The changing landscape: Top 10 Heavyweights by Decade

[Finkel]

The below animated chart shows how the Top 10 Heavyweights (Ring Magazine) have physically become larger over the decades.

(NOTE: Viewable on PC and iPad. Can be viewed on smartphone by downloading the GIF ~ sorry)

The bigger the circle, the higher in the top 10 rankings of that decade.
Gold Circle = Top fighter of the decade
Silver Circle = 2nd
Bronze Circle = 3rd
Bold Text and/or Purple Circle = That fight held the top spot in the Ring rankings for at least 1 year in a decade.
The Centre of the circle represents the fighters height and weight.



Thank you to the Youtuber: Rummy's Corner (Top 10 Heavyweights by Decade). I don't know if you saw my message, but your rankings were a huge boon as a start point to help me create this gif.

I used boxrec to source weights and heights. I am sure there will be some debate over what was each fighters optimal weight, but I tried to pick a weight (often average) that they fought at during their peak Ring position in each decade.

Finally I used a combination of community rankings from boxrec, boxingforum24 and ring magazine to rank current day (2021)

Enjoy

p.s. I welcome feedback. Spelling errors, contentious weights or heights, etc.

p.p.s. I wasn't sure which forum this was most appropriate for, so I'll leave it to the moderators to delete as they see fit

[Finkel]

Please let me know if the GIF is not moving.
It should be transitioning through the decades from 1930s to 2010s

[margaret thatcher]

In this section, prepare to be grumbled at


Jack Johnson was called a giant in his day, at 6 feet tall, 74 inch reach, mid 180s

Meanwhile, light heavys Sully Barrera and Joe Smith were 6'2/6'1 and 190/187 pounds on fight night when they fought

[Finkel]

In this section, prepare to be grumbled at


Jack Johnson was called a giant in his day, at 6 feet tall, 74 inch reach, mid 180s

Meanwhile, light heavys Sully Barrera and Joe Smith were 6'2/6'1 and 190/187 pounds on fight night when they fought

I am making no judgements.

[Finkel]

Updated the 1930s to better recognize Jack Sharkey

[p4p1]

In this section, prepare to be grumbled at


Jack Johnson was called a giant in his day, at 6 feet tall, 74 inch reach, mid 180s

Meanwhile, light heavys Sully Barrera and Joe Smith were 6'2/6'1 and 190/187 pounds on fight night when they fought

Hearns in the 80s was making 147 on day of fight weigh ins IIRC. That monster could arguably make 135lbs with day before weigh ins and modern weight cutting

In regards to heavyweights though I think for the most part they aren't naturally much bigger than the 60s-80s but with skilled and athletic men like Lewis, Bowe, Klitschko brothers, Fury etc a lot of the HWs have bulked up to 240lbs in an effort to match strength or out of laziness in their diet. Wilder still competes at the top while his weight is generally between 210-220, ditto with Haye. Povetkin is only around 220, an in shape Ruiz Jr would have to be simlar. Usyk is another one. I doubt any of those guys could beat Lewis, Klitschko, Fury or Bowe at their best though and size would absolutely be a factor. They're not big guys like Willard or Carnera who only took up boxing later in life.