Pound For Pound Who Was The Best HeavyWieght Boxer Ever!
- Thread starter The Evil Genius
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Not too mention Lewis' fight with Vitali Klitschko wasn't that great. And Lewis was average at best in the start of his career, he really wasn't that good until later in his career, which he was pretty damn good but shaky chin.
And I agree with naner in regards to Jack Johnson, as gangster as he was he didn't fight other black heavyweights during his reign so to me that takes him down a notch or two.
So that leaves Joe Louis or Muhammad Ali. You can make a case for either one. I voted for Ali but I didn't see Joe Louis until after I voted. I gotta say him being 65-3 and 2 of those losses coming 16 years after he turned pro. So in his prime he lost ONE time, which was to Max Schmeling and Louis was very unmotivated for that fight. He beat the SHIT out of Schmeling in the rematch in what was probably the biggest boxing match in the history of the sport and one of the greatest KO's of all time. Check it out here:
And I agree with naner in regards to Jack Johnson, as gangster as he was he didn't fight other black heavyweights during his reign so to me that takes him down a notch or two.
So that leaves Joe Louis or Muhammad Ali. You can make a case for either one. I voted for Ali but I didn't see Joe Louis until after I voted. I gotta say him being 65-3 and 2 of those losses coming 16 years after he turned pro. So in his prime he lost ONE time, which was to Max Schmeling and Louis was very unmotivated for that fight. He beat the SHIT out of Schmeling in the rematch in what was probably the biggest boxing match in the history of the sport and one of the greatest KO's of all time. Check it out here:
It does apply even though they are all heavyweights because heavyweights back in the day were much smaller than in modern times. For example Rocky Marciano never weighed in over 190 pounds. That's barely Cruiserweight in today's times. Joe Louis typically weighed around 205 pounds, which is only 5 pounds over the Cruiserweight limit.
It would be insane to say Rocky Marciano at 188 pounds could fight Lennox Lewis, who always weighed right around 250 pounds.
If you were to go head to head, you would want Rocky Marciano to fight a guy like Bernard Hopkins, not a modern heavyweight, so the P4P is ok while comparing old legends with modern fighters.
It would be insane to say Rocky Marciano at 188 pounds could fight Lennox Lewis, who always weighed right around 250 pounds.
If you were to go head to head, you would want Rocky Marciano to fight a guy like Bernard Hopkins, not a modern heavyweight, so the P4P is ok while comparing old legends with modern fighters.
Evander Holyfield got my vote probably because he's my favorite fighter of all time. But not only that, he faced every top heavyweight in his era from Riddick Bowe to Mike Tyson to Lennox Lewis. Even though they were over the hill Larry Holmes and George Foreman also faced Evander Holyfield. Evander Holyfield is baddest heavyweight ever.
A prime Holyfield would have beaten a prime Muhammed Ali. Holyfield only had trouble with the heavies that were over 6'4 and weighed 235+.
A prime Holyfield would have beaten a prime Muhammed Ali. Holyfield only had trouble with the heavies that were over 6'4 and weighed 235+.
Ali was 6'3 ~220.
If Holyfield cant KO Ali, then there is no way he beats him because Ali would box the shit out of him. And Ali's chin is underrated, one of the greatest because he took monster shots from some of the hardest punchers like Foreman, Frazier, Ken Norton, Shavers, etc.
Not saying it wouldn't be a good fight though.
If Holyfield cant KO Ali, then there is no way he beats him because Ali would box the shit out of him. And Ali's chin is underrated, one of the greatest because he took monster shots from some of the hardest punchers like Foreman, Frazier, Ken Norton, Shavers, etc.
Not saying it wouldn't be a good fight though.
I hear you but that's not enough of power to hurt Holyfield. Ali only had that good 1-2 combo (jab followed by a right). He threw slapping hooks like Calzaghe! We know Ali was a "freestyle" fighter, he always kept his guards down. Holyfield was a great counter puncher. Ali had trouble with classic type boxers like Ken Norton (who broke Ali's jaw with a left hook). Ali always got caught with left hooks (like the one he caught from Frazier that knocked him down). And Holyfield had a hellava left hook (maybe his best punch).
Riddick Bowe knocked Holyfield out in their 3 fight and was the only one to knock him out to my knowledge. After that fight it turned out that Holy had hepatitis or something like that. He was gassed.
I could see Holyfield knocking Ali out though. Holy had more heart than Ali. Ali's only chance would be Holyfield tiring out if Holy didn't tire out he'd smash Ali.
Riddick Bowe knocked Holyfield out in their 3 fight and was the only one to knock him out to my knowledge. After that fight it turned out that Holy had hepatitis or something like that. He was gassed.
I could see Holyfield knocking Ali out though. Holy had more heart than Ali. Ali's only chance would be Holyfield tiring out if Holy didn't tire out he'd smash Ali.