There will be many famous names and some iconic fights, knockouts, and upsets. In his great boxing career, Jones has won several world titles, and he also won a Silver medal at the Olympics in 1988. Had three fights with Ali. Sugar Ray Robinson 3. Power, toughness, and unsurpassed conditioning were Rockys calling-cards, along with a brutal relentlessness which no one in his era could withstand. And every time they tried, he used that opportunity to land a right cross over their punch. Vitali Klitschko (1996-2012, 45-2-0): 349.2, 11. Required fields are marked *. 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 . And it was one of his main weapons. Plus, hes the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. Drederick Tatum is The Simpsons equivalent of former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. And they probably didnt expect to get three of those hard jabs to the head in a row. 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. He was always moving forward, fighting in aclose distance, pushing and bullying his opponents. Shorboxing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Evander Holyfield 7. A jab and a right hand. But no style is perfect and every boxer has his weaknesses. But that way Ali was much more mobile and was able to see the punches better and to slip them. 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. Thats why many of his wins are on points (which wasnt highly appreciated by the fans, who want to see knockouts). What is clear is the amount of opponents Tyson overwhelmed with his devastating power. Holyfield I choose him because hes very contemporary to MT) doesnt talk trash. As the other boxer threw a jab, Ali slightly moved his head, just enough to avoid being hit and then quickly returned a right cross over the top. 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. Although he didnt make the list, it doesnt mean he isnt a major problem for the legends at the top of this list. Sorry. Boxing movies share tropes with sports movies generally, but throughout its history, the real-life version has tended to attract both bona fide athletes and a cross-section of America's less . 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. So, without further ado, the best heavyweights of all-time. 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. His duels with George Foreman (Rumble in the Jungle, 1974) and Joe Frazier (Thrilla in Manila . He should be considered as one of the best Lightweights of all time. Tyson, maybe, but I have no issue with him being left off. As Joe liked to say, Nuff said.. 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 He was a bully and a quitter. Thats insane. At 18, he won a Gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics. Tyson usually used that combination when his opponents were covered up and were pressed against the ropes. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. (Grand Rapids, MI, February 24, 1977) is an American professional boxing promoter and former professional boxer. Ali and George Foreman were much bigger. Biggest joke of the year . Fury has combined pure boxing skills with underrated punching power to a supreme level amidst his growing dominance. Jack Johnson: Boxings first Black champion of the big men was remarkably quick, very hard to hit, and dangerous with either fist. He has no comeback ability. Critics point out that Marciano was small, clumsy and only made six title defences, mainly against ageing opponents. Muhammad Ali is the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time according to major Sports publications like Sports Illustrated, NBCSports, BBC, and ESPN SportsCentury. 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. That way he knocked some of his opponents out, with a quick lead hook, right after exiting the clinch. He also liked to put his gloves on his opponents gloves to trap their hands. Tyson in his prime was unstoppable. After winning the world light heavyweight title in 1968 after beating Dick Tiger with a 4th round knockout. He has done it all from being a boxing sensation to enjoying a successful career as an actor and a rapper. Of course, he has a great strategy for every different opponent. Thats a really cool technique. Naturally, heavyweights of the 1950s couldnt compete in-ring with giants like the Klitschko brothers. 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. 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. Maybe thats not the most exciting boxing style but its definitely really effective when it comes to winning, without taking much damage. Joe Louis The brown bomber, was a mix of several boxing styles. Mike Tyson should be in the top 12! A peak Tyson could not obliterate a mediocre Bonecrusher Smith, who had limited counter punching skills. Famous fight:Sonny Liston vs Cassius Clay. Well, at least Foremans hands. His 68 knockouts speak for themselves. Mike Tyson was the best fighter I ever saw. The style he developed required goodhead movement and timing. 4. Frazier competed during the golden age of heavyweight boxing. Show some respect. Yeah the same one who lost his title to a light heavy? Tyson 10. At 31-0-1, all thats left for the reigning WBC and lineal world heavyweight champion and former unified world champ is to snatch undisputed glory as the cherry on top. 