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. Essentially, had he entered the UFC at his best, he'd probably be considered their greatest Heavyweight of all time. 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. The only other heavyweights who have held The Ring magazine title twice are Floyd Patterson and Muhammad Ali. In his great boxing career, Jones has won several world titles, and he also won a Silver medal at the Olympics in 1988. Ali 2. Tyson never beat anyone great and he held the title for only three years. He had one of the best jabs in boxing history. Holyfield was a boxer-puncher. On his first night as a . 30 Terry McGovern. 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. 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. Applause for not ranking Tyson. It is a city of fights and fighters, of hockey and heroes, of broken dreams and immortal glory, a city unlike any other. The Top 10 Seattle Mariners of all Time. Not a bad list, but a few observations: Sometimes he feinted a punch to the head but then went to the body. Your email address will not be published. Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time. With his Peek-a-Boo guard and his quick head movement, it was really hard for his opponents to catch him. 4. He was known for his deadly hitting power throughout his famous boxing career. Are you guys kidding me? Famous fight:Sonny Liston vs Cassius Clay. Thats how he knocked many of his opponents out thehard jab stunned them and the cross got the job done. Huh? Here, DAZN lists its 10 Best Heavyweights of All Time, in no particular order. Date of Birth: 10 July 1988, Age: 34 years old. A 1987 version of Mike would have demolished him. Show some respect. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr. (Grand Rapids, MI, February 24, 1977) is an American professional boxing promoter and former professional boxer. Since then Im always trying to improve my skills, by finding and testing new strategies, and training methods. He was light on his feet, moving around George a lot, and using sharp body-head combinations. But even if you take into account their overall careers, Id still give the edge to Foreman because of his comeback years. A prime Holmes would have battered Tyson into submission. Watch the DAZN Boxing Show and live fights on DAZN. They were both under six feet and 200 pounds. Literally knocking over tomato cans. He was constantly changing levels, bobbing and weaving, feinting and throwing body shots. Had three fights with Ali. Modern heavyweights are often ridiculed as being a pale imitation of the legends of the 20th century whose legacies have been immortalised. But definitely NOT an all time top 10 Heavyweight.. That means this isn't a ranking from 1 to 10; rather the ten who, in this writer's opinion, make the cut. Everyone, maybe save Sonny Liston and Vladimir Klitschko, overcame tough situations in a fight and found a way to win. 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. 28 Jack Britton. 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. And not only that but also his hands were huge. Mike Tyson should be in the top 12! The best lightweight boxers in the world, named and ranked The best British pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked 10. Sonny Liston, Floyd Paterson (twice), Foreman, Frazier (twice), Norton (twice) and many more hall of famers around that. There was never a Plan B, and theres a point in every boxers career when hes going to need one. In 2005, Joe Louis was named the greatest heavyweight of all time by the International Boxing Research Organization. There couldnt be two more diametrically opposed fighters, in terms of surviving being hurt. 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. He was much bigger, stronger and athletic than most of his opponents. What time is Shevchenko vs. Grasso tonight? Tyson would have torn apart Holmes in any era. Tyson at 12 is good. Vitali Klitschko (1996-2012, 45-2-0): 349.2, 11. Muhammad Ali. 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). Dempsey 14. A gift and a curse. Muhammad Ali 2. That way he knocked some of his opponents out, with a quick lead hook, right after exiting the clinch. Holyfield I choose him because hes very contemporary to MT) doesnt talk trash. Larry Holmes (1973-2002, 69-6-0): 330.3, 13. His style relied mostly on footwork, speed and timing. Gene Tunney (1915-1928, 79-1-4): 464.7, 6. Thats true, Tyson was pretty much out of his prime. 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. A boxing enthusiast who is always eager to learn something new about boxing and share it! Unless perhaps Tyson Fury has anything to say about that. 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 . Ken Norton (1967-1981, 42-7-1): 135.2, 32. Hard to justify given what Foreman did to Frazier twice, but of course, styles make fights and Foreman was the worst possible match for Frazier. Most of the times Johnson kept a distance from his opponents and fought from the outside but that doesnt mean he wasnt able to out grapple them in the clinches. Joe Frazier (32-4-1, 27 KO) Joe Frazier had beaten many great opponents including Buster Mathis, Doug Jones and Muhammad Ali (once). Ya uhm no. 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. & Lennox Lewis could? His defense was just as impressive as his offensive skills. Division-By-Division - The Greatest Fighters of All-Time As selected by The Ring magazine in various years. Arguably the divisions greatest puncher. 