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Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 21 Sep 2015, 19:58
by Like a Boss
These lists are always a good discussion point and this one is no different.

The Top 10 heavyweights in history according to the Bleacher Report:

1/ Muhammad Ali
2/ Joe Louis
3/ George Foreman
4/ Jack Johnson
5/ Larry Holmes
6/ Evander Holyfield
7/ Joe Frazier
8/ Mike Tyson
9/Harry Wills
10/ Sonny Liston

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 21 Sep 2015, 22:10
by ClivePatrickLyons
Pretty good list but of the top of my head I think Rocky Marciano should be in the top 10 the bottom half atleast :TU:

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 21 Sep 2015, 22:31
by Like a Boss
ClivePatrickLyons wrote:Pretty good list but of the top of my head I think Rocky Marciano should be in the top 10 the bottom half atleast :TU:
They listed some apologies for those that just missed out and Marciano was the first name listed.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 02:00
by elmersalsa
Good list. Ironically, all the fighters in this list are black

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 02:40
by ClivePatrickLyons
elmersalsa wrote:Good list. Ironically, all the fighters in this list are black
Well if you go through the history of the heavyweight division you'll soon realise why back in the early day's we had the colour rule why :?? you just said it :lol: isn't that ironic :box:

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 02:52
by Like a Boss
elmersalsa wrote:Good list. Ironically, all the fighters in this list are black
I don't think there is any irony involved. Black fighters have dominated the heavyweight division and I would have been very surprised to see a white fighter in the top 10.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 11:54
by dr_devious
Lewis and Dempsey are big omissions

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 13:27
by Tomasino
Like a Boss wrote:These lists are always a good discussion point and this one is no different.

The Top 10 heavyweights in history according to the Bleacher Report:

1/ Muhammad Ali
2/ Joe Louis
3/ George Foreman
4/ Jack Johnson
5/ Larry Holmes
6/ Evander Holyfield
7/ Joe Frazier
8/ Mike Tyson
9/Harry Wills
10/ Sonny Liston

Liston and Johnson out for Marciano and Lewis.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 13:41
by stevedoc
I'd have Holmes above foreman and Johnson plus Lennox in there

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 14:08
by Boxing Writer
I have Holmes slightly higher (#3) plus Marciano (around 5-6) and Lewis (around 8-9) in my top-10. But I'm glad they included Frazier, who is the one of the most underrated fighters nowdays.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 15:31
by gilgamesh
Like a Boss wrote:These lists are always a good discussion point and this one is no different.

The Top 10 heavyweights in history according to the Bleacher Report:

1/ Muhammad Ali
2/ Joe Louis
3/ George Foreman
4/ Jack Johnson
5/ Larry Holmes
6/ Evander Holyfield
7/ Joe Frazier
8/ Mike Tyson
9/Harry Wills
10/ Sonny Liston
1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Larry Holmes
4. George Foreman
5. Evander Holyfield
6. Rocky Marciano
7. Lennox Lewis
8. Joe Frazier
9. Jack Dempsey
10. Wladimir Klitschko

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 15:35
by IKSRTFO
dr_devious wrote:Lewis and Dempsey are big omissions
Lewis is British and this was the top 10 American heavyweights

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2569 ... ng-history

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 15:36
by IKSRTFO
The Revival wrote:
Like a Boss wrote:These lists are always a good discussion point and this one is no different.

The Top 10 heavyweights in history according to the Bleacher Report:

1/ Muhammad Ali
2/ Joe Louis
3/ George Foreman
4/ Jack Johnson
5/ Larry Holmes
6/ Evander Holyfield
7/ Joe Frazier
8/ Mike Tyson
9/Harry Wills
10/ Sonny Liston
1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Larry Holmes
4. George Foreman
5. Evander Holyfield
6. Rocky Marciano
7. Lennox Lewis
8. Joe Frazier
9. Jack Dempsey
10. Wladimir Klitschko[/quote]

Klitschko isn't American
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2569 ... ng-history

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 17:44
by tiny_acres
The Revival wrote:
Like a Boss wrote:These lists are always a good discussion point and this one is no different.

