Top 12 All-Time Greatest Heavyweights
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. The order in which we presented the respective lists had no logic; we started with the middleweights, before going on to rank the bantamweights, light heavyweights, flyweights, featherweights, welterweights and, most recently, the lightweights — but naturally