The All time Heavyweight thread ( a different perspective)

[BIG H]

If you put the 'Greatest' Heavyweights of all time together to each fight each other on their very best night, who would win. This is not a question about who is the Greatest, who fought the best opposition etc etc, it's about a one on one fight!!

Lewis, Tyson, Holmes,Foreman & Ali would be my main pics (not in order) Initially I did not put Ali in, but he beat 'Big' George, so how can you discount him

I would also put Riddick Bowe in there (even though he would not be on my 'Greatest' list)

[SE7EN]

Lewis and Tyson would be the last 2 men standing. But I think Lewis beats Tyson.

[Spicoli]

If you put the 'Greatest' Heavyweights of all time together to each fight each other on their very best night, who would win. This is not a question about who is the Greatest, who fought the best opposition etc etc, it's about a one on one fight!!

Lewis, Tyson, Holmes,Foreman & Ali would be my main pics (not in order) Initially I did not put Ali in, but he beat 'Big' George, so how can you discount him

I would also put Riddick Bowe in there (even though he would not be on my 'Greatest' list)

No peak Holyfield ??Yes the timing and points in career's were askew...but the man beat 4 of the 6 mentioned....I know,Holmes was not prime and Bowe took 2 of 3 .

No Marciano ........Lyle's going to be furious...

[BIG H]

If you put the 'Greatest' Heavyweights of all time together to each fight each other on their very best night, who would win. This is not a question about who is the Greatest, who fought the best opposition etc etc, it's about a one on one fight!!

Lewis, Tyson, Holmes,Foreman & Ali would be my main pics (not in order) Initially I did not put Ali in, but he beat 'Big' George, so how can you discount him

I would also put Riddick Bowe in there (even though he would not be on my 'Greatest' list)

No peak Holyfield ??Yes the timing and points in career's were askew...but the man beat 4 of the 6 mentioned....I know,Holmes was not prime and Bowe took 2 of 3 .

No Marciano ........Lyle's going to be furious...

Yeh can't really argue with Holyfield, although he did lose to Bowe when they were both prime, so that kinda goes against him

[Kenneth B]

Very good point about Riddick Bowe. Greatest and best are 2 completely different things. Bowe on his best night (the first holyfield fight) would stand a very good chance against absolutely everybody in history. Someone like Patterson, for example, was a far greater champion than Bowe, but Bowe could leave both arms and one leg at home and still beat him

[BIG H]

Very good point about Riddick Bowe. Greatest and best are 2 completely different things. Bowe on his best night (the first holyfield fight) would stand a very good chance against absolutely everybody in history. Someone like Patterson, for example, was a far greater champion than Bowe, but Bowe could leave both arms and one leg at home and still beat him

Mate that could've come from my own mouth, spot on assesment!!

[Pavlik]

Lennox Lewis though not undefeated has beaten all of his opponents(avenged loses) and cleaned his division. Has a power close to that of Big George and a skill like that of the greatest. I would say Lennox Lewis.

[TitoFan]

Very good point about Riddick Bowe. Greatest and best are 2 completely different things. Bowe on his best night (the first holyfield fight) would stand a very good chance against absolutely everybody in history. Someone like Patterson, for example, was a far greater champion than Bowe, but Bowe could leave both arms and one leg at home and still beat him

Mate that could've come from my own mouth, spot on assesment!!

All of which serves to point out the fact that Bowe was one of the biggest underachievers (did the least with the most) in the history of the HW division.

[Put Em' Up]

If you put the 'Greatest' Heavyweights of all time together to each fight each other on their very best night, who would win. This is not a question about who is the Greatest, who fought the best opposition etc etc, it's about a one on one fight!!

Lewis, Tyson, Holmes,Foreman & Ali would be my main pics (not in order) Initially I did not put Ali in, but he beat 'Big' George, so how can you discount him

I would also put Riddick Bowe in there (even though he would not be on my 'Greatest' list)

If you wanted to go at their absolute best night during their peak?

I would have to go for Lennox Lewis. (You did say it did not mean they were the greatest heavyweight I hope I read that right).

Lennox Lewis was the most consistent against top level names. He during his reign fought top ranked contender after top ranked contender. From 1995 until his retirement he did not fight a single opponent not ranked in the top 8. Very impressive. I actually do not think there was another heavyweight champion in the gloved era to hold the title for more then 3 defenses to do so. It is that consistent ability to win against those opponents that I pick him.

Even in his 1 loss during that time he fought the rematch immediately and reclaimed his title.

On a side note I rank my all time heavyweight list as

Joe Louis
Muhammad Ali
Jack Johnson
Lennox Lewis
Larry Holmes
Rocky Marciano
George Foreman
Sonny Liston
Jack Dempsey
Mike Tyson



Even in his 1 loss during that time

[Spicoli]

If you put the 'Greatest' Heavyweights of all time together to each fight each other on their very best night, who would win. This is not a question about who is the Greatest, who fought the best opposition etc etc, it's about a one on one fight!!

Lewis, Tyson, Holmes,Foreman & Ali would be my main pics (not in order) Initially I did not put Ali in, but he beat 'Big' George, so how can you discount him

I would also put Riddick Bowe in there (even though he would not be on my 'Greatest' list)

No peak Holyfield ??Yes the timing and points in career's were askew...but the man beat 4 of the 6 mentioned....I know,Holmes was not prime and Bowe took 2 of 3 .

No Marciano ........Lyle's going to be furious...

