TGT Play! Odds Deals Podcasts US USA Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maryland Michigan New Jersey As fate would have it, the most gifted athlete the heavyweights ever saw emerged just when the division was stacked with formidable talent like never before or since. In boxing history, Gerald Arthur Cooney came as the one who gave contenders the most powerful punches. 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. Apollo is hands down the greatest boxer in . No one could take him, bigger fighters were not given the room or the time to punch. Ted Kid Lewis 65. Never knew defeat. That list is crap. Joe Louis won his first world heavyweight title in 1937 and held that title for . 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. Ezzard Charles Max Schmeling (1924-1948, 56-10-4): 183, 22. None of the fighters listed knocked out opponents the way Tyson did with speed and fury!!!! But even if you take into account their overall careers, Id still give the edge to Foreman because of his comeback years. Honorable Mentions:Joe Jeannette, Jersey Joe Walcott, Max Schmeling, James J. Corbett, Max Baer, Jack Sharkey, Sam McVea,Peter Jackson, Evander Holyfield, Tom Sharkey, Floyd Patterson, Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko, George Godfrey, John L. Sullivan, Johnny Risko. Any ranking also shouldnt be about which boxer beats which in some fantasy fight. Cus was more than just his coach he was Tysons everything and guided him. By Tyson Bruce 1. He was constantly changing levels, bobbing and weaving, feinting and throwing body shots. The Fight of the Century in March 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali his first loss, was proof of that. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. (Grand Rapids, MI, February 24, 1977) is an American professional boxing promoter and former professional boxer. That way he stopped the punches even before they were thrown. Rocky Marciano A staggering 49-0 record 43 of which by knockout and counting wins over the likes of Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore, Marciano was among the most feared heavyweights of all time. 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. Many . And each of these incredible heavyweights did that: from titanic punchers to dazzling boxers. Holmes destroying Tyson? Listons Jab-Cross wasnt the normal 1-2 (jab-cross) combination with light but quick jab and powerful right hand. This technique is risky and requires good speed. 4. Beat every fighter he ever faced, avenging his two defeats plus the (ridiculous) draw he got in the first Holyfield fight. Many fans think his style was boring, calling it jab and grab. Zurcher vs. Evans full card results. 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. - Graeme Souness admits he was WRONG about Man United prediction and makes a stunning U-turn, Trent Alexander-Arnold outlines plan to stop Marcus Rashford ahead of Liverpool vs Man Utd, Fans cant believe this South Sudan goalkeeper is only 18 years old, Oleksandr Zinchenko tipped to win Premier League 'Player of the Season' award, Fans claim Saudi Pro League is 'scripted' after Cristiano Ronaldo and Martin Campana's 'bizarre' one-on-one encounter, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has not changed his clothes on touchline since mid-February, who is often considered the best boxer of all time, The Result Of The Greatest Boxer Of All Time Has Been Revealed, DAZN Name Top 10 Heavyweight Boxers Of All Time, The 50 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers Of All Time Have Been Named, The Result Of The Greatest F1 Driver Of All Time Has Been Revealed. Modern heavyweights are often ridiculed as being a pale imitation of the legends of the 20th century whose legacies have been immortalised. Jack Johnson won the heavyweight belt in 1908 and become the first African American heavyweight boxing champion. 4. Melio Bettina (1934-1948, 83-14-3): 189.5, 20. Look at Tyson get hammered (YOUNGER than Larry Holmes) in his last two fights against journeymen. Lennox Lewis (1989-2003, 41-2-1): 547.9, 4. He reinvented himself over and over again. He fought in one of the best heavyweight eras and was clearly the best within it for a long time. Holyfield held his own, 15 rounds, against a young Lennox Lewis (who destroyed Tyson), and, beat (not on the scorecards) Nikolai Valuev LATE in EVs career. Note: keep in mind that, like all of our rankings, this is not a who-beats-who list, but one that emphasizes individual accomplishment in each fighters time and the quality of the opposition they bested (which is why, for example, we rate Joe Frazier above George Foreman). Jeffries 15. Perhaps one of the best boxers in MMA history, Frankie Edgar often went into the Octagon with a solid game plan. You can check out the heavyweights that finished outside of the top 50 over at BoxRec. Norton 11. Back in the day, Leonard was