Yahoo readers top 10 heavyweights - do you agree? what would you change?

Question

1. Muhammad Ali

Record: 56-5, 37 knockouts

Titles: World heavyweight champion, 1964-1967; WBA-WBC heavyweight champion 1974-1978; WBA heavyweight champion 1978.

Notable victories: Sonny Liston twice, Joe Frazier twice, Floyd Patterson twice, Ken Norton twice, Jerry Quarry twice, George Foreman, Jimmy Ellis and Archie Moore. Notable losses: Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks, Larry Holmes.

Most memorable bouts: Ali knocked out the seemingly invincible Foreman in the eighth round in 1974 in what was known as ‘The Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasha, Zaire. He also stopped Frazier after 14 rounds in an epic battle in Manila, Philippines, in 1975.

2. George Foreman

Record: 76-5, 68 knockouts

Titles: WBA-WBC heavyweight champion, 1973-1974; IBF-WBA heavyweight champion, 1994-1995.

Notable victories: Joe Frazier twice, Ken Norton, Ron Lyle, Michael Moorer.

Notable defeats: Muhammad Ali, Jimmy Young, Evander Holyfield.

Most memorable bout: At 45, Foreman became the oldest heavyweight

champion ever when, after losing every minute of every round, he knocked out Michael Moorer in Las Vegas to win the title 20 years after he had lost it to Ali.

3. Joe Louis

Record: 69-3, 55 knockouts

Titles: World heavyweight champion, 1937-1950

Notable victories: Jersey Joe Walcott twice, Billy Conn twice, Jim Braddock, Max Schmeling, Primo Carnera, Max Baer.

Notable defeats: Max Schmeling, Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano

Most memorable bout: Knocked out Schmeling in an emotionally charged rematch in the first round in 1938 as tensions between the U.S. and n**i Germany were heightening.

4. Rocky Marciano

Record: 49-0, 43 knockouts

Titles: World heavyweight champion, 1952-1955.

Notable victories: Jersey Joe Walcott twice, Ezzard Charles twice, Joe Louis, Archie Moore.

Notable defeats: None. Only champion to finish his career undefeated.

Most memorable bout: In his first bid for the title in 1952, Marciano was well behind on the scorecards when he rallied to knock out Walcott in the 13th round.

5. Larry Holmes

Record: 69-6, 44 knockouts

Titles: WBC heavyweight champion 1978-1983; IBF heavyweight champion 1984-1985.

Notable victories: Earnie Shavers twice, Muhammad Ali, Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney and Mike Weaver.

Notable defeats: Michael Spinks twice, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield.

Most memorable bout: Won vacant WBC title in 1978 by besting Ken Norton in a split decision in arguably the most exciting heavyweight bout ever. The bout was even on all cards heading into the 15th round. Two judges scored it for Holmes and the other had it for Norton.

6. Jack Johnson

Record: 77-13-14, 48 knockouts, 19 no decisions

Titles: World heavyweight champion, 1908-1915.

Notable victories: Tommy Burns, Sam Langford, Stanley Ketchel, James J. Jeffries.

Notable defeats: Jess Willard.

Most memorable bout: Lost his title when he was knocked out by Willard in Havana in the 26th round of a 45-rounder.

7. Lennox Lewis

Record: 41-2-1, 32 knockouts

Titles: WBC heavyweight title, 1993-1994; WBC heavyweight title 1997-2001; IBF heavyweight title, 1999-2001; WBA heavyweight champion, 1999-2001; WBC heavyweight champion, 2001-03; IBF heavyweight champion, 2001-02. br> Notable victories: Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Vitali Klitschko, Hasim Rahman, Ray Mercer, Tommy Morrison, Oliver McCall, Frank Bruno.

Notable defeats: Oliver McCall, Hasim Rahman.

Most memorable bout: Dominated Mike Tyson before stopping him in eighth round on 2002 bout.

8. Joe Frazier

Record: 32-4-1, 27 knockouts

Titles: World heavyweight title, 1968-1973

Notable victories: Jerry Quarry twice, Jimmy Ellis twice, Muhammad Ali.

Notable defeats: Muhammad Ali twice, George Foreman twice.

Most memorable bout: Knocked Muhammad Ali down in the 15th round in 1971 in Madison Square Garden in New York to punctuate a unanimous decision in the most hyped boxing match ever.

9. Mike Tyson

Record: 50-6, 44 knockouts

Titles: WBC heavyweight title, 1986-1990; IBF-WBA heavyweight title, 1987-1990; WBA-WBC heavyweight title, 1996.

Notable victories: Frank Bruno twice, Razor Ruddock twice, Michael Spinks, Larry Holmes, Tony Tubbs, Tony Tucker.