Yeh can't really argue with Holyfield, although he did lose to Bowe when they were both prime, so that kinda goes against him

I hear you Big H...Bowe was at the peak form that night.That fight really took slot out of each that night,by the 2nd round Holyfield through the game plan out the window and started swapping bombs.Bowe at times in career was his own worst enemy with Motivation and consistency problems But he really shined with jab and his underrated ,Imo, inside fighting skills that night...kept his cool.

Based on level of competition,overall achievements,skill set and the fact that he came back from that classic war to conquer Tyson (when some in the media openly expressed concern for his physical well being lol) twice,Debatabley lost to Lewis in rematch after that terrible blind man's call in "Draw" and beating prime Mercer,Rematch beating of Moorer,etc. he is defiantly amongst my top ten Heavys....I'd put him over Tyson & Foreman.He has undoubtedly stayed around way to long and runs the risk of Blurring his achievements with Ugly losses to Donald,being taken apart by Toney and grasping onto memories and stubborn ...borderline delusional belief that he still has it .

[HattonTheHammer]

Its a complex question that would have many different outcomes if it was put into practice.

For instance i always suggested lewis would probably be able to keep ali at bay with his jab for 12 rounds.

On the flip side joe frazier would probably be able to force lennox into an old fashioned tear up and beat him, but we all know who would win out of ali/frazier!!

[ICB]

If you put the 'Greatest' Heavyweights of all time together to each fight each other on their very best night, who would win. This is not a question about who is the Greatest, who fought the best opposition etc etc, it's about a one on one fight!!

Lewis, Tyson, Holmes,Foreman & Ali would be my main pics (not in order) Initially I did not put Ali in, but he beat 'Big' George, so how can you discount him

I would also put Riddick Bowe in there (even though he would not be on my 'Greatest' list)

1 Muhammad Ali
2 Larry Holmes
3 George Foreman
4 Lennox Lewis
5 Riddick Bowe
6 Mike Tyson
7 Joe Louis
8 Joe Frazier

Just done a quick list thats how i see it and im taking into account, the size difference thats why Louis is lower on my list.

[Tysonbruno]

Last man standing is a peak Tyson

[ICB]

If you put the 'Greatest' Heavyweights of all time together to each fight each other on their very best night, who would win. This is not a question about who is the Greatest, who fought the best opposition etc etc, it's about a one on one fight!!

Lewis, Tyson, Holmes,Foreman & Ali would be my main pics (not in order) Initially I did not put Ali in, but he beat 'Big' George, so how can you discount him

I would also put Riddick Bowe in there (even though he would not be on my 'Greatest' list)

No peak Holyfield ??Yes the timing and points in career's were askew...but the man beat 4 of the 6 mentioned....I know,Holmes was not prime and Bowe took 2 of 3 .

No Marciano ........Lyle's going to be furious...

No way i would put Holyfield in my list as much as i respect him, a 42 year old Holmes almost beat a prime Holyfield. Holmes come on very strong in the later rounds and took 5 rounds out of 12 IMO, a prime Holmes out points Holyfield no question. Holyfield was far too brave for his own good, and thats why he was badly hurt and wobbled by lesser fighters like Cooper, Dokes, Stewart, instead of using his boxing skills which he did have as he showed in the 2nd fight with Bowe. Holyfield is one of my favorites but he doesn't make my list.

[Spicoli]

If you put the 'Greatest' Heavyweights of all time together to each fight each other on their very best night, who would win. This is not a question about who is the Greatest, who fought the best opposition etc etc, it's about a one on one fight!!

Lewis, Tyson, Holmes,Foreman & Ali would be my main pics (not in order) Initially I did not put Ali in, but he beat 'Big' George, so how can you discount him

I would also put Riddick Bowe in there (even though he would not be on my 'Greatest' list)

No peak Holyfield ??Yes the timing and points in career's were askew...but the man beat 4 of the 6 mentioned....I know,Holmes was not prime and Bowe took 2 of 3 .

No Marciano ........Lyle's going to be furious...

No way i would put Holyfield in my list as much as i respect him, a 42 year old Holmes almost beat a prime Holyfield. Holmes come on very strong in the later rounds and took 5 rounds out of 12 IMO, a prime Holmes out points Holyfield no question. Holyfield was far too brave for his own good, and thats why he was badly hurt and wobbled by lesser fighters like Cooper, Dokes, Stewart, instead of using his boxing skills which he did have as he showed in the 2nd fight with Bowe. Holyfield is one of my favorites but he doesn't make my list.

Well I actually agree that a prime Holmes would outpoint Holyfield but since when has being brave been criteria to be held against a fighter.He backseated his skills and wore his heart on his sleeves...Now if He was carted off and the resulting almost's actually became a certainy in defeat than I could see what your saying about reasons not to recognize him as all time.Holmes in his comeback could have and did cause problems for some top guys,you know that.Not pretty from Holyfield and the cut was a huge factor & he dealt with Holmes.It may surprise ya but I only had that a 3 point fight for Holyfield. He was stunned by cooper and Stewart in the 1st fight because both were quality punchers in good condition at the times...I have always said that Holyfield with Cooper was the most Holyfield has ever been hurt as a professional Imo.No excuses because of last minute replacements,hometown let down etc.In know way can I hold any minute of the Dokes fight aginst him,That was a war of attrition with a revitalized fast handed capable Dokes in only Holyfields 3rd fight as Heavyweight and he came through in explosive fashion.Sometimes his Temper and pride got the best of him (Bowe I Imo) but his skills were as solid as they come.I hear what you are saying but by no means was he a clueless sell out brawler who ignored his boxing skillset...both were used in conjunction with mass heart to make him what he was.A great..to each his own.