.sonny liston: very good fighter coming forward, excellent jab, tremendous power, only way to defeat sonny liston is to be an excellent defensive fighter with lateral movement.

5. george foreman: very good coming forward, excellent at cutting of ring, tremendous power, near impossible to KO for someone who never blocked, no one who stands toe to toe with foreman can win.

cant think of anymore right now lol

Agreed. With Foreman, yeah very tough to KO or TKO. I always thought the Ali fight was a TKO because it looked like he got up before 10 but that the ref stopped it. Did the ref actually count out Foreman? The only other guy who even came close to stopping Foreman from watching his career set was Ron Lyle. Foreman was a tough dude and definitely one of my favorites, that's what I call a fighter.

[TBear]

I thought Holyfield had Hepatitis C in the third Bowe fight?

I believe he was diagnosed after the Moorer fight with a hole in his heart and retired briefly til cured by a faith healer. The Diagnosis of Hepatitis C came another time when Holyfield's fight with Akinwande was cancelled.

[Canelo Phresh]

You can tear my list down, but Im hoping other will post their own list and reasons. Remember, keep the discussion civil.

The top 12 heavyweight h2h all time

1. Muhammad Ali - Showed his ability to overcome adversity many times and his skills would carry him over nearly every fighter ever.

2. Lennox Lewis - I will inevitably hear about his chin, but no fighter had his skills, size, power and agression when he was at his very best.

3. Larry Holmes - One of the gutsiest and most determined fighters with a skillset and chin to match.

4. Joe Louis - The greatest heavyweight if all time in my opinion. That doesn't mean his style wouldn't allow him to lose at times. It wouldn't be often, but it keeps him from being the best h2h in my opinion.

5. George Foreman - The man could be beat, but lets face it he could destroy any fighter on any given night.

6. Joe Frazier - I have a feeling Frazier being so high will bring a lot of controversy. But with his skill, stamina and tenacity it think few beat him at their respective bests.

7. Sonny Liston - At his best Liston was a tyrant capeable of beating nearly any man in history....and he was mean. A skilled, hard punching fighter who wasn't just in the ring for sport...he wanted to hurt you.

8. Wladimir Klitschko - Any man who can stay focused after 7 years and keep reigning on top has to be great and a threat to most fighters in history. He still doesn't crack my all time top 10 list, but with his skills, size and logevity he deserves a spot on this one.

9. Evander Holyfield - He wan't called the warrior for nothing. Had the chin, skills and stamina to fight with the best in history.

10. Vitaly Klitschko - As much as I hate to give anything to a guy I consider hugely overrated, Vittles is a tough guy and would be at any time in history. His size and awkwardness would provide problems for mant fighters.

11. Mike Tyson - No fighter in history was better in the first 4 rounds. If you were lucky to you still weren't out of danger, but you gave yourself a chance.

12. Jack Johnson - Any man who could fight under the duress Johnson was under would persevere and be great in any era. Oh, and the guy could fight.

Your list is solid. And Frazier is perfect wheres he at. If he would have Norton, Shavers and Spinks he would have beaten them no later that 78.

[Earl-Hickey]

You can tear my list down, but Im hoping other will post their own list and reasons. Remember, keep the discussion civil.

The top 12 heavyweight h2h all time

1. Muhammad Ali - Showed his ability to overcome adversity many times and his skills would carry him over nearly every fighter ever.

2. Lennox Lewis - I will inevitably hear about his chin, but no fighter had his skills, size, power and agression when he was at his very best.

3. Larry Holmes - One of the gutsiest and most determined fighters with a skillset and chin to match.

4. Joe Louis - The greatest heavyweight if all time in my opinion. That doesn't mean his style wouldn't allow him to lose at times. It wouldn't be often, but it keeps him from being the best h2h in my opinion.

5. George Foreman - The man could be beat, but lets face it he could destroy any fighter on any given night.

6. Joe Frazier - I have a feeling Frazier being so high will bring a lot of controversy. But with his skill, stamina and tenacity it think few beat him at their respective bests.

7. Sonny Liston - At his best Liston was a tyrant capeable of beating nearly any man in history....and he was mean. A skilled, hard punching fighter who wasn't just in the ring for sport...he wanted to hurt you.

8. Wladimir Klitschko - Any man who can stay focused after 7 years and keep reigning on top has to be great and a threat to most fighters in history. He still doesn't crack my all time top 10 list, but with his skills, size and logevity he deserves a spot on this one.

9. Evander Holyfield - He wan't called the warrior for nothing. Had the chin, skills and stamina to fight with the best in history.

10. Vitaly Klitschko - As much as I hate to give anything to a guy I consider hugely overrated, Vittles is a tough guy and would be at any time in history. His size and awkwardness would provide problems for mant fighters.

11. Mike Tyson - No fighter in history was better in the first 4 rounds. If you were lucky to you still weren't out of danger, but you gave yourself a chance.

12. Jack Johnson - Any man who could fight under the duress Johnson was under would persevere and be great in any era. Oh, and the guy could fight.

This is good but if we are talking on their best night, swap wlad and vitali imo

[Salardo]

my top 5 head2head list all time is (in no particular order):
Ali
Lennox Lewis
Wlad Klitschko
Larry Holmes
Vitali Klitschko

[Scott9945]

I believe he was diagnosed after the Moorer fight with a hole in his heart and retired briefly til cured by a faith healer. The Diagnosis of Hepatitis C came another time when Holyfield's fight with Akinwande was cancelled.

If I remember correctly, it was Akinwande who tested positive for Hepatitis. Holyfield did claim that he was sick for the 3rd Bowe fight, and he looked awful enough in that fight for me to believe it.

[Salardo]

If I remember correctly, it was Akinwande who tested positive for Hepatitis. Holyfield did claim that he was sick for the 3rd Bowe fight, and he looked awful enough in that fight for me to believe it.

actually I thought the same thing when I read this thread. I think I remember Akinwande was supposed to fight Holyfield and then Akinwande was diagnosed with Hepatitis and the fight was off.

[StarshipTrooper]

If I remember correctly, it was Akinwande who tested positive for Hepatitis. Holyfield did claim that he was sick for the 3rd Bowe fight, and he looked awful enough in that fight for me to believe it.

From what I understand Evander had the flu with it coming out both ends at the time of Bowe III. He had Bowe out in that fight and just flat out ran out of gas and couldn't finish him.....and got stopped in the next round as a result.

Poet

[Panamaniac]

Why 12 and not 10?

If I may answer that, the 12 is posted to include the Klitschko brothers.

[Panamaniac]

You guys are welcome to do 10 if you'd like.

Don't mind if I do...

1. Louis
2. Ali
3. Tyson
4. Holmes
5. Marciano
6. Johnson
7. Foreman
8. Frazier
9. Liston
10. Dempsey