After getting roughed up by a prime Mike Tyson, Thomas was never the same and his career quickly fizzled out. Second, since we have chosen to rank fighters in one division only so we can spread the glory around, you will not see Gene Tunney, Ezzard Charles orSam Langford here, as they are on our list of the all-time best light heavyweights. 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;}}Published10:53,03 September 2021 BST.css-1kib7lm{color:#666666;color:#72B97D;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-1kib7lm{color:#72B97D;}}@media (min-width:1024px){.css-1kib7lm{color:#efefef;}}| Last updated10:54,04 May 2022 BST. Greg was a very skilled boxer-puncher with technique and a punch that would shake you to the bone. Anthony Joshua (2013 - present, 23-1-0): 116.9, 44. 8), Mike Tyson (No. The 50 greatest heavyweights of all time have been named ESPN also listed him as "The Hardest Hitters in Heavyweight History". Both fighters are full-sized heavyweights: Anderson is 6-foot-4, 247-plus pounds while Kossobutskiy is 6-3 . And its hard to say that someone that has the highest knock out percentage and never lost isnt at least top two, or more likely number one. Lewis beat tyson and evander and every boxer he ever faced. Some of the fighters on this list had a bit of quit in them. Email THE RING Magazine and your comments could be printed in our next issue: [emailprotected] Emailed letters will include a writers email address unless a city and state of origin is provided. But they were great. Tyson Furys second title defence a sixth-round knockout of Dillian Whyte followed his October trilogy rematch victory over Deontay Wilder and kicked off more discussion as to where he stands among the greatest heavyweights of all time. Jack Dempsey: Fast, aggressive and powerful, The Manassa Mauler revolutionized boxing with his swarming, all-action style. World News, Social Issues, Politics, Entertainment and Sports. And each of these incredible heavyweights did that: from titanic punchers to dazzling boxers. Ferocious. 47. No one could take him, bigger fighters were not given the room or the time to punch. Holyfield, for example, beat Tyson twice. Now, Kossobutskiy will make his North American debut against his best opponent to date. Literally knocking over tomato cans. 100 greatest Heavyweight boxers (Boxing.com) Stats - Sporcle Boxing News Magazine 100 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers Special Issue View Reviews | Write Review Only $7.99 . A metropolis where hundreds of young warriors train and battle each day in its many gyms, it is where Archie Moore, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Bernard Hopkins all found greatness. Compared to Liston, Mike Tyson was a choirboy. Johnson KO15 Jeffries. A 1987 version of Mike would have demolished him. Haha he was falling all over the place, shaking his head like the little bitch that he was!! Nineteen of the 30 electors ranked Ali first. Jimmy Bivins (1940-1955, 86-25-1): 389, 7. Smokin Joe was an absolute buzzsaw. Sonny Liston, Floyd Paterson (twice), Foreman, Frazier (twice), Norton (twice) and many more hall of famers around that. Let's go to the video: 50 Greatest: Gene Tunney. Not a bad list, but a few observations: It was avenged in devastating style: two minutes and four seconds of violence that left Schmeling with broken bones in his back. Hasim Rahman (1994-2014, 50-9-2): 115.1, 46. 3. Johnson finished in third place in the minds of the media and historians. Its also about what he did outside the ring and what were left remembering about him.. Wilbur's 100 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time: 60-51 Top 12 All-Time Greatest Heavyweights: Ranking Boxing's Best Big Men Except for Bowe, they werent in their prime when Evander beat them, but thats still an impressive accomplishment. Watch the DAZN Boxing Show and live fights on DAZN, Sterling vs. Cejudo preview, how to watch. Give me a break. He is like Morrison, as Stevey below says. But even if you take into account their overall careers, Id still give the edge to Foreman because of his comeback years. And inane. Jack took full advantage of the free lesson and went on to become one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time. Larry Holmes (1973-2002, 69-6-0): 330.3, 13. To what extent does the mythology that enshrouds a fighter factor into his greatness? He beat an old drunk (John L. Sullivan) for the title, defended it once against an aging British middleweight (Charlie Mitchell) and lost it to another aging British middleweight (Bob Fitzsimmons). Before he went to jail, everyone ducked him. Walcott was 37, but he outboxed Marciano for most of their first match. Give him credit for that. The first black heavyweight champion was a flamboyant, controversial character but in the ring he was a scientist. Rocco "Rocky" Marciano became the World Heavyweight Champion in 1952 after defeating Jersey Joe Walcott and is the only title holder to have retired undefeated as champion. He had one great fight, the first fight against Evander Holyfield. Tyson had little heart but plenty quit in him. 