Top 10 Heavies from best to worst

[-CANE-]

Yeh thats True. Still that for me doesnt make him above 5th, thats a great achievement but he was unable to become dominant as the champion. Yes he regain the titles but he sill lost them to opponents he should have beaten (apart from lewis). Im not dissing holyfield his on my lise and his high, im just saying why i dnt think he breaks into the eliete group!

I too can't see him any higher than 5 but have to have him lower than Lewis and thinking about it might swap Holyfield and Tyson around as Tyson had a longer single reign.

[Hawkins]

I too can't see him any higher than 5 but have to have him lower than Lewis and thinking about it might swap Holyfield and Tyson around as Tyson had a longer single reign.

To me, I think Holyfield goes over Tyson. Simple for the fact, in context, his victories were more substantial considering the fact where his career started. But I don't think either one belongs in the top 10. True my current list features Holy in the top 10, my next one likely won't.

[-CANE-]

To me, I think Holyfield goes over Tyson. Simple for the fact, in context, his victories were more substantial considering the fact where his career started. But I don't think either one belongs in the top 10. True my current list features Holy in the top 10, my next one likely won't.

When I did my spreadsheet and scored each fighter on their accomplishments I had Tyson and Holyfield scoring the exact same score but put Holyfield above Tyson on the basis of his 2 victories over Tyson. I know I need to re-do my list again and possibly add abilities in various categories into the equation and find a way of scoring each one.

Hawk - Can't remember what your list was and the criteria you used what page is it on or can you re-post it for me please.

I need to add a signature and think I'll probably put my list on it like Iron Man has then that will mean I won't have to keep posting it or looking back at it.

[Hawkins]

Hawk - Can't remember what your list was and the criteria you used what page is it on or can you re-post it for me please.

I need to add a signature and think I'll probably put my list on it like Iron Man has then that will mean I won't have to keep posting it or looking back at it.

No problem, here it is.

Top 10 Heavyweight Champions:

1. Joe Louis - 25 title defenses and the most dominant reign in heavyweight history. Plus you add in the social weight his reign carried and I don't see how anyone else could be considered for the top spot.

2. Muhammad Ali - First ever 3-time champ. Fought and defeated the toughest competition of any era. Unreal speed and skills at his peak. Plus his contributions to the social concious are almost unmatched.

3. Jack Johnson - Not a real big puncher but one of the first heavyweights to rely on boxing skill instead of bone crushing power and knockouts. He came along about 40 years before Jackie Robinson. Can you imagine the pressure of being the most hated man in America? Having the government re-write laws and enforce bygone laws in order to strip you of your title? Unreal. And aside from all of this he was able to keep competing at a high level.

4. Jack Dempsey - The first huge heavyweight draw. Relentless, tenacious and exciting. Was even more popular than Babe Ruth in his heyday. Truly brought the heavyweight championship to a new level.

5. Larry Holmes - The forgotten champion. Because he came along in the wake of Ali he is usually swept aside by most casual observers of the sport. Had the best jab, and some of the greatest boxing skills, in heavyweight history and fought everyone available. Truly underrated by most.

6. George Foreman - Greatest power puncher in the divisions history. Annihilated 2 greats of the game in Norton and Frazier. Limited overall boxing skills, but a true destroyer. Came back in the 90's. Used the power from the 1970's with a new styled mentality and regained a portion of the title.

7. Joe Frazier - Never a more determined or tougher fighter to lace up the gloves. When you faced Smokin' Joe you had better be prepared to go to war. Has a resume almost comparable to Ali. Faced anyone put in front of him. You'll not find a tougher more determined fighter in heavyweight history.

8. Rocky Marciano - Utterly relentless. Below grade boxing skills but made it up with an utterly-bottomless will to win and an unrelenting attacking. His Suzie Q right hand is one of the most devestating ever in the division. Oh yea, that little thing of retiring undefeated helps too.

9. Evander Holyfield - An undersized heavyweight competing with the behemoths of the 90's. Tenacious and fearless. Great boxing skill but loved to brawl. Former undisputed champ and 3 time holder of a portion of the title. A true throwback fighter in the modern era.

10. Ezzard Charles - The most overlooked and underrated heavyweight of them all. A legendary light heavy who moved up and won the heavyweight crown. A superb and slick fighter. Adapted a cautious style after killing a man in the ring but still was very effective. Defending his title 8 times.

[-CANE-]

No problem, here it is.

Top 10 Heavyweight Champions:

1. Joe Louis - 25 title defenses and the most dominant reign in heavyweight history. Plus you add in the social weight his reign carried and I don't see how anyone else could be considered for the top spot.

2. Muhammad Ali - First ever 3-time champ. Fought and defeated the toughest competition of any era. Unreal speed and skills at his peak. Plus his contributions to the social concious are almost unmatched.

3. Jack Johnson - Not a real big puncher but one of the first heavyweights to rely on boxing skill instead of bone crushing power and knockouts. He came along about 40 years before Jackie Robinson. Can you imagine the pressure of being the most hated man in America? Having the government re-write laws and enforce bygone laws in order to strip you of your title? Unreal. And aside from all of this he was able to keep competing at a high level.

4. Jack Dempsey - The first huge heavyweight draw. Relentless, tenacious and exciting. Was even more popular than Babe Ruth in his heyday. Truly brought the heavyweight championship to a new level.

