BoxRec

I was just reading some old Ring mags when I came across the HW rankings for November 1991 & another ranking list in 1996. Not sure what month it's for in 1996.

Competition-wise, I think both lists are good. What period do you think was better?

Nov. 1991

1. Holyfield
2. Tyson
3. Bowe
4. Ruddock
5. Mercer
6. Witherspoon
7. Foreman
8. Tucker
9. Lewis
10. Moorer

1996

1 Evander Holyfield
2 Lennox Lewis
3 Mike Tyson
4 Michael Moorer
5 Andrew Golota
6 Ray Mercer
7 Henry Akinwande
8 David Tua
9 Riddick Bowe
10 Tim Witherspoon

Rocky Balboa wrote:I was just reading some old Ring mags when I came across the HW rankings for November 1991 & another ranking list in 1996. Not sure what month it's for in 1996.

Competition-wise, I think both lists are good. What period do you think was better?

Nov. 1991

1. Holyfield
2. Tyson
3. Bowe
4. Ruddock
5. Mercer
6. Witherspoon
7. Foreman
8. Tucker
9. Lewis
10. Moorer

1996

1 Evander Holyfield
2 Lennox Lewis
3 Mike Tyson
4 Michael Moorer
5 Andrew Golota
6 Ray Mercer
7 Henry Akinwande
8 David Tua
9 Riddick Bowe
10 Tim Witherspoon

1991 clearly. Better and/or Prime versions of Tyson, Holyfield, Witherspoon, and Bowe. Foreman was better in 91 as well.

Lewis was better in 96 but beyond that nothing superior.

Akiwande sucked.

Which month was the 1996 list?

It has to be December 1996 because Holyfield was considered shot before that & had not yet battered Tyson, so there is no way that he should have been at number 1 before December 1996's issue.

Interesting to note that, while the linear champion (the only title that counts when all is said & done), Foreman does not figure in the ratings for 1996. Not saying I disagree (though I figure he could swat Akinwande, & probably best a green Tua), but it just makes for interesting reading.

Compared to rankings today, how exciting do those ones compare.

1991 to me seems more exciting, but there are some good match ups one can play with in 1996 to.

GI,

That is an interesting point. I guess they feel because of his 'defences' he is nt worthy of ranking. BUT....other linear champs in the span of a year faced I am sure other hard to rank fighters. I guess Ali, Louis, Frazier..dare i say Holmes. I bet they got the champion position.

Poor old man George.

Rocky Balboa wrote:I was just reading some old Ring mags when I came across the HW rankings for November 1991 & another ranking list in 1996. Not sure what month it's for in 1996.

Competition-wise, I think both lists are good. What period do you think was better?

Nov. 1991

1. Holyfield
2. Tyson
3. Bowe
4. Ruddock
5. Mercer
6. Witherspoon
7. Foreman
8. Tucker
9. Lewis
10. Moorer

1996

1 Evander Holyfield
2 Lennox Lewis
3 Mike Tyson
4 Michael Moorer
5 Andrew Golota
6 Ray Mercer
7 Henry Akinwande
8 David Tua
9 Riddick Bowe
10 Tim Witherspoon

Both years had a lot of talent. Which year was better?

1991 had Ruddock, Foreman, and Tucker
1996 had Tua, Golota, and Akinwande

The rest of the names are the same. I think 1991 had little more talent overall.