also part of "The Fabulous Four.". Definitely, George Foreman is one of the most intimidating and exciting boxers to watch. The legendary Joe Louis was named the best of the best across all eras of boxing, with BoxRec awarding the 'Brown Bomber' a whopping 1,012 points. And Kevin McBride TKOd Tyson is SIX. He nearly lost twice to Ringo Bonevena and was bitch-slapped by Foreman. The only four-time heavyweight world champion in boxing history, Holyfields victory over Riddick Bowe and wins over Mike Tyson, in particular, more than illustrate his warrior footprint in the sport's lore. Then he threw a wide, almost straight elbowed right overhand over the top. Biggest Boxing Knockouts in the heavyweight division? Hard to justify given what Foreman did to Frazier twice, but of course, styles make fights and Foreman was the worst possible match for Frazier. Jack Dempsey (1914-1927, 59-6-9): 146.7, 29. When it comes to the best heavyweight boxers of all time, the name Larry Holmes shines brighter like the sun. Thats how he knocked many of his opponents out thehard jab stunned them and the cross got the job done. Frazier competed during the golden age of heavyweight boxing. Antoni Nogueira is one of the most accomplished fighters in the history of the heavyweight division. Even after his decisive stoppage defeats to Muhammad Ali, he remained a force in the division thanks to his brute strength, devastating jab, and KO power in either fist. Liston was nearly knocked out by Cleveland Williams, and also had trouble from Amos Lincoln, but he beat both of them. However, what really puts Ali number one all time is his quality of opposition. (Legal and Illegal Clinching). Biggest joke of the year . Tyson is a video-game. Holyfield was a completely different fighter in his fight against George Foreman. Journeyman Leroy Caldwell fought many of the best heavyweights from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Thats important because sometimes the greatest boxer doesnt necessarilyneed to be able to beat everybody else. Tyson should be number 2 or 3. Holyfield, for example, beat Tyson twice. Ya uhm no. Cunning and clever, The Galveston Giant didnt just defeat his opponents, but often humiliated them with his skill, smarts and unceasing control of the ring. Evander Holyfield (1984-2011, 44-10-2): 357.7, 10. Since then Im always trying to improve my skills, by finding and testing new strategies, and training methods. Ali 2. Dempsey was also developed great head movement, footwork and he was able to fight in both stances. Both equally as boring and predictable. Rocky Marciano (1947-1955, 49-0-0): 692.2, 2. He spent five years of his prime in jail and then people fought him. But of course, there are some differences between both fighters. Karel Sys (1932-1954, 117-15-10): 115.4, 45. At 18, he won a Gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics. 4 Naoya Inoue. Fury has combined pure boxing skills with underrated punching power to a supreme level amidst his growing dominance. Hence, Ali is considered the greatest. Credit: PA 50. The first man to defeat Muhummad Ali, Frazier only lost to two men (Ali and George Foreman) despite fighting in the most competitive ever heavyweight era. At twenty, he couldve beaten anyone on the list EXCEPT Ali. Plus, he's the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. A victory also could put Jones, 35, back in the conversation for top pound-for-pound fighter, a spot currently held by featherweight Alexander Volkanovski. Following in Alis footsteps, Holmes could be as cold as Ali was charismatic but he could fight. For example against Sonny Liston, he was moving a lot, making him miss and countering him. Most of the knockout blows came from his right hand. Amazingly, he defended his title on 14 different occasions against 13 different boxers from the year he won it until 1974. But Marciano did one thing really well: win. Who is the Greatest Boxer of All Time? Check out which of today's heavyweight fighters make our top 10. Thats why they dont have complex footwork and they arent light on their feet like, for example, the out-boxers. Or Williams, Ellis and Folley. What about Tyson? Holyfield should be on the list. How do you say Tyson beats Lewis when Lewis actually beat Tyson? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Montreal is The Fight City. In a real fight with Smokin Joe, it was really hard to see the punch coming, because of the way he moved. A prime Holmes would have battered Tyson into submission. He was also fightingcomfortably in both boxing stances orthodox and southpaw and was switching between them to get a superior angle during the fight. I think he is one of the greatest boxers not only because of the fact he was a champion or because of his title defenses but also because of his unique style. Some were renowned for their speed while others were famous for being heavy hitters. Twenty-five consecutive title defenses more than imprinted Louis as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. A three-time world heavyweight champion, Lewis outpointed Evander Holyfield (essentially twice), laid Mike Tyson flat on his back via a devastating knockout and let Vitali Klitschko know that hes not to be messed with as part of his polished resume. Very surprising. He also liked to put his gloves on his opponents gloves to trap their hands. Ernie Terrell (1957-1973, 46-9-0): 117.5, 43. Usually, he did this when his opponents were pressed against the ropes. Table of Contents 1. This is no small achievement. Joe Frazier (1965-1981, 32-4-1): 340.3, 12. Muhammad Ali: Why is Ali number one? The 10 Best Heavyweight Boxers In The World Right Now, Named And Ranked. That allowed him to jab his opponents from a distance without putting himself in danger. A fearsome puncher no doubt, but see Holyfield above. Couldnt agree more. McVea and Jeannette were great, but were at their best several years after they last fought Johnson. 49-0! You can see that in his fight against Joe Frazier. Youre the only one with sense. Johnsons story as a whole is worth learning about. And if his opponent was a fastout-boxer, who liked to move a lot, Foreman usually pressured him against the ropes where he nullified his opponents speed advantage was nullified. Nearly none of his games lasted more than 15 rounds. Signature technique:Exit the clinch with an explosive lead hook. Thats very similar to what Mike Tyson did when he was close to his opponents. All a fighter can do is dominate their own era and prove their greatness in their own time. Ali is also consistently ranked among the greatest athletes of the century. Give me a break. Terence Crawford 63. He was known for his deadly hitting power throughout his famous boxing career. Whether it was avenging his loss against Joe Frazier with two victories over his rival,taking the steam out of George Foreman at The Rumble in the Jungle or earning hard-fought wins over the rugged likes of Floyd Patterson and Ken Norton, Alis GOAT legacy resides on the heavyweight throne as the best. Unless perhaps Tyson Fury has anything to say about that. Eventually, he knocked out Louis with a devastating uppercut putting an end to one of the best heavyweight boxing fights; still remembered by the people. Some sort of elaborate prank? Does tag team boxing have a future in the sport? He fought a total of 81 fights with 76 stunning wins. And those are things you cant see very often back then. And they are similar in age so how can you talk about their primes? Posted below are the top 50 heavyweight boxers of all time. Drederick Tatum is The Simpsons equivalent of former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Not his fault if he fought and beat old men as champ. Bob Pastor (1935-1942, 53-7-5): 259.8, 17. No Holyfield? Ohh the Tysonites who think boxing was invented in 1984 are out in full force. Among his vanquished foes are Sam Langford, Tommy Burns, James J. Jeffries, Stanley Ketchel, Jim Flynn, Joe Jeannette and Sam McVea. He was an aggressive counterpuncher (someone who pressures his opponents, to make them throw punches, so he can counter), but he was also skilled infighter a boxer who likes to fight at a very close distance. However there is no denying that the current crop a field that includes Wilder,Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk and more with WBC and The Ring champ Fury sitting top of the heap have produced the most exciting spell for the 200lbs+ realm in a long time. l give credit to any boxer who can rectify their losses. Topics:.css-wpf514{color:#72B97D;}Mike Tyson, Boxing News, Boxing, Joe Louis, Lennox Lewis, muhammad ali, Wladimir Klitschko, Drake has made TWO mammoth bets on Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, fans think he's 'cursed' one of them, 'Hold my hands up!' Even one punch was enough as long as it connects clean. 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, . That way he knocked some of his opponents out, with a quick lead hook, right after exiting the clinch. He is where he belongs: Honorable Mention, with a lot of other very good but not great heavyweights. 