Wins over Jess Willard, Georges Carpentier, Jim Flynn, Big Bill Tate, Billy Miske, Luis Firpo, Gunboat Smith and Jack Sharkey. Hence, Ali is considered the greatest. Muhammad Ali's comic line - "Earnie hit me so hard, it shook my kinfolk back in Africa" - was meant in part for laughs but you get his point. Usually, its easier to counter the jab by slipping it inside (moving your head to your left) but Marciano was leaning to his right most of the time while he was fighting, so it was much natural for him to move his head to his right and slip the jab outside. In other situations, he even used his left hook as a counter for right uppercuts or straights. There couldnt be two more diametrically opposed fighters, in terms of surviving being hurt. Beating Sonny Liston to win his first championship as a 7-to-1 underdog, defeating chief rival Joe Frazier two out of three times, stopping the undefeated George Foreman as a 4-to-1 underdog (to regain the title), outpointing Kenny . Plus, hes the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. Mike Tyson 5. BoxRec ranked heavyweights, both past and present, and awarded each fighter with an overall score based on its points system. Louis is the prime example of what it means to be a boxing legend. Floyd Mayweather 6. And he was able to use it really effectively. Jack Dempsey 7 5 With his never back style, granite chin and knockout power, he was a really exciting fighter to watch. Ranking Explanation . The Fight of the Century in March 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali his first loss, was proof of that. Signature technique:Bob and weave->Left hook to the head. l give credit to any boxer who can rectify their losses. Deontay Wilder! Roscoe Toles (1931-1950, 45-10-6): 140.1, 31. He was a bully and a quitter. In boxing history, Gerald Arthur Cooney came as the one who gave contenders the most powerful punches. Signature technique:Slip the jab (outside) -> Right overhand. 3. And as the other boxers tried to close the distance, Wladimir got into a clinch or headlocked them (which is much easier when fighting with shorter boxers). Top 50 fighters of 21st century named 50-31 50: Andy Ruiz 49: Ray Mercer 48: Frank Bruno 47: Jack Sharkey 46: Paddy Ryan 45: David Tua 44: Ron Lyle 43: Gerry Cooney 42: Michael Spinks 41: Roy. That allows you to mask your step and land the body shot. Tyson makes lists because he talked trash with alacrity and had an unbelievable EARLY (ultra early) great run. The technique was simple he leaned all his weight on his front foot before throwing the punch. Picking just 10 great heavyweights from 100+ years means some elite champions have to miss out. Before he went to jail, everyone ducked him. Signature technique: Jab->Left hook to the body->Left hook to the head. Famous fight: Archie Moore vs Yvon Durelle I. Holmes style was similar to the style of Muhammad Ali (a classical out-boxer). He destroyed Holmes. Only 2 losses, and he came back and rectified them. Tyson should be on here all right. 9) Sugar Ray Leonard. Lennox has to be top five easy! No substance. Top 10 Boxers Of All Time: According to many experts and historians, the top 10 boxers of all time are: Muhammad Ali: Ali is widely considered the greatest boxer of all time, he was not only a three-time heavyweight champion, but also a cultural icon and political activist. Or Williams, Ellis and Folley. Joey. Evander Holyfield should be top ten. Aged 46 and pudgy and smiling, rather than sculpted and scowling, the American KOd heavyweight champ Michael Moorer with one punch in 1994, claiming back his crown 21 years after he first won it. "I'm fighting to be the greatest fighter ever, not to be the best pound-for-pound right now," Jones said. Shane Mosley couldnt beat Vernon Forrest, but who had the better career? Foreman destroyed Frazier on two occasions. Everyone, maybe save Sonny Liston and Vladimir Klitschko, overcame tough situations in a fight and found a way to win. Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images. Instead, Lennox Lewis represents their era as an all time great, and the 11th best ever? Manny Pacquiao: One of the dominant boxers of his time, Pacquiao has won ten world titles in eight divisions and defeated such champions as Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar DeLaHoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Timothy Bradley, Adrien Broner and Keith Thurman. The first black heavyweight champion was a flamboyant, controversial character but in the ring he was a scientist. Terence Crawford 63. Most of the times Johnson kept a distance from his opponents and fought from the outside but that doesnt mean he wasnt able to out grapple them in the clinches. When it comes to the best heavyweight boxers of all time, the name Larry Holmes shines brighter like the sun. Age: 29. Mike Tyson W: 50 (44 KOs), L: 6, N/C: 2 Best win: KO1. Tyson better than Holmes? Muhammad Ali has been named the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time and the greatest athlete of the 