Notable defeats: Evander Holyfield twice, Buster Douglas, Lennox Lewis.

Most memorable bout: Bit a chunk out of Evander Holyfield’s ear during a 1997 title rematch; Tyson was disqualified and lost his boxing license in a later disciplinary hearing.

10. Jack Dempsey

Record: 66-6-11, 51 knockouts

Titles: World heavyweight title, 1919-1926

Notable victories: Jess Willard, Tommy Gibbons, Luis Angel Firpo, Georges Carpentier, Jack Sharkey.

Notable defeats: Gene Tunney twice.

Most memorable bout: Lost the infamous “Long Count” bout to Tunney in 1927. Dempsey knocked Tunney down in the seventh and failed to go to a neutral corner, giving Tunney critical extra seconds before the referee began the count. Dempsey long claimed Tunney had been down 14 seconds and not nine

Answer 1

Foreman's too high.

Louis' too low.

Marciano is too high.

Jack Johnson shouldn't be in the top 10.

The rest is good.

Answer 2

I like to rate the champions as I feel they would perform IN THE RING.   You can rate them in terms of ACCOMPLISHMENTS or OVERALL HIstorical Sigificance but what does it mean IN THE RING.  

For example:  Rocky Marciano and maybe Jack Dempsey might often be ranked above Lennox Lewis.  Historically and in terms of overall accomplishments.  However, anyone who thinks either would beat Lewis IN THE RING is not being realistic.

Here goes my list.  

Muhammad Ali:  No one could do what he does or stop him from doing what he does.

Joe Louis:  The near perfect boxer.  Most would not be able to offset his offense in order to exploit his weakness (chin footwork).  Ali is the only one who would make it easy.

Top Ten: After Ali and Louis

Larry Holmes: Larry had it all.   He could FIGHT with boxers or BOX with punchers.  He was the perfect size to handle the TANKS (Tyson, Marciano, Frazier) or wrestle with the BIG BOYS (Forman, Lewis)  or out box the rest.  Anyone ALi could beat  Holmes could beat easier because he had the harder jab.

Lennox Lewis: He's the only Big Man who can actually BOX and FIGHT.  Lennox is like Holmes.  He could do it all.  Lack of speed would cost him against Holmes.

Forman:  All of the above could beat George because his weakness is mobil boxers.  He could KO Lennox or Joe Louis but the pick here is that either would get him first.   There are better boxers but George could punch hard enough to take care of all the rest regardless to Boxer or Puncher.

Evander Holyfield: It's hard to rank him so high but he was rugged enough to take whatever anyone could dish out.   He Took Tyson's best and would take the best from Dempsey, Marciano and Frazier, none of whom punch as hard as Tyson

Mike Tyson: At his best Tyson had the speed and power to take nearly anyone out in the early rounds.  Frazier might weather the early storm and grind Tyson down.   He ranks lower here not because he would lose to Tyson but he would lose to many others on this list, some of whom Tyson would beat.  Example:  Both Dempsey and Marciano are within size range, given styles, to KO Frazier.  He could do likewise to them.   However,  Tyson is just a bit too big, strong and fast for either Marciano or Dempsey to deal with.    I believe that if Rocky and Mike fought in the same era Rocky would sill be smaller but not by much and he would win.

Rocky Marciano: He wasn't that big but he had more heart than anyone.  He was also tough enought to take it from most.  He could have a shot at beating Evander but, again Evander would beat others who would defeat Rocky.

Jack Johnson:  

Sonny Liston

Joe Frazier

Jack Dempsey

Fights with these four could go either way.  It's not likely Frazier would ever beat Liston.  He could grind down Dempsey who could use his speed to beat Liston.  Johnson could outbox any of them.  He could also be KO'd by any of them.

Answer 3

I wouldn't put Big George on 2nd.

I'd put Marciano at 1st or 2nd.

Tyson would be 3rd.

Lennox would be 10th.

Answer 4

1. muhummad ali, 2. joe louis, 3. jack johnson, 4. rocky marciano, 5. jack dempsey, 6. joe fraizer, 7. larry holmes, 8. mike tyson, 9. george foreman, 10. sonny liston

Answer 5

Ive seen quite a few fights from all those fighters you have listed, except Dempsey..i seen one of his.  Are you listing by accomplishments or who could beat who? I dont even put Ali in the list because it would be an insult to include him with the rest. So Ali above and beyond boxing, the man was bigger then the sport, You'd be hard pressed to make an argument for any other sports athlete that can say the same thing.

