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re: Boxing fans: Give me your top 10 all-time heavyweights
Posted on 7/5/25 at 11:21 am to InkStainedWretch
Posted on 7/5/25 at 11:21 am to InkStainedWretch
If Tyson didn’t score a knockout in Rd one he’d be in trouble against the other greats…
People still underestimate Frazier and Foreman, too…
People still underestimate Frazier and Foreman, too…
This post was edited on 7/5/25 at 11:22 am
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Posted on 7/5/25 at 12:51 pm to ronricks
I disagree on Liston, Tyson and Johnson but hopefully we can disagree without being disagreeable. 
And like I said, the best version of Sonny Liston happened before he won the title, he was actually starting to decline by that point (and only God knows how old he really was).
And like I said, the best version of Sonny Liston happened before he won the title, he was actually starting to decline by that point (and only God knows how old he really was).
This post was edited on 7/5/25 at 12:55 pm
Posted on 7/5/25 at 12:53 pm to Jake88
I put Tyson as high as I do because of the microscopically short window in which he was at his absolute peak. That was a fighter to behold. He had neither the brain nor the heart or the gonads to maintain that and stay ahead of his demons. But I would not argue with anyone who put Lewis and Holyfield over him.
This post was edited on 7/5/25 at 12:54 pm
Posted on 7/5/25 at 12:56 pm to ronricks
I disagree with 100 out of 100, neither Holyfield nor Foreman would bat 1.000 IMO but they wouldn't drop many.
Evander was a legitimate tough MF and Tyson wasn't. That's the big difference.
Tyson would've pissed his pants to see prime Sonny Liston standing in front of him ...
Evander was a legitimate tough MF and Tyson wasn't. That's the big difference.
Tyson would've pissed his pants to see prime Sonny Liston standing in front of him ...
Posted on 7/5/25 at 1:17 pm to InkStainedWretch
Bully vs bully
Posted on 7/5/25 at 2:16 pm to FightinTigersDammit
Liston was a better boxer than people realize. How would the second fight against Ali in 65 turned out if Ali didn’t get a hernia and the subsequent postponement. Liston was in the best shape of his life before it was rescheduled. After that he basically stopped training and took a dive. Mob fight fixer Frankie Carbo was a silent partner in Sonny Liston at one time.
Posted on 7/5/25 at 2:25 pm to West Seattle Dude
Liston was the Tyson of his day. Guys were afraid of him. Then, someone proved he was beatable.
Posted on 7/5/25 at 2:32 pm to FightinTigersDammit
There was reason to be afraid. Liston used to break heads for loan sharks with tire irons. Tyson got arrested a lot as a kid but it was for stuff like burglary and pot.
Posted on 7/5/25 at 2:44 pm to InkStainedWretch
I get that, but you can't bring a tire iron into the ring
Posted on 7/5/25 at 3:26 pm to FightinTigersDammit
True … both of them were bullies but my point was that Liston was a more legitimate bad MF than Tyson.
Posted on 7/5/25 at 5:05 pm to InkStainedWretch
No argument there
Posted on 7/6/25 at 8:12 am to InkStainedWretch
Great thread, fun reading, a lot of knowledgeable fight fans here.
Posted on 7/6/25 at 10:34 am to FightinTigersDammit
quote:
Liston was the Tyson of his day.
All we can say about boxers we never witnessed in their day is what people thought then....and the consensus seems to be from them that Liston was the first "bad guy" to be Heavyweight Champ...scared the public, a "thug" who fought like you stole his lunch money (I think Tyson said that watching his film).
Tyson idolized Liston and tried to imitate his aura to cover up his scared little kid inside....Tyson admits now he was scared shitless before every fight...his bravado and outlandish behavior got worse as his skills got worse.
Tyson the fighter was a really really good force for his size because of his speed (when he was focused those first couple of years as Champ)....but his mythological status doesn't stand up to scrutiny and evaluation of the state of Heavyweight boxing during his short reign.
Posted on 7/6/25 at 10:52 am to InkStainedWretch
You don't have Holyfield in your top 10, but he defeated your #9 (twice), your #6, your #3 and fought your #10 to a draw.
Posted on 7/6/25 at 11:18 am to InkStainedWretch
Tyson shouldn’t be on the list
Posted on 7/6/25 at 11:36 am to lepdagod
Jack Johnson fought under different rules. Boxers didn't really use combos til Dempsey came along.
The rules encouraged more defensive boxing, hence JJs slow looking, boring fights
The rules encouraged more defensive boxing, hence JJs slow looking, boring fights
Posted on 7/6/25 at 12:10 pm to TigerintheNO
My list is not based on who would win H2H. Otherwise I wouldn’t have Marciano so high. Holyfield is essentially 11th on my list.
This post was edited on 7/6/25 at 12:13 pm
Posted on 7/6/25 at 12:10 pm to prplhze2000
Fair take, I just think Johnson’s skills could be developed in the modern era.
Posted on 7/6/25 at 12:12 pm to JackDempsey
It’s a dying sport but some of us still love it because it’s athletic competition at its most primal level.
Posted on 7/6/25 at 12:51 pm to InkStainedWretch
David Halberstam said in his book "The Breaks of the Game" (excellent) that 50ish years earlier, when sports were more primitive, it wouldn't have been hard to see guys like Dave Cowens and Kermit Washington competing for the heavyweight title.
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