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. Also, this is a ranking of the greatest boxers and not of the best ones. He is where he belongs: Honorable Mention, with a lot of other very good but not great heavyweights. George Foreman. TGT Tips! Thats why Joe was usually setting his overhandup with a jab to the head. 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. If a new fan asked me what Johnsons best win was and why, Id have a hard time convincing them. He was doing that by keeping his lead hand low, making himself vulnerable for crosses. Dominant wins over Eddie Machen, George Chuvalo, Jimmy Ellis, Oscar Bonavena, Doug Jones, Bob Foster, Buster Mathis, Jerry Quarry and Joe Bugner prove the point. Couldnt agree more. Holyfield was only person fought well with tyson in his prime. Jeffries 15. His record is no different than Tommy Morrisons, same tomato cans, Tommy had an even higher KO %. Henry Cooper (1954-1971, 40-14-1): 118.8, 42. A gift and a curse. After he throws a jab, Klitschko often stuck his hand in his opponents face, blocking their vision with his glove. His joint record of defeating 21 boxers for the world heavyweight championship and winning 14 championship bouts was unbeaten for 35 years. Absolutely, Mr. Weiler. 11. Rocky Marciano 12. These are hardly heavyweight limelights and I mention Tysons age 38 because considering the legit comebacks going on, Tyson was NOT that old. Tyson Fury (2008 - present, 30-0-1): 173.2, 23. The order in which we presented the respective lists had no logic; we started with the middleweights, before going on to rank the bantamweights, light heavyweights, flyweights, featherweights, welterweights and, most recently, the lightweights but naturally, we saved for last the guys at the top of the beanstalk: the big men; the heavyweights. Foreman demolished Frazier in both their fights, the only man that did or could. Frazier was a very carefully managed fighter who could not win against power punchers. Joe Louis won his first world heavyweight title in 1937 and held that title for . Why Boxers can Bet on Themselves (but Not Against Themselves), How Many Heavyweight Boxing Belts are There? Top 19 Heavyweights of all time - The Grueling Truth Today we rank the 20 greatest Heavyweights of all time, some on this list may surprise you while others may not. The Brockton Blockbuster owns the most famous heavyweight record: 49-0. His ring career lasted between 1968 and 2001. 20 of the Best Boxing Movies of All Time But that allowed him to cover much more distance and surprise his opponents (nobody was probably expecting a pro boxer to move that way). Top 25 Greatest Boxers of All Time - TheSportster Joe Frazier: The man they called Smokin Joe doesnt get enough love on most ATG lists, but overlooked are two things: 1. Required fields are marked *. Marciano 4. But of course, there are some differences between both fighters. l give credit to any boxer who can rectify their losses. Top 19 Heavyweights of all time - The Grueling Truth Jack Johnson: Boxings first Black champion of the big men was remarkably quick, very hard to hit, and dangerous with either fist. He was a bully and a quitter. The Easton Assassin was, for a long stretch, the most underrated heavyweight champion. Signature technique:Slip the jab (outside) -> Right overhand. 9) Sugar Ray Leonard. Lets set the record straight. Antoni Nogueira is one of the most accomplished fighters in the history of the heavyweight division. Clarence Henry (1948-1954, 34-6-1): 167.9, 25. Final record: 66-3, with 52 knockouts. However, what really puts Ali number one all time is his quality of opposition. That definitely wasnt the prime Ali but still, there arent many people who can say that they have a win over such a boxer. 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. Tyson could never deal with adversity, which is why he doesnt belong on the list of ATGs. Thats a really effective combination, especially when fighting against someone fast and slick, who like to move his head a lot. Perhaps one of the best boxers in MMA history, Frankie Edgar often went into the Octagon with a solid game plan. Whoever made this list is a Damm fool if you dont put Mike Tyson either 2 or 3 and to not even have Evander Holyfield on the list but Lennox Lewis have to be the dumbest people ever.I mean ever, Youve got to be the dumbest. The Top 21 Offensive Linemen in NFL History. 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. 