Top 10 Heavyweights of The Past 20 Years (1987-2007)

[Taeth]

1. Evander Holyfield - Beat Lewis, Tyson, and Bowe in this time period....that's damn good

2. Lennox Lewis - beat Tyson, Holyfield, and was totally dominant

3. Mike Tyson - unbeatable until Douglas got to him but came back and won titles and lost years due to prison

4. Riddick Bowe - beat Holyfield twice and one time was by TKO!!!

5. George Foreman - 40+ years old fought anyone and everyone and won THE heavyweight championship...stood toe to toe with Holyfield too and rocked him a couple times as well

6. Vitali Klitschko - gave Lennox Lewis one of the hardest fights of his career and KO'd all but 1 guy he beat

7. Wladimir Klitschko - a very dominant heavyweight and is THE champion right now and he's gearing up to avenge a loss.

8. Chris Byrd - fought the best no matter who they were and beat guys like David Tua, Evander Holyfield, and Vitali Klitschko

9. Michael Moorer - good fighter, beat Holyfield but had a shorter prime than most

10. I think it's a tie between: Morrison, Rudduck, and Golota they had success vs good fighters but they also had a lot of shortcomings

Evander beat Lewis? When was this? Also to say he won against Bowe is crap IMO he lost 2 of 3. He won one fight, but BOwe won the series.

[The Boxer]

i think i would have to agree with lyle and put evander at the top spot. he has fought pretty much everybody on the you guys top 10 list. it seems like we're forgetting somebody though.

[El Kabong]

Evander beat Lewis on the cards in the first fight but I honestly think the second fight was all his.

Evander beat Riddick Bowe in the second fight by Majority Division

Bowe won the series but nobody else beat him outside Evander Holyfield

[ICB]

Evander beat Lewis on the cards in the first fight but I honestly think the second fight was all his.

Evander beat Riddick Bowe in the second fight by Majority Division

Bowe won the series but nobody else beat him outside Evander Holyfield

Golota did twice

[CutMeMick]

OK, 1st I gotta say that looking into this thread and having the bright idea of trying to make my own list has caused a big depression in me and even more so in how sad the Heavy div. has been for the past 20 yrs.
I sware 1 thru 8 was good I mean I switched them around a couple of times but for the most part I knew how they faired then I get to numbers 9 and 10 Whoa!! talk about trying to dig up whos the better... Shit! I spent about 30 min. trying to decide who to put there it was a toss up in between Ruiz, McCall, Morrison, Rahman, Toney.
I need a nap now... My head hurts...



1. Lewis
2. Holyfield
3. Tyson
4. Moorer
5. Bowe
6. Wladdy
7. Byrd
8. Vitali
9. Ruiz
10. McCall

[GAME]

1. Lewis - Beat every guy he ever fought
2. Evander Holyfield - 4 Time champion
3. Tyson - Late 80's early 90's he looked the part
4 . Riddick Bowe - 1 loss that he avenged is pretty impressive at his level .
5 . Michael Moorer - Better at lightheavy but was a great heavy too .
6 . Wvlad Klitschko - Had an era of domination
7 . Vitali Klitscko - He attmepted to have an era of domination
8 . John Ruiz - As awful as he was , statistically he achived a fair amount
9 . Hasim Rahman - Again , an awful fighter but the reason I put him in the top 10 is cuz he s a two time champ , but I think Guys like Golota , Briggs , Tua etc , were better
10 . Oliver Mcall - Beat the number 1 and is still around today

[gudnite vienna]

what are you talking about 1st fight draw, 2nd fight Lewis win. Everyone thought Lewis won the first fight as well Lyle

[SweetPea]

OK, 1st I gotta say that looking into this thread and having the bright idea of trying to make my own list has caused a big depression in me and even more so in how sad the Heavy div. has been for the past 20 yrs.
I sware 1 thru 8 was good I mean I switched them around a couple of times but for the most part I knew how they faired then I get to numbers 9 and 10 Whoa!! talk about trying to dig up whos the better... S***! I spent about 30 min. trying to decide who to put there it was a toss up in between Ruiz, McCall, Morrison, Rahman, Toney.
I need a nap now... My head hurts...



1. Lewis
2. Holyfield
3. Tyson
4. Moorer
5. Bowe
6. Wladdy
7. Byrd
8. Vitali
9. Ruiz
10. McCall

Mick, I felt the same way when I started thinking about this thread...
How sad is it that Michael Moorer is a no-doubt Top 10 guy, and he got knocked out in his first title defense!

When you look at these lists, it becomes even more amazing that Lennox was criticized for much of his title reign for being boring.

[Punching Princess]

OK I will give it a try.

Lennox Lewis- We were lucky enough to have not only a fighter who dominated but also a fighter who represented boxing well. The heavyweight champion was the face of boxing through out history. Lennox was a gentleman. Well spoken and we watched him grow as a fighter. By time he retired he dominated the heavyweight division like any past great. Avenged his losses. Then went out on a win. True warrior with Class.

