Here is a list of my top 5 heavyweights of all time, reprinted from my personal weblog at www.theboxingstop.blogspot.com. Email me yours at kelseymccarson@enterto.com or just leave a comment at the other site!
TOP FIVE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONS OF ALL TIME
1. Joe Louis (69-3): Sorry, Dad. Joe Louis has to be considered the greatest heavyweight of all time. He wasted no movements, threw brilliant combinations and he was a devastating puncher. Louis recorded 25 straight title defenses, a record that will probably never be broken. He also won the biggest fight in history, defeating Max Schmelling in 1938 at Yankee Stadium in front of over 70,000 people. With the win, Louis helped derail Nazi Germany's claim of superiority and help bring parts of white and black America together.
2. Muhammad Ali (56-5): Probably the most celebrated athlete of all time, the self-proclaimed "greatest of all time" comes pretty close to actually being the greatest. Ali won the heavyweight title 3 times, a record that held until Evander Holyfield won it 4 times. Ali defeated several high profile greats, including Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Sonny Liston. If there is anyone who truly rivals Louis' greatness, it is Ali, but Louis gets him by an eye lash. No matter, a fight between the 2 in their primes would be hard to call. (But, I'll take Louis!)
3. Jack Johnson (100-14-14): Jack Johnson was the first black heavyweight champion, and he has gained famed recently due to the Ken Burns documentary entitled 'Unforgivable Blackness'. Johnson was great at parrying his opponent's shots and countering with his own powerful blows. Johnson was involved in the 2nd most important heavyweight title fight of all time in his defeat of James J. Jeffries, who had come out of retirement to prove "that a white man is better than a Negro". Thankfully, Johnson won by TKO in the 15 round. Nat Fleisher, former editor of The Ring Magazine, considered Johnson the greatest he ever saw.
4. Rocky Marciano (49-0): The only heavyweight champion to ever retire undefeated, Marciano was a brilliant puncher. He had power in both hands and used a brutal bob-n-weave attack to wear down opponents. Marciano was also a vastly underrated defensive fighter, always able to stay out of harms way. Marciano is often given too little respect for his perfect record, something that will probably change over time. It is doubtful that another champ will eclipse his 49-0 mark.
5. Evander Holyfield (42-9-2): Should Holyfield's greatness be discounted because he continues to fight on past his prime? Of course not. Evander Holyfield is the only man to win the heavyweight championship 4 times (and counting). A blown up cruiserweight, Holyfield's heart is undisputed. He was an all-action fighter with a granite chin. He defeated the greatest fighters of his era including Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe, and fought off hard-charging vets George Forman and Larry Holmes. Also, go back and rescore the 2nd Lewis fight and tell me Holyfield didn't win. His wins over Mike Tyson and his epic battles with Riddick Bowe allow Holyfield to round out the top 5.
What's yours?
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