Why do I keep hearing the same old refrain: "The heavyweight division has gone to hel

[Dave Hughey]

Quote from ICB: I don't think so somehow.

Muhammad Ali ----> Vitali Klitschko
Lennox Lewis ----> Wladimir Klitschko
Larry Holmes ----> David Haye
George Foreman ----> Samuel Peter
Michael Spinks ----> Tomasz Adamek __________________

Hello ICB,

Are you sure all those fighters are from the same era? Ali fought Tunny Hunseker in 1960. He retired in 1981. Lewis' first fight was in 1989, 8 years after Ali retired. Lewis fought Klitchko in 2003, then retired. So you had to span 43 years to dredge up 5 fighters you think could beat the best 5 today. Wow! That makes this division look good, not bad! Think about it.

Realistically, a fighter's prime years are, how many? Maybe 10 to 15, max. You are choosing from three or four generations of fighters, not one. But the Klitschko's, Haye, Peter and Adamek are all from ONE generation. Not a fair comparison. Have another beer.

Well i didn't know you meant just one era but if you insist.

90's

Lennox Lewis ----> Vitali Klitschko
Riddick Bowe ----> Wladimir Klitschko
Michael Moorer ----> Tomasz Adamek
Ike Ibeabuchi ----> Samuel Peter
Evander Holyfield ----> Sultan Ibragimov
David Tua ----> David Haye

80's

Tim Witherspoon ----> Vitali Klitschko
Tony Tucker ----> Wladimir Klitschko
Michael Spinks ----> Tomasz Adamek
Mike Tyson ----> Samuel Peter
Greg Page ----> Sultan Ibragimov
Larry Holmes ----> David Haye

70's

Muhammad Ali ----> Vitali Klitschko
George Foreman ----> Wladimir Klitschko
Jimmy Young ----> Tomasz Adamek
Earnie Shavers ----> Samuel Peter
Ken Norton ----> Sultan Ibragimov
Joe Frazier ----> David Haye

Only about 2 matches are debatable, out of all that list.

Wow, I am impressed. I'd love to see those fights, prime vs. prime. I'd love to see what happens. It's a better list than I could ever have dreamed up. I have to admit I don't know all the fighters, but those I know, a lot more than two would be debatable. For instance you picked the best from four eras to fight the Klits. That's 8 that are debatable in my mind.

By debatable, I do not mean I know my guy would win. I mean the fight could go either way.

You picked Jimmy Young to beat Adamek. Very, very debatable. In fact, I'd debate every single fight in your '70's list.

Holmes would whip Hayes' ass. In fact, Holmes might whip every one of my fighters on any given day. But I'd debate every other fight in your '80's list, and, also in your '90's list.

I have to compliment you on your post. I would love to see those match ups.