17 Reasons why Jordan is greater than Lebron. Plus, he's the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. After a standout amateur career, he turned pro in 1934. If only Cus would have lived ten more years I think Tyson would be top 5. Some were renowned for their speed while others were famous for being heavy hitters. The similaritiesheavyweight champion, jail sentence, exotic lifestyle and signature voiceare. Anthony Smith talks biggest threats to Jon Jones at heavyweight, never Sorry, if Holmes is on they should both be in the top 5. What time is Shevchenko vs. Grasso tonight? Joe Baksi (1940-1954, 61-9-3): 109.8 49. Top 10 best heavyweight fights of all time - Sportszion Are you guys kidding me? Frazier competed during the golden age of heavyweight boxing. He developed one of the hardest jabsin boxing history. Boxing's 50 Greatest Heavyweight Fighters Of All Time Have - SPORTbible 5. Dont be a hater all your life! That way he built huge momentum in his punch and dramatically increased its power. Lennox Lewis is too low. Notable Wins: TKO6 over Bill Brennan in 1918, KO1 over Fred Fulton in 1918, KO1 over Carl Morris in 1918, KO3 over Billy Miske in 1920, KO12 over Bill Brennan in 1920, 15 round points win over . It was full power with every punch. 6. Roy Jones Jr. Roy Jones Jr. is also one of the larger fighters on this list. There will be many famous names and some iconic fights, knockouts, and upsets. #8. Here, DAZN lists its 10 Best Heavyweights of All Time, in no particular order. The 5 best Heavyweights in UFC and MMA history - Sportskeeda Bruce Woodcock (1942-1950, 35-4-0): 119.3, 41. Never knew defeat. Holmes 8. The Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time Famous fight: Wladimir Klitschko vs. Calvin Brock. Tyson would have torn apart Holmes in any era. Among his vanquished foes are Sam Langford, Tommy Burns, James J. Jeffries, Stanley Ketchel, Jim Flynn, Joe Jeannette and Sam McVea. 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. Holyfield, for example, beat Tyson twice. 10 Best Undefeated Boxers in the History Ranked. Tags: Evander Holyfield George Foreman Greatest Heavyweight Boxers Jack Johnson Joe Frazier Joe Louis Larry Holmes Lennox Lewis Mike Tyson Muhammad Ali of all time Rocky Marciano Tyson Fury. 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. But then he threw an uppercut making his opponents fall right into the punch. 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. The 20 Greatest Athletes of all Time Which actually was a really effective strategy he beat both those guys. How can you leave him off. Give me a break. 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. Defeating a 26-year-old Michael Moorer at the age of 45 back in November 1994 to once again be crowned as heavyweight champion demonstrated how a heavyweights power is the last to leave his hands. Go play somewhere else, child. Today I saw alacrity used correctly (perfectly, for that matter). Top 10 Best UFC Heavyweight Fighters Of All time.. - YouTube Holmes threw that combo usually while he was circling around his opponents. 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. The technique was simple he leaned all his weight on his front foot before throwing the punch. Definitely, George Foreman is one of the most intimidating and exciting boxers to watch. 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. Lewis 7. Beat every fighter he ever faced, avenging his two defeats plus the (ridiculous) draw he got in the first Holyfield fight. Holmes was completely washed up-way past his prime. What is clear is the amount of opponents Tyson overwhelmed with his devastating power. Shane Mosley couldnt beat Vernon Forrest, but who had the better career? The 10 Best Heavyweight Boxers In The World Right Now, Named And Ranked. But that way Ali was much more mobile and was able to see the punches better and to slip them. No iron mike?? 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. When he was fighting with infighters, he just pushed them away as they tried to close the distance. Instead, Lennox Lewis represents their era as an all time great, and the 11th best ever? That way he stopped the punches even before they were thrown. 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. The best lightweight boxers in the world, named and ranked The best British pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked 10. 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. But The Easton Assassin (Larrys nickname) was faster and more explosive. 