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. Yeah, Holmes lost twice to Michael Spinks, while Tyson knocked out Spinks in 90 seconds. When it comes to the best heavyweight boxers of all time, the name Larry Holmes shines brighter like the sun. He destroyed Holmes. He was thrill-a-minute, exemplified by his fight with Luis Angel Firpo, where Dempsey knocked his opponent down seven (7) times, got blasted through out of the ring himself, then scrambled back through the ropes to eventually knock out Firpo. He also kept his hands low and his chin up, which are common mistakes according to many coaches. They plant their feet so they can generate as much power as they possibly can. Ya uhm no. Bob Foster was one of the best light heavyweight boxers of all time. He was also fightingcomfortably in both boxing stances orthodox and southpaw and was switching between them to get a superior angle during the fight. Applause for not ranking Tyson. He was a longtime contender who fought ranked fighters regularly beginning in the mid-1970s. Anthony Joshua (2013 - present, 23-1-0): 116.9, 44. Im Dimitar Ivanov. US legend Louis made a record 25 heavyweight title defences and only lost once in his prime: to Max Schmeling, who picked out a flaw in Louiss technique. Foreman destroyed Frazier on two occasions. Holyfield 9. Walcott. Signature technique: Uppercuts in the clinch. The Top Ranked Boxers of All-Time from California Roy Jones Jr. Roy Jones Jr. is also one of the larger fighters on this list. MF & DAZN: X Series 005 Jay Swingler v NichLmao, Who won the PFL Challenger Series last night? Couldnt be hurt. The boy from Catsville New York is the second greatest. In an era when segregation was still legal, Louis' athleticism made him one of the few African-American celebrities of his time. The greatest heavyweight is the best boxer by default, as they beat everyone across ALL divisions. So I know it reasonably well. His strategy basically was to jab his opponents from a distance where they cant reach him andoccasionally land some powerful straight rights. Jack Dempsey 7 5 He ended up beating the defending champion to clinch the world lightweight title. Never knew defeat. Cant make this list without Tyson and Holyfield. 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. The Top Ten. 27 Abe Attell. A young Holmes most likely beats Tyson, but apart from that, Holmes is without a doubt in the top ten all-time, while Tyson, to the surprise of many, is not. Arturo Gatti (1972- 2009): Arturo Gatti was born in Cassino, Italy, but moved to Montreal as a child and . Big George knocked the hell out of Frazier twice and Smoking Joe is ranked over Foreman? Muhammad Ali 2. He never gave any of the three rematches in their heavyweight primes. This group included Leonard himself and three others; Roberto Durn, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler. Well, at least Foremans hands. He spent five years of his prime in jail and then people fought him. All eyes will be on Jon Jones at UFC 285 as arguably the greatest MMA fighter in history makes his long-awaited return as a heavyweight after three years away.. Expectations are high as Jones, 35 . Louis too, though I think Louis courage would put him over Tyson. Tyson should definitely be in the top 10. He is where he belongs: Honorable Mention, with a lot of other very good but not great heavyweights. Once boxers lose their quickness, theyre never the same. Leave Iron Mike out, Mike Tyson Likely Deserves Mention For His Impressive Wins Over Numberous Belt Holders Including Larry Holmes Trevor Berbick Frank Bruno James Bone Crusher Smith Bruce Seldon Michael Spinks Tony Tubbs And Tony Tucker. He was known for his deadly hitting power throughout his famous boxing career. 6. 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. Many people think that Lennox Lewis was a boxer-puncher, but I think he was a combination between an out-boxer and a brawler. Any ranking also shouldnt be about which boxer beats which in some fantasy fight. Roscoe Toles (1931-1950, 45-10-6): 140.1, 31. Tyson took the title in a lackluster period after an admittedly STRONG early run but gave out fast. On his first night as a . He wasnt the fastest boxer with the greatest footwork his feet were planted most of the time, so he can punch as hard as he possibly can. Another boxings greatest robberies. Holmes had been out of action 2 years and was 38. Tyson never once rose from the canvas or walked through fire to win a fight. 33 Ted (Kid) Lewis. You can see that in his fight against Joe Frazier. Among all the professional boxers in the world, the following 30 can be considered the best boxers of all time. But Wladimir beat better boxers and has much more title defenses and thats why is ranked higher in this list. 4 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. I like him more now that he is HONEST about his career, his shortcomings. Tyson could not get past the defense of Lewis and he got knocked out. For example, in the fight with Myke Tyson, he fought from a close distance, because he knew that Myke is very good at slipping jabs and long punches. Anyone who puts Joe Frazier ahead of a serious power-puncher is ignorant. The Fight of the Century in March 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali his first loss, was proof of that. Hence, Ali is considered the greatest. It fell apart too soon for the youngest ever heavyweight champ, whose life and career unravelled quickly - but in the 1980s Tyson tore through the division like nobody before or since. Holyfield should be on the list. Joey. Johnson 12. With his never back style, granite chin and knockout power, he was a really exciting fighter to watch. Without a doubt for me. Was the baddest man on the planet!!!! Johnsons story as a whole is worth learning about. The mold of a perfect fighter. Holmes or V Klitschko never unified the title to become undisputed like the others. Mike Tyson earn his stripes. I remember how he destroyed Holmes! He developed one of the hardest jabsin boxing history. He knew that Foreman was bigger and stronger than him and also that he deals pretty handily with infighters (as you can see in his fight with Joe Frazier). Name: Naoya Inoue. PowerfulJRE 14.1M subscribers Subscribe 543K views 1 year ago #101 This clip is taken from the Joe Rogan Experience MMA Show #101 with Kevin Holland &. Marciano fought and beat the Shadow of Joe Louis SHADOW. Ingemar Johansson (1952-1963, 26-2-0): 293.6, 15. Using this technique Klitschko made many of his KOs. 