Top 10 Heavyweights of All Time

The title of “Heavyweight Champion of the World” was once the most esteemed in all of sports.  It meant that whoever held that position was the baddest mf on earth.  There was a time that a heavyweight title bout would literally bring the nation to a halt.  

These fights were like mini-Superbowls, everyone would come together and root on their favorite.  Recently, title bouts go on without a whimper.  The most promising young athletes are no longer heavyweight contenders, but tight-ends and small forwards.  I’m in a “let’s make a list” mood, so here are my top 10 most influential heavyweights of all time.  #10)  Archie Moore–  He is the greatest boxer that no one has ever heard of.  The old “mongoose” had an astonishing record of 181-24-9.  He will go down as the only boxer to ever face both Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali.  He will best be known for his crouching, defensive style that made him almost unhittable.  Many boxers such as Ken Norton would use these defensive tactics as well.  Archie Moore was also a great teacher of the sport and he helped Norton as well as many other boxers achieve greatness.  His only flaw was that he was probably a little on the light side to be a good true heavyweight.  He was just about untouchable in the light-heavyweight division.  In fact, he had his light-heavyweight title stripped twice because of inactivity in that division.  Archie Moore’s longevity easily exceeds that of Julio Cesar Chavez, and he’s a must for the list.

        #9)   Evander Holyfield “The Real Deal”–Evander Holyfield is one of the few fighters who is worthy of being called a warrior.  Even though he was a skilled boxer, he would never be afraid to go toe to toe with an opponent.  His bravery in the ring was unimaginable and his punching power was scary.  He was an amazing physical specimen as well.  His physique had to intimidate his opponents, as he was the most chiseled boxer I have ever seen.  He was the first fighter to not be intimidated by Mike Tyson, and beat him twice.  His fight with Riddick Bowe is a must-see, and he is the only person I know whose status went up even though he lost.  He ended up beating Riddick Bowe in a rematch and joined Muhammad Ali as the only boxers to regain the heavyweight title three times.  He was one of my favorites, and I’ll miss seeing Evander in the ring.

#8)  Jack Johnson–  He was the first “modern” heavyweight champion.  In Johnson’s era, boxing began to move its venues from the alleys and backstreets, to more public areas.  He was an excellent counter-puncher, and he often preferred not to knock his opponents out in order to continue his punishment.  He did have power and could knock an adversary out if pushed.  He held the heavyweight title for almost 7 years without a defeat.  Of course, being a black heavyweight champion in America in the early 1900s was a challenge to say the least.  He had to deal with shady judges and various “great white hopes” who came to challenge him at every turn.    His love for white women and taunting white men only exacerbated his problems.  He would make life much more difficult for African-American heavyweights who would come after him, as white America did not ever want another Jack Johnson.  His ring legacy could not be denied and that is why he makes my list.

#7)  “Iron” Mike Tyson–  If I were to have made the list 15 years ago, he probably would have been 4th or 5th.  Mike Tyson was the most feared heavyweight of all time.  His combination of speed and power are unparalleled in boxing history.  He was shorter than the average heavyweight, but his jitterbug style allowed him to slip a taller opponents jab.  If an opponent was unfortunate enough to get hit by his left hook, it would most likely mean an extended period on the canvas.  His left hook was the best that I’ve ever seen (Frazier is a very close second) and he also had a very vicious uppercut.  Tyson was his own worst enemy and his troubles with the law cut into the prime of his career.  He was a man who never had stability in his life and he was taken advantage of by many people (most notably Don King and Robin Givens).  He’s still trying to recapture his glory today, but the fact that he was the youngest heavyweight champion ever and his legacy makes him an obvious choice.

#6)  Jack Dempsey–If Dempsey had the success in modern times, that he did in the 20s, he would be in the top 3 on my list without a doubt.  One thing about making lists like this is that it is very hard to compare a Dempsey to a Mike Tyson, even though their styles were very similar.  However, there is no way that Dempsey doesn’t make my list.  Jack Dempsey is to boxing as what Bill Gates is to Microsoft.  Dempsey was an American icon (even bigger than Babe Ruth), whose success in the ring was legendary.  He was the first boxer to procure a 1 million dollar gate, and his fights regularly drew over 80,000 people.  He was loved because he was undersized and would never back down from a challenge.  His punching power was one of the strongest in boxing history (people allege that he poured cement into his gloves) and his knockouts left many opponents damaged for life.  He continued to be a force in boxing even after he retired, and has to be on the list.

