Listing Fighters by Their Prime

[DeeMoney]

So I don’t know if its already been done on here, but I thought it would be fun to keep a running post where we list various fighters and what we believe to be their primes. Anyone is free to list any fighter they want and what they feel their prime to be; if someone disagrees we can discuss it.

For the sake of keeping a semblance of order here, I will establish that a prime has to be a period of 3-5 consecutive years. For older guys, who were fighting upwards and over a dozen times a year, it can be at the low end. But for modern guys who were fighting less often we probably want that 5-year mark. The idea being finding a fighter’s prime (best) stretch of years where they provided a significant sample size of fights, and during which they were roughly consistent in their skills and abilities.

Obviously this will be more difficult for some fighters than others, but I think could be a fun way to establish some commonality for future discussions.

I’ll start with one, that may lead to some disagreement:
Evander Holyfield (1987-1991)

[OctoberRed]

Mike Tyson (1985-1991)

[Rusty Tromboni]

So I don’t know if its already been done on here, but I thought it would be fun to keep a running post where we list various fighters and what we believe to be their primes. Anyone is free to list any fighter they want and what they feel their prime to be; if someone disagrees we can discuss it.

For the sake of keeping a semblance of order here, I will establish that a prime has to be a period of 3-5 consecutive years. For older guys, who were fighting upwards and over a dozen times a year, it can be at the low end. But for modern guys who were fighting less often we probably want that 5-year mark. The idea being finding a fighter’s prime (best) stretch of years where they provided a significant sample size of fights, and during which they were roughly consistent in their skills and abilities.

Obviously this will be more difficult for some fighters than others, but I think could be a fun way to establish some commonality for future discussions.

I’ll start with one, that may lead to some disagreement:
Evander Holyfield (1987-1991)

Holyfield was a constantly evolving fighter. The guy who faced Lewis might have been the best version.

Do you mind explaining why you consider that to be Holyfield's prime?

I actually think this is a very good thread topic.

[DeeMoney]

Holyfield was a constantly evolving fighter. The guy who faced Lewis might have been the best version.

Do you mind explaining why you consider that to be Holyfield's prime?

I actually think this is a very good thread topic.

Absolutely, and I agree with you that he was constantly evolving, thats why I thought he'd be fun to start with.

I feel that p4p Holyfield was at his best as a cruiser, so I wanted to include his cruiserweight years in there. As such I could have went as late as '88 as a starting point but I thought his work in '87 (going against Qawi) was really impressive.

You could push it back a little later so as to include the Bowe victory, but keeping with the 5 year range you lose some very good work at cruiser.

Later (post heart problem Holyfield) had the two Tyson wins, the Moorer W, and the Lewis fights. He proved to be tough as heck and maybe better overall, but I just really like his work at cruiser, where I feel he was p4p better.

I'd be willing to listen to an argument for any of those times as his prime though.

[NORMNEALON]

Lennox lewis 1996- 2002

[cfang]

So I don’t know if its already been done on here, but I thought it would be fun to keep a running post where we list various fighters and what we believe to be their primes. Anyone is free to list any fighter they want and what they feel their prime to be; if someone disagrees we can discuss it.

For the sake of keeping a semblance of order here, I will establish that a prime has to be a period of 3-5 consecutive years. For older guys, who were fighting upwards and over a dozen times a year, it can be at the low end. But for modern guys who were fighting less often we probably want that 5-year mark. The idea being finding a fighter’s prime (best) stretch of years where they provided a significant sample size of fights, and during which they were roughly consistent in their skills and abilities.

Obviously this will be more difficult for some fighters than others, but I think could be a fun way to establish some commonality for future discussions.

I’ll start with one, that may lead to some disagreement:
Evander Holyfield (1987-1991)

Good topic.

I would say evander was 87-97. Pre qawi was defo before his prime and lewis and beyond was post prime so id think 87-97 when he beat moorer

Ali is interesting. I would actually say 66-74. He started to show real decline after foreman. up til then his wins against frazier and norton in 73 were solid and he looked very good.

[DeeMoney]

Good topic.

I would say evander was 87-97. Pre qawi was defo before his prime and lewis and beyond was post prime so id think 87-97 when he beat moorer

Ali is interesting. I would actually say 66-74. He started to show real decline after foreman. up til then his wins against frazier and norton in 73 were solid and he looked very good.

Ali is a rough one because such a large chunk of his prime was missed. Two and a half years gone of what couldve been his best.

[NORMNEALON]

Ali is a rough one because such a large chunk of his prime was missed. Two and a half years gone of what couldve been his best.

Ali 65- 75

Ali is a super tough one becuase u can easily argue he was out of his prime for frazier 3 or is right after that ?? Because that was prime robbing fight If I've ever seen one ....it ruined both guys , ali just had a better style to fight "shot "

[VegasMichael]

Hagler 77-83

Duran, Hearns and Mugabi took a lot out of Marvin before he fought SRL in 87.

[cfang]

Hagler 77-83

Duran, Hearns and Mugabi took a lot out of Marvin before he fought SRL in 87.

Slightly disagree - i think 79-84 for marvin. He somehow couldn't put away vito in 79. Against minter he was a beast and every fight then on really. I think hearns and mugabi took the sting out of marvin a bit.