20th century by the magazine 'Sports Illustrated'. To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders, Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications, .css-n1h13z{color:black;color:#fff;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-n1h13z{color:#fff;}}Published14:07,30 August 2020 BST.css-qdg7d1{color:#72B97D;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-qdg7d1{color:#72B97D;}}| Last updated15:48,12 August 2021 BST. He was much bigger and longer than most of his opponents (which is normal when youre 6 6 tall with 81 in reach) and he used this advantage very efficiently. Thats very similar to what Mike Tyson did when he was close to his opponents. You can check out the heavyweights that finished outside of the top 50 over at BoxRec. But honestly, his career and overcoming personal obstacles along the way to date already have him among the greatest heavyweights of all time on our list. 33 Ted (Kid) Lewis. The Easton Assassin was, for a long stretch, the most underrated heavyweight champion. Ali 2. He is like Morrison, as Stevey below says. He was parrying the jabs with his right glove, ducking under the hooks and right straights and usually countering with a left hook to the head or to the body. Do people not know that Lewis beat Tyson in 8 rounds? Scoring a pair of second-round TKOs of Joe Frazier and Ken Norton are a sample size of how terrifying Foreman was in his era. DANNY WILLIAMS who LOST 27 fights knocked out a 38 year-old Tyson in 4 rounds. But they, too, are among the greatest of all time, so thats not too shabby. Clarence Henry (1948-1954, 34-6-1): 167.9, 25. Critics point out that Marciano was small, clumsy and only made six title defences, mainly against ageing opponents. A tall, rangy, Olympic gold medallist with a pulverising jab, high ring IQ and KO power, British-born Lewis could be even higher on this list. But one needs to think in overall terms and career achievements. For your information, 38 isnt your prime, so yeah. The record speaks for itself. The greatest heavyweight is the best boxer by default, as they beat everyone across ALL divisions. But then he threw an uppercut making his opponents fall right into the punch. Boxing legends Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis have all secured a place in the top 10 heavyweight boxers of all time. Tyson could not get past the defense of Lewis and he got knocked out. If you dont think that has anything to do with it you are crazy. Ohh the Tysonites who think boxing was invented in 1984 are out in full force. Lewis only fought guys who were at the end of their careers. Known in years past as "Sin City" and "Babylon on the St. Lawrence", it saw more than its share of ring legends over the decades. This group included Leonard himself and three others; Roberto Durn, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler. In total, he participated in 31 boxing matches with 28 wins, only 3 losses, and 24 knockouts. Very impressive. And every time they tried, he used that opportunity to land a right cross over their punch. The boy from Catsville New York is the second greatest. Zurcher vs. Evans full card results. Wills 16. Ali finished his career with a 56-5 record with 37 KOs. Ruslan Chagaev (1997-2016, 34-3-1): 123.1, 38. When you think of how hard it is to be a successful heavyweight boxer, (or even an unsuccessful one) it is amazing to consider that Mrs. Klitschko gave birth to two, who made it all the way. The 18 greates Coaches in College Football History. Try to forget his social impact, good looks, quotes and even that unique fighting style that saw a 6ft 3in adonis float around the ring like a featherweight - his fists by his sides, daring you to hit him - what makes Ali the No 1 heavyweight ever is something far more concrete. After he throws a jab, Klitschko often stuck his hand in his opponents face, blocking their vision with his glove. In 1980, Holmes beat Ali in the 10th round by corner stoppage. *golf clap*. Because if you want to walk somebody down, youre probably going to get some punches in the face, so you need to know how to deal with them. Drederick Tatum is The Simpsons equivalent of former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Biggest joke of the year . Max Baer, Max Schmeling, James J. Braddock and Jersey Joe Walcott all felt Louis wrath. To be The Greatest, Ali needed rivals to push him and Frazier was one of his best. Tyson had little heart but plenty quit in him. He is not the greatest because he wasnt a role model. Couldnt agree more. And not only that but also his hands were huge. Ali was definitely the most famous but also the most successful out-boxer. As one of the world's greatest boxers of all time, Roberto Duran had 31 consecutive wins before he stepped into the ring with Ken Buchanan in 1972 for his first shot at the title. That way it was really hard for them to catch him. Sonny Liston (1953-1970, 50-4-0): 625.7, 3. Antonio Cervantes 69. Eddie Machen (1955-1967, 50-11-3): 157.1, 26. His famous defeat six years after to Jack Johnson has, over time, obscured his achievements, but theres no arguing with victories over James J. Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, Joe Choynski and Sailor Tom Sharkey. So I know it reasonably well. Lennox Lewis made the cut and Iron Mike didnt..laughable. No Tyson in the list? Was the baddest man on the planet!!!! Simple: no heavyweight in history faced, let alone defeated, a trio of deadly greats like Liston, Frazier and Foreman. Credit: PA 50. George Foreman was a classical slugger (or brawler). I must say I like your list. Anthony Joshua (2013 - present, 23-1-0): 116.9, 44. Liston was nearly knocked out by Cleveland Williams, and also had trouble from Amos Lincoln, but he beat both of them. Cant believe some of these comments! Signature technique:Bait a cross -> Counter with a check lead hook. (explanation), Can you Headlock in Boxing? He nearly lost twice to Ringo Bonevena and was bitch-slapped by Foreman. He was constantly changing levels, bobbing and weaving, feinting and throwing body shots. Vitali Klitschko (1996-2012, 45-2-0): 349.2, 11. Yes, Frazier is a better fighter than a Foreman, even though Foreman beat him up, twice. But its his late-career comeback that sealed Foremans greatness. Tyson usually used that combination when his opponents were covered up and were pressed against the ropes. Tyson was not even the best of his era - Lost to Douglas, Holyfield TWICE, Lennox Lewis,Danny Williams and McBride.. Tyson NEVER beat anyone who beat him and Never came back when he was down in a fight . I agree with you. Kick ass on half that page at least. Style:Infighter (swarmer) / Aggressive counterpuncher. Behind that crisp, piercing jab of his, Holmes enjoyed an eight-year run as world heavyweight champion, defeating the likes of Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers and Muhammad Ali along the way. 6. A few years ago I've started boxing and I've quickly fallen in love with this awesome sport. Thudding around the ring? Most of the knockout blows came from his right hand. Jon Jones doesn't believe Conor McGregor is one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time. Famous fight: Vitali Klitschko vs Corrie Sanders. A peak Tyson could not obliterate a mediocre Bonecrusher Smith, who had limited counter punching skills. Thats an old-school boxing technique which Foreman effectively applied during the golden age of boxing. Having held the world title for seven years, his late career comeback saw him defeat Ray Mercer and almost upset Oliver McCall. Like most of the brawlers, Liston wasnt the fastest boxer which caused him problems against quick out-boxers, as you can see in his fight with Ali. There are many great heavyweight boxers now like Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder but the names that made people fall in love with heavyweight boxing are the Tyson's and Ali's. This list consists of the greatest heavyweight boxing bouts in the history of the sport. Respect. 2. Joe Louis 4. Holyfield was a boxer-puncher. Perhaps one of the best boxers in MMA history, Frankie Edgar often went into the Octagon with a solid game plan. They usually, stay at a mid-range, in position dangerous for both for them and for their opponents. Rocky Marciano (1947-1955, 49-0-0): 692.2, 2. When he was fighting with infighters, he just pushed them away as they tried to close the distance. 1 Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (January 17, 1942 - June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, entertainer, poet, and philanthropist. Wheres mike Tyson? Defeated such outstanding talents as Max Baer, Jack Sharkey, Bob Pastor, James Braddock, Tommy Farr, Billy Conn, John Henry Lewis, Max Schmeling, Jimmy Bivins, Lee Savold and Jersey Joe Walcott. Tyson would never beat Sonny Liston or Joe Frazier or Deontay Wilder for that matter. As did fights from the greatest of the greats, from Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali to Larry Holmes . Unless perhaps Tyson Fury has anything to say about that. The reason why he is one of the greatest boxers is that he has wins over boxers fighting in all styles out-boxers, brawlers, other infighters. Signature technique: Right cross counter over the jab. 34 Marcel Cerdan. A former champion in PRIDE and the UFC, he had an extremely impressive run from 1996 to 2006, where he went 28-3-1. I would have Tyson at #12, Frazier at #11, Dempsey #10, Holmes #9, W Klitschko #8, Liston #7, Marciano #6, Holyfield #5, Foreman #4, Johnson #3, Louis #2 and Ali #1. He peaked early, lost Cus DAmato, then lost all focus because he was very immature. Johnsons story as a whole is worth learning about. He was known for his deadly hitting power throughout his famous boxing career. The Top Ranked Boxers of All-Time from California That allowed him to throw a powerful right cross without his opponents see it by moving his left glove off their eyes a split of the second before the cross lands. MF & DAZN: X Series 005 Jay Swingler v NichLmao, Who won the PFL Challenger Series last night? Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis didnt fear Tyson and were able to subsequently bully the bully. Deontay Wilder (2008 - present, 42-1-1): 122.8, 39. The Ring magazine ranked him the No.53 of the 100 greatest punchers of all time. All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Champions is the title. 1. Besides this strategy, his size advantage was also a huge factor in those two fights (Lewis is 65 tall with 84 reach). Jack Johnson won the heavyweight belt in 1908 and become the first African American heavyweight boxing champion. But definitely NOT an all time top 10 Heavyweight.. Holyfield 9. Biggest Boxing Knockouts in the heavyweight division? But no style is perfect and every boxer has his weaknesses. Fury has combined pure boxing skills with underrated punching power to a supreme level amidst his growing dominance. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. But can we put him up there with the absolute all-time greats just yet? He was also fightingcomfortably in both boxing stances orthodox and southpaw and was switching between them to get a superior angle during the fight. If he had people around him who had cared about him he may have won every fight. OP doesn't seem to be asking for P4P. The video game? Jersey Joe Walcott 66. Thats a really effective combination, especially when fighting against someone fast and slick, who like to move his head a lot. 4. Beat every fighter he ever faced, avenging his two defeats plus the (ridiculous) draw he got in the first Holyfield fight. 6. Twenty-five consecutive title defenses more than imprinted Louis as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. But of course, there are some differences between both fighters. He was a powerful puncher and the most relentless fighter ever. So, after we made that clear, its time to dive into the rankings: Jack Dempsey was a heavyweight champion for 7 years (from 1919 to 1926). These were the titles bestowed to the greatest fighter in the Rocky movies, the heavyweight boxing champion of the world: Apollo Creed ( Carl Weathers ). Because Joshua is much bigger and he is generations ahead of Ali. Gypsy King retained his WBC crown with a stunning KO of Deontay Wilder The Week Staff 11 Oct. That allowed him to jab his opponents from a distance without putting himself in danger. Evander Holyfield 7. Thats why Joe was usually setting his overhandup with a jab to the head. But that allowed him to cover much more distance and surprise his opponents (nobody was probably expecting a pro boxer to move that way). Any ranking also shouldnt be about which boxer beats which in some fantasy fight. Look at Tyson get hammered (YOUNGER than Larry Holmes) in his last two fights against journeymen. Archie Moore, Louis, Walcott are all better, and win over Rocky if younger. Holmes defeated famous boxers including Trevor Berbick, Tim Witherspoon, Leon Spinks, Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney, and even the legendary Muhammad Ali. He was much bigger, stronger and athletic than most of his opponents. A four time heavyweight champion (not to mention cruiserweight champion), The Real Deal never ducked anyone and fought through adversity too many times to count. Of course, there are somesimilarities in the styles of the two brothers. Required fields are marked *. But when the other boxers came close to him, he transitioned to a crossguard so he can defend both his body and his head effectively. But when it came time for Tyson to fight top prime guys, Hes 0-6 in fights that actually matter. Top 12 All-Time Greatest Welterweight Fights, Top 12 All-Time Greatest Muhammad Ali Performances, Top 12 All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Punchers, Top 12 Reasons Why Muhammad Ali Is Forever The Greatest. Riddick Bowe The technique of that punch wasnt perfect at all, (every boxing coach will be shocked if he sees it), but that doesnt mean it wasnt effective. Boxing legends Rocky Marciano and Sonny Liston finished third and fourth respectively, with Lewis rounding off the top five. Holmes fought real fighters men like Earnie Shavers. George Foreman: One of the hardest punchers in boxing history is revered both for his amazing power and his incredible comeback in the 1990s which culminated in his regaining the world title two decades after he lost it in the famous Rumble in the Jungle. His terrifying demolitions of Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, plus his legendary slugfest with Ron Lyle, will never be forgotten. The idea is to distract your opponents attention with the jab. Here, DAZN lists its 10 Best Heavyweights of All Time, in no particular order. Jeffries 15. In an era when segregation was still legal, Louis' athleticism made him one of the few African-American celebrities of his time. Ive read a couple of bios and researched that era. Thats a boxer who likes to exchange. Great fighter but mentally and emotionally not in the same class with the ones you listed. Lennox