Who Was The Best Of The 1970's and 80's Great White Hope?

[JAB5239]

Tommy fought pro 1988 - 2008, and Baby Joe 1997 - 2007. They were both 90's heavyweights, and the list covers the 70s and 80s as the TS requested.
Some, like Chuvalo, did their biggest work in the 60's, but carried on strong into the 70s block.

My mistake. Thank you for the correction.

[The D3vil]

Jerry Quarry was the most talented, but he was smallish.

He'd probably be a Cruiser today.

Cooney would ABSOLUTELY be a HW champion today.

Other than Usyk & maybe a peak Fury, he'd beat all the other guys.

[QueensburyRules]

- - Journeyman Wepner was dispatched post haste by 3 fight novice Foreman, yet Chuckles had enough moxie to bust up Ali all night. Had Ali crying to the ref most every round, even knocking him down. Ali was ducking the $10 mil 50/50 split for the Foreman rematch in Indonesia.

He deserved the peanuts he got in Podunk Ohio...

[Mr Mitts]

Quarry for me. He was never going to beat Ali but his losses to Frazier would have been more competitive had he listened to his corner. That said, if he had listened to his corner in the Shavers fight, the result might have been different. After hurting Shavers his corner was sreaming at him to back off and be cautious but that wasn't in Jerry's playbook.

The finer judgements of ring generalship are present in most great fighters. Jerry had bad judgement and his brain was scrambled for it. Boone Kirkman was a bit heralded but didn't even make this list.