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. Certain champions touch an entire generation. A fighters skill level is important. Are you guys kidding me? He fought his share of soft opponents. Drinking nearly killed him in 1888, yet he whipped the next-best (white) man a year later in a bare-knuckle match that lasted more than two hours. He has a degree in Football Business and Media, previously working as a press and media officer at Bury Football Club. Tyson better than Holmes? Dempsey 12. Archie Moore, Louis, Walcott are all better, and win over Rocky if younger. Charles was 32 years old in the first Marciano fight. Also held a management role for Last Word on Sports Motorsport page. Against Williams I heard his ligament snap when he was gong in to finish him off. He was black Americas first black hero. After knocking out a very green Jack Johnson, both Choynski and Johnson were arrested and sent to jail, which was quite common in those days since boxing was illegal. A giant who fought with finesse. Vitali Klitschko (1996-2012, 45-2-0): 349.2, 11. Retired undefeated. But so too is that fighters skill level within the context of his time. Jack Dempsey (No. Lennox carried himself with dignity and grace for his entire career. Top row: John L. Sullivan, James Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, James Jeffries; Second row: Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Louis; Third row: Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman; Fourth row: Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe; Fifth row: Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko. When you squander talent like that, you dont deserve to be ranked high. Ali 2. Ruslan Chagaev (1997-2016, 34-3-1): 123.1, 38. His prime was a bit like Iron Mike himself: short, sharp and explosive. Boxing magazine 'The Pugilist' have posted one fans top 50 boxers of all time and Sugar Ray Robinson leads Muhammad Ali as the top two. Farr ranks as one of the most well known Welsh fighters in boxings history. Bobs downfall was what made him so popular, his all out approach that left him overextended, open for counter punches, and out of gas in the later rounds if the early KO did not come. Foreman demolished Frazier in both their fights, the only man that did or could. The mold of a perfect fighter. Muhammad Ali had incredible physical gifts, skill, determination and heart. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. A great fighter needs great competition. Modern heavyweights are often ridiculed as being a pale imitation of the legends of the 20th century whose legacies have been immortalised. He was wildly popular. Jack Dempsey (1914-1927, 59-6-9): 146.7, 29. Montreal is The Fight City. The boy from Catsville New York is the second greatest. What impact did he have on his time? He spent five years of his prime in jail and then people fought him. Thudding around the ring? 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. In his short prime, Tyson is a serious challenge for anyone. Top 10 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers Of All Time | Sportshubnet Most Famous Fight(s): Controversial 10 round points loss to Jack Sharkey in 1925. Notable Wins: 10 round points win over George Godfrey in 1924, KO9 over Fred Fulton in 1923, TKO15 over Floyd Johnson in 1923. 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. Peak Big George demolished unbeaten Frazier inside two rounds, then did the same to tough Ken Norton. 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. Page would often cut corners in training camp, or refuse to train at all. Tyson, maybe, but I have no issue with him being left off. 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. Frazier is the only man to defeat Muhammad Ali when he was anywhere close to his prime. He peaked early, lost Cus DAmato, then lost all focus because he was very immature. But if they fought, Id pick Vitali. Jack Sharkey. Thomas had heavy feet, but a good jab, a stocky frame, good chin, and a knack for cutting off the ring. 12. Tyson Fury (2008 - present, 30-0-1): 173.2, 23. Muhammad Ali is the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time according to major Sports publications like Sports Illustrated, NBCSports, BBC, and ESPN SportsCentury. We cant be too American-centric. Impeccable defense. I loved his response when someone asked him what he was thinking when Walcott knocked him down in their first fight: Gee, this fellow hits hard. Satterfield was one of the hardest hitting heavyweights of all time, but considering that he was a natural light heavyweight, his heavy punches were freakish and noteworthy for their pound for pound devastation. A thunderous left hook, relentless work ethic and an awkward pressure-fighting style: Smokin Joe was a force of nature. 