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)

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.

[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!!