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Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Coming off the Klitzchko vs Tyson thread, I thought this would be an interesting concept......
The danger, and I'm sure I'll succumb to it, is forgetting someone who belongs.....but here goes....
1. Lennox Lewis - Underated throughout his career. Defeated every opponent he ever faced. Was feared enugh to be ducked by Tyson and Riddick Bowe. Huge puncher, intelligent boxer. All-time great, just beginning to get his due. Left the game on top, and never looked back....probably the greatest indicator of his intelligence....in and out of the ring.
2. Larry Holmes - I'm not the biggest Holmes fan,but the man was tough and could fight. The brawl with Ken Norton is among the greatest heavyweight fights ever. And that Jab......
3. Evander Holyfield - His reputation will be sullied by his insitance that he'll regain the unified title as he fights until he gets that dream match with Rocky Balboa, but when you look at what he was from the early 1990s through to the fights with Lewis, their is no doubt, he was the Real Deal....
The drop of from the top three, and really after the top two is significant....but....
4. Riddick Bowe - I am not at all a Riddick Bowe fan, but the three fights with Holyfield were classics, and he paid the price for them. Was as tough as nails though, as he showed in those three fights and his "wins" versus Andrew Golota....Because he beat Holyfield twice, lostonly once (three times if Golota had a brain..,) and was as big and strong as he was, he places over Tyson. Because he dumped away a title rather than fighting Lennox Lewis, and his span at the top was so small, he has to go beneath Hiolyfield..
5. Mike Tyson - I'm not sure he belongs even this high, but his reputation and legend make him rank higher than he probably should, and I'd guess he'll be higher for most other posters....but really, whom did he beat? When did he stand up to a challenge? Where was the real heart of a champion? Oh yeah, and whom did he beat? His time at the top was monumental for its media spectacle, but also, really, he was only at the top for between two and four years. Could he have been so much more and lived up to the promise....probably....but he did not....He did however, thankfully, unify the title....his greatest accomplishment...
6. George Foreman - OK, he is here on the strength of one win, and maybe one loss. Was he the Foreman of 1973 - 1977? No....but wouldn't you have to give the old George a pretty good chance against the young lion? Sure, he lost almost every minute against Michael Moorer.....but he erased the previous 9 1/2 rounds with a perfect one-two.....Then there was his collision with Holyfield. Did he lose? Certainly, but I have always felt he took a measure of Holyfield's greatness out of him in that fight. Evander NEVER threw combinations the same way again, and never seemed to have the same energy. As for his other fights, George won a lot more than he lost, and sometimes seemd to be holding back his real power shots to not hurt the opponents - maybe, maybe not. I would have picked old or young George to defeat Mike Tyson. All I need to say is Don King pushed for the mega-fight between the two, only to have his charge retort....if you want it so bad, You fight George!!!
7. Wladimir Klitzchko - It's not all over for the current #1 Heavyweight in the world, but he has shown himself to be a sort of "Lennox Lewis - Lite."
He often lacks stamina and then his chin seems worse than it is, but he is an explosive offensive fighter who's size makes him a threat to any challenger. The David Haye fight could, in soime ways, make him, or, most definately should he lore, destroy his legacy.
8. Vitali Klizchko - Better Chin than his brother, and more fun to watch, I've always contended he was the better of the two. Showed it against Lennox Lewis, before the cut caused his loss in what was building toward a great Heavyweight title fight. This end of his career will define where he really stands, but there's little not to like about him....
9. MIchael Moorer - Listening to Teddy Atlas against Foreman, in what was moving towards being his greatest fight, and a little more discipline - or, ok, a lot more could have seen him move way up on this list. First left-handed Heavyweight Champion in forever, and one of the few Light-Heavyweights to make the jump to heavy. Could have been so much more...
10. Ike Ibeabuchi - Talk about what could have been. The President had it all, except the wherewithal to behave in a coherent, societally acceptable manner. Here's a 6'2" plus guy who could throw over 100 punches a round and keep going. Tough as nails and powerful. Able to withstand huge blows form big punchers.....Ike could have been THE heavyweight of his generation...then threw it all away......