7. Ted Kid Lewis 65. Often titled the greatest boxer of all time, Leonard was also regarded as "Boxer of the Decade" back in the 1980s. A jab and a right hand. Everyone, maybe save Sonny Liston and Vladimir Klitschko, overcame tough situations in a fight and found a way to win. Yeah, Holmes lost twice to Michael Spinks, while Tyson knocked out Spinks in 90 seconds. In an era when segregation was still legal, Louis' athleticism made him one of the few African-American celebrities of his time. Amazing speed, unsurpassed ring intelligence, plus astonishing courage, durability, and will to win, not to mention longevity, make Ali a cut above the rest, the best big man of both the 1960s and 70s, and in truth, as he liked to say himself, The Greatest Of All-Times.. How do you say Tyson beats Lewis when Lewis actually beat Tyson? And those are things you cant see very often back then. Muhammad Ali: Why is Ali number one? 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. And each of these incredible heavyweights did that: from titanic punchers to dazzling boxers. Huh? List of the 10 greatest heavyweight boxers of all time: Has - DAZN Because of his style, Wladimir took much less damage during his career than Vitali. Your email address will not be published. 8. Foreman destroyed Frazier on two occasions. Posted below are the top 50 heavyweight boxers of all time. After three years in prison, Tysons quickness was gone. 9. Ketchel had no business at heavyweight. Peak Big George demolished unbeaten Frazier inside two rounds, then did the same to tough Ken Norton. And a peak Tyson would have obliterated a peak Lennox Lewis too. He was good everywhere, no matter if he was fighting from the inside, or from a long distance. 4. He did what not one of the above mentioned ever did! At a very leisurely pace over the last couple of years, The Fight City has offered its own idiosyncratic rankings of the all-time greatest boxers in each of the eight traditional weight classes. 13 Best Heavyweights In MMA History, Ranked - TheSportster Sonny Liston: In the late 50s and early 60s Liston devastated the division with knockouts over Cleveland Williams, Nino Valdes, Roy Harris, Zora Folley and Eddie Machen, before taking the title from Floyd Patterson in 1962. No way. And he was able to use it really effectively. This is no small achievement. 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. Naturally, heavyweights of the 1950s couldnt compete in-ring with giants like the Klitschko brothers. What time is the Jay Swingler vs. NichLMAO fight tonight. His prime was a bit like Iron Mike himself: short, sharp and explosive. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Dont let that KO reel fool ya. Top 10 Light Heavyweights of All Time - The Grueling Truth Very surprising. A more intelligent fighter and harder puncher than Ali. Joe Frazier (1965-1981, 32-4-1): 340.3, 12. Wladimir Klitschko (1996-2017, 64-5-0): 537.5, 5. A boxing enthusiast who is always eager to learn something new about boxing and share it! Couldnt be hurt. Back in the day, Leonard was also part of "The Fabulous Four.". Pacquiao .more #1680 of 1,902 For example, Ali has better footwork and used it much more than Holmes, who liked to pressure his opponents more. He was a pressuring fighter who was really explosive (especially with his left hook). Max Schmeling (1924-1948, 56-10-4): 183, 22. You can check out the heavyweights that finished outside of the top 50 over at BoxRec. But thats not the reason why he is on that list. 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. He had a record of 56-5 and his fights were always highly-anticipated . George Foreman has eclipsed boxing icon, Mike Tyson, as the all-time toughest heavyweight. Top 30 Best Boxers of All Time (Updated 2023) Ranking top 10 greatest heavyweight boxers of all time Plus, hes the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. Modern heavyweights are often ridiculed as being a pale imitation of the legends of the 20th century whose legacies have been immortalised. The best American pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked, The best super-middleweights in the world, named and ranked, The best lightweight boxers in the world, named and ranked, The best British pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked. Signature technique:Right cross feint -> Right uppercut. Louis too, though I think Louis courage would put him over Tyson. Famous fight:Jack Dempsey vs Jess Willard. Before he went to jail and before Cus DAmato died, he couldnt be touched. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. (Grand Rapids, MI, February 24, 1977) is an American professional boxing promoter and former professional boxer. JOE LOUIS has been named the greatest heavyweight of all time by George Foreman - with Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson also on the list but no WBC champion Tyson Fury. And they are similar in age so how can you talk about their primes? Tyson ADMITS he bit EH (classy) out of frustration not knowing what to do when he knew hed lose). That way his opponents didnt see the punch at all. The 18 greates Coaches in College Football History. 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. Top 15 All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Boxers (Style Breakdown). Power, toughness, and unsurpassed conditioning were Rockys calling-cards, along with a brutal relentlessness which no one in his era could withstand. ESPN rates Fury as the best current heavyweight and one of the heaviest heavyweight boxers of all time with 126 kg in November 2021. Tyson had little heart but plenty quit in him. Floyd Patterson (1952-1972, 55-8-1): 321.5, 14. Boxing: The 10 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time He also kept his hands low and his chin up, which are common mistakes according to many coaches. Hasim Rahman (1994-2014, 50-9-2): 115.1, 46. Look at the fear Tyson compounded with ferocious punches for Trevor Berbick, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno and Donovan Ruddock to name a few amidst his reign of terror during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s. Usually, he did this when his opponents were pressed against the ropes. 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. Jack Dempsey 7 5 Remove altitude and behavior, he is the greatest. 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. Required fields are marked *. Nor did he obliterate a mediocre Tony Tucker, both title fights in 1987. Height: 6 ft 2 in. That way he was nullifying the reach and height advantages of his opponents. Liston wasnt the tallest or the biggest boxer. 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. Today's big question Where does Tyson Fury rank among the best heavyweight boxers of all time? Rocky Marciano (1947-1955, 49-0-0): 692.2, 2. Cant understand this fixation with Tyson, all these guys mop the floor with Tyson. This is supposed to be joke right? Johnsons story as a whole is worth learning about. He ducked Shavers, Lyle and even an old Sonny Liston. Eddie Machen (1955-1967, 50-11-3): 157.1, 26. With a sublime jab, toughness and an elite boxing brain, Holmes was a terrific all-rounder. Greatest Boxers of All Time - Top Ten List - TheTopTens Cant make this list without Tyson and Holyfield. But Wladimir beat better boxers and has much more title defenses and thats why is ranked higher in this list. Retired undefeated. Ten greatest heavyweight fighters in MMA history: Fedor Emelianenko Lennox Lewis: Of all the legendary names to inhabit a heavyweight era in the 1990s that was one of the deepest in boxing history, Lewis might very well be its best and most complete fighter. Alan Belcher has been the BKFC heavyweight champion for less than a week, and he has lofty ambitions about the types of fights that could come next. 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. Yeah the same one who lost his title to a light heavy? Montreal is The Fight City. I think he is one of the greatest because of how better he was than his competition. Age: 29. He has no comeback ability. Look at Tyson get hammered (YOUNGER than Larry Holmes) in his last two fights against journeymen. Joey. Nearly none of his games lasted more than 15 rounds. Ranking the 10 Best Fictional Boxers in History Ali is also consistently ranked among the greatest athletes of the century. Having held the world title for seven years, his late career comeback saw him defeat Ray Mercer and almost upset Oliver McCall. Ohh the Tysonites who think boxing was invented in 1984 are out in full force. He reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, and is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. Oliver McCall (1985-2019, 59-14-0): 121.6, 40. More, and better, accomplishments. He should be considered as one of the best Lightweights of all time. After beating Wilder, Fury is widely regarded as the lineal heavyweight champion. No. Dempsey was also developed great head movement, footwork and he was able to fight in both stances. Big heart, just would not be beaten. His 68 knockouts speak for themselves. Holmes went, what, 48-0. They usually, stay at a mid-range, in position dangerous for both for them and for their opponents. Holyfield was a boxer-puncher. Evander also won their second fight after Tyson was disqualified after he bit Evanders ear several times but it was clear that Mike did that out of desperation. And they enabled him to vanquish, among others, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney,Tim Witherspoon, Mike Weaver and Trevor Berbick. Larry Holmes (1973-2002, 69-6-0): 330.3, 13. Two comeback fights, when he was pushing 40, spoiled that record - but nothing can change the fact that he is indeed The Greatest. Plus, hes the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. Table of Contents 1. 