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. Brawlers are willing to take a punch so they can land one. 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. 9. Thats why it was really hard to predict when Frazier was going to throw the left hook. So Marciano was always trying to close the gap and start an infight. 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. Sonny Liston (1953-1970, 50-4-0): 625.7, 3. Obviously, Liston has, by far, the longest reach in the heavyweight class back then. Muhammad Ali (1960-1981, 56-5-0): 757.9. 6. 10. Ali and George Foreman were much bigger. Walcott. Go back and watch the Norton fight, even just round 15 if you dont have the time. how could you possible list frazier ahead of foreman, that is crazy, simply because foreman DESTROYED him twice. In this article we will list 10 of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. Dempsey was also developed great head movement, footwork and he was able to fight in both stances. 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. And every time they tried, he used that opportunity to land a right cross over their punch. Langford was tiny when he fought Johnson. Signature technique: Right cross counter over the jab. 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. Both equally as boring and predictable. His strategy basically was to jab his opponents from a distance where they cant reach him andoccasionally land some powerful straight rights. Dont let that KO reel fool ya. How do you say Tyson beats Lewis when Lewis actually beat Tyson? Jimmy Bivins (1940-1955, 86-25-1): 389, 7. I think he is one of the greatest because of how better he was than his competition. For example, they both had knockout power and they both used their size and strength to control their opponents in the clinch. Mike Tyson was the best fighter I ever saw. Ali is also consistently ranked among the greatest athletes of the century. Tyson is a video-game. Reviled early on in his championship reign, he eventually became nothing less than an American icon. The top 10 heavyweights of all time Matt Christie lists the history's finest heavyweights 1. 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. The Philadelphia icon couldnt cope with Big Georges otherworldly power - but he gave every other boxer he faced, including Ali, absolute hell. He was also competing in the light heavyweight division althoughnever got the belt there. However, Louis was able to take revenge for this match after two years. As one of the world's greatest boxers of all time, Roberto Duran had 31 consecutive wins before he stepped into the ring with Ken Buchanan in 1972 for his first shot at the title. TGT Tips! 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. More, and better, accomplishments. For your information, 38 isnt your prime, so yeah. 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 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. Yes, Frazier is a better fighter than a Foreman, even though Foreman beat him up, twice. 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. 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. 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. Clarence Henry (1948-1954, 34-6-1): 167.9, 25. Picking just 10 great heavyweights from 100+ years means some elite champions have to miss out. Then he threw a wide, almost straight elbowed right overhand over the top. 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. And they probably didnt expect to get three of those hard jabs to the head in a row. Cleveland Williams (1951-1972, 80-13-1): 186.6, 21. When it comes to the best heavyweight boxers of all time, the name Larry Holmes shines brighter like the sun. He fought a total of 81 fights with 76 stunning wins. 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. In other situations, he even used his left hook as a counter for right uppercuts or straights. After a standout amateur career, he turned pro in 1934. Pacquiao .more #1680 of 1,902 Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports. 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 . Antonio Cervantes 69. Three time champ and he was the king of the 90s, which was a very good generation for heavyweights. He was able to knock everyone out with every type of punch, even with a simple jab. Top 12 All-Time Greatest Welterweight Fights, Top 12 All-Time Greatest Muhammad Ali Performances, Top 12 All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Punchers, Top 12 Reasons Why Muhammad Ali Is Forever The Greatest. Salesmanship? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Montreal is The Fight City. After winning the world light heavyweight title in 1968 after beating Dick Tiger with a 4th round knockout. He also liked to put his gloves on his opponents gloves to trap their hands. The strategy of Smokin Joe was simple to make his opponents step back using his constant pressure, feints, body shots and wrestling techniques (such as pushing the other boxers chest with his head). Anyone who puts Joe Frazier ahead of a serious power-puncher is ignorant. The pair met in Las Vegas in April 2000 and Holyfield was awarded a highly controversial 12-round unanimous decision to emerge as boxing's first-ever four-time heavyweight champ. But can we put him up there with the absolute all-time greats just yet? What time is the Jay Swingler vs. NichLMAO fight tonight. Wills 16. A one-dimensional fighter. Its very similar to what Roy Jones Jr. does to land his powerful lead hooks. He has done it all from being a boxing sensation to enjoying a successful career as an actor and a rapper. 