Also rans.......all of the WBA and then WBC champs of the 1980s - and a few contenders.....JohnRuiz, Nikolai Valuev, Greg Page, Gerrie Coetzee, Mike Weaver, Gerry Cooney, Chris Byrd, David Tua, etc......too many to remember.....and oh yeah......Buster Douglas......I just hope I didn't forget anyone on the top ten list.....but Bruce Seldon, Frank Bruno, and the like won't crack it, and niether will Michael Spinks......
Love to hear your thoughts.....
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Gandalf, are we talking just primes?
First of all I'd switch Holmes and Lewis, on the basis of their title reigns. Then I'd put a pre-jail Tyson into the top 3, he might just be #1, prime Tyson was awesome, but it depnds on your criteria for greatness I guess.
Holyfield drops to fourth at least. maybe more. Prime Bowe is better than prime Holyfield, but was he greater? I suppose, depnding on what is great.
Klitschkos have potential to rise, depnding on who climbs the ranks to challenge them.
Foreman is overrated. especially post Ali Foreman. But he did generate a lot of excitement, or should I say nostalgia.
That's it.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
This Thread should be moved to the Mains.
Could be a great thread.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
CGM
Gandalf, are we talking just primes?
First of all I'd switch Holmes and Lewis, on the basis of their title reigns. Then I'd put a pre-jail Tyson into the top 3, he might just be #1, prime Tyson was awesome, but it depnds on your criteria for greatness I guess.
Holyfield drops to fourth at least. maybe more. Prime Bowe is better than prime Holyfield, but was he greater? I suppose, depnding on what is great.
Klitschkos have potential to rise, depnding on who climbs the ranks to challenge them.
Foreman is overrated. especially post Ali Foreman. But he did generate a lot of excitement, or should I say nostalgia.
That's it.
i agree with the tyson pre jail in top 3, and holyfeild in bottom 6, i would have put morrison in top 4 pre HIV scare and keep holmes where he is , he was a great fighter, he was ali's sparring partner and never got the rckog he deserved, i would also put there marciano and lewis, even spieling they where all tough, not as heavy as the new breads of heavy but all the same power, i would also like to rate TUA, he was never given a masive shot other than lewis, i guess he went in there scared as most people did, thats just my thought but all hail to heavyweight fighters for sticking it out over the years, it went from best division to greed then to shambles and the ones still there are really trying to succeed in the division.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Good post mate ;)
Its difficult to choose between Lewis and Holmes but based on achievements and title reign like mentioned - and not being complacent so as to suffer defeat ! - I would say Holmes just edges it. Then again if the two met in their prime I would fancy Lewis to win :-\
I think we should talk about Tyson as a whole rather than pre-jail Tyson (we don't talk about pre-jail Ali) in which case I think you've got him in just about the right place NB I believe its ok to talk about two Foremans as they were 10 years apart (and 2000 cheeseburgers ;)).
I would also put Vitali above Wlad - though there's time for these two to cement their places.
Where is Pele Reid ?!?!?
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Great idea for a thread :D
I'd go with something like this.....
1.) Larry Holmes
2.) Mike Tyson
3.) Lennox Lewis
4.) Riddick Bowe
5.) Evander Holyfield
6.) Vitali Klitchko
Then it's a toss up - names like Tim Witherspoon, Ike Ibeabuchi, Tony Tucker, Michael Moorer, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer, Razor Ruddock
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mithrandir
5. Mike Tyson - I'm not sure he belongs even this high... really, whom did he beat?
How about everyone from 1986 to 1989. And that includes knocking most of them unconscious: A first round knockout of undefeated heavyweight champion, Michael Spinks; the only person ever to knock out Larry Holmes; he ruined undefeated Gold medalist, Tyrel Bigs, and was the youngest heavyweight alphabet titlist ever.
