And if the other boxer continued to move forward, Johnson punished him by throwing quick but powerful uppercut (or sometimes hook) to the chin from the inside. Never knew defeat. Holmes destroying Tyson? As fate would have it, the most gifted athlete the heavyweights ever saw emerged just when the division was stacked with formidable talent like never before or since. Not to be mentioned is BS. The idea is to distract your opponents attention with the jab. It fell apart too soon for the youngest ever heavyweight champ, whose life and career unravelled quickly - but in the 1980s Tyson tore through the division like nobody before or since. Larry Holmes is the very definition of a warrior. Max Schmeling (1924-1948, 56-10-4): 183, 22. Mike Tyson was the best fighter I ever saw. Crazy to think Mike Tyson was not part of that list. Lennox Lewis (1989-2003, 41-2-1): 547.9, 4. Ferocious. At 18, he won a Gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics. For example, Ali has better footwork and used it much more than Holmes, who liked to pressure his opponents more. Most athletic slugger I ever saw. Among all the professional boxers in the world, the following 30 can be considered the best boxers of all time. Lewis only fought guys who were at the end of their careers. March 3, 2023 8:50 am ET. The top 25 greatest heavyweight fights of all time - Bolavip US Having held the world title for seven years, his late career comeback saw him defeat Ray Mercer and almost upset Oliver McCall. A young Holmes most likely beats Tyson, but apart from that, Holmes is without a doubt in the top ten all-time, while Tyson, to the surprise of many, is not. Like most of the brawlers, Liston wasnt the fastest boxer which caused him problems against quick out-boxers, as you can see in his fight with Ali. Holyfield was a boxer-puncher. Few fighters have had the menacing aura Tyson carried to the ring and while brutal punch power was his trademark, peak Tyson also boasted fast hands, a sneaky jab, head movement and a strong chin. The pair met in Las Vegas in April 2000 and Holyfield was awarded a highly controversial 12-round unanimous decision to emerge as boxing's first-ever four-time heavyweight champ. Rocky Marciano A staggering 49-0 record 43 of which by knockout and counting wins over the likes of Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore, Marciano was among the most feared heavyweights of all time. Ali is also consistently ranked among the greatest athletes of the century. But no style is perfect and every boxer has his weaknesses. Max Baer, Max Schmeling, James J. Braddock and Jersey Joe Walcott all felt Louis wrath. The Top Ranked Boxers of All-Time from California - AinsworthSports.com Rocky Marciano: With the highest knockout percentage of all heavyweight champions and boasting wins over such greats as Archie Moore, Jersey Joe Walcott, Joe Louis and Ezzard Charles, the undefeated "Brockton Blockbuster" proved himself a remarkable warrior. Holyfield held his own, 15 rounds, against a young Lennox Lewis (who destroyed Tyson), and, beat (not on the scorecards) Nikolai Valuev LATE in EVs career. Foremans last 10 opponents were unbeaten or just had 1 loss. Beating Sonny Liston to win his first championship as a 7-to-1 underdog, defeating chief rival Joe Frazier two out of three times, stopping the undefeated George Foreman as a 4-to-1 underdog (to regain the title), outpointing Kenny . That way he built huge momentum in his punch and dramatically increased its power. Check out which of today's heavyweight fighters make our top 10. Leave Iron Mike out, Mike Tyson Likely Deserves Mention For His Impressive Wins Over Numberous Belt Holders Including Larry Holmes Trevor Berbick Frank Bruno James Bone Crusher Smith Bruce Seldon Michael Spinks Tony Tubbs And Tony Tucker. Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis didnt fear Tyson and were able to subsequently bully the bully. Langford was tiny when he fought Johnson. He won the first one and was robbed by the judges in the third one. Many cite this as a feat of Marciano. Chris Byrd (1993-2009, 41-5-1): 142.9, 30. No Tyson in the list? Look at Tyson get hammered (YOUNGER than Larry Holmes) in his last two fights against journeymen. Top 10 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time - Fortis In an era when segregation was still legal, Louis' athleticism made him one of the few African-American celebrities of his time. He was a longtime contender who fought ranked fighters regularly beginning in the mid-1970s. Tyson should definitely be in the top 10. No one better to learn from. Thats important because sometimes the greatest boxer doesnt necessarilyneed to be able to beat everybody else. Ali is a three-time heavyweight world champion and is widely considered the best boxer of all time. Does tag team boxing have a future in the sport? Bill Caplan's 20 greatest heavyweights - The Ring With a technique called by him The Dempseys drop step, he was able to generate huge power in his punches no matter how close or how far away from his opponents he was. Ken Norton. The Tyson of the late 80s definitely belongs there. Thudding around the ring? Joey. Jimmy Ellis (1961-1975, 40-12-1): 114.2, 47. Instead, Lennox Lewis represents their era as an all time great, and the 11th best ever? Then show me a fight where Tyson did anything similar. 8. He also liked to put his gloves on his opponents gloves to trap their hands. And he had a real power in his punches no matter what he was throwing. Signature technique:Exit the clinch with an explosive lead hook. 4. List of the 10 greatest heavyweight boxers of all time: Has - DAZN His numbers speak for themselves: he got to 48-0 and 20 title defences before finally tasting defeat - controversially - to Michael Spinks when Holmes was closing in on his 36th birthday. Strongest Rocky Universe Boxers Ranked: Who Is the GOAT? What time is Shevchenko vs. Grasso tonight? That allowed him to throw a powerful right cross without his opponents see it by moving his left glove off their eyes a split of the second before the cross lands. 6. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Thats why many of his wins are on points (which wasnt highly appreciated by the fans, who want to see knockouts). Jeffries 15. Power, toughness, and unsurpassed conditioning were Rockys calling-cards, along with a brutal relentlessness which no one in his era could withstand. Dont let that KO reel fool ya. I think he is one of the greatest boxers not only because of the fact he was a champion or because of his title defenses but also because of his unique style. Famous fight:Jack Dempsey vs Jess Willard. The Youngest Heavyweight Champion ever, a record that will never be broken, is the only true accolade Mike has to his name. Ali finished his career with a 56-5 record with 37 KOs. The greatest boxers of all time - DW - 11/24/2020 - DW.COM Pro boxing record: 23 wins (20 knockouts). Feel free to add your thoughts and comments! Mickey Walker 64. Mike Tyson should be in the top 12! What time is Shevchenko vs. Grasso tonight? Smokin Joe was an absolute buzzsaw. He also kept his hands low and his chin up, which are common mistakes according to many coaches. As one of the world's greatest boxers of all time, Roberto Duran had 31 consecutive wins before he stepped into the ring with Ken Buchanan in 1972 for his first shot at the title. Mayweather, Tyson, Fury, Ali, Canelo: 100 greatest boxers of all time Cleveland Williams (1951-1972, 80-13-1): 186.6, 21. Muhammad Ali. Fury has made a case to be considered one of the best heavyweights ever, but just how good is he? 26 Eder Jofre. Does tag team boxing have a future in the sport? Its very similar to what Roy Jones Jr. does to land his powerful lead hooks. A staggering 49-0 record 43 of which by knockout and counting wins over the likes of Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore, Marciano was among the most feared heavyweights of all time. The Fight of the Century in March 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali his first loss, was proof of that. The style he developed required goodhead movement and timing. They plant their feet so they can generate as much power as they possibly can. Best Light Heavyweight Boxers Of All Time - Punch Prime However there is no denying that the current crop a field that includes Wilder,Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk and more with WBC and The Ring champ Fury sitting top of the heap have produced the most exciting spell for the 200lbs+ realm in a long time. His fight against Gane for the vacant heavyweight title is the headline event of UFC . He was the mad experiment of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, boxing minds ever in Cus Damato. l give credit to any boxer who can rectify their losses. Very surprising. Lewis beat tyson and evander and every boxer he ever