Thread: On their very best night who wins the all time heavyweight prizefighter competition?

So what I mean is, they all meet each other on their very best night over 12 rounds. Take into consideration all factors, such as height e.t.c; e.g even if you think Rocky Marciano is the 'Greatest' heavyweight of all time, you surely would not expect him to beat Vitali Klitchko!

I think that some names that would not appear on the top 10 ATG list, would have a shout using this criteria.

Thoughts?

This is not about longjevity or legacy etc etc it's about one-on-one fights on their very best night.

I'm not sure who wins but I can GUARANTEE 100% that prime Tyson starts favourite. Visually in his pomp no-one would be laying that guy. And he'd carry my dough.

Ali would be the most logical choice. Holmes as my second pick and then Lewis/Tyson

On best night I couldn't argue against Ali.

It's hard to pick because for example, someone like Joe Frazier was special against Muhammad Ali in there 1st fight. And could of probably have beaten most Heavyweight's that night, but he'd still be a bad match up for someone like George Foreman.

Buster Douglas was special against Mike Tyson, but he's stamina was suspect so a tough fighter who could put on alot of pressure. Would get to him in the later rounds.

Mike Tyson's superb run against Michael Spinks, Trevor Berbick, Tyrell Biggs. On those night's he was special but he'd still struggle against a tall rangey boxer aka Holmes, Ali.

Larry Holmes was superb against Earnie Shavers in there 1st meeting, he showed pretty much every attribute you want in a Heavyweight. But i still think he would lose to a 1960's Muhammad Ali.

Riddick Bowe looked amazing against Evander Holyfield, but he'd still struggle against someone with a good jab which was his biggest weakness. See the Biggs, Tubbs, fights for example.

I think the one you could count on is a prime Muhammad Ali, he's a good height for a Heavyweight. And has so many strong attributes he hasn't got any real glaring weaknesses.

But then again he'd always struggle with Ken Norton, no matter when he fought him. It would really depend on who they were matched with in the Tournament.

But fighter's like.

Ali
Holmes
Tyson

Would probably be top finisher's as long as they didn't meet each other early in the tournament.

over the short distance wouldnt George Foreman have a chance , the free swinging destroyer who beheaded joe frazier ?

Originally Posted by ICB

It's hard to pick because for example, someone like Joe Frazier was special against Muhammad Ali in there 1st fight. And could of probably have beaten most Heavyweight's that night, but he'd still be a bad match up for someone like George Foreman.

Buster Douglas was special against Mike Tyson, but he's stamina was suspect so a tough fighter who could put on alot of pressure. Would get to him in the later rounds.

Mike Tyson's superb run against Michael Spinks, Trevor Berbick, Tyrell Biggs. On those night's he was special but he'd still struggle against a tall rangey boxer aka Holmes, Ali.

Larry Holmes was superb against Earnie Shavers in there 1st meeting, he showed pretty much every attribute you want in a Heavyweight. But i still think he would lose to a 1960's Muhammad Ali.

Riddick Bowe looked amazing against Evander Holyfield, but he'd still struggle against someone with a good jab which was his biggest weakness. See the Biggs, Tubbs, fights for example.

I think the one you could count on is a prime Muhammad Ali, he's a good height for a Heavyweight. And has so many strong attributes he hasn't got any real glaring weaknesses.

But then again he'd always struggle with Ken Norton, no matter when he fought him. It would really depend on who they were matched with in the Tournament.

But fighter's like.

Ali
Holmes
Tyson

Would probably be top finisher's as long as they didn't meet each other early in the tournament.

They all have to fight each other! Is there anybody that wouldn't lose? I don't think there is.

I'd pick either Ali or Tyson as having the best chance of not losing, followed by Holmes I guess.

Originally Posted by Dark Lord Al

over the short distance wouldnt George Foreman have a chance , the free swinging destroyer who beheaded joe frazier ?

Possible, but I think the Ali and Foreman were pretty level in terms of their closeness to prime when they fought in 1974 and look what happened

Originally Posted by BIG H

Originally Posted by ICB

It's hard to pick because for example, someone like Joe Frazier was special against Muhammad Ali in there 1st fight. And could of probably have beaten most Heavyweight's that night, but he'd still be a bad match up for someone like George Foreman.

Buster Douglas was special against Mike Tyson, but he's stamina was suspect so a tough fighter who could put on alot of pressure. Would get to him in the later rounds.

Mike Tyson's superb run against Michael Spinks, Trevor Berbick, Tyrell Biggs. On those night's he was special but he'd still struggle against a tall rangey boxer aka Holmes, Ali.

Larry Holmes was superb against Earnie Shavers in there 1st meeting, he showed pretty much every attribute you want in a Heavyweight. But i still think he would lose to a 1960's Muhammad Ali.

Riddick Bowe looked amazing against Evander Holyfield, but he'd still struggle against someone with a good jab which was his biggest weakness. See the Biggs, Tubbs, fights for example.

I think the one you could count on is a prime Muhammad Ali, he's a good height for a Heavyweight. And has so many strong attributes he hasn't got any real glaring weaknesses.

But then again he'd always struggle with Ken Norton, no matter when he fought him. It would really depend on who they were matched with in the Tournament.

But fighter's like.

Ali
Holmes
Tyson

Would probably be top finisher's as long as they didn't meet each other early in the tournament.

They all have to fight each other! Is there anybody that wouldn't lose? I don't think there is.

I'd pick either Ali or Tyson as having the best chance of not losing, followed by Holmes I guess.

Oh right so its basically who has the most win's after fighting everyone ? well i don't think my list changes. I think the top 3 would be Ali, Holmes, Tyson.

Lewis would be there or there abouts at the end

Sorry i thought we were talking about the short prizefighter format ,
over 12 rounds Lennox Lewis wins for me.
short format Prime George Foreman has a good chance.

Originally Posted by BIG H

Originally Posted by Dark Lord Al

over the short distance wouldnt George Foreman have a chance , the free swinging destroyer who beheaded joe frazier ?

Possible, but I think the Ali and Foreman were pretty level in terms of their closeness to prime when they fought in 1974 and look what happened

You should check out his fight vs Gregorio Peralta, he was a good boxer a veteran. And he laid down the blue print on how to beat George Foreman, who was tired and frustrated at the end of the fight.

I couldn't see ANYONE stopping a Prime Tyson over 3 rounds!

He was so explosive early on in his fights and that Tyson could easily sustain the attack.

If someone like Ali or Lewis rode him out for 3 rounds he'd surely nick it on points due to punches thrown.

To be honest it'd take at least 2 rounds to weather the storm.

Originally Posted by smashup

I couldn't see ANYONE stopping a Prime Tyson over 3 rounds!

He was so explosive early on in his fights and that Tyson could easily sustain the attack.

If someone like Ali or Lewis rode him out for 3 rounds he'd surely nick it on points due to punches thrown.

To be honest it'd take at least 2 rounds to weather the storm.

Yea Mike Tyson never had a stoppage late on, but you would have to go through hell to get to the later rounds. As Razor Ruddock found out broken ribs and a broken jaw ouch.

Originally Posted by smashup

I couldn't see ANYONE stopping a Prime Tyson over 3 rounds!

He was so explosive early on in his fights and that Tyson could easily sustain the attack.

If someone like Ali or Lewis rode him out for 3 rounds he'd surely nick it on points due to punches thrown.

To be honest it'd take at least 2 rounds to weather the storm.

Talking about 12 round tourny fella