The Top 10 heavyweights in history according to the Bleacher Report:

1/ Muhammad Ali
2/ Joe Louis
3/ George Foreman
4/ Jack Johnson
5/ Larry Holmes
6/ Evander Holyfield
7/ Joe Frazier
8/ Mike Tyson
9/Harry Wills
10/ Sonny Liston
1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Larry Holmes
4. George Foreman
5. Evander Holyfield
6. Rocky Marciano
7. Lennox Lewis
8. Joe Frazier
9. Jack Dempsey
10. Wladimir Klitschko
I just would not put Klitschko in there until after retirement.
I just do not rate active fighters in an all time category.But that is just me.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 18:09
by gilgamesh
IKSRTFO wrote:
The Revival wrote:
1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Larry Holmes
4. George Foreman
5. Evander Holyfield
6. Rocky Marciano
7. Lennox Lewis
8. Joe Frazier
9. Jack Dempsey
10. Wladimir Klitschko[/quote]

Klitschko isn't American
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2569 ... ng-history
I didn't realize it was an American only list. In that case. Move up Joe Frazier and Jack Dempsey one spot each, and then throw in Mike Tyson and Jack Johnson at the bottom of the Top 10.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 18:48
by Like a Boss
The Revival wrote:
Like a Boss wrote:These lists are always a good discussion point and this one is no different.

The Top 10 heavyweights in history according to the Bleacher Report:

1/ Muhammad Ali
2/ Joe Louis
3/ George Foreman
4/ Jack Johnson
5/ Larry Holmes
6/ Evander Holyfield
7/ Joe Frazier
8/ Mike Tyson
9/Harry Wills
10/ Sonny Liston
1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Larry Holmes
4. George Foreman
5. Evander Holyfield
6. Rocky Marciano
7. Lennox Lewis
8. Joe Frazier
9. Jack Dempsey
10. Wladimir Klitschko
I like your list down to 9. Not sure about Klitschko? In fairness to him it is very hard to compare him to fighters of far stronger eras. But he has certainly dominated his own.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 19:25
by gilgamesh
I feel like Wladimir deserves recognition for what he's accomplished. I realize he's from a weaker era, arguably one of the weakest eras in Heavyweight history, but he's also been one of the most dominant Heavyweight Champions of all time. He's currently in the midst of the 3rd Longest Reign ever as Heavyweight Champion. 18 title defenes as of this moment, with a successful 19th defense likely coming by the end of next month.

Even in a weaker era that's nothing to sneeze at.

Mike Tyson was Champion in a weak era, arguably just as weak as the one Wladimir reigns in, and he only managed to make 9 title defenses before being knocked out by Buster Douglas yet most people don't hesitate to put him on ATG lists, even though Wladimir has now reigned for twice as long.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 22 Sep 2015, 19:53
by Like a Boss
The Revival wrote:I feel like Wladimir deserves recognition for what he's accomplished. I realize he's from a weaker era, arguably one of the weakest eras in Heavyweight history, but he's also been one of the most dominant Heavyweight Champions of all time. He's currently in the midst of the 3rd Longest Reign ever as Heavyweight Champion. 18 title defenes as of this moment, with a successful 19th defense likely coming by the end of next month.

Even in a weaker era that's nothing to sneeze at.

Mike Tyson was Champion in a weak era, arguably just as weak as the one Wladimir reigns in, and he only managed to make 9 title defenses before being knocked out by Buster Douglas yet most people don't hesitate to put him on ATG lists, even though Wladimir has now reigned for twice as long.
Solid points, all of them.

These lists can make for interesting conversation. But sadly, it is nigh impossible to compare the likes of a barely 6ft tall with a 74 inch reach Jack Johnson from 100 years ago, to a 6ft 6 with an 81 inch reach Wlad Klitschko. Particularly when there is so little footage of Johnson available.

