He was poorly managed and handled. Johnson never granted a title shot to another African-American boxer - maintaining the odious colour bar during his six-year reign - but he was ahead of his time in the ring. Melio Bettina (1934-1948, 83-14-3): 189.5, 20. Greatest of all time, Rocky Marciano. Tyson never fought anyone in there prime or of any note before 1990. 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). And dont forget Terrell, Shavers and Chuvalo. 4 Naoya Inoue. George Foreman (1969-1997, 76-5-0): 233.3, 19. THATs reality, Tyson fans. Final record: 66-3, with 52 knockouts. Stone-faced, unstoppable, with a jab that felt like someone jammed an electric light bulb in your face (said opponent James J Braddock). Evander Holyfield 7. He had a record of 56-5 and his fights were always highly-anticipated . Signature technique:Bait a cross -> Counter with a check lead hook. Modern heavyweights are often ridiculed as being a pale imitation of the legends of the 20th century whose legacies have been immortalised. Holmes was a deadbeat along with Klitschko. The idea is to distract your opponents attention with the jab. He boasts solid wins over David Tua, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer and Vitali Klitschko. 26 Eder Jofre. He developed one of the hardest jabsin boxing history. Signature technique: Multiple hooks to the body. George Foreman has eclipsed boxing icon, Mike Tyson, as the all-time toughest heavyweight. And they probably didnt expect to get three of those hard jabs to the head in a row. I agree, those two losses are crap. Many have failed at this. Joe Frazier: The man they called Smokin Joe doesnt get enough love on most ATG lists, but overlooked are two things: 1. Signature technique:Slip the jab (outside) -> Right overhand. Jeffries 15. McVea and Jeannette were great, but were at their best several years after they last fought Johnson. 10. When it comes to the best heavyweight boxers of all time, the name Larry Holmes shines brighter like the sun. No Mike Tyson is a shame!! Tyson is a video-game. Larry Holmes (1973-2002, 69-6-0): 330.3, 13. 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. How can you leave him off. Remove altitude and behavior, he is the greatest. The greatest heavyweight is the best boxer by default, as they beat everyone across ALL divisions. The mold of a perfect fighter. And he had a real power in his punches no matter what he was throwing. For this combo Vitaly used his left hook, not to hurt his opponents but just to push their head to his right, where he can catch them with his devastating right cross. His fight against Gane for the vacant heavyweight title is the headline event of UFC . But its his late-career comeback that sealed Foremans greatness. Brawlers are willing to take a punch so they can land one. In his great boxing career, Jones has won several world titles, and he also won a Silver medal at the Olympics in 1988. The best lightweight boxers in the world, named and ranked The best British pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked 10. Because Joshua is much bigger and he is generations ahead of Ali. Langford was tiny when he fought Johnson. Are you joking? It is a city of fights and fighters, of hockey and heroes, of broken dreams and immortal glory, a city unlike any other. Well, at least Foremans hands. He ended up beating the defending champion to clinch the world lightweight title. Mike Tyson earn his stripes. Dempsey was also developed great head movement, footwork and he was able to fight in both stances. The first fight makes our list of the "25 Greatest Heavyweight Contests of the Last 100 years. Marciano was a classical infighter. 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. BoxRec ranked heavyweights, both past and present, and awarded each fighter with an overall score based on its points system. 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). Posted below are the top 50 heavyweight boxers of all time. Required fields are marked *. Cant overlook Holmes place in heavyweight history. 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. And as we know, the sport never stops toevolves so Joshua has an unfair advantage over Ali. Huh? Simple: no heavyweight in history faced, let alone defeated, a trio of deadly greats like Liston, Frazier and Foreman. And he was able to use it really effectively. Your email address will not be published. No. When was Tyson ever able to overcome anyone who fought back? It may well be that the best defense is a good offense, and Tyson had been an unstoppable force when coming forward, but he was lost when things didnt go his way. The Fight of the Century in March 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali his first loss, was proof of that. 4. 