faced. Montreal is The Fight City. In his short prime, Tyson is a serious challenge for anyone. Boxing: The 10 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time Ranking Explanation . He reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, and is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. But thats not the reason why he is on that list. Dont be a hater all your life! Louis 3. Anyone who puts Joe Frazier ahead of a serious power-puncher is ignorant. And they enabled him to vanquish, among others, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney,Tim Witherspoon, Mike Weaver and Trevor Berbick. Nationality: Japanese. Top 10 Boxing Heavyweights of All Time - YouTube Walcott. Deontay Wilder! Liston was nearly knocked out by Cleveland Williams, and also had trouble from Amos Lincoln, but he beat both of them. Mike Tyson was in an awfully weak era. Archie Moore, Louis, Walcott are all better, and win over Rocky if younger. Signature technique:Bait a cross -> Counter with a check lead hook. Cant overlook Holmes place in heavyweight history. And as the other boxers tried to close the distance, Wladimir got into a clinch or headlocked them (which is much easier when fighting with shorter boxers). TGT Play! Odds Deals Podcasts US USA Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maryland Michigan New Jersey I remember how he destroyed Holmes! But when the other boxers came close to him, he transitioned to a crossguard so he can defend both his body and his head effectively. Tyson never once rose from the canvas or walked through fire to win a fight. A metropolis where hundreds of young warriors train and battle each day in its many gyms, it is where Archie Moore, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Bernard Hopkins all found greatness. The Jeffries fight was a huge event, but I didnt think this a popularity contest and I dont know how to explain that a 6-year retired ex-champion could be considered one of a guys best wins. Very impressive. Ive read a couple of bios and researched that era. Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time. Division-By-Division - The Greatest Fighters of All-Time - BoxRec Both fighters liked to jab their opponent while circling to their left. Ingemar Johansson (1952-1963, 26-2-0): 293.6, 15. And that was exactly what he did. Kudos on not putting Tyson in the top 12. Fury has combined pure boxing skills with underrated punching power to a supreme level amidst his growing dominance. He was usually much bigger and stronger than his opponents and he easily controlled them in the ring. After he throws a jab, Klitschko often stuck his hand in his opponents face, blocking their vision with his glove. Or Williams, Ellis and Folley. Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports. There was never a Plan B, and theres a point in every boxers career when hes going to need one. 17 Reasons why Jordan is greater than Lebron. Why Boxers can Bet on Themselves (but Not Against Themselves), How Many Heavyweight Boxing Belts are There? And they probably didnt expect to get three of those hard jabs to the head in a row. Holyfield I choose him because hes very contemporary to MT) doesnt talk trash. And both components of his fighting game have been on display in all three of his fights against Deontay Wilder one of boxings biggest punchers of all time and his unanimous decision points win over Wladimir Klitschko. He did what not one of the above mentioned ever did! Tyson Furys second title defence a sixth-round knockout of Dillian Whyte followed his October trilogy rematch victory over Deontay Wilder and kicked off more discussion as to where he stands among the greatest heavyweights of all time. He spent five years of his prime in jail and then people fought him. Here, DAZN lists its 10 Best Heavyweights of All Time, in no particular order. Jack Dempsey (1914-1927, 59-6-9): 146.7, 29. When the going got tough, Tyson had problems. They usually, stay at a mid-range, in position dangerous for both for them and for their opponents. Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images. & Lennox Lewis could? The Top 10 Best Boxers of All Time - Players Bio There will be many famous names and some iconic fights, knockouts, and upsets. After three years in prison, Tysons quickness was gone. Lennox Lewis 11. Watch the DAZN Boxing Show and live fights on DAZN. OP doesn't seem to be asking for P4P. Tyson could never deal with adversity, which is why he doesnt belong on the list of ATGs. A true STUDENT of the sweet science. Defeated such outstanding talents as Max Baer, Jack Sharkey, Bob Pastor, James Braddock, Tommy Farr, Billy Conn, John Henry Lewis, Max Schmeling, Jimmy Bivins, Lee Savold and Jersey Joe Walcott. And lame. Signature technique: Jab->Left hook to the body->Left hook to the head. Your email address will not be published. He boasts solid wins over David Tua, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer and Vitali Klitschko. #8. Then he threw a wide, almost straight elbowed right overhand over the top. Your email address will not be published. The combination is very tricky becauseby attacking the body first, he made his rivals lower their guards so they can block the body shots. It may well be that the best defense is a good offense, and Tyson had been an unstoppable force when coming forward, but he was lost when things didnt go his way. Foreman used his tremendous punching power so destroy his opponents body and to knock the wind out of them. Lennox was most dangerous at a long distance where he can throw his right cross or uppercut with devastating power. And dont forget Terrell, Shavers and Chuvalo. With his 25 title defenses,Klitschko has one of the longest title reigns in the heavyweight division. When it comes to the best heavyweight boxers of all time, the name Larry Holmes shines brighter like the sun. But they, too, are among the greatest of all time, so thats not too shabby. The Rock from Brockton (his nickname) was one of the first boxers who developed this style of boxing. But Marciano did one thing really well: win. Muhammad Ali-56-5--(37): In terms of social and historical impact no one even comes close. In boxing history, Gerald Arthur Cooney came as the one who gave contenders the most powerful punches. George Foreman (1969-1997, 76-5-0): 233.3, 19. He was using his left hand, mainly to throw some fast but light jabs, to keep his opponents away or to measure the distance for his right crosses or uppercuts. Holyfield should be on the list. Fraziers iconic and convincing victory over Muhammad Ali, and 2. the fact he is second only to Ali in terms of the best boxers competing in the strongest era in division history. 5. Posted below are the top 50 heavyweight boxers of all time. Granted you can say in his era there was a lack of talent, but this is beyond his control. Definitely, George Foreman is one of the most intimidating and exciting boxers to watch. A boxing enthusiast who is always eager to learn something new about boxing and share it! 1. Many fans think his style was boring, calling it jab and grab. Top 12 All-Time Greatest Heavyweights - The Fight City He ended up beating the defending champion to clinch the world lightweight title. The best lightweight boxers in the world, named and ranked The best British pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked 10. His strategy basically was to jab his opponents from a distance where they cant reach him andoccasionally land some powerful straight rights. After winning the world light heavyweight title in 1968 after beating Dick Tiger with a 4th round knockout. My gripe is not fully with the omissions of Tyson, and Holyfield, as much as it is that those two were put in the same so called, Honorable pool as one of the god damn Klitschko brothers. Rocky Marciano: With the highest knockout percentage of all heavyweight champions and boasting wins over such greats as Archie Moore, Jersey Joe Walcott, Joe Louis and Ezzard Charles, the undefeated Brockton Blockbuster proved himself a remarkable warrior. Floyd Mayweather 6. 11. 32 Packey McFarland. Top 19 Heavyweights of all time - The Grueling Truth Today we rank the 20 greatest Heavyweights of all time, some on this list may surprise you while others may not. That way he was nullifying the reach and height advantages of his opponents. Drederick Tatum is The Simpsons equivalent of former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Mike Tyson was knocking people out! Throw in Norton, Quarry, Patterson, Lyle and Bonavena too. The Easton Assassin was, for a long stretch, the most underrated heavyweight champion. Sammy Angott 67. Date of Birth: 10 July 1988, Age: 34 years old. At 31-0-1, all thats left for the reigning WBC and lineal world heavyweight champion and former unified world champ is to snatch undisputed glory as the cherry on top. Alan Belcher has been the BKFC heavyweight champion for less than a week, and he has lofty ambitions about the types of fights that could come next. He was a very patient fighter who wasnt always taking the risk to finish his opponents off. What time is the Jay Swingler vs. NichLMAO fight tonight. Wills are you crazy? Louis too, though I think Louis courage would put him over Tyson. 