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. Wills are you crazy? There was never a Plan B, and theres a point in every boxers career when hes going to need one. Without a doubt for me. 34 Marcel Cerdan. Reviled early on in his championship reign, he eventually became nothing less than an American icon. In my opinion, Moore was a boxer-puncher (someone who is good everywhere inside, outside, can fight in any stance, etc) because he was fighting effective no matter if it was in the clinch or from a long distance where he was circling around his opponents and jabbing them Muhammad Ali style. Haha he was falling all over the place, shaking his head like the little bitch that he was!! As did fights from the greatest of the greats, from Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali to Larry Holmes . Both fighters liked to jab their opponent while circling to their left. He developed one of the hardest jabsin boxing history. Muhammad Ali (1960-1981, 56-5-0): 757.9. Holyfield I choose him because hes very contemporary to MT) doesnt talk trash. His right overhand was a really had punch, because Luis was able to transfer the power from hisfeet, through the body, to the fist very efficiently with a crisp technique. Simply, he beat more great heavyweights than any fighter before or since. Nationality: Japanese. They plant their feet so they can generate as much power as they possibly can. No substance. He had a record of 56-5 and his fights were always highly-anticipated . Lewis only fought guys who were at the end of their careers. Thats why it was hard for them to defend them. He was a very patient fighter who wasnt always taking the risk to finish his opponents off. A 1987 version of Mike would have demolished him. Ingemar Johansson (1952-1963, 26-2-0): 293.6, 15. Holyfield , Lewis , Douglas got the best of him yet Tyson never faced Foreman or either of the Klitscko brothers I believe these three fighters could have beat Tyson as well Also Riddick Bowe would have a Big advantage over Tyson. Joe Frazier (32-4-1, 27 KO) Joe Frazier had beaten many great opponents including Buster Mathis, Doug Jones and Muhammad Ali (once). Tyson at 12 is good. Maybe that was the reason why he has such a knockout power. Larry Holmes won the WBC title in 1978 after he defeated Ken Norton. And both components of his fighting game have been on display in all three of his fights against Deontay Wilder one of boxings biggest punchers of all time and his unanimous decision points win over Wladimir Klitschko. So Maybe Tyson is in the top10 of his era .. No way. Holyfields great defensive skills and toughness allowed him to withstand Tysons punches and eventually to knock him out inthe 11th round (in their first fight). He was the mad experiment of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, boxing minds ever in Cus Damato. The top 10 heavyweights of all time Matt Christie lists the history's finest heavyweights 1. Tyson, maybe, but I have no issue with him being left off. 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. Deontay Wilder! If you dont think that has anything to do with it you are crazy. Shane Mosley couldnt beat Vernon Forrest, but who had the better career? 29 Bob Fitzsimmons. 11. Shut the hell up! Tyson gives up fast when he senses hes losing. Why Boxers can Bet on Themselves (but Not Against Themselves), How Many Heavyweight Boxing Belts are There? The Top 10 Seattle Mariners of all Time. The Jeffries fight was a huge event, but I didnt think this a popularity contest and I dont know how to explain that a 6-year retired ex-champion could be considered one of a guys best wins. 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. And Jersey Joe Walcott, who made him look amateurish and dropped him at like 39 years of age. Tyson took the title in a lackluster period after an admittedly STRONG early run but gave out fast. Using this technique Klitschko made many of his KOs. But Wladimir beat better boxers and has much more title defenses and thats why is ranked higher in this list. Best pure puncher who ever got in a ring. And inane. Plus, hes the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. 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 Roscoe Toles (1931-1950, 45-10-6): 140.1, 31. "I'm fighting to be the greatest fighter ever, not to be the best pound-for-pound right now," Jones said. Oliver McCall (1985-2019, 59-14-0): 121.6, 40. Ranking Explanation . Pure sweet science, master class boxing skills on display from Lewis across his brilliant career. 26 Eder Jofre. Another thing: Joe Frazier and Rocky Marciano would be light heavyweights today. Here, DAZN lists its 10 Best Heavyweights of All Time, in no particular order. Louis too, though I think Louis courage would put him over Tyson. 4. The greatest heavyweight is the best boxer by default, as they beat everyone across ALL divisions. The Tyson of the late 80s definitely belongs there. He was also a very intelligent boxer, who was able to adjust his style according to the different opponents. When Ali first retired, in 1978, he was a three-time heavyweight champ whod avenged every defeat. Your email address will not be published. That way it was really hard for them to catch him. A peak Tyson could not obliterate a mediocre Bonecrusher Smith, who had limited counter punching skills. Naturally, heavyweights of the 1950s couldnt compete in-ring with giants like the Klitschko brothers. Jimmy Bivins (1940-1955, 86-25-1): 389, 7. Another interesting fact about him is that he made an unexpected return after 10 years away from the right to become the oldest man who won the heavyweight title. And as we know, the sport never stops toevolves so Joshua has an unfair advantage over Ali. Elmer Ray (1933-1949, 99-23-11): 170.8, 24. No place for Riddick Bowe, who had the tools but not the application, nor - controversially - his rival Evander Holyfield: the cruiserweight GOAT (but there are some legitimate question marks over the sculpted warriors rise in weight). A jab and a right hand. 