Lewis: Defeats to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, both of which he avenged with emphatic wins, do not obscure the fact that Lewis was the dominant heavyweight of the 1990s. Many boxers thoughtthat this makes him predictable and easy to deal with. Remove altitude and behavior, he is the greatest. Foreman demolished Frazier in both their fights, the only man that did or could. Holyfield I choose him because hes very contemporary to MT) doesnt talk trash. And a peak Tyson would have obliterated a peak Lennox Lewis too. 9. As Joe liked to say, Nuff said.. Tyson is completely overrated. Go to YouTube and watch his comeback wins (after nearly being stopped) vs Mike Weaver, Earnie Shavers, Renaldo Snipes. Thats why they dont have complex footwork and they arent light on their feet like, for example, the out-boxers. Boxing record: Total fights - 22, Wins - 20, Wins by KO - 14, Losses - 1, Draw -1. Ken Norton (1967-1981, 42-7-1): 135.2, 32. 10. Jack Johnson: Boxings first Black champion of the big men was remarkably quick, very hard to hit, and dangerous with either fist. Rocky Marciano: With the highest knockout percentage of all heavyweight champions and boasting wins over such greats as Archie Moore, Jersey Joe Walcott, Joe Louis and Ezzard Charles, the undefeated "Brockton Blockbuster" proved himself a remarkable warrior. 28 Jack Britton. And Kevin McBride TKOd Tyson is SIX. No way. That way he stopped the punches even before they were thrown. Zurcher vs. Evans full card results. Who is the Greatest Boxer of All Time? He is where he belongs: Honorable Mention, with a lot of other very good but not great heavyweights. Thats true, Tyson was pretty much out of his prime. Obviously, Liston has, by far, the longest reach in the heavyweight class back then. Retired undefeated. Is it the toys? Holmes threw that combo usually while he was circling around his opponents. Ali is a three-time heavyweight world champion and is widely considered the best boxer of all time. 11. This is a list of current professional boxing rankings, which includes the latest rankings by each one of the sport's four major sanctioning bodies, . So Marciano was always trying to close the gap and start an infight. Although he didnt make the list, it doesnt mean he isnt a major problem for the legends at the top of this list. Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis didnt fear Tyson and were able to subsequently bully the bully. The first boxer to set a million-dollar gate, Dempsey was the US superstar attraction of the 1920s with his savage fighting style, devastating power and rugged good looks. Smokin Joedid most of his knockouts, with that punch, while he was walking his opponents down. Haha he was falling all over the place, shaking his head like the little bitch that he was!! 5. Lennox was feinting a right cross to make his opponents lower their head to dodge the shot. Holyfield had a trilogy with Riddick Bowe, beat Foreman, who, while old, had a serious comeback, earlier killed Frasier and Norton inside two rounds, then 5 for Frazier, beat Ron Lyle, and later beat Michael Moorer, half his age, whod BEATEN Holyfield. Thats important because sometimes the greatest boxer doesnt necessarilyneed to be able to beat everybody else. Often titled the greatest boxer of all time, Leonard was also regarded as "Boxer of the Decade" back in the 1980s. And that automatically sets up the cross, because next time he could feint an uppercut and throw a straight right hand instead. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Listons Jab-Cross wasnt the normal 1-2 (jab-cross) combination with light but quick jab and powerful right hand. Tyson is a video-game. Not his fault if he fought and beat old men as champ. Tyson took the title in a lackluster period after an admittedly STRONG early run but gave out fast. Here, DAZN lists its 10 Best Heavyweights of All Time, in no particular order. Larry Holmes (1973-2002, 69-6-0): 330.3, 13. When Louis first retired in 1948, he did so as champion with a 58-1 win-loss record. There will be many famous names and some iconic fights, knockouts, and upsets. March 3, 2023 8:50 am ET. how could you possible list frazier ahead of foreman, that is crazy, simply because foreman DESTROYED him twice. With his, size, his punching power, and his chin, Foreman wasnt afraid to trade punch for punch no matter what type of opponent he was facing. Top 10 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers Of All Time 10 Mike Tyson 9 Lennox Lewis 8 Rocky Marciano 7 Joe Frazier 6 Evander Holyfield 5 Larry Holmes 4 George Foreman 3 Jack Dempsey 2 Joe Louis 1 Muhammad Ali Top 10 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers Of All Time 10 Mike Tyson Image Credit- ABC News Without a doubt for me. Famous fight:Jack Dempsey vs Jess Willard. The style he developed required goodhead movement and timing. Joe Frazier (1965-1981, 32-4-1): 340.3, 12. If a new fan asked me what Johnsons best win was and why, Id have a hard time convincing them.