That being said, I think your list is pretty good. I would just switch Tyson with Bowe, who really only had one significant victory in his carrer: Bowe vs Holyfield I.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Yup. Tyson's opposition was definitely better than Joe Louis' Rocky Marciano's, Jack Dempsey's, Sonny Liston's and arguably Larry Holmes. Which Heavyweight's in history have a great resume of names (that they beat) Ali ? and.................. ??
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BIG H
Yup. Tyson's opposition was definitely better than Joe Louis' Rocky Marciano's, Jack Dempsey's, Sonny Liston's and arguably Larry Holmes. Which Heavyweight's in history have a great resume of names (that they beat) Ali ? and.................. ??
That is a good point. During Ali's era the heavyweight division was like super heros fighting other super heros. Every other era consisted of a super hero fighting regular men.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Great thread, mithrandir has won me over already....
1- Mike Tyson
2-Lennox Lewis
3- Larry Holmes
4-George Foreman
5-Evander Holyfield
6-Riddick Bowe
7-Vitali Klitschko
8-Oliver McCall
9-Wladimir Klitschko
10-Tyrell Biggs (please dont laugh)
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hattonthehammer
Great thread, mithrandir has won me over already....
1- Mike Tyson
2-Lennox Lewis
3- Larry Holmes
4-George Foreman
5-Evander Holyfield
6-Riddick Bowe
7-Vitali Klitschko
8-Oliver McCall
9-Wladimir Klitschko
10-Tyrell Biggs (please dont laugh)
Now your comment about Valuev beating Holyfield makes sense. I can see by your above list that you are probably one of those young, naive boxing fans who greatly overrates Tyson. And you probably like to use the pharse "a prime mike tyson" because you think it gives your argument more credibility, as if all other fighters aren't judged by their prime.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Great thread! tough call but here how I have it:
1- Larry Holmes
2-Lennox Lewis
3- Evander Holyfield
4-Mike Tyson
5-George Foreman
6-Riddick Bowe
7-Wlad Klitschko
8-Michael Moorer
9-Vitali Klitschko
10-Cant think of anyone else worth mention..
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lance Uppercut
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hattonthehammer
Great thread, mithrandir has won me over already....
1- Mike Tyson
2-Lennox Lewis
3- Larry Holmes
4-George Foreman
5-Evander Holyfield
6-Riddick Bowe
7-Vitali Klitschko
8-Oliver McCall
9-Wladimir Klitschko
10-Tyrell Biggs (please dont laugh)
Now your comment about Valuev beating Holyfield makes sense. I can see by your above list that you are probably one of those young, naive boxing fans who greatly overrates Tyson. And you probably like to use the pharse "a prime mike tyson" because you think it gives your argument more credibility, as if all other fighters aren't judged by their prime.
Fighters like tyson, RJJ are very unique in that stating in their "prime" is almost saying they were unbeatable.
Tyson went through guys who in this day would own the heavys like the complete animal he was and if you must ask me YES a prime tyson would of probably gone through every single one of those others on the list bar lewis through sheer aggression.
technically he probably wouldnt even make a top 10 list but love him or hate him the guy was a complete monster in his prime
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
No love for Tye Fields:confused::rolleyes:
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hattonthehammer
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lance Uppercut
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hattonthehammer
Great thread, mithrandir has won me over already....
1- Mike Tyson
2-Lennox Lewis
3- Larry Holmes
4-George Foreman
5-Evander Holyfield
6-Riddick Bowe
7-Vitali Klitschko
8-Oliver McCall
9-Wladimir Klitschko
10-Tyrell Biggs (please dont laugh)
Now your comment about Valuev beating Holyfield makes sense. I can see by your above list that you are probably one of those young, naive boxing fans who greatly overrates Tyson. And you probably like to use the pharse "a prime mike tyson" because you think it gives your argument more credibility, as if all other fighters aren't judged by their prime.
Fighters like tyson, RJJ are very unique in that stating in their "prime" is almost saying they were unbeatable.