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. He was light on his feet, moving around George a lot, and using sharp body-head combinations. Muhammad Ali-56-5--(37): In terms of social and historical impact no one even comes close. Date of Birth: 10 July 1988, Age: 34 years old. Frazier was able to knock everyone out with it. Accurate list! Not a bad list, but a few observations: He was 61 tall, but his reach was really impressive (84 in). Sonny Liston, Floyd Paterson (twice), Foreman, Frazier (twice), Norton (twice) and many more hall of famers around that. OP doesn't seem to be asking for P4P. Famous fight: Archie Moore vs Yvon Durelle I. Holmes style was similar to the style of Muhammad Ali (a classical out-boxer). In boxing history, Gerald Arthur Cooney came as the one who gave contenders the most powerful punches. As did fights from the greatest of the greats, from Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali to Larry Holmes . Who is the Greatest Boxer of All Time? 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. 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 . Which makes your opponent lower his guard to protect his body and you can land a hard hook to the head. Johnsons story as a whole is worth learning about. Terence Crawford 63. Except that he was a fighter who occasionally, frustratingly, came in unprepared and fought below his level. They were both under six feet and 200 pounds. 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. He peaked early, lost Cus DAmato, then lost all focus because he was very immature. There was never a Plan B, and theres a point in every boxers career when hes going to need one. Floyd Patterson (1952-1972, 55-8-1): 321.5, 14. Deontay Wilder! Without further ado, here is my countdown of Canada's 5 greatest boxers of all-time: 5. A prime Holmes would have battered Tyson into submission. The technique was simple he leaned all his weight on his front foot before throwing 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. Since then Im always trying to improve my skills, by finding and testing new strategies, and training methods. Bonecrusher Smith happened WAY too early. Look at Tyson get hammered (YOUNGER than Larry Holmes) in his last two fights against journeymen. Unlike his brother (Wladimir), who was an out-boxer, Vitali was a brawler. Lewis only fought guys who were at the end of their careers. And lame. He could do no more than beat them but, perhaps wisely, he didnt wait to face any up-and-coming boxers! Primo Carnera (1928-1946, 89-14-0): 111.2 48. Lewis beat tyson and evander and every boxer he ever faced. Lennox Lewis (1989-2003, 41-2-1): 547.9, 4. Jersey Joe Walcott 66. There will be many famous names and some iconic fights, knockouts, and upsets. Pro boxing record: 23 wins (20 knockouts). We saw the skill but we were ROBBED of the will, his future, and his full potential. Show some respect. 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. But The Easton Assassin (Larrys nickname) was faster and more explosive. Tyson would have destroyed a peak Holmes. And they enabled him to vanquish, among others, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney,Tim Witherspoon, Mike Weaver and Trevor Berbick. 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. Frazier is the only man to defeat Muhammad Ali when he was anywhere close to his prime. Wills 16. Foreman 5. Holyfield was a completely different fighter in his fight against George Foreman. Instead, Lennox Lewis represents their era as an all time great, and the 11th best ever? No way. Cant believe some of these comments! When Ali first retired, in 1978, he was a three-time heavyweight champ whod avenged every defeat. 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. A few years ago I've started boxing and I've quickly fallen in love with this awesome sport. 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. TGT Tips! But in 2021, he made a comeback with BKFC, then had a boxing . And the shots you dont see hurt the most. Must be Rocky Marciano, surely? 32 Packey McFarland. And every time they tried, he used that opportunity to land a right cross over their punch. Peak Big George demolished unbeaten Frazier inside two rounds, then did the same to tough Ken Norton. 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. Larry Holmes: An awesome jab, a dangerous right hand, tremendous heart, and astonishing recuperative powers were among the attributes The Easton Assassin brought to the ring. Reviled early on in his championship reign, he eventually became nothing less than an American icon. Nicknamed The Greatest, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sporting figures . Marciano never fought Joe Louis. Vitali Klitschko (1996-2012, 45-2-0): 349.2, 11. Essentially, had he entered the UFC at his best, he'd probably be considered their greatest Heavyweight of all time. 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. If a new fan asked me what Johnsons best win was and why, Id have a hard time convincing them. In such situations, he switched his stance into a southpaw and threw a lead uppercut with his right hand to the body, followed by another one to the head. Of course, he has a great strategy for every different opponent. 