Evander Holyfield- His fights were almost always exciting. He always gave it his all like a true champion should. Has one of boxing's best trilogies against Bowe. Managed to go from cruiserweight to being an undersized heavyweight. Beat Tyson twice. His only downfall is not knowing when to walk away

Riddick Bowe-Riddick took on a big challenge. He became the face of heavyweight boxing after Mike Tyson took a powder to the state ranch. He was our champion and we were proud. His fights with Evander are legendary. Sad part is he put a black eye on himself refusing to fight Lennox Lewis. Who at that time I feel he could have beat. He would have no chance against the 2004 and up version of Lewis but the 1993 version of Bowe was about as good as one can get

Mike Tyson=When 1987 came around Mike Tyson has seen his best days come and go. This is a man who could have been in the top 3 of all time not just the last 20 years. He managed to have his career extended a long time by reputation alone. The 1985-1986 version of Tyson was pure dominance. He did manage another title though after his time in prison. Mikes aura will always keep him in a top heavyweight list.

Vitaly Klitschko-Vitaly was just coming into his own as the top man in the division when he was forced to retire. In my opinion he would still be champion. He had it all. Good power. His offense was improving. He had lost that robotic style. His chin is unbelivable. He had things cut short but there is no doubt everything was there and he would have been champion until he felt like giving the title up.

6.Chris Byrd-Size was Chris only downfall. He had heart and skill

7.Wladamir Klitschko-Many set backs but the best is yet to come

8.Michael Moorer-Great skill and only southpaw to hold the belt

9.John Ruiz-Boring I know but he got the job done

10-Ray Mercer-Tough as nails, Great finisher. Better then the other choices. Morrison, Rahman, Golota. Gave everyone he lost to during his heyday fits

[ICB]

1 Lennox Lewis
2 Evander Holyfield
3 Mike Tyson
4 George Foreman
5 Riddick Bowe
6 Vitali Klit
7 Wladimir Klit
8 Michael Moorer
9 Ray Mercer
10 Larry Holmes

[Kev]

depends what you mean really.....best fighter at his peak...or greatest overall in there careers. For example i believe that Tyson is the most talented by miles of the last 20 years....however i accept Holyfield and Lewis achieved more in there careers.

Over all greatest in that time span. Peak has nothing to do with it cause then, yeah Tyson would be higher as would Foreman.

Prime Tyson is not better than prime Foreman

Foreman twice destroyed one of the greatest heavyweights of all time in Joe Frazier plus annihilated Ken Norton.

Tyson never beat anybody on that level and lost every time he faced a true great, unless of course that great wasn't past his prime and coming off a two year layoff following two successive defeats.

[ICB]

depends what you mean really.....best fighter at his peak...or greatest overall in there careers. For example i believe that Tyson is the most talented by miles of the last 20 years....however i accept Holyfield and Lewis achieved more in there careers.

Over all greatest in that time span. Peak has nothing to do with it cause then, yeah Tyson would be higher as would Foreman.

Prime Tyson is not better than prime Foreman

Foreman twice destroyed one of the greatest heavyweights of all time in Joe Frazier plus annihilated Ken Norton.

Tyson never beat anybody on that level and lost every time he faced a true great, unless of course that great wasn't past his prime and coming off a two year layoff following two successive defeats.

Im quite surprised BoomBoom said that because thats nonsense what he said and he is normally good poster.

[BoomBoom]

depends what you mean really.....best fighter at his peak...or greatest overall in there careers. For example i believe that Tyson is the most talented by miles of the last 20 years....however i accept Holyfield and Lewis achieved more in there careers.

Over all greatest in that time span. Peak has nothing to do with it cause then, yeah Tyson would be higher as would Foreman.

Prime Tyson is not better than prime Foreman

Foreman twice destroyed one of the greatest heavyweights of all time in Joe Frazier plus annihilated Ken Norton.

Tyson never beat anybody on that level and lost every time he faced a true great, unless of course that great wasn't past his prime and coming off a two year layoff following two successive defeats.

Im quite surprised BoomBoom said that because thats nonsense what he said and he is normally good poster.

You read it wrong. What I said was Foreman and Tyson would be higher on the list, not that Tyson would be higher than Foreman cause Foreman rates far higher than Tyson......Ill forgive you though cause you said i was usually a good poster

[Tysonbruno]

Im not talking about just fighting in this time span, im talking about the best during this time, let me know if im forgetting anyone:

1.Lennox Lewis
2.Evander Holyfield
3.Mike Tyson
4.George Foreman
5.Riddick Bowe
6.Michael Moorer
7.Buster Douglas
8.Wlad Klitschko
9.Vitali Klitschko
10.Chris Byrd

Honorable Mentions: Larry Holmes, Razor Ruddock, Oliver McCall, Andrew Golota,Ray Mercer,Tommy Morrison, John Ruiz, Hasim Rahman, Shannon Briggs

Where's Frank Bruno

[Kev]

depends what you mean really.....best fighter at his peak...or greatest overall in there careers. For example i believe that Tyson is the most talented by miles of the last 20 years....however i accept Holyfield and Lewis achieved more in there careers.

Over all greatest in that time span. Peak has nothing to do with it cause then, yeah Tyson would be higher as would Foreman.

Prime Tyson is not better than prime Foreman

Foreman twice destroyed one of the greatest heavyweights of all time in Joe Frazier plus annihilated Ken Norton.

Tyson never beat anybody on that level and lost every time he faced a true great, unless of course that great wasn't past his prime and coming off a two year layoff following two successive defeats.

Im quite surprised BoomBoom said that because thats nonsense what he said and he is normally good poster.

You read it wrong. What I said was Foreman and Tyson would be higher on the list, not that Tyson would be higher than Foreman cause Foreman rates far higher than Tyson......Ill forgive you though cause you said i was usually a good poster

Sorry BoomBoom my bad I didn't read it properly. Have a