Signature technique:Right cross feint -> Right uppercut. Plus, hes the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. Frazier competed during the golden age of heavyweight boxing. Another thing: Joe Frazier and Rocky Marciano would be light heavyweights today. Foremans last 10 opponents were unbeaten or just had 1 loss. For example, in the fight with Myke Tyson, he fought from a close distance, because he knew that Myke is very good at slipping jabs and long punches. Look at Tyson get hammered (YOUNGER than Larry Holmes) in his last two fights against journeymen. Even I know THAT! Posted below are the top 50 heavyweight boxers of all time. He has no comeback ability. Mike Tyson was knocking people out! Maybe that was the reason why he has such a knockout power. After he throws a jab, Klitschko often stuck his hand in his opponents face, blocking their vision with his glove. Another boxings greatest robberies. Ali and George Foreman were much bigger. Thats why it was really hard to predict when Frazier was going to throw the left hook. On his first night as a . He was 61 tall, but his reach was really impressive (84 in). The first man to defeat Muhummad Ali, Frazier only lost to two men (Ali and George Foreman) despite fighting in the most competitive ever heavyweight era. That means this isn't a ranking from 1 to 10; rather the ten who, in this writer's opinion, make the cut. Then he threw a wide, almost straight elbowed right overhand over the top. 31 Ezzard Charles. Very impressive. MF & DAZN: X Series 005 Jay Swingler v NichLmao, Who won the PFL Challenger Series last night? Foreman destroyed Frazier on two occasions. The first boxer to set a million-dollar gate, Dempsey was the US superstar attraction of the 1920s with his savage fighting style, devastating power and rugged good looks. Holmes 8. Before he went to jail and before Cus DAmato died, he couldnt be touched. Whether it was avenging his loss against Joe Frazier with two victories over his rival,taking the steam out of George Foreman at The Rumble in the Jungle or earning hard-fought wins over the rugged likes of Floyd Patterson and Ken Norton, Alis GOAT legacy resides on the heavyweight throne as the best. Lennox Lewis: Defeats to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, both of which he avenged with emphatic wins, do not obscure the fact that Lewis was the dominant heavyweight of the 1990s. Tyson at 12 is good. You can see that in his fight against Joe Frazier. Cus was more than just his coach he was Tysons everything and guided him. He fought a total of 81 fights with 76 stunning wins. He was a pressuring fighter who wasnt afraid to exchange. Jersey Joe Walcott (1930-1953, 50-20-1): 261.7, 16. To be The Greatest, Ali needed rivals to push him and Frazier was one of his best. Even so, Wills holds wins over a host of top heavyweights including Luis Firpo, Big Bill Tate, Kid Norfolk, Sam Langford, Billy Miske, Sam McVea, Battling Siki, and the also criminally underrated Joe Jeannette. Larry Holmes: An awesome jab, a dangerous right hand, tremendous heart, and astonishing recuperative powers were among the attributes The Easton Assassin brought to the ring. 1. Amazing speed, unsurpassed ring intelligence, plus astonishing courage, durability, and will to win, not to mention longevity, make Ali a cut above the rest, the best big man of both the 1960s and 70s, and in truth, as he liked to say himself, The Greatest Of All-Times.. Note: keep in mind that, like all of our rankings, this is not a who-beats-who list, but one that emphasizes individual accomplishment in each fighters time and the quality of the opposition they bested (which is why, for example, we rate Joe Frazier above George Foreman). Liston was nearly knocked out by Cleveland Williams, and also had trouble from Amos Lincoln, but he beat both of them. TGT Tips! Also, both loses clearly because he didnt take the fights as seriously as he should have, but when he did, he made quick work of both. Biggest Boxing Knockouts in the heavyweight division? This is supposed to be joke right? Holyfield was a completely different fighter in his fight against George Foreman. Big heart, just would not be beaten. Like most of the brawlers, Liston wasnt the fastest boxer which caused him problems against quick out-boxers, as