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. He was a bully and a quitter. Is it the toys? He won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympics and went on to become the first boxer to win the heavyweight title three times. Fury has combined pure boxing skills with underrated punching power to a supreme level amidst his growing dominance. Here, DAZN lists its 10 Best Heavyweights of All Time, in no particular order. But Marciano did one thing really well: win. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Because all the danger comes from his left hand, so if his opponents are aware of that, they can easily defend his most dangerous weapon and beat Frazier pretty handily. 30 Terry McGovern. Foremans last 10 opponents were unbeaten or just had 1 loss. 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. A fearsome puncher no doubt, but see Holyfield above. 11. 5. Tyson never beat anyone great and he held the title for only three years. He competed from 1996 to 2007, 2009 to 2010, 2011 to 2015, and made a one-fight comeback in 2017. Thats insane. Then he was quickly lifting it up while releasing the blow. So he was a thought matchup for everyone. 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. Frazier at #6 ABOVE Foreman? Height: 6 ft 2 in. 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. He was very precise with this counter. With a technique called by him The Dempseys drop step, he was able to generate huge power in his punches no matter how close or how far away from his opponents he was. 'Bones' hasn't fought since picking up a controversial decision win over Dominick Reyes in . He has done it all from being a boxing sensation to enjoying a successful career as an actor and a rapper. Rocky Maricano, Riddick Bowe, Jersey Joe Walcott, Floyd Patterson, Wladimir Klitschko, Ken Norton, Chris Byrd, Archie Moore, and Ron Lyle. 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. Liston wasnt the tallest or the biggest boxer. The Top 10 Boston Celtics of all Time. In a real fight with Smokin Joe, it was really hard to see the punch coming, because of the way he moved. Tyson, maybe, but I have no issue with him being left off. Holmes was completely washed up-way past his prime. 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. Holmes went, what, 48-0. That means this isn't a ranking from 1 to 10; rather the ten who, in this writer's opinion, make the cut. He won the first one and was robbed by the judges in the third one. Bob Pastor (1935-1942, 53-7-5): 259.8, 17. Most great boxers have done this and Lennox Lewis only lost twice and then won in the rematch. Boxing legends Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis have all secured a place in the top 10 heavyweight boxers of all time. Very surprising. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Montreal is The Fight City. Ezzard Charles Following in Alis footsteps, Holmes could be as cold as Ali was charismatic but he could fight. Holyfield I choose him because hes very contemporary to MT) doesnt talk trash. 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). 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. 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. He would have no chance if he fought from a distance against someone with a longer reach. Usually, he did this when his opponents were pressed against the ropes. Foreman demolished Frazier in both their fights, the only man that did or could. Amazingly, he defended his title on 14 different occasions against 13 different boxers from the year he won it until 1974. Top 15 All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Boxers (Style Breakdown) - ShortBoxing Top 15 All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Boxers (Style Breakdown) Written by Dimitar Ivanov in Boxing facts Approx Reading Time: 23 minutes There are many different ways to define who is the greatest boxer. The Philadelphia icon couldnt cope with Big Georges otherworldly power - but he gave every other boxer he faced, including Ali, absolute hell. 49-0! Robinson cannot beat a heavyweight. 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. Tyson was a thicker, harder-hitting Joe Frazier. He was also a very intelligent boxer, who was able to adjust his style according to the different opponents. Walcott. And those are things you cant see very often back then. Holmes 8. Ya uhm no. Today's big question Where does Tyson Fury rank among the best heavyweight boxers of all time? Frazier above Foreman? Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis didnt fear Tyson and were able to subsequently bully the bully. For your information, 38 isnt your prime, so yeah. Fury has made a case to be considered one of the best heavyweights ever, but just how good is he? Posted below are the top 50 heavyweight boxers of all time. Tyson should definitely be in the top 10. Holyfield, for example, beat Tyson twice. Only 2 losses, and he came back and rectified them. 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. How do you say Tyson beats Lewis when Lewis actually beat Tyson? You can check out the heavyweights that finished outside of the top 50 over at BoxRec. 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.