Accomplishments

1. Joe Louis (13 years, 26 title defences)

2.  Evander Holyfield (4 time champion)

3.  Larry Holmes (Dominated his divsion)

4. George Foreman  (Oldest to win Title)

5. Jack Johnson (First Black Heavyweight champion)

6. Gene Tunney (81 fights, only loss to Greb, who he later defeated 3 times)

7. Rocky Marciano (Only Heavy ever to retire undefeated)

8. Mike Tyson (youngest heavyweight champion,dominated)

9. Joe Frazier (first man to beat Ali)

10. Lennox Lewis (Dominated his Division)

Who beats Who List

1. Larry Holmes

2. Lennox Lewis

3. Evander Holyfield

4. George Foreman

5. Mike Tyson

6. Joe Louis

7. Sonny Liston

8. Rocky Marciano

9. Ken Norton

10. Jerry Quarry

Im still working on a heavyweight breakdown, but so far this is my list from what ive seen from all these heavyweights.

Once again Ali is above the list.

Answer 6

i agree

Answer 7

well overall it's a pretty good list, but holyfield should replace tyson, foreman and johnson should more or less change places, dempsey should be higher, with lennox being replaced by tunney.

Answer 8

I will assume you are speaking of accomplishments, and not who would win head to head and we will go from there.  I will tell you where I have seen boxers as high or as low as on lists I have looked at in the past, and also give you my personal view.  On some boxers I will give you range's as to where they fall on my list, since when you are dealing with men of such high pedigree you are basically splitting hairs as where they should be rated.

Generally people have Joe Louis at the #1 spot and not Ali.  I have seen Ali at #1 on some lists though.  Personally I have Louis #1.

Ali generally is #2 on most lists, I usually have him down at #3 or #4 myself.

I have never seen a list with Foreman at #2.  Personally I usually have him coming in around #6.

I have seen Marciano rated as high as #4 before, but personally I have him at about #7 usually.  Marciano is usually either overated or underated depending on who is making the list.

Larry Holmes is another hard to rate fighter due to his era.  Personally I usually gave him at #3 or #4, flip flopping around with Ali depending on my mood.

Jack Johnson is alittle low on your list.  Most lists have him between 3-4.  Personally I usually have him at #2 on my list.

Lennox Lewis is usually the top contemporary fighter, and in most list appears around #10 (though I have seen him higher).  Personally on the last list I made he came in at #13, though I wouldnt argue with him being slightly higher.

Personally I usually have Frazier around #11 on my list, but you have him around where he classically falls on most lists.

Tyson is another contreversial figure who people dont know where to place, I have seen him as high as 8th and as low as 20th on some list.  Personally I have him at #15 on my list, but I wouldnt argue with someone who had him as high as #10.

I know I sound like a broken record, but Dempsey is yet another fighter who people rank in wildly different places.  I have seen him as high as #3 on different lists, but I have also seen him down around #15 on other lists.  Alot depends on criteria and how you view his era.Personally on the last list I created I had him up at #8.

Here is the last top 10 I created for a forum.

1. Joe Louis

2. Jack Johnson

3. Larry Holmes

4. Muhammad Ali (sometimes I have him at 3)

5. Ezzard Charles (people argue with me on him being this high)

6. George Foreman

7. Rocky Marciano

8. Jack Dempsey

9. Sam Langford (Color Line Era boxer, often gets left out)

10. Gene Tunney

Answer 9

I agree with John H.  If you want accomplishments then you have to go with Louis as #1.  More title defenses, a better record, more KO's.  Louis to me is a clear number 1 while Ali is #2.  Ali beat alot of great fighters but his popularity makes him jump Joe Louis more than the head to head comparisons.

Answer 10

I would drop Lewis and Tyson, replace them with Tunney and Liston, and put Jack Johnson third behind Ali, then Louis, with Forman fourth.  My top ten list reads:

1. Muhammad Ali

2. Joe Louis

3. Jack Johnson

4. George Forman

5. Rocky Marciano

6. Larry Holmes

7. Jack Demspey

8. Joe Frazier

9. Sonny Liston

10.Gene Tunney

Answer 11

Put in Tunney. He's better than Foreman and Dempsey by far.

Answer 12

Good list, and I'd agree with most of your choices.

But if youre listing the top 10 heavyweights of all time I think you have to include the legendary Teofilio Stevenson. Though he never turned pro, he was a 3-time Olympic heavyweight champion and considered the gretest ever amateur boxer.

The hugely knowledgeable Angelo Dundee once offered to sign him up as a professional and promised to make him world champion within a year - and that was in the great days off Ali and Frazier.

But Stevenson turned all offers of a pro career down and the  millions of dollars that would have gone with it, for life in his beloved Cuba. He'll be forever known as the greatest heavyweight champion who never was.