Tyson went through guys who in this day would own the heavys like the complete animal he was and if you must ask me YES a prime tyson would of probably gone through every single one of those others on the list bar lewis through sheer aggression.
technically he probably wouldnt even make a top 10 list but love him or hate him the guy was a complete monster in his prime
So my call was accurate; your one of those people. If you continue to follow the sport, eventually you will gain a greater perspective, and you will understand why some of the older boxing fans think you "prime tyson" analysis is funny.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
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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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BoomBoom
Great thread! tough call but here how I have it:
1- Larry Holmes
2-Lennox Lewis
3- Evander Holyfield
4-Mike Tyson
5-George Foreman
6-Riddick Bowe
7-Wlad Klitschko
8-Michael Moorer
9-Vitali Klitschko
10-Cant think of anyone else worth mention..
Put in Witherspoon at 10 and switch Lewis and Holyfield,and that would be pretty close to my list
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
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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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
miles
Prime Tyson really was the best Imo and I dont see the point in devaluing him over time. He was great and could beat eat any fighter in the history of heavyweight boxing.
True, true.....:)
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mithrandir
Coming off the Klitzchko vs Tyson thread, I thought this would be an interesting concept......
The danger, and I'm sure I'll succumb to it, is forgetting someone who belongs.....but here goes....
9. MIchael Moorer - Listening to Teddy Atlas against Foreman, in what was moving towards being his greatest fight, and a little more discipline - or, ok, a lot more could have seen him move way up on this list. First left-handed Heavyweight Champion in forever, and one of the few Light-Heavyweights to make the jump to heavy. Could have been so much more...
Also rans.......all of the WBA and then WBC champs of the 1980s - and a few contenders.....JohnRuiz, Nikolai Valuev, Greg Page, Gerrie Coetzee, Mike Weaver, Gerry Cooney, Chris Byrd, David Tua, etc......too many to remember.....and oh yeah......Buster Douglas......I just hope I didn't forget anyone on the top ten list.....but Bruce Seldon, Frank Bruno, and the like won't crack it, and niether will Michael Spinks......
Love to hear your thoughts.....
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!
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
LEGION
Quote:
Originally Posted by
miles
Prime Tyson really was the best Imo and I dont see the point in devaluing him over time. He was great and could beat eat any fighter in the history of heavyweight boxing.
True, true.....:)
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.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Sorry I don't have a full list, but I think Holmes is clearly #1 and Lewis is the clear #2.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Trainer Monkey
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BoomBoom
Great thread! tough call but here how I have it:
1- Larry Holmes
2-Lennox Lewis
3- Evander Holyfield
4-Mike Tyson
5-George Foreman
6-Riddick Bowe
7-Wlad Klitschko
8-Michael Moorer
9-Vitali Klitschko
10-Cant think of anyone else worth mention..
Put in Witherspoon at 10 and switch Lewis and Holyfield,and that would be pretty close to my list
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.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
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
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
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.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
WelshDevilRob
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.
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.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
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!
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BoomBoom
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Trainer Monkey
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BoomBoom
Great thread! tough call but here how I have it:
1- Larry Holmes
2-Lennox Lewis
3- Evander Holyfield
4-Mike Tyson
5-George Foreman
6-Riddick Bowe
7-Wlad Klitschko
8-Michael Moorer
9-Vitali Klitschko
10-Cant think of anyone else worth mention..
Put in Witherspoon at 10 and switch Lewis and Holyfield,and that would be pretty close to my list
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.
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.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Trainer Monkey
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BoomBoom
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Trainer Monkey
Put in Witherspoon at 10 and switch Lewis and Holyfield,and that would be pretty close to my list
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.
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.
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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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rjj tszyu
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!
Foreman was THE WORLD Heavyweight Champion after knocking out Moorer. Your selling him short by referring to it as an alphabet title.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
hattonthehammer
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Trainer Monkey
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BoomBoom
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.
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.
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???
