Top Five

[The Iron Man]

1. Tyson
2. Louis
3. Ali
4. Liston
5. Marciano

[Brassangel]

The funny thing about this is, we've all got Tyson high on the "prime" list, when he really spent the majority of it in prison. I mean, he was green until about 22-23, which is when he fired his entire staff (whereby loosing the stone-killer instinct, elusive defense, and buzzsaw offensive skills, all while adding nonsensical partying), and lost to Douglas as a result. It was after his loss that he worked hard again, used what he learned from his loss in the next four fights, and would have developed into something much classier in the ring (ie: less worried about KO'ing early, and more concerned with simply winning). Unfortunately, he and Ali both missed the best years of their respective careers, and yet, their so-called "primes" that did exist were still some of the best.

[LondonRingRules]

The funny thing about this is, we've all got Tyson high on the "prime" list, when he really spent the majority of it in prison. I mean, he was green until about 22-23, which is when he fired his entire staff

** Tyson's key staff members were Jacobs and D'amato, both of whom died. The only "staff" left were lessors Cayton and Rooney, not his father figure mentors who commanded his respect. Tyson slowly crumbles over the next 17 yrs in an amazing drama not even Shakesphere could pen.

[StarshipTrooper]

I'm going to go with Liston at #1. If we're talking prime, I'll take a 94-inch reach with 2 oak-tree-arms. Thanks.

Actually he had an 86" reach, two inches short of the all-time record for Heavyweight champions of 88" held by Earnie Terell.

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Jack Johnson
4. Jack Dempsey
5. Larry Holmes

Poet

[LondonRingRules]

Actually he had an 86" reach, two inches short of the all-time record for Heavyweight champions of 88" held by Earnie Terell.
Poet

** Ah, the Don't Know It Poet makes another mess.

Liston's reach used to be listed at 84", same as Terrell's, but recent boxrec revisions like to use arm reach, listing Terrell at 32.5" and Liston at 33". It's all a bunch of hooey at any rate. Clearly the champion with most reach is Valuev, listed at 85".

[The Iron Man]

The funny thing about this is, we've all got Tyson high on the "prime" list, when he really spent the majority of it in prison. I mean, he was green until about 22-23, which is when he fired his entire staff (whereby loosing the stone-killer instinct, elusive defense, and buzzsaw offensive skills, all while adding nonsensical partying), and lost to Douglas as a result. It was after his loss that he worked hard again, used what he learned from his loss in the next four fights, and would have developed into something much classier in the ring (ie: less worried about KO'ing early, and more concerned with simply winning). Unfortunately, he and Ali both missed the best years of their respective careers, and yet, their so-called "primes" that did exist were still some of the best.

Well im talking there prime not there peack age, there is a difference, Lennox Lewis is a prime(no pun intended) example of this having his best fights and being in his best shap in his 30s. Tysons prime was Between 86-90. And thats what im ranking him on, in his prime he was the most feared boxer and cleaned up the division.

[ForemanCrossArm]

I can't believe none of you have Frazier in there. He was already past his prime going into the first Ali fight, and won still!

[ForemanCrossArm]

Actually he had an 86" reach, two inches short of the all-time record for Heavyweight champions of 88" held by Earnie Terell.

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Jack Johnson
4. Jack Dempsey
5. Larry Holmes

Poet

Not according to The Devil and Sonny Liston........

[StarshipTrooper]

I can't believe none of you have Frazier in there. He was already past his prime going into the first Ali fight, and won still!

I have Frazier ranked 9th on my ATG list.

Poet

[The Iron Man]

Poet, What is yout ATG list?