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. Go back and watch the Norton fight, even just round 15 if you dont have the time. Foreman was also very tough and has a great punching power which makes it really hard to exchange with him. But definitely NOT an all time top 10 Heavyweight.. #8. 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. Holmes was well old by then and took the fight with only a few weeks to train after a long lay off. Bruce Woodcock (1942-1950, 35-4-0): 119.3, 41. But that allowed him to cover much more distance and surprise his opponents (nobody was probably expecting a pro boxer to move that way). Show some respect. Feel free to add your thoughts and comments! How can you leave him off. One of the favorite Holyfields combinations started with a quick jab to the head, then he lowered his body and head while making a step forward and throwing a lead a hook to the body. A master boxer, Johnson didnt own the raw one-punch power of other heavyweight greats but he was a cunning defensive genius who knew how to land his own shots. Cleveland Williams (1951-1972, 80-13-1): 186.6, 21. Rocky Maricano, Riddick Bowe, Jersey Joe Walcott, Floyd Patterson, Wladimir Klitschko, Ken Norton, Chris Byrd, Archie Moore, and Ron Lyle. But they, too, are among the greatest of all time, so thats not too shabby. Tyson is in the top 5, hands down. Marciano was a classical infighter. And they enabled him to vanquish, among others, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney,Tim Witherspoon, Mike Weaver and Trevor Berbick. Holmes was a deadbeat along with Klitschko. Boxing legends Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis have all secured a place in the top 10 heavyweight boxers of all time. Clarence Henry (1948-1954, 34-6-1): 167.9, 25. Jack Dempsey 7 5 After beating Wilder, Fury is widely regarded as the lineal heavyweight champion. Top 10 Best UFC Heavyweight Fighters Of All time..Welcome back to Sports Paradise, today on the channel we're going to be talking about the Top 10 Best UFC H. Go play somewhere else, child. Archie Moore, Louis, Walcott are all better, and win over Rocky if younger. Louis is the prime example of what it means to be a boxing legend. Very hard to argue against your selections. Wheres mike Tyson? Many have failed at this. Didnt he get beaten by a fat man? Signature technique: Right cross counter over the jab. Holmes was completely washed up-way past his prime. 2. So Marciano was always trying to close the gap and start an infight. #3 Cain Velasquez (UFC record: 12-3, MMA record: 14-3) At his best, Cain . Applause for not ranking Tyson. Then he just waited for his opponents to take the bait, so he can counter them with a short lead hook to the head. So in order to beat such fighter, Holyfield had to fight from the inside. 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. Thats why it was really hard to predict when Frazier was going to throw the left hook. In more recent times, Deontay Wilder and his 10 consecutive title defenses demonstrated his own feared punching power and greatness that shouldn't be overlooked, either. Sugar Ray Leonard 9. He won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympics and went on to become the first boxer to win the heavyweight title three times. Does tag team boxing have a future in the sport? Robinson cannot beat a heavyweight. He won the first one and was robbed by the judges in the third one. The biggest myth ever. His prime was a bit like Iron Mike himself: short, sharp and explosive. With his 25 title defenses,Klitschko has one of the longest title reigns in the heavyweight division. 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. To be The Greatest, Ali needed rivals to push him and Frazier was one of his best. Sonny Liston a brawler. These are hardly heavyweight limelights and I mention Tysons age 38 because considering the legit comebacks going on, Tyson was NOT that old. He became a national hero at a dark time during the nation's history and a symbol of anti-Nazi sentiment leading into World War 2. He never gave any of the three rematches in their heavyweight primes. Frazier is the only man to defeat Muhammad Ali when he was anywhere close to his prime. Tyson ADMITS he bit EH (classy) out of frustration not knowing what to do when he knew hed lose). And Archie Moore and Ezzard Charles. This group included Leonard himself and three others; Roberto Durn, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler. 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.