Because that was like beating your grandfathers ass,back in the day he might of torched you,but he still needs a walker now
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Sorry hatton but lets not forget that Holyfeild is 46 and alot people thought he beat Value and lets not forget he beat Tysons ass when he was older then Tyson and he had Heart condtion his resume of wins is better and how he did against Lewis when he was far older and almost won the rematch it was far closer then the first affair which Lewis won hands down but at his age to hang with a great shows how great Holyfeild was i dont see why Tyson gets the prime thing then you judge what Holyfeild was doing at the age of 46 that does not make sense at all and just lame if you ask me because how in anyway is that far dude.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mr140
Sorry hatton but lets not forget that Holyfeild is 46 and alot people thought he beat Value and lets not forget he beat Tysons ass when he was older then Tyson and he had Heart condtion his resume of wins is better and how he did against Lewis when he was far older and almost won the rematch it was far closer then the first affair which Lewis won hands down but at his age to hang with a great shows how great Holyfeild was i dont see why Tyson gets the prime thing then you judge what Holyfeild was doing at the age of 46 that does not make sense at all and just lame if you ask me because how in anyway is that far dude.
buster douglas beat tysons ass, so did danny williams - do they deserve to make the top 10??
Holyfields in my top 3 im making no qualms about the fact he was a great champion on his day, but lewis beat the guy twice when they were all but exactly the same age barring 1 or 2 years and has a far more convincing record than holyfield has.
Lewis`s legacy is their for generations to come and set in stone, holyfield will always be remembered as a great champion that just did not know when it was time to call it a day!
PS:May i suggest that you wont last 2 seconds on here if you neg rep every post you disagree with. Especially those who have far more punch power than you
silly twat
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Your the first neg rep i ahve given in quite some time so dont say shit like i neg rep every person i dont agree with what you said was stupid and that is all also i been here longer then you so i think i lasted dont you think you just brought up the lose to Value when Holyfeild was 46 and you sounded like it really effected his legacy so your the silly twat my friend.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
1. Lennox Lewis
2. Evander Holyfield
3. Mike Tyson
4. Larry Holmes
5. Vitali Klitschko
6. Vlad Klitschko
7. George Foreman
8. Riddick Bowe
9. Oliver McCall
10. Tim Witherspoon
:duel33:
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
. Lennox Lewis
2. Evander Holyfield
3. Mike Tyson
4. Larry Holmes
5. Vitali Klitschko
6. Vlad Klitschko
7. George Foreman
8. Riddick Bowe
9. Oliver McCall
10. Tim Witherspoon
Lennox Lewis is number 1 and Vitali and Wlad a in the top 10? You must be european or just plain dense. Lennox Lewis was knocked out 2 times in his career with one punch by 3rd club fighters in McCall and Rahman. Lewis best wins came against a washed up Holyfield and Tyson and in the second Holyfield fight he probably lost.
Wlad gets knocked out every time he steps up and fights somebody who fights back, His best wins came over a blown up middleweight with no power in Chris Byrd, Sam Peter a morbidly obese slow unskilled overrated joke and who else? Ray Austin maybe? Vitali best wins came over Danny Williams who is only known because he beat a washed up Tyson, Corrie Sanders who is only known because he knocked out glass chin Wladimir and for beating Juan Carlos Gomez a blown up untalented cruiserweight.
Even there so called impressive punching power is laughable, Who do they actually knockout? I dont mean having the ref stopped the fight while the opponent is still on their feet. They both fought Sam Peter and neither could knock him down yet Jameel McCline knocked Peter down 3 times. Just shows you how having a impressive ko percentage doesnt mean you can punch hard.
Tyson is rated over Foreman? Tyson admitted he was afraid and knew he couldnt beat even a old slow Foreman so why is he ranked that high? Not to mention his best wins came over guys Don King payed to take a dive for him like Bruce Seldon did.
Tim Witherspoon? What exactly did he do to deserve to be on any list? Who exactly did he beat? Larry Holmes avoid fighting Foreman in the 70s when Foreman was in his prime because he knew he couldnt beat him not to mention average fighters like Renaldo Snipes almost knocked him out with 1 punch.