16 Reasons why Lebron is greater than Jordan. You can see that in his fights with Mike Tyson and his fight with Evander Holyfield where he was just pushing them back or pushing their heads down every time they closed the gap. 25 greatest heavyweight boxing fights of the last 100 years But such punches are very easy to be seen because they require building huge momentum. This list is absolute dooodooo. Table of Contents 1. Ranking The 25 Greatest UFC Fighters Of All Time - Unlock Your Sports World Roscoe Toles (1931-1950, 45-10-6): 140.1, 31. Simply, he beat more great heavyweights than any fighter before or since. Of course, he has a great strategy for every different opponent. "I'm fighting to be the greatest fighter ever, not to be the best pound-for-pound right now," Jones said. Wilbur's 100 Greatest Heavyweights of all Time: Top 10! There are many great heavyweight boxers now like Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder but the names that made people fall in love with heavyweight boxing are the Tyson's and Ali's. This list consists of the greatest heavyweight boxing bouts in the history of the sport. Frazier is the only man to defeat Muhammad Ali when he was anywhere close to his prime. He won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympics and went on to become the first boxer to win the heavyweight title three times. He was thrill-a-minute, exemplified by his fight with Luis Angel Firpo, where Dempsey knocked his opponent down seven (7) times, got blasted through out of the ring himself, then scrambled back through the ropes to eventually knock out Firpo. Height: 6 ft 2 in. Jon Jones returns at UFC 285 seeking heavyweight title and GOAT status Go play somewhere else, child. Tyson is a video-game. He was doing that by keeping his lead hand low, making himself vulnerable for crosses. Reviled early on in his championship reign, he eventually became nothing less than an American icon. However, what really puts Ali number one all time is his quality of opposition. DAZN uses cookies to help us deliver our services and improve your user experience. Boxing legends Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis have all secured a place in the top 10 heavyweight boxers of all time. Tyson better than Holmes? Following in Alis footsteps, Holmes could be as cold as Ali was charismatic but he could fight. Oliver McCall (1985-2019, 59-14-0): 121.6, 40. 20 of the Best Boxing Movies of All Time They werent expecting him to generate such power from such short-range, which caught them unprepared. Tyson Fury (2008 - present, 30-0-1): 173.2, 23. Famous fight: Wladimir Klitschko vs. Calvin Brock. Joe Frazier (32-4-1, 27 KO) Joe Frazier had beaten many great opponents including Buster Mathis, Doug Jones and Muhammad Ali (once). Name: Naoya Inoue. But honestly, his career and overcoming personal obstacles along the way to date already have him among the greatest heavyweights of all time on our list. Defeating a 26-year-old Michael Moorer at the age of 45 back in November 1994 to once again be crowned as heavyweight champion demonstrated how a heavyweights power is the last to leave his hands. He was much bigger and longer than most of his opponents (which is normal when youre 6 6 tall with 81 in reach) and he used this advantage very efficiently. The only four-time heavyweight world champion in boxing history, Holyfields victory over Riddick Bowe and wins over Mike Tyson, in particular, more than illustrate his warrior footprint in the sport's lore. Sonny Liston a brawler. 