you can see in his fight with Ali. You can check out the heavyweights that finished outside of the top 50 over at BoxRec. Wins over Jess Willard, Georges Carpentier, Jim Flynn, Big Bill Tate, Billy Miske, Luis Firpo, Gunboat Smith and Jack Sharkey. But he was also the greatest boxers who ever lived, There are several reasons why: But Muhammad did the complete opposite he crossed his feet by moving his right foot behind his left one while moving to his left. Jack Dempsey 7 5 No place for Riddick Bowe, who had the tools but not the application, nor - controversially - his rival Evander Holyfield: the cruiserweight GOAT (but there are some legitimate question marks over the sculpted warriors rise in weight). Harry Wills: Vastly underrated today, its easy to forget that for a time in the 1920s The Black Panther was the best heavyweight in the world, and there was great demand for a showdown with official world champ Jack Dempsey, but it never came to be. Your email address will not be published. Everyone, maybe save Sonny Liston and Vladimir Klitschko, overcame tough situations in a fight and found a way to win. Ted Kid Lewis 65. He was doing that by keeping his lead hand low, making himself vulnerable for crosses. The Fight of the Century in March 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali his first loss, was proof of that. The difference? Some sort of elaborate prank? If a new fan asked me what Johnsons best win was and why, Id have a hard time convincing them. Holyfields great defensive skills and toughness allowed him to withstand Tysons punches and eventually to knock him out inthe 11th round (in their first fight). The greatest heavyweight is the best boxer by default, as they beat everyone across ALL divisions. Foreman used his tremendous punching power so destroy his opponents body and to knock the wind out of them. Not his fault if he fought and beat old men as champ. Tyson would have destroyed a peak Holmes. A thunderous left hook, relentless work ethic and an awkward pressure-fighting style: Smokin Joe was a force of nature. He was able to knock everyone out with every type of punch, even with a simple jab. For this combo Vitaly used his left hook, not to hurt his opponents but just to push their head to his right, where he can catch them with his devastating right cross. ESPN rates Fury as the best current heavyweight and one of the heaviest heavyweight boxers of all time with 126 kg in November 2021. Once boxers lose their quickness, theyre never the same. And those are things you cant see very often back then. So in order to beat such fighter, Holyfield had to fight from the inside. Yeah the same one who lost his title to a light heavy? His style relied mostly on footwork, speed and timing. In his great boxing career, Jones has won several world titles, and he also won a Silver medal at the Olympics in 1988. Ken Norton (1967-1981, 42-7-1): 135.2, 32. Eddie Machen (1955-1967, 50-11-3): 157.1, 26. Even one punch was enough as long as it connects clean. Floyd Patterson (1952-1972, 55-8-1): 321.5, 14. Thats why Joe was usually setting his overhandup with a jab to the head. Holyfield, for example, beat Tyson twice. There are many great heavyweight boxers now like Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder but the names that made people fall in love with heavyweight boxing are the Tyson's and Ali's. This list consists of the greatest heavyweight boxing bouts in the history of the sport. 'Big' George, 71, won the world heavyweight championship repeatedly. Frazier above Foreman? Never knew defeat. The next time he changed levels like he is going to throw a body shot, but then he sprang up with a hook to the head. (explanation), Can you Headlock in Boxing? Defeated such outstanding talents as Max Baer, Jack Sharkey, Bob Pastor, James Braddock, Tommy Farr, Billy Conn, John Henry Lewis, Max Schmeling, Jimmy Bivins, Lee Savold and Jersey Joe Walcott. Tyson in his prime was unstoppable. Ali used this counter while he was circling to his left and jabbing his opponent. However there is no denying that the current crop a field that includes Wilder,Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk and more with WBC and The Ring champ Fury sitting top of the heap have produced the most exciting spell for the 200lbs+ realm in a long time. Signature technique:Exit the clinch with an explosive lead hook. Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports. 6. Still, the fact he beat Holyfield, Tyson, Vitali Klitschko, David Tua, Razor Ruddock and more says it all. Tyson was not even the best of his era - Lost to Douglas, Holyfield TWICE, Lennox Lewis,Danny Williams and McBride.. Tyson NEVER beat anyone who beat him and Never came back when he was down in a fight . His jab wasnt the usual fast and snappy jab that most of the boxers are using. Style:Infighter (swarmer) / Aggressive counterpuncher. But can we put him up there with the absolute all-time greats just yet? Frazier is the only man to defeat Muhammad Ali when he was anywhere close to his prime. Many people think that Lennox Lewis was a boxer-puncher, but I think he was a combination between an out-boxer and a brawler. It fell apart too soon for the youngest ever heavyweight champ, whose life and career unravelled quickly - but in the 1980s Tyson tore through the division like nobody before or since. Go to YouTube and watch his comeback wins (after nearly being stopped) vs Mike Weaver, Earnie Shavers, Renaldo Snipes. Muhammad Ali 2. George Foreman has eclipsed boxing icon, Mike Tyson, as the all-time toughest heavyweight. Nationality: Japanese. Nor did he obliterate a mediocre Tony Tucker, both title fights in 1987. Clarence Henry (1948-1954, 34-6-1): 167.9, 25. Two comeback fights, when he was pushing 40, spoiled that record - but nothing can change the fact that he is indeed The Greatest. Langford was tiny when he fought Johnson. Mike Tyson started every fight by putting pressure on his opponents. Sorry, if Holmes is on they should both be in the top 5. And Archie Moore and Ezzard Charles. Tyson never beat anyone great and he held the title for only three years. #3 Cain Velasquez (UFC record: 12-3, MMA record: 14-3) At his best, Cain . In 1980, Holmes beat Ali in the 10th round by corner stoppage. Tyson should be number 2 or 3. Unarguably the divisions greatest comeback. He reinvented himself over and over again. He was always moving forward, fighting in aclose distance, pushing and bullying his opponents. 'Bones' hasn't fought since picking up a controversial decision win over Dominick Reyes in . Without further ado, here is my countdown of Canada's 5 greatest boxers of all-time: 5. The Brockton Blockbuster owns the most famous heavyweight record: 49-0. Thats because he has knockout power, especially with his right hand, but he wasnt effective at all when he needed to fight at a close range. These are hardly heavyweight limelights and I mention Tysons age 38 because considering the legit comebacks going on, Tyson was NOT that old. Jimmy Bivins (1940-1955, 86-25-1): 389, 7. Mike Tyson earn his stripes. The 18 greates Coaches in College Football History. Usually, its easier to counter the jab by slipping it inside (moving your head to your left) but Marciano was leaning to his right most of the time while he was fighting, so it was much natural for him to move his head to his right and slip the jab outside. Lennox Lewis made the cut and Iron Mike didnt..laughable. Pure sweet science, master class boxing skills on display from Lewis across his brilliant career. More athletic and aggressive than Liston. Marciano 4. Big George knocked the hell out of Frazier twice and Smoking Joe is ranked over Foreman? Thats because he was much faster than them, and was also punching upwards which allowed him to generate more power in his blows. Lets set the record straight. Which actually was a really effective strategy he beat both those guys. Does tag team boxing have a future in the sport? He became a national hero at a dark time during the nation's history and a symbol of anti-Nazi sentiment leading into World War 2. Cant overlook Holmes place in heavyweight history. Modern heavyweights are often ridiculed as being a pale imitation of the legends of the 20th century whose legacies have been immortalised. BoxRec ranked heavyweights, both past and present, and awarded each fighter with an overall score based on its points system. The similaritiesheavyweight champion, jail sentence, exotic lifestyle and signature voiceare. Signature technique:Slip the jab (outside) -> Right overhand. The style he developed required