Well you do have George Foreman, Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe so at least you got that right.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
I don't know why Chris Byrd gets no mention. He was the best American heavyweight post Holyfield's prime and deserves to be on that list as well. Ike Ibeubuchi, I've only seen the tua fight and the byrd fight. And he was an exciting heavyweight and had a lot of potential, but I wouldn't put him in the top 10 given he had potential, but he didn't even have the mental discipline to make it to the big time to show his potential. But he was good and could have been the savior for years to come, may have dethroned Lewis.
But Chris Byrd deserves to be on the top 10 post Ali. Say what you will about him but compared to the other american heavyweights post holyfield.
Shannon Briggs? Jameel McCline? Calvin Brock? Hasim Rahman? in my opinion Byrd is at the top of that list, and he even made Lennox Lewis duck him. Tyson and bowe is said to have ducked lewis, and lewis ducked Byrd. he deserves to be number 10 if anything.
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Tyson was more than a fighter, he was a cult phenonmenon, a household name. The guy generated so much excitement around boxing.
1- Tyson
2- Larry Holmes
3- Evander Holyfield
4- Lennox Lewis
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
Quote:
Originally Posted by
GeorgeForeman8
. Lennox Lewis
2. Evander Holyfield
3. Mike Tyson
4. Larry Holmes
5. Vitali Klitschko
6. Vlad Klitschko
7. George Foreman
8. Riddick Bowe
9. Oliver McCall
10. Tim Witherspoon
Lennox Lewis is number 1 and Vitali and Wlad a in the top 10? You must be european or just plain dense. Lennox Lewis was knocked out 2 times in his career with one punch by 3rd club fighters in McCall and Rahman. Lewis best wins came against a washed up Holyfield and Tyson and in the second Holyfield fight he probably lost.
Wlad gets knocked out every time he steps up and fights somebody who fights back, His best wins came over a blown up middleweight with no power in Chris Byrd, Sam Peter a morbidly obese slow unskilled overrated joke and who else? Ray Austin maybe? Vitali best wins came over Danny Williams who is only known because he beat a washed up Tyson, Corrie Sanders who is only known because he knocked out glass chin Wladimir and for beating Juan Carlos Gomez a blown up untalented cruiserweight.
Even there so called impressive punching power is laughable, Who do they actually knockout? I dont mean having the ref stopped the fight while the opponent is still on their feet. They both fought Sam Peter and neither could knock him down yet Jameel McCline knocked Peter down 3 times. Just shows you how having a impressive ko percentage doesnt mean you can punch hard.
Tyson is rated over Foreman? Tyson admitted he was afraid and knew he couldnt beat even a old slow Foreman so why is he ranked that high? Not to mention his best wins came over guys Don King payed to take a dive for him like Bruce Seldon did.
Tim Witherspoon? What exactly did he do to deserve to be on any list? Who exactly did he beat? Larry Holmes avoid fighting Foreman in the 70s when Foreman was in his prime because he knew he couldnt beat him not to mention average fighters like Renaldo Snipes almost knocked him out with 1 punch.
Well you do have George Foreman, Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe so at least you got that right.
Welcome to the forum and digging out some of the old stuff I see. I disagree on the K brothers comment as limited as they are I still think they beat alot of the greats of the 80's til now. And I don't remember Tyson saying that he was afraid of Foreman but if you can find that let me know I remember Tyson saying that he thought that he would kill Foreman and thats why he did not want to fight him. And why not Tim W on the list he gave Holmes a helluva fight beat Bruno, Tillis, Page,Snipes,Smith,Tubbs all of these men were either belt holders or contenders in the 80's. I could defend my list all day long but I got other things to do... Its all matter of opinion George.:argue:
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Re: Top ten Heavyweights in the post Ali Era
1. Larry Holmes
2. Mike Tyson
3. Lennox Lewis
4. Riddick Bowe
5. Evander Holyfield
6. Ike Ibeabuchi
7. Vitali Klitschko
8. Wladimir Klitschko
9. David Tua
10. Michael Moorer
Haven't included Foreman because his prime was pre-Ali's decline. He would still probably get in there, but just didn't feel to put the faded version in. It was tough picking the bottom two, had both Byrd & Golota right around there.