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. The Fight of the Century in March 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali his first loss, was proof of that. For example, Ali has better footwork and used it much more than Holmes, who liked to pressure his opponents more. It was fast and precise but also very powerful. The top 10 heavyweights of all time Matt Christie lists the history's finest heavyweights 1. TGT Tips! Cant understand this fixation with Tyson, all these guys mop the floor with Tyson. McVea and Jeannette were great, but were at their best several years after they last fought Johnson. The list obviously includes the likes of Iron Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali but where do they fall on this boxing heavy Show chat replay. Zurcher vs. Evans full card results. Yes, Frazier is a better fighter than a Foreman, even though Foreman beat him up, twice. Wills 16. Signature technique:Right uppercut to the body -> Right uppercut to the face. 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. In this article, I took into account not only the number of wins of the boxers or the titles they won but also their unique styles and what they bring to the table. And lame. 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. He is like Morrison, as Stevey below says. Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time. Foremans last 10 opponents were unbeaten or just had 1 loss. So for Holyfield, the only way to beat such a monster was to fight from the outside and to outpoint him. But one needs to think in overall terms and career achievements. Signature technique:Slip the jab (outside) -> Right overhand. Here, DAZN lists its 10 Best Heavyweights of All Time, in no particular order. Muhammad Ali-56-5--(37): In terms of social and historical impact no one even comes close. 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. Back in the day, Leonard was also part of "The Fabulous Four.". The fighters, listed chronologically, are John L. Sulllivan, James Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, James Jeffries, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko. Perhaps one of the best boxers in MMA history, Frankie Edgar often went into the Octagon with a solid game plan. Tyson had little heart but plenty quit in him. His jab wasnt the usual fast and snappy jab that most of the boxers are using. 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. Sometimes Archie was using the crossguard to bait his opponents. Whos ranked an all time great? There was never a Plan B, and theres a point in every boxers career when hes going to need one. 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. Jimmy Ellis (1961-1975, 40-12-1): 114.2, 47. 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. Robinson cannot beat a heavyweight. And the shots you dont see hurt the most. 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. Ken Norton should get at least an honorable mention. Amen!! This site is owned and operated by Dimitar Ivanov. 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 How can you leave him off. Holmes defeated famous boxers including Trevor Berbick, Tim Witherspoon, Leon Spinks, Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney, and even the legendary Muhammad Ali. His numbers speak for themselves: he got to 48-0 and 20 title defences before finally tasting defeat - controversially - to Michael Spinks when Holmes was closing in on his 36th birthday. That way he built huge momentum in his punch and dramatically increased its power. Lennox Lewis is too low. Stone-faced, unstoppable, with a jab that felt like someone jammed an electric light bulb in your face (said opponent James J Braddock). Michael Hunter. Sorry, if Holmes is on they should both be in the top 5. Most athletic slugger I ever saw. Frazier loved this technique changing the levels to make his opponents think hes going to the body and the landing a clean left hook to the head. 8. Ranking Explanation . No Mike Tyson is a shame!! Top 100 greatest boxers of all time: 70-61 70. Boxing legends Rocky Marciano and Sonny Liston finished third and fourth respectively, with Lewis rounding off the top five. Maybe that was the reason why he has such a knockout power. But they, too, are among the greatest of all time, so thats not too shabby. 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. Who is the Greatest Boxer of All Time? You can check out the heavyweights that finished outside of the top 50 over at BoxRec. DAZN uses cookies to help us deliver our services and improve your user experience. In a real fight with Smokin Joe, it was really hard to see the punch coming, because of the way he moved. Sometimes he feinted a punch to the head but then went to the body. Mike Tyson 5. Thats important because sometimes the greatest boxer doesnt necessarilyneed to be able to beat everybody else. 18.. Thats because he was much faster than them, and was also punching upwards which allowed him to generate more power in his blows. This is the website where I share everything Ive learned. But The Easton Assassin (Larrys nickname) was faster and more explosive. Usually, he did this when his opponents were pressed against the ropes. Jon Jones doesn't believe Conor McGregor is one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time. Holyfield was only person fought well with tyson in his prime. 10. Cus was more than just his coach he was Tysons everything and guided him. 12. Thats an old-school boxing technique which Foreman effectively applied during the golden age of boxing. If only Cus would have lived ten more years I think Tyson would be top 5. 1. Signature technique: Multiple hooks to the body. Click Agree to accept our use of cookies or you can choose to opt out of our use of cookies by following the instructions in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice. 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 . The Easton Assassin was, for a long stretch, the most underrated heavyweight champion. For example against Sonny Liston, he was moving a lot, making him miss and countering him. Elmer Ray (1933-1949, 99-23-11): 170.8, 24. Only 2 losses, and he came back and rectified them. None of the fighters listed knocked out opponents the way Tyson did with speed and fury!!!! Foreman, who in 1994 knocke Then he was quickly lifting it up while releasing the blow. Journeyman Leroy Caldwell fought many of the best heavyweights from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Mickey Walker 64. 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.