goodhead movement and timing. Frazier 6. Why Boxers can Bet on Themselves (but Not Against Themselves), How Many Heavyweight Boxing Belts are There? Age: 29. Cant understand this fixation with Tyson, all these guys mop the floor with Tyson. MUHAMMAD ALI 56-5 (37), 1960-1981 ENJOYED three reigns as world champion during a 21-year-career. Tyson 10. His ring career lasted between 1968 and 2001. Haha he was falling all over the place, shaking his head like the little bitch that he was!! In such situations, he switched his stance into a southpaw and threw a lead uppercut with his right hand to the body, followed by another one to the head. Tyson is a video-game. Holyfield was only person fought well with tyson in his prime. Famous fight: Wladimir Klitschko vs. Calvin Brock. George Foreman (1969-1997, 76-5-0): 233.3, 19. Tyson never fought anyone in there prime or of any note before 1990. You can see in some of his fights how he rag dolls the other boxers and even picking them up after dropping them. All a fighter can do is dominate their own era and prove their greatness in their own time. Unlike his brother (Wladimir), who was an out-boxer, Vitali was a brawler. He was light on his feet, moving around George a lot, and using sharp body-head combinations. What time is Shevchenko vs. Grasso tonight? As the other boxer threw a jab, Ali slightly moved his head, just enough to avoid being hit and then quickly returned a right cross over the top. Often titled the greatest boxer of all time, Leonard was also regarded as "Boxer of the Decade" back in the 1980s. George Foreman: One of the hardest punchers in boxing history is revered both for his amazing power and his incredible comeback in the 1990s which culminated in his regaining the world title two decades after he lost it in the famous Rumble in the Jungle. His terrifying demolitions of Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, plus his legendary slugfest with Ron Lyle, will never be forgotten. No way. Joe Frazier (1965-1981, 32-4-1): 340.3, 12. Norton 11. Some were renowned for their speed while others were famous for being heavy hitters. Sorry. In a real fight with Smokin Joe, it was really hard to see the punch coming, because of the way he moved. Tyson was a combination puncher who liked head-body-head combos and has a knockout power in both his hands. And Kevin McBride TKOd Tyson is SIX. Johnson never granted a title shot to another African-American boxer - maintaining the odious colour bar during his six-year reign - but he was ahead of his time in the ring. He also liked to put his gloves on his opponents gloves to trap their hands. Tyson would have torn apart Holmes in any era. JOE LOUIS has been named the greatest heavyweight of all time by George Foreman - with Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson also on the list but no WBC champion Tyson Fury. It was fast and precise but also very powerful. It is a damn shame and TRAGEDY what happened to Mike. Jack Johnson: Boxings first Black champion of the big men was remarkably quick, very hard to hit, and dangerous with either fist. 4. woodrowmoses 1 yr. ago. Louis 3. In more recent times, Deontay Wilder and his 10 consecutive title defenses demonstrated his own feared punching power and greatness that shouldn't be overlooked, either. Cleveland Williams (1951-1972, 80-13-1): 186.6, 21. 5. Not to be mentioned is BS. These were the titles bestowed to the greatest fighter in the Rocky movies, the heavyweight boxing champion of the world: Apollo Creed ( Carl Weathers ). All eyes will be on Jon Jones at UFC 285 as arguably the greatest MMA fighter in history makes his long-awaited return as a heavyweight after three years away.. Expectations are high as Jones, 35 . Tyson makes lists because he talked trash with alacrity and had an unbelievable EARLY (ultra early) great run. Because of his style, Wladimir took much less damage during his career than Vitali. 29 Bob Fitzsimmons. So, without further ado, the best heavyweights of all-time. Arturo Gatti (1972- 2009): Arturo Gatti was born in Cassino, Italy, but moved to Montreal as a child and . Johnsons story as a whole is worth learning about. 4 Naoya Inoue. Evander Holyfield should be top ten. Youre the only one with sense. 