Now and then-Magazine ratings

[wsbuf]

KO Magazine March 1989 HVY Ratings VS. Ring Magazine June 2010


KO - Ring
1.Mike Tyson 1.Wladamir
2.Holyfield 2.Vitali
3.Tim Witherspoon 3.David Haye
4.Carl Williams 4.Alexander Povetkin
5.Francesco Damiani 5.Tomasz Adamek
6.Orlin Norris 6.Ruslan Chagaev
7.Buster Douglass 7.Eddie Chambers
8.Michael Dokes 8.Denis Boytsov
9.Frank Bruno 9.Nicolay Valuev
10.Razor Ruddock 10.Alexander Dimitrenko
11.Adilson Rodriguez 11.Chris Arreola

21 years later which era had better top 11?

[Expug]

Adamek,Chagev go the distance maybe win waybe lose.Depends on who feels more up to it.
The rest,1989 wins all of them by kayo.
Who is Dennis Boystov?
Whoever he is Dokes throws him a beating.

[Goodnight, Irene]

KO Magazine March 1989 HVY Ratings VS. Ring Magazine June 2010


KO - Ring
1.Mike Tyson 1.Wladamir
2.Holyfield 2.Vitali
3.Tim Witherspoon 3.David Haye
4.Carl Williams 4.Alexander Povetkin
5.Francesco Damiani 5.Tomasz Adamek
6.Orlin Norris 6.Ruslan Chagaev
7.Buster Douglass 7.Eddie Chambers
8.Michael Dokes 8.Denis Boytsov
9.Frank Bruno 9.Nicolay Valuev
10.Razor Ruddock 10.Alexander Dimitrenko
11.Adilson Rodriguez 11.Chris Arreola

21 years later which era had better top 11?

Tyson - Klitschko
Holyfield - Klitschko
Witherspoon - Haye
Williams - Povetkin
Damiani - Adamek
Norris - Chagaev
Douglas - Chambers
Dokes - Boystov
Bruno - Valuev
Ruddock - Dimitrenko
Rodriguez - Arreola

Some of these were pretty tight, mind, but it's quite the depressing picture nonetheless for today's division. The 80's were pretty poor, for the most part.

[crusader]

The 1989 list features the better fighters.

Adamek, Chagaev, and Arreola seem to be evenly matched with Damiani, Norris, and Rodrigues respectively. The other fighters from 89 would definitely have the advantage over their contemporary counterparts. I don't agree that Holyfield would KO Vitali and I think that fight would be relatively competitive. I think Chambers would go the distance with Douglas, and Wlad would cause Tyson a lot of trouble before being caught with something.

[crusader]

Adamek,Chagev go the distance maybe win waybe lose.Depends on who feels more up to it.
The rest,1989 wins all of them by kayo.
Who is Dennis Boystov?
Whoever he is Dokes throws him a beating.

Boystov is a very overrated fighter from Russia who is somehow ranked as high as number 7 by some publications, even though he has beaten no one of note (his best win was over Taras Bidenko, who is nothing special). He is short, compact, and loves to fight bums.

[Goodnight, Irene]

The 1989 list features the better fighters.

Adamek, Chagaev, and Arreola seem to be evenly matched with Damiani, Norris, and Rodrigues respectively. The other fighters from 89 would definitely have the advantage over their contemporary counterparts. I don't agree that Holyfield would KO Vitali and I think that fight would be relatively competitive. I think Chambers would go the distance with Douglas, and Wlad would cause Tyson a lot of trouble before being caught with something.

It was a close call with all of your first three, sans Adamek, who I think is definitely better than Damiani --- as much as anything, Arreola loses simply for being so badly out-of-condition. It would hurt him head-to-head. Holyfield doesn't KO big brother, but this is, strictly to the list, a prime Holyfield against the current, faded big bro. I think Holyfield beats any version of him, but I agree it would be difficult. Chambers & Douglas were another close call, but I think little brother is cannon-fodder for someone with as much speed to add to crushing power as Tyson has. I honestly don't see junior getting beyond two rounds in that fight, for much the same reasons as I don't see (the better) Lennox Lewis beating Tyson --- too slow to avoid all incoming, & too fragile to absorb it.

[donnellon]

I think Damiani wins, Arreola too, also Chagaev and Povetkin and Holy and Vitali a pick 'em.( I pick Evander)

[dempseyfire]

At first glance I'd say Povetkin is live vs Williams but he doesn't have the power to dent the Truth's shaky chin and Williams is far better than Chambers who gave Alexander major problems.

I think Damiani-Adamek is 50/50. Actually fairly similar fighters and Adamek's hype train I think has left the station WAY too early.