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. Dempsey 14. More athletic and aggressive than Liston. 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. MUHAMMAD ALI 56-5 (37), 1960-1981 ENJOYED three reigns as world champion during a 21-year-career. Then show me a fight where Tyson did anything similar. Here are the top 25 greatest boxers of all time: 26 Honorable Mentions: Gene Tunney, Marvin Hagler, Julio Cesar Chavez, Manny Pacquiao & The Klitschko's The history of boxing is such that this could be a list of the 250 greatest boxers of all-time, and there would still be some great names left out. Ken Norton. Throw in Norton, Quarry, Patterson, Lyle and Bonavena too. 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 agree, those two losses are crap. For example, Muhammad Ali is a much greater boxer than Anthony Joshua, because of his competition and the things he accomplished but I dont think that he is able to beat Joshua if they fought in their primes. But definitely NOT an all time top 10 Heavyweight.. Still, the fact he beat Holyfield, Tyson, Vitali Klitschko, David Tua, Razor Ruddock and more says it all. Marciano never fought Joe Louis. Mayweather, Tyson, Fury, Ali, Canelo: 100 greatest boxers of all time David Haye (2002-2018, 28-4-0): 133.4, 36. And Ali proved himself the best of them all. Thats very similar to what Mike Tyson did when he was close to his opponents. Many cite this as a feat of Marciano. BoxRec ranked heavyweights, both past and present, and awarded each fighter with an overall score based on its points system. Bonecrusher Smith happened WAY too early. Kick ass on half that page at least. 12. Reviled early on in his championship reign, he eventually became nothing less than an American icon. Fury has combined pure boxing skills with underrated punching power to a supreme level amidst his growing dominance. Many people think that Lennox Lewis was a boxer-puncher, but I think he was a combination between an out-boxer and a brawler. Cant overlook Holmes place in heavyweight history. However, Louis was able to take revenge for this match after two years. Holyfield I choose him because hes very contemporary to MT) doesnt talk trash. Simply, he beat more great heavyweights than any fighter before or since. 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. Accurate list! Ranking The 25 Greatest UFC Fighters Of All Time - Unlock Your Sports World Tyson would never beat Sonny Liston or Joe Frazier or Deontay Wilder for that matter. Michael Hunter. Smokin Joe was an absolute buzzsaw. Signature technique:Bait a cross -> Counter with a check lead hook. But he was also the greatest boxers who ever lived, There are several reasons why: But Muhammad did the complete opposite he crossed his feet by moving his right foot behind his left one while moving to his left. 1. No Mike Tyson is a shame!! By Tyson Bruce 1. But strictly off resume, he belongs closer to the bottom of this list than to the top. Robinson cannot beat a heavyweight. Tyson makes lists because he talked trash with alacrity and had an unbelievable EARLY (ultra early) great run. And that automatically sets up the cross, because next time he could feint an uppercut and throw a straight right hand instead. 32 Packey McFarland. Few fighters have had the menacing aura Tyson carried to the ring and while brutal punch power was his trademark, peak Tyson also boasted fast hands, a sneaky jab, head movement and a strong chin. Mike Tyson was the best fighter I ever saw. Frazier was able to knock everyone out with it. He beat everyone and won all the belts. His duels with George Foreman (Rumble in the Jungle, 1974) and Joe Frazier (Thrilla in Manila . Cruiserweights May 1994 Issue Evander Holyfield Dwight Qawi Carlos DeLeon Ossie Ocasio Orlin Norris Super Middleweights May 1994 Issue Chong-Pal Park Sugar Ray Leonard Thomas Hearns James Toney Michael Nunn Jr Middleweights May 1994 Issue