49. Amazing speed, unsurpassed ring intelligence, plus astonishing courage, durability, and will to win, not to mention longevity, make Ali a cut above the rest, the best big man of both the 1960s and 70s, and in truth, as he liked to say himself, The Greatest Of All-Times.. And against George Foreman, he was staying at the ropes blocking all punches for several rounds, gassing Foreman out so he can finish him later. The strategy of Smokin Joe was simple to make his opponents step back using his constant pressure, feints, body shots and wrestling techniques (such as pushing the other boxers chest with his head). That allows you to mask your step and land the body shot. Whos ranked an all time great? As I already mentioned, with the drop step, Dempsey was able to hit really hard, regardless of the distance he did that from a long-range but also in the clinch. But can we put him up there with the absolute all-time greats just yet? Ali used this counter while he was circling to his left and jabbing his opponent. Greatest Boxers of All Time - Top Ten List - TheTopTens It lasted two rounds. Thats why Joe was usually setting his overhandup with a jab to the head. Ken Norton (1967-1981, 42-7-1): 135.2, 32. Marciano 4. Bob Foster was one of the best light heavyweight boxers of all time. What about Tyson? But by doing that they often left their head open, which was a perfect opportunity for Iron Myke to land the knockout blow. Modern heavyweights are often ridiculed as being a pale imitation of the legends of the 20th century whose legacies have been immortalised. Louis is the prime example of what it means to be a boxing legend. A one-dimensional fighter. Sometimes Archie was using the crossguard to bait his opponents. Some sort of elaborate prank? He is where he belongs: Honorable Mention, with a lot of other very good but not great heavyweights. Joe Louis The brown bomber, was a mix of several boxing styles. Arguably the divisions greatest puncher. During the whole fight, he stood his ground and waited for Myke to attack first so he can counter him. Of course, there are somesimilarities in the styles of the two brothers. Wins over Jess Willard, Georges Carpentier, Jim Flynn, Big Bill Tate, Billy Miske, Luis Firpo, Gunboat Smith and Jack Sharkey. And as we know, the sport never stops toevolves so Joshua has an unfair advantage over Ali. Best Boxers of All Time | List of Top Famous Boxing Legends - Ranker Signature technique: Multiple hooks to the body. And at the end of the day, the effectiveness of the technique is much more important than its appearance. Look at the fear Tyson compounded with ferocious punches for Trevor Berbick, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno and Donovan Ruddock to name a few amidst his reign of terror during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s. No substance. In total, he participated in 31 boxing matches with 28 wins, only 3 losses, and 24 knockouts. Hasim Rahman (1994-2014, 50-9-2): 115.1, 46. He was a powerful puncher and the most relentless fighter ever. Yeah, Holmes lost twice to Michael Spinks, while Tyson knocked out Spinks in 90 seconds. He was also small for the weight class (510 tall), compared to the other heavyweightsat that time, which was actually an advantage. The fans' top 5 greatest boxers of all time | NBC Sports (explanation), Can you Headlock in Boxing? So he was a thought matchup for everyone. His jab wasnt the usual fast and snappy jab that most of the boxers are using. Top 10 Best UFC Heavyweight Fighters Of All time..Welcome back to Sports Paradise, today on the channel we're going to be talking about the Top 10 Best UFC H. One of the favorite Holyfields combinations started with a quick jab to the head, then he lowered his body and head while making a step forward and throwing a lead a hook to the body. Thats an old-school boxing technique which Foreman effectively applied during the golden age of boxing. Top 12 All-Time Greatest Southpaws - The Fight City Top 10 Heavyweight Boxers in the World - Players Bio Tyson was not even the best of his era - Lost to Douglas, Holyfield TWICE, Lennox Lewis,Danny Williams and McBride.. Tyson NEVER beat anyone who beat him and Never came back when he was down in a fight . He was a pressuring fighter who was really explosive (especially with his left hook). Rocky Marciano A staggering 49-0 record 43 of which by knockout and counting wins over the likes of Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore, Marciano was among the most feared heavyweights of all time. Scoring a pair of second-round TKOs of Joe Frazier and Ken Norton are a sample size of how terrifying Foreman was in his era. But he was also the greatest boxers who ever lived, There are several reasons why: But Muhammad did the complete opposite he crossed his feet by moving his right foot behind his left one while moving to his left. He could do no more than beat them but, perhaps wisely, he didnt wait to face any up-and-coming boxers!