30 Terry McGovern. Randy Couture: Couture already made our list of the greatest light heavyweights of all time, but his true home for the majority of his career was at heavyweight. Mike Tyson was in an awfully weak era. At 31-0-1, all thats left for the reigning WBC and lineal world heavyweight champion and former unified world champ is to snatch undisputed glory as the cherry on top. Your email address will not be published. Antoni Nogueira is one of the most accomplished fighters in the history of the heavyweight division. No Mike Tyson is a shame!! Holmes defeated famous boxers including Trevor Berbick, Tim Witherspoon, Leon Spinks, Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney, and even the legendary Muhammad Ali. And they enabled him to vanquish, among others, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney,Tim Witherspoon, Mike Weaver and Trevor Berbick. Your email address will not be published. After that, he finished the combo with a powerful lead hook to the head. Sonny Liston a brawler. Name: Naoya Inoue. DANNY WILLIAMS who LOST 27 fights knocked out a 38 year-old Tyson in 4 rounds. Holmes was a deadbeat along with Klitschko. Eventually he would be being hit with pinpoint left hooks and right crosses. Tags: Evander Holyfield George Foreman Greatest Heavyweight Boxers Jack Johnson Joe Frazier Joe Louis Larry Holmes Lennox Lewis Mike Tyson Muhammad Ali of all time Rocky Marciano Tyson Fury. Holmes was 38 when he fought a 21-year-old, peak Tyson, same age as Ali was when he fought Holmes. Boxing legends Rocky Marciano and Sonny Liston finished third and fourth respectively, with Lewis rounding off the top five. That shows how adaptive and smart fighter Holyfield was in his prime which is the reason why he is one of the greatest ever. Honorable Mentions:Joe Jeannette, Jersey Joe Walcott, Max Schmeling, James J. Corbett, Max Baer, Jack Sharkey, Sam McVea,Peter Jackson, Evander Holyfield, Tom Sharkey, Floyd Patterson, Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko, George Godfrey, John L. Sullivan, Johnny Risko. And each of these incredible heavyweights did that: from titanic punchers to dazzling boxers. He had a record of 56-5 and his fights were always highly-anticipated . The only four-time heavyweight world champion in boxing history, Holyfields victory over Riddick Bowe and wins over Mike Tyson, in particular, more than illustrate his warrior footprint in the sport's lore. Liston wasnt the tallest or the biggest boxer. Roy Jones Jr. Roy Jones Jr. is also one of the larger fighters on this list. No substance. A tall, rangy, Olympic gold medallist with a pulverising jab, high ring IQ and KO power, British-born Lewis could be even higher on this list. Division-By-Division - The Greatest Fighters of All-Time As selected by The Ring magazine in various years. Amen!! You can see that in his fights with Mike Tyson and his fight with Evander Holyfield where he was just pushing them back or pushing their heads down every time they closed the gap. Lennox Lewis is too low. He was the mad experiment of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, boxing minds ever in Cus Damato. The boy from Catsville New York is the second greatest. He was very precise with this counter. Arguably the divisions greatest puncher. I must say I like your list. Archie Moore, Louis, Walcott are all better, and win over Rocky if younger. Three time champ and he was the king of the 90s, which was a very good generation for heavyweights. Pure sweet science, master class boxing skills on display from Lewis across his brilliant career. Mickey Walker 64. You have been beaten and know it but then train to overcome this adversity. Max Baer, Max Schmeling, James J. Braddock and Jersey Joe Walcott all felt Louis wrath. Worst list Ive ever seen Throw in Norton, Quarry, Patterson, Lyle and Bonavena too. The Best Cruiserweight Boxers of All Time 6 Manny Pacquio Super bantamweight, Flyweight, Welterweight 15,393 votes Age: 44 Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, PLH ( PAK-ee-ow; Tagalog: [pkja]; born December 17, 1978) is a Filipino professional boxer and politician, currently serving as a senator of the Philippines. Except that he was a fighter who occasionally, frustratingly, came in unprepared and fought below his level. Top 50 fighters of 21st century named 50-31 50: Andy Ruiz 49: Ray Mercer 48: Frank Bruno 47: Jack Sharkey 46: Paddy Ryan 45: David Tua 44: Ron Lyle 43: Gerry Cooney 42: Michael Spinks 41: Roy. And Joe knew exactly how to do that he was able to time almost every punch and to dodge it or block it. Thats an old-school boxing technique which Foreman effectively applied during the golden age of boxing. Unless perhaps Tyson Fury has anything to say about that. 32 Packey McFarland. Second, since we have chosen to rank fighters in one division only so we can spread the glory around, you will not see Gene Tunney, Ezzard Charles orSam Langford here, as they are on our list of the all-time best light heavyweights. FOUR. That allows you to mask your step and land the body shot. He was a pressuring fighter who was really explosive (especially with his left hook). But strictly off resume, he belongs closer to the bottom of this list than to the top. We saw the skill but we were ROBBED of the will, his future, and his full potential. A one-dimensional fighter. He nearly lost twice to Ringo Bonevena and was bitch-slapped by Foreman. Sonny Liston, Floyd Paterson (twice), Foreman, Frazier (twice), Norton (twice) and many more hall of famers around that. Posted below are the top 50 heavyweight boxers of all time. In an era when segregation was still legal, Louis' athleticism made him one of the few African-American celebrities of his time. Here are the top 25 greatest boxers of all time: 26 Honorable Mentions: Gene Tunney, Marvin Hagler, Julio Cesar Chavez, Manny Pacquiao & The Klitschko's The history of boxing is such that this could be a list of the 250 greatest boxers of all-time, and there would still be some great names left out. Then show me a fight where Tyson did anything similar. TGT Play! Odds Deals Podcasts US USA Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maryland Michigan New Jersey Most great boxers have done this and Lennox Lewis only lost twice and then won in the rematch. This is no small achievement. Critics point out that Marciano was small, clumsy and only made six title defences, mainly against ageing opponents. Hasim Rahman (1994-2014, 50-9-2): 115.1, 46. He spent five years of his prime in jail and then people fought him. Tyson should definitely be in the top 10. Dominant wins over Eddie Machen, George Chuvalo, Jimmy Ellis, Oscar Bonavena, Doug Jones, Bob Foster, Buster Mathis, Jerry Quarry and Joe Bugner prove the point. 33 Ted (Kid) Lewis. But can we put him up there with the absolute all-time greats just yet? Because Joshua is much bigger and he is generations ahead of Ali. During the whole fight, he stood his ground and waited for Myke to attack first so he can counter him. So I know it reasonably well. Whether it was avenging his loss against Joe Frazier with two victories over his rival,taking the steam out of George Foreman at The Rumble in the Jungle or earning hard-fought wins over the rugged likes of Floyd Patterson and Ken Norton, Alis GOAT legacy resides on the heavyweight throne as the best. Joseph Louis Barrow (May 13, 1914 - April 12, 1981), best known as Joe Louis was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. Alexander Povetkin (2005 - present, 35-2-1): 148.3, 28. Joey. McVea and Jeannette were great, but were at their best several years after they last fought Johnson. 3. This site is owned and operated by Dimitar Ivanov. He was also competing in the light heavyweight division althoughnever got the belt there. Before he went to jail, everyone ducked him. Rocky Marciano (1947-1955, 49-0-0): 692.2, 2. He was thrill-a-minute, exemplified by his fight with Luis Angel Firpo, where Dempsey knocked his opponent down seven (7) times, got blasted through out of the ring himself, then scrambled back through the ropes to eventually knock out Firpo. I take Lennox Lewis by knockout in later rounds. Muhammad Ali's comic line - "Earnie hit me so hard, it shook my kinfolk back in Africa" - was meant in part for laughs but you get his point. 