       #5)  “Smokin” Joe Frazier–  If this were a top 20 or 30 list you would see many boxers from Frazier’s era here.  I truly believe that golden age of the heavyweight division was from 1966 to 1978.  There are no fewer than 8 boxers (Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton,Quarry, Mathis, Spinks and Shavers) from that time that would be either champion or top contenders today.  Frazier distinguishes himself in this era because of his longevity and his heart.  He could “bob & weave” but he would more likely take his opponents best punch and then deliver his trademark left-hook. No one took a punch better than Smokin Joe, and his left hook was almost unstoppable.  His timing was impeccable and if you got “caught” with the hook it was sleepy time.  His three fights with Muhammad Ali are legendary, and both fighters used each other to propel them into greatness.  Ali/Frazier I is the best fight I’ve ever seen and Ali/Frazier III (“The Thrilla in Manila”) is a very, very close second.  Both bouts showcase Frazier’s willingness to take a punch and his immense power and timing.  Frazier is on everyone’s top 10 list & he definitely makes mine.

#4)  “Big” George Foreman–  Today, George Foreman is known more for his grill than his boxing skills.  Although the grill is quite handy, I will always think of George Foreman as one of the most vicious sluggers in boxing history.  He was a relatively unknown boxer until his championship bout with Joe Frazier in Jamaica on January 22nd 1973.  This fight would change that forever.  He knocked Frazier down 7 times, and the referee finally stopped the fight in the 2nd  round.  His punching power was awe-inspiring and that fight would be tough to watch for even the most masochistic of people.  He then went on to pulverize Ken Norton only a few months thereafter.  He then lost his title to Ali in “The Rumble in the Jungle” in 1974.  This sent Foreman into a deep depression, and he left boxing for good in 1977.  He would return in a shocking comeback that started at the age of 38 in 1987.  No one gave him any chance to be competitive, but Foreman proved everyone wrong.  He would challenge Evander Holyfield for the heavyweight title in 1991 and would regain the title in a stunning knockout of Michael Moorer in 1994.  He became the oldest heavyweight champion at 45, and endeared himself to millions of fans.  There has not been a heavyweight with Foreman’s power in the history of the division. Also, his 76-5 record is extremely impressive, as there will not be another heavyweight with that many victories in our lifetime.  He’s a no-brainer for the list.

#3)  Rocky Marciano–  Marciano is another fighter who makes everyone’s list.  A lot of people get into how great his punching power was and how he could take a punch, and all of that, but the reason he’s here is because he was undefeated.  There have been plenty of heavyweights who have obtained the heavyweight title being undefeated, but no one has ever retired that way.  Marciano’s record of 49-0 will probably never be touched.  Boxing is a sport where even the greatest fighters make mistakes that cost them the bout.  Marciano won all his fights by never making mistakes.  He defeated Joe Louis, Jersey Joe Walcott, and Archie Moore who are all members of boxing’s Hall of Fame.  His 43 knockouts in 49 victories are unbelievable considering that he did fight in an era where there were strong contenders.  His legacy has begun to fade, however he still has plenty of fans across the country.

#2)  Joe Louis “The Brown Bomber”–Whenever I think of Joe Louis, I think of power.  He was one of those rare sluggers that had punching power in both arms.  I’ve seen clips where he’s staggered opponents with a jab!!  He was a legend in his own time, and the most feared boxer in history.  The most unbelievable fact in Louis’ career was that he held his title for over 12 years.  I don’t think there will be anyone that will ever be so dominant for such a long time as Louis was.  His fight against the German Max Schmelling in 1938 was probably the most important bout in American history.  The world was at the brink of war and his defeat of the Schmeling sent Hitler a clear statement that America could stand up and beat the Germans.  It also affirmed that African-Americans could do whatever Caucasians could do.  His impact on the sport is still felt to this day and he was a pure class act.

#1)  Muhammad Ali–Is there any doubt?  Muhammad Ali was the greatest heavyweight to ever live.  He dominated in the period where the heavyweight division was at its fiercest.  He beat Frazier twice, Norton twice, Chuvalo twice, Patterson twice, Liston, Shavers, Mathis, and Jerry Quarry among others.  He captured the title 3 times and had unbelievable flair.  He was more like a middleweight in a heavyweight’s body, and his quickness was jaw-dropping.  In his early years he never took any punches and his jabs were lighting-quick.  In his later years, he discovered that he could take a punch and he demoralized his opponents with his braggadocio.  He waged psychological as well as physical warfare on his opponents.  His taunting is legendary and his skill in the ring was even greater.  His 3 battles with Frazier are consistently ranked as the best fights of all time.  I think his best fight was against Foreman in Zaire, Africa.  No one gave Ali any hope, and there were some people even in his corner that thought Foreman would potentially kill him.  Muhammad won in a dramatic eighth round knockout using the now famous “rope-a-dope” strategy.  In my opinion, Ali is the greatest athlete of all time, and he was an even better spokesperson for black people in the 60s.  Muhammad Ali is the greatest!!!!