5. Larry Holmes - The forgotten champion. Because he came along in the wake of Ali he is usually swept aside by most casual observers of the sport. Had the best jab, and some of the greatest boxing skills, in heavyweight history and fought everyone available. Truly underrated by most.

6. George Foreman - Greatest power puncher in the divisions history. Annihilated 2 greats of the game in Norton and Frazier. Limited overall boxing skills, but a true destroyer. Came back in the 90's. Used the power from the 1970's with a new styled mentality and regained a portion of the title.

7. Joe Frazier - Never a more determined or tougher fighter to lace up the gloves. When you faced Smokin' Joe you had better be prepared to go to war. Has a resume almost comparable to Ali. Faced anyone put in front of him. You'll not find a tougher more determined fighter in heavyweight history.

8. Rocky Marciano - Utterly relentless. Below grade boxing skills but made it up with an utterly-bottomless will to win and an unrelenting attacking. His Suzie Q right hand is one of the most devestating ever in the division. Oh yea, that little thing of retiring undefeated helps too.

9. Evander Holyfield - An undersized heavyweight competing with the behemoths of the 90's. Tenacious and fearless. Great boxing skill but loved to brawl. Former undisputed champ and 3 time holder of a portion of the title. A true throwback fighter in the modern era.

10. Ezzard Charles - The most overlooked and underrated heavyweight of them all. A legendary light heavy who moved up and won the heavyweight crown. A superb and slick fighter. Adapted a cautious style after killing a man in the ring but still was very effective. Defending his title 8 times.

Cheers Hawk - Just want to compare it with mine.

I have now done my research on 16 champions to start off with.
I have taken into account their achievments as champions and done my list accordingly. Just because I have someone at no16 it doesn't mean I don't think they were not better or could not beat the fighters above them. This list is greatest champions on what they acheived and how they affected the sport. I have taken the following as my criteria:-
1>Total years as champions (Factual)
2>Number of defenses (Factual)
3>Number of times they became champion (Factual)
4>Quality of opposition (Subjective)
5>Impact on the sport (Subjective)

I have devised my own system for scoring points in each of the 5 catagories as fair as I could and then added up the points to find the greatest champion.

My new greatest list of heavyweight champions:- (I will use the same system for the champions I have not yet included and will update my list at a later date)

1> Muhammed Ali
2> Joe Louis
3> Lennox Lewis
4> Larry Holmes
5> Evander Holyfield
6> Mike Tyson (scored same as Holyfield, but his 2 losses give EH 5th spot)
7> George Foreman
8> Joe Frazier
9> Jack Johnson
10>Rocky Marciano
11>Jack Dempsey (scored same as Marciano, but RM unbeaten so gets 10th)
12>Floyd Patterson
13>James J. Jeffries
14>Tommy Burns
15>Ezzard Charles
16>Sonny Liston

[Hawkins]

I have now done my research on 16 champions to start off with.
I have taken into account their achievments as champions and done my list accordingly. Just because I have someone at no16 it doesn't mean I don't think they were not better or could not beat the fighters above them. This list is greatest champions on what they acheived and how they affected the sport. I have taken the following as my criteria:-
1>Total years as champions (Factual)
2>Number of defenses (Factual)
3>Number of times they became champion (Factual)
4>Quality of opposition (Subjective)
5>Impact on the sport (Subjective)

I have devised my own system for scoring points in each of the 5 catagories as fair as I could and then added up the points to find the greatest champion.

I'm working on a system of sorts too. Maybe when I get it done we can put our respective systems together and come up with one thats pretty thorough.

[-CANE-]

I'm working on a system of sorts too. Maybe when I get it done we can put our respective systems together and come up with one thats pretty thorough.

That would be great. Do you think your list will change a lot after doing this and how do you think it will change.

[The Iron Man]

I debate whether he belongs in the top 10 at all. Plus like I said, he is one of those fighters that regrettably fought to the level of whomever was in front of him.

Well on my original list without the excel spreadsheet i had him at number 11. There is just something about him i cant put my finger on him. I never thought lets look up some holyfield fights, he wasnt exciting! he was a skilled and technical fighter. But he didnt have that special thing that puts u as an elite fighter

[-CANE-]

Well on my original list without the excel spreadsheet i had him at number 11. There is just something about him i cant put my finger on him. I never thought lets look up some holyfield fights, he wasnt exciting! he was a skilled and technical fighter. But he didnt have that special thing that puts u as an elite fighter

It's quite funny if you're just thinking about a greatest list he usually is just in or out the top 10, but if you have a system and it's based on accomplishments suddenly he appears smack **** in the middle of the top10.

[Hawkins]

That would be great. Do you think your list will change a lot after doing this and how do you think it will change.

Yea I estimate it will, however I can't predict exactly how drastic it will be. I think Ezz will drop out of the top 10. Other than that I don't know.

Well on my original list without the excel spreadsheet i had him at number 11. There is just something about him i cant put my finger on him. I never thought lets look up some holyfield fights, he wasnt exciting! he was a skilled and technical fighter. But he didnt have that special thing that puts u as an elite fighter

Well I have to disagree. I think Evander had all of the earmarks of a great fighter. He had the heart, the will and he never backed down. Plus he always prevailed when the deck was stacked against him and it looked like his last hurrah had finally arrived.

Having said that, I'm in the air about him right now. But I can't say he wasn't exciting or he wasn't great.