8. He was poorly managed and handled. Unless perhaps Tyson Fury has anything to say about that. But definitely NOT an all time top 10 Heavyweight.. He was a powerful puncher and the most relentless fighter ever. Tyson could not get past the defense of Lewis and he got knocked out. A staggering 49-0 record 43 of which by knockout and counting wins over the likes of Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore, Marciano was among the most feared heavyweights of all time. At 18, he won a Gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics. Remove altitude and behavior, he is the greatest. That allowed him to jab his opponents from a distance without putting himself in danger. At a very leisurely pace over the last couple of years, The Fight City has offered its own idiosyncratic rankings of the all-time greatest boxers in each of the eight traditional weight classes. In this article, I took into account not only the number of wins of the boxers or the titles they won but also their unique styles and what they bring to the table. The Jeffries fight was a huge event, but I didnt think this a popularity contest and I dont know how to explain that a 6-year retired ex-champion could be considered one of a guys best wins. Sugar Ray Leonard 9. No. What time is the Jay Swingler vs. NichLMAO fight tonight. It was a powerful, stiff jab and Liston put all his weight behind it to make it even harder, trying to knock his opponents out. But thats not the reason why he is on that list. 6. The idea is to distract your opponents attention with the jab. In 2005, Joe Louis was named the greatest heavyweight of all time by the International Boxing Research Organization. 11. This is the website where I share everything Ive learned. Sugar Ray Robinson 3. The Fight of the Century in March 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali his first loss, was proof of that. He beat everyone and won all the belts. Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time. That allowed him to throw a powerful right cross without his opponents see it by moving his left glove off their eyes a split of the second before the cross lands. Frazier was a very carefully managed fighter who could not win against power punchers. Following in Alis footsteps, Holmes could be as cold as Ali was charismatic but he could fight. But honestly, his career and overcoming personal obstacles along the way to date already have him among the greatest heavyweights of all time on our list. What time is Shevchenko vs. Grasso tonight? Journeyman Leroy Caldwell fought many of the best heavyweights from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. Few fighters have had the menacing aura Tyson carried to the ring and while brutal punch power was his trademark, peak Tyson also boasted fast hands, a sneaky jab, head movement and a strong chin. Primo Carnera (1928-1946, 89-14-0): 111.2, 48. And at the end of the day, the effectiveness of the technique is much more important than its appearance. And as the other boxers tried to close the distance, Wladimir got into a clinch or headlocked them (which is much easier when fighting with shorter boxers). Thats very similar to what Mike Tyson did when he was close to his opponents. Joe Louis The brown bomber, was a mix of several boxing styles. Nearly none of his games lasted more than 15 rounds. Wheres Tyson? No one could take him, bigger fighters were not given the room or the time to punch. Mike Tyson 5. Check out which of today's heavyweight fighters make our top 10. The Top Ten. Thats a really effective combination, especially when fighting against someone fast and slick, who like to move his head a lot. His 68 knockouts speak for themselves. Johnson 12. The combination is very tricky becauseby attacking the body first, he made his rivals lower their guards so they can block the body shots. He won the gold medal at the 1960 Olympics and went on to become the first boxer to win the heavyweight title three times. All the people who claim he never beat anyone forget that he won the title in a tournament. He was a very patient fighter who wasnt always taking the risk to finish his opponents off. Joe Frazier: The man they called Smokin Joe doesnt get enough love on most ATG lists, but overlooked are two things: 1. Power, toughness, and unsurpassed conditioning were Rockys calling-cards, along with a brutal relentlessness which no one in his era could withstand. Perhaps one of the best boxers in MMA history, Frankie Edgar often went into the Octagon with a solid game plan. Henry Armstrong 10. Weight class: Bantamweight. He ducked Shavers, Lyle and even an old Sonny Liston.