The others are clear-cut 1989 victories. Shows you how much deeper the talent pool was just 20 years back. Then you had proven class like Dokes and Bruno in the lower top 10 and now you have to fill it with nobodies like Dimitrenko/Arreola or complete unprovens like Boytsov

[crusader]

My picks......


1.Mike Tyson 1.Wladamir- I think Tyson knocks out Wlad in five. He eats some jabs for the first few rounds, but floors Wlad in the fourth and finishes him in round five.

2.Holyfield 2.Vitali- Holyfield has some difficulties with the size and awkwardness of Klitschko, but his superior ability allows him win a competitive, but clear decision.

3.Tim Witherspoon 3.David Haye- Witherspoon is thrown off by the speed of Haye in the first few rounds, but settles into a groove, begins to control the bout, and eventually decapitates Haye with an overhand right.

4.Carl Williams 4.Alexander Povetkin- Williams outboxes the slow and limited Povetkin for a clear decision victory.

5.Francesco Damiani 5.Tomasz Adamek- Adamek edges a close fight that could go either way.

6.Orlin Norris 6.Ruslan Chagaev- A battle of small heavyweights. Norris, who is more active and offensively diverse, beats Chagaev over the distance. Chagaev is held back by his limited work rate and punch selection.

7.Buster Douglas 7.Eddie Chambers-Two talented and skilled fighters going at it. The bigger and more active Douglas wins the majority of rounds as Chambers looks tentative and does not want to let his hands go. Chambers has never been in with a heavyweight as fast as himself and it shows, as he loses a wide decision.

8.Michael Dokes 8.Denis Boytsov-Dokes schools the overrated and unproven Russian.

9.Frank Bruno 9.Nicolay Valuev-Bruno shows his superior skill, but struggles somewhat with Valuev's size and does not stop the giant. Bruno ends up winning a wide decision.

10.Razor Ruddock 10.Alexander Dimitrenko- Ruddock destroys Dimitrenko in the first half of the fight.

11.Adilson Rodriguez 11.Chris Arreola-By far the worst fighter on the 89 list against the obese Arreola. Both of these limited guys have their moments, but Arreola's chin holds up better, and he stops the Brazilian in a good fight.

[Goodnight, Irene]

The 1989 list features the better fighters.

Adamek, Chagaev, and Arreola seem to be evenly matched with Damiani, Norris, and Rodrigues respectively. The other fighters from 89 would definitely have the advantage over their contemporary counterparts. I don't agree that Holyfield would KO Vitali and I think that fight would be relatively competitive. I think Chambers would go the distance with Douglas, and Wlad would cause Tyson a lot of trouble before being caught with something.

It was a close call with all of your first three, sans Adamek, who I think is definitely better than Damiani --- as much as anything, Arreola loses simply for being so badly out-of-condition. It would hurt him head-to-head. Holyfield doesn't KO big brother, but this is, strictly to the list, a prime Holyfield against the current, faded big bro. I think Holyfield beats any version of him, but I agree it would be difficult. Chambers & Douglas were another close call, but I think little brother is cannon-fodder for someone with as much speed to add to crushing power as Tyson has. I honestly don't see junior getting beyond two rounds in that fight, for much the same reasons as I don't see (the better) Lennox Lewis beating Tyson --- too slow to avoid all incoming, & too fragile to absorb it.

Douglas-Chambers close? You should go back and watch some of Buster's fights leading up to his victory over Iron Mike (Douglas/Tucker, Douglas/Page, Douglas/McCall, Douglas/Berbick). A focused/game Douglas would dominate Chambers.

That just wasn't the Douglas of all outings...or even most. He also completely bombed in unforgivable fashion after putting up a good fight against Tucker.

[dempseyfire]

It was a close call with all of your first three, sans Adamek, who I think is definitely better than Damiani --- as much as anything, Arreola loses simply for being so badly out-of-condition. It would hurt him head-to-head. Holyfield doesn't KO big brother, but this is, strictly to the list, a prime Holyfield against the current, faded big bro. I think Holyfield beats any version of him, but I agree it would be difficult. Chambers & Douglas were another close call, but I think little brother is cannon-fodder for someone with as much speed to add to crushing power as Tyson has. I honestly don't see junior getting beyond two rounds in that fight, for much the same reasons as I don't see (the better) Lennox Lewis beating Tyson --- too slow to avoid all incoming, & too fragile to absorb it.

Douglas-Chambers close? You should go back and watch some of Buster's fights leading up to his victory over Iron Mike (Douglas/Tucker, Douglas/Page, Douglas/McCall, Douglas/Berbick). A focused/game Douglas would dominate Chambers.

That just wasn't the Douglas of all outings...or even most. He also completely bombed in unforgivable fashion after putting up a good fight against Tucker.

Tucker was far better than Chambers as well.