BoxRec

What do you think were the best WINS these fighters had? I don't mean the biggest name on their record but a win against a top rated fighter, who was not coming out of retirement....(ie. not Marcianos win over Louis or Tysons win over Holmes)

Muhammed Ali
George Foreman
Rocky Marciano
Mike Tyson
Lennox Lewis

My thoughts are -

Muhammed Ali - win against Foreman
George Foreman - win against Frazier
Rocky Marciano - win against Charles
Mike Tyson - win against Tucker (says a lot for Tysons career !!!)
Lennox Lewis - hmmm...maybe the win over Ruddock

Any other thoughts......

Muhammed Ali - His win over Cleveland Williams, or the his first bout with Liston.

George Foreman - His win against Frazier.

Rocky Marciano - His win against Charles (where his nose was mashed into, which showed tremendous heart), or his first bout with Walcott (Not because he was great in the bout, but it showed his never say die attitude)

Mike Tyson - His win against Spinks, Berbick, or Holmes!

Lennox Lewis - His win over Ruddock.

Muhammed Ali (Historical) Foreman. (Performance) Big Cat Williams.

George Foreman (Historical) Frazier 1st. (Performance) Chuvalo.

Rocky Marciano (Historical & Performance) Ezzard Charles 1st fight.

Mike Tyson (Historical) Spinks. (Performance) Berbick.

Lennox Lewis (Historical) Tyson. (Performance) Ruddock.

barry wrote:Muhammed Ali - His win over Cleveland Williams, or the his first bout with Liston.

George Foreman - His win against Frazier.

Rocky Marciano - His win against Charles (where his nose was mashed into, which showed tremendous heart), or his first bout with Walcott (Not because he was great in the bout, but it showed his never say die attitude)

Mike Tyson - His win against Spinks, Berbick, or Holmes!

Lennox Lewis - His win over Ruddock.

Good list. Not sure about the Tyson-Holmes win. As good as Holmes was he was 38, hadn't fought in two years and was on the decline when he retired anyway. It was a great KO win for Tyson as no-one has done that to Holmes but he wasn't as good as he once was.

Ali - Foreman/Liston (first fight)
Foreman - Frazier
Marciano - Walcott/Charles (I agree the Walcott fight was not the best but he was getting a beating until he caught up with him)
Tyson - I'm not a fan but I suppose the way he made Berbick walk around as if he was drunk was funny and I suppose made people sit up and take notice.
Lennox - My favorite boxer - so Ruddock because its the only fight I ever thought he could lose and Tyson for finally taking him to the cleaners. I wish he would have met Tyson in his prime and when Lennox was around the time he beat Ruddock because back then he was so much more dangerous and adventerous and I think he would have taken Tyson out inside 3 rounds.

Decagon wrote:Lewis's best win was over Holyfield. Was Holyfield old? Maybe, but he was coming off a pretty damn impressive run and held two titles.

his wins over golota, tua and `fast twitch muscles` grant are all under-rated wins.
at the times of these fights the fighters were seen to be real threats and i`m sure the unbeaten grant was even favourite with some bookies. it was only after lennox burst the bubbles of especially golota (who until the lewis fight was being billed as some indestructable ivan drago type figure) and grant that people started questioning their quality.

KOJOE90 wrote:Muhammed Ali (Historical) Foreman. (Performance) Big Cat Williams.

George Foreman (Historical) Frazier 1st. (Performance) Chuvalo.

Rocky Marciano (Historical & Performance) Ezzard Charles 1st fight.

Mike Tyson (Historical) Spinks. (Performance) Berbick.

Lennox Lewis (Historical) Tyson. (Performance) Ruddock.

Very good choices.
I agree with your picks save Tyson's best performance being against Berbick. He showed little head movement . . he just kinda plowed in there and overwhelmed Trevor with his aggression. He looks better vs Thomas and Tubbs.

And Lewis-historically his best win is over Tyson? Maybe in that it was his biggest fight notoriety-wise, but Tyson had been a retread for years. But I guess compared to any of his other fights it comes first.

marciano historical (charles I, walcott I, charles II)
preformance (louis and walcott I, lastarza II).

walcott IMO was at or near his best, and the fight was closer than people think and marciano showed his true power and heart by landing that right no walcott. people forget marciano lost 3 rounds because he was blind and that was a turning point in the fight. also he took out joe louis who at 6'2 215lb was still a dangerous top contneder despite being shot. and louis still had his jab and some power left, he was able to knock out frddie beshore and lee savold. marciano totally outphysicaled louis and displayed power, and fine handspeed. also the rematch where he broke roland lazstarzas arms and knocked him out in 11th. also the rematch where he dominated and broke roland lastaarzas arms knocking him out in 11)

marciano is the toughest to do because he didnt have the one stand out fight like douglas did to show what his peak was.

tyson historicaal (spinks, holmes) preformance (spinks, holmes, berbick)


foreman norton and frazier



lewis preformances (ruddock, Golota, Morrison) historical(tyson,holyfield I and II)

Ali Preformances (williams, terell) historical ( liston I, foreman, frazier III)








foreman

James J Braddock- Max Baer