Prime Tyson really was the best Imo and I dont see the point in devaluing him over time. He was great and could beat any fighter in the history of heavyweight boxing.
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Prime Tyson really was the best Imo and I dont see the point in devaluing him over time. He was great and could beat any fighter in the history of heavyweight boxing.
Put in Witherspoon at 10 and switch Lewis and Holyfield,and that would be pretty close to my listQuote:
Originally Posted by BoomBoom
I think Lewis, Holyfield, and Holmes can all have a case for being #1. Those three are, I believe, above the rest of the heavyweight division post-Ali era by a long shot. With Tyson really close by the three of them.
I'm actually surprised that Holyfield hasn't hit a top spot in anyone's list yet.
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Originally Posted by miles
True, true.....:)
I Don't remember if Atlas was in his corner for that fight. But most notable to me was Atlas in his corner against Holyfield urging him on. Atlas, sitting on Moorer's stool telling him to pick up the pace, don't look back, you're gonna regret this o bad if you lose, etc. What a corner-man/trainer. You can see Moorer on the verge of just turning on Atlas and quitting. Probably thinking about how the TV is catching all these antics, and what a trained monkey he must look like!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mithrandir
But seriously. Anybody can be a revisionist, it doesnt make it any more true. Tyson has been devalued. If he had retired once in jail he would be rated far higher.Quote:
Originally Posted by LEGIONQuote:
Originally Posted by miles
True, true.....:)
Sorry I don't have a full list, but I think Holmes is clearly #1 and Lewis is the clear #2.
After some thought i think ill put Ray Mercer at #10. Holyfield at #2 is a good choice. You could really switch Lewis and Holyfield, I think they are both to par as far as greatness, though overall I perfer Holy also.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trainer MonkeyPut in Witherspoon at 10 and switch Lewis and Holyfield,and that would be pretty close to my listQuote:
Originally Posted by BoomBoom
I can never decide how I want to rate guys. Best career, Most talented, heads up, mythical prime vs prime fight. Just my short list
Holmes
Holy
Lewis
Tyson
Bowe
Vitali
Wlad
Foreman
Moorer
Lewis No.1 for me with Larry at No.2.
He beat better fighters in his career than Holmes did in his.
A points win for Lennox - Larry had a better jab but Lennox brought power and could easily match Larry for boxing skills and ring generalship.
Would have been nice if Larry fought some of his peers like Tubbs, Thomas, Tucker, Coetzee, Tate, Page regardless of whether he would have beaten them how come he never fought them. A 15-0 Witherspoon beat him on many cards - maybe just a bad day at the office for Larry.
The rest are a pick and mix but Tysons reign was much more impressive than Holyfields or Bowes and in his prime I would have favoured him to beat them.
Tyson's a toughie, he gets way overrated by some, and way under by others. The thread starter asked who did he beat, but who the hell did Larry beat? And just like you said here, his actual reign was better than Bowe/Evander, yet of course Evander did beat Mike which makes them difficult to rank.Quote:
Originally Posted by WelshDevilRob
It's this mythical unbeatable in his prime bollocks that comes up every time, and which will make this thread eventually 10 pages long.
He was a special fighter in his prime, and would have been a handful for ANYBODY, but there is also plenty of evidence that if you could push him close then he'd be the one to crack.
Good list! Only thing is. Are you talking about prime Foreman who was fighting during Ali's era or the fat shadow that came back and won an alphabet title with one punch in a fight he lost ever other second of? If the latter then a fair positioning but if we are talking about primes then Foreman is head and shoulders above the rest!
Im not a huge fan of Holyfield because,and Im saying this as a Hopkins fan,he's too dirty,but I cant deny what he accomplished. He owned the division for years after Tysons fall from grace.Quote:
Originally Posted by BoomBoomAfter some thought i think ill put Ray Mercer at #10. Holyfield at #2 is a good choice. You could really switch Lewis and Holyfield, I think they are both to par as far as greatness, though overall I perfer Holy also.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trainer MonkeyPut in Witherspoon at 10 and switch Lewis and Holyfield,and that would be pretty close to my listQuote:
Originally Posted by BoomBoom
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trainer MonkeyIm not a huge fan of Holyfield because,and Im saying this as a Hopkins fan,he's too dirty,but I cant deny what he accomplished. He owned the division for years after Tysons fall from grace.Quote:
Originally Posted by BoomBoomAfter some thought i think ill put Ray Mercer at #10. Holyfield at #2 is a good choice. You could really switch Lewis and Holyfield, I think they are both to par as far as greatness, though overall I perfer Holy also.Quote:
Originally Posted by Trainer Monkey
How the hell does one actually justify putting arguably the greatest heavyweight of the last 20 years behind a man who just got out pointed by nikolay valuev???
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Originally Posted by rjj tszyu
Foreman was THE WORLD Heavyweight Champion after knocking out Moorer. Your selling him short by referring to it as an alphabet title.