9 Best Boxing Matches of All Time - Men's Journal Jack Johnson was ahead of his time in so many ways. Nobody ever got more out of what he had as a fighter than Marciano. But when it came time for Tyson to fight top prime guys, Hes 0-6 in fights that actually matter. Holmes 8. Most Famous Fight(s): KO27 loss to Jim Corbett, 20 round draw to James J. Jeffries in 1897. Notable Wins: KO3 over Jack Johnson in 1901, KO15 over George Godfrey in 1892, KO2 over Peter Maher in 1903. In the eyes of several electors, that was where Tyson came up short. Tyson was a thicker, harder-hitting Joe Frazier. Most boxing was done in amateur athletic clubs, which is where early greats like Choynski and Jim Corbett learned their craft. 6) edged out George Foreman (No. I can only imagine how interesting fights between Ibeabuchi and the Klitschko brothers would have been. Heavyweight Ring career: 1985-2005. And after being heavyweight champion, he came back more than a decade later to do it again. No Mike Tyson is a shame!! 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. Andy Ruiz Jr. 49. Seven of the nine electors who ranked Louis first ranked Ali second. But he took a better punch and was tougher than all of them. During the 1890s, the modern boxing game was in its infancy and only a handful of fighters had a grasp of proper technique. But lurking in the back of many minds was the question: Which of these fighters took boxing to a new level in terms of skills, societal importance, or both? And Kevin McBride TKOd Tyson is SIX. 15. Chris Byrd (1993-2009, 41-5-1): 142.9, 30. Walcott. READ: Bill Caplans 20 greatest heavyweights (2016). Satterfield did not have a glossy record, piling up 25 losses and 4 draws in 79 fights, yet he was amongst the most popular boxers of his era. Ken Norton should get at least an honorable mention. 8. Media: Al Bernstein, Ron Borges, Gareth A Davies, Norm Frauenheim, Jerry Izenberg, Harold Lederman, Paulie Malignaggi, Dan Rafael and Michael Rosenthal, Historians: Craig Hamilton, Steve Lott, Don McRae, Bob Mee, Clay Moyle, Adam Pollack and Randy Roberts. Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer to become the oldest Heavyweight Champion at the astonishing age of 45. The poll evaluated 20 champions dating back to the dawn of gloved heavyweight championship fights. Thats quite an accomplishment. He was a disappointment. Tyson should be on here all right. The Best Heavyweights Of All Time, Named And Ranked Or what about a match between fellow Nigerian power punchers, Ibeabuchi vs. Sam Peter? Fiercely independent, Boxing News magazine strives to guide fight fans through the complicated boxing world with . Nova found a home in the top 10 heavyweight rankings for half a decade in the late 1930s and early 1940s. 1. Ken Norton (1967-1981, 42-7-1): 135.2, 32. He beat everyone and won all the belts. Ketchel had no business at heavyweight. Larry Holmes could knock you out with his jab. To draw an analogy to another sport, some of pro footballs greatest lineman from the past weighed 240 pounds. 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.. His shaky chin did not help his cause either. David Haye (2002-2018, 28-4-0): 133.4, 36. Consider the competition that Marciano beat. Do people not know that Lewis beat Tyson in 8 rounds? If a fighter was ranked No. Best Heavyweight Boxers | Top Heavy Weight Boxer List - Ranker He boasts solid wins over David Tua, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer and Vitali Klitschko. Really? Mike Tyson is number 10 in our list of top 10 greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. 1. 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 stood out as a fighter the way Joe Louis did in his era. Most Famous Fight(s): KO2 loss to Ezzard Charles in 1954. Notable Wins: KO3 over Cleveland Williams in 1954, UD over Nino Valdes in 1955, KO1 over Bob Baker in 1953. I doubt that he could have done that against Marciano. Ali and George Foreman were much bigger. I agree with you. Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield are all easily among the best heavyweight boxers ever. My own preference is to rank Ali No. 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. But as a fight, it was like Ali- Holmes. List of the 10 greatest heavyweight boxers of all time: Has Tyson Fury