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. Signature technique:Lazy Jab -> Powerful cross to the head. Frazier at #6 ABOVE Foreman? Larry Holmes is the very definition of a warrior. Foreman, who in 1994 knocke They plant their feet so they can generate as much power as they possibly can. If a new fan asked me what Johnsons best win was and why, Id have a hard time convincing them. Wheres Tyson? As did fights from the greatest of the greats, from Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali to Larry Holmes . Required fields are marked *. We saw the skill but we were ROBBED of the will, his future, and his full potential. None of the fighters listed knocked out opponents the way Tyson did with speed and fury!!!! Youre the only one with sense. 34 Marcel Cerdan. Some sort of elaborate prank? With respect you talk rubbish when you assert that a peak Tyson would obliterate a peak Lennox Lewis!!! Without a doubt for me. Belcher, a 15-fight UFC veteran, wrapped up his MMA career after a loss to Michael Bisping in April 2013. A former champion in PRIDE and the UFC, he had an extremely impressive run from 1996 to 2006, where he went 28-3-1. Kudos on not putting Tyson in the top 12. Thats very similar to what Mike Tyson did when he was close to his opponents. During the whole fight, he stood his ground and waited for Myke to attack first so he can counter him. And they enabled him to vanquish, among others, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney,Tim Witherspoon, Mike Weaver and Trevor Berbick. Definitely, George Foreman is one of the most intimidating and exciting boxers to watch. 4 Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. 18.. Of course, he has a great strategy for every different opponent. 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. He was also a very intelligent boxer, who was able to adjust his style according to the different opponents. 8. 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. Plus, hes the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. 11. Kick ass on half that page at least. He boasts solid wins over David Tua, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer and Vitali Klitschko. In his short prime, Tyson is a serious challenge for anyone. 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 That list is crap. Mike Tyson 5. No place for Riddick Bowe, who had the tools but not the application, nor - controversially - his rival Evander Holyfield: the cruiserweight GOAT (but there are some legitimate question marks over the sculpted warriors rise in weight). Your email address will not be published. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. That definitely wasnt the prime Ali but still, there arent many people who can say that they have a win over such a boxer. Gypsy King retained his WBC crown with a stunning KO of Deontay Wilder The Week Staff 11 Oct. Mike Tyson W: 50 (44 KOs), L: 6, N/C: 2 Best win: KO1. Famous fight:Jack Dempsey vs Jess Willard. Before he went to jail and before Cus DAmato died, he couldnt be touched. Oliver McCall (1985-2019, 59-14-0): 121.6, 40. Marcel Thil 68. Terence Crawford 63. Back in the day, Leonard was also part of "The Fabulous Four.". Critics point out that Marciano was small, clumsy and only made six title defences, mainly against ageing opponents. Jimmy Ellis (1961-1975,. Unlike his brother (Wladimir), who was an out-boxer, Vitali was a brawler. A jab and a right hand. Retired undefeated. With a sublime jab, toughness and an elite boxing brain, Holmes was a terrific all-rounder. Joe Frazier (1965-1981, 32-4-1): 340.3, 12. 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. #3 Cain Velasquez (UFC record: 12-3, MMA record: 14-3) At his best, Cain . MF & DAZN: X Series 005 Jay Swingler v NichLmao, Who won the PFL Challenger Series last night? Required fields are marked *. Listons Jab-Cross wasnt the normal 1-2 (jab-cross) combination with light but quick jab and powerful right hand. Tyson better than Holmes? He was the mad experiment of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, boxing minds ever in Cus Damato. Doughlas got lucky and Lewis no match to him . Jack Johnson is too high. All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Champions is the title. These were the titles bestowed to the greatest fighter in the Rocky movies, the heavyweight boxing champion of the world: Apollo Creed ( Carl Weathers ). Today I saw alacrity used correctly (perfectly, for that matter). After beating Wilder, Fury is widely regarded as the lineal heavyweight champion. At 18, he won a Gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics. Tyson could not get past the defense of Lewis and he got knocked out. Pure sweet science, master class boxing skills on display from Lewis across his brilliant career. James J. Jeffries: The Boilermaker was revered for decades as one of the greatest ringman in the history of the sport as his combination of bone-crunching power, durability and amazing stamina allowed him to retire undefeated in 1904. Louis' points total puts him well clear of the 'Greatest,' who finished second with an impressive 757.9 points. 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. That allowed him to jab his opponents from a distance without putting himself in danger. Cant overlook Holmes place in heavyweight history. The Top Ten. Then he was quickly lifting it up while releasing the blow.