Rank the 6 Heavyweight Eras

[Joeyzagz]

Based on activity between top fighters and overall talent.

1885-1905
John L Sullivan
Bob Fitzsimmons
Jim Jeffries
James J Corbett
Paddy Ryan

1905-1925
Jack Dempsey
Jack Johnson
Gene Tunney*(1926)
Sam Langford
Harry Wills

1925-1945
Joe Louis
Max Schmelling
Max Baer
Primo Carnera
Jack Sharkey

1945-1965
Rocky Marciano
Sonny Liston
Floyd Patterson
Jersey Joe Walcott
Ezzard Charles

1965-1985
Muhammad Ali
George Foreman
Larry Holmes
Joe Frazier
Ken Norton

1985-2005
Lennox Lewis
Mike Tyson
Evander Holyfield
Riddick Bowe
Michael Spinks

2005-2025
TBD
Vitali Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko
TBD
TBD

[crold1]

Those eras are WAY too broad IMO. Ali's era really ended in 78; the rest is the Holmes years. Johnson and Dempsey are in no way the same era either. That said, the two best pockets all time were probably 64-78 and 86-99 with the Jeffries era (featuring Jackson, Fitz, Corbett, and Sharkey) being pretty awesome as well. The Johnson era was great too, though during his reign the greatness was on the chitlin circuit. The post-Louis years with Ezz, Walcott, and the Rock produced some awesome fights. The worst pockets were probably the early 30s (lots of bad fights and musical chairs with the title); some of the years between Rock and Liston; and right now.

[Joeyzagz]

1. Lennox/Tyson/Holyfield
2. Ali/Foreman
3. Dempsey/Tunney/Wills
4. Louis/Schmelling/Primo
5. Sullivan/Jeffries
6. Marciano/Patterson
7. Klitschkos

[Joeyzagz]

Those eras are WAY too broad IMO. Ali's era really ended in 78; the rest is the Holmes years. Johnson and Dempsey are in no way the same era either. That said, the two best pockets all time were probably 64-78 and 86-99 with the Jeffries era (featuring Jackson, Fitz, Corbett, and Sharkey) being pretty awesome as well. The Johnson era was great too, though during his reign the greatness was on the chitlin circuit. The post-Louis years with Ezz, Walcott, and the Rock produced some awesome fights. The worst pockets were probably the early 30s (lots of bad fights and musical chairs with the title); some of the years between Rock and Liston; and right now.

I always thought the first quarter century: 1905-1925 was probably the best in boxing. The only thing that keeps it from being #1 is that the top guys werent fighting each other. Wills, Willard, Dempsey, Langford Tunney So many great fighters....

[GJC]

Those eras are WAY too broad IMO. Ali's era really ended in 78; the rest is the Holmes years. Johnson and Dempsey are in no way the same era either. That said, the two best pockets all time were probably 64-78 and 86-99 with the Jeffries era (featuring Jackson, Fitz, Corbett, and Sharkey) being pretty awesome as well. The Johnson era was great too, though during his reign the greatness was on the chitlin circuit. The post-Louis years with Ezz, Walcott, and the Rock produced some awesome fights. The worst pockets were probably the early 30s (lots of bad fights and musical chairs with the title); some of the years between Rock and Liston; and right now.

It struck me as a little broad too, decades might be a better cut off. Nice thread idea though. Go along with your picks too

[GJC]

I always thought the first quarter century: 1905-1925 was probably the best in boxing. The only thing that keeps it from being #1 is that the top guys werent fighting each other. Wills, Willard, Dempsey, Langford Tunney So many great fighters....

Can think of a fair few I'd highlight before Willard from that era