That said, the 6ft 1 inch Jack Dempsey was able to sleigh the giant that was Jess Willard, all 6ft 7 inches of him, and batter him like few have been battered, before or since.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 AMERICAN heavyweights in history

Posted: 23 Sep 2015, 04:33
by Controversial
Like a Boss wrote:These lists are always a good discussion point and this one is no different.

The Top 10 heavyweights in history according to the Bleacher Report:

1/ Muhammad Ali
2/ Joe Louis
3/ George Foreman
4/ Jack Johnson
5/ Larry Holmes
6/ Evander Holyfield
7/ Joe Frazier
8/ Mike Tyson
9/Harry Wills
10/ Sonny Liston
You should update your post as the Bleacher list is American heavyweights only

Bleacher "Ranking the 10 Greatest American Heavyweights in Boxing History"

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 23 Sep 2015, 06:57
by Crease
Marciano & Dempsey are GLARING omissions, particularly if this is just discussing American fighters.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 23 Sep 2015, 12:38
by gilgamesh
Crease wrote:Marciano & Dempsey are GLARING omissions, particularly if this is just discussing American fighters.
Yeah it's like the list is "Top 10 African American Heavyweights of all time" and not just American. I don't know how Marciano or Dempsey could be left out of a Top 10 all time American Heavyweights list.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 23 Sep 2015, 12:55
by Rexob
Like a Boss wrote:
elmersalsa wrote:Good list. Ironically, all the fighters in this list are black
I don't think there is any irony involved. Black fighters have dominated the heavyweight division and I would have been very surprised to see a white fighter in the top 10.

Not the last 10 or so years they haven't.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 23 Sep 2015, 13:42
by BroughtonRulesRefuge
Like a Boss wrote:These lists are always a good discussion point and this one is no different.

The Top 10 heavyweights in history according to the Bleacher Report:
- Why would anyone want to bother with some silly little girls' report when they can utilize the gold standard of heavyweight rankings?

IBRO top 20 rankings circa 2005 with most all being American if that is the discussion:
http://www.ibroresearch.com/2006/09/hea ... -rankings/

1. Joe Louis
Muhammad Ali
Jack Johnson
Jack Dempsey
Rocky Marciano
Larry Holmes
James J. Jeffries
George Foreman
Sonny Liston
10. Joe Frazier


11. Gene Tunney
Lennox Lewis
Mike Tyson
Evander Holyfield
Sam Langford
Jersey Joe Walcott
Ezzard Charles
Harry Wills
James J. Corbett
20. Bob Fitzsimmons

Now that's a pretty fair list overall with a few exceptions. Updated to make it an international list that recognizes the Klitschkos have knocked American heavyweight boxing back to Bangladeshi levels that may take decades to recover if ever once those big Chinese get to rolling. They're already here and kickin' Amercans' larded buttocks.

My updated international top 10 rankings using IBRO as a guide would be:

1. Joe Louis
2. Wlad Klitschko
3. Sam Langford
4. Jack Dempsey
5. George Foreman
6. Muhammad Ali
7. Vitali Klitschko
8. Rocky Marciano
9. James J. Jeffries
10. Mike Tyson

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 heavyweights in history

Posted: 23 Sep 2015, 22:38
by Ambling Alp II
That looks more like a "drawing names out of a hat list''.

Re: Bleacher Report rates Top 10 AMERICAN heavyweights in history

Posted: 25 Sep 2015, 02:42
by Like a Boss
Controversial wrote:
Like a Boss wrote:These lists are always a good discussion point and this one is no different.

The Top 10 heavyweights in history according to the Bleacher Report:

1/ Muhammad Ali
2/ Joe Louis
3/ George Foreman
4/ Jack Johnson
5/ Larry Holmes
6/ Evander Holyfield
7/ Joe Frazier
8/ Mike Tyson
9/Harry Wills
10/ Sonny Liston
You should update your post as the Bleacher list is American heavyweights only

Bleacher "Ranking the 10 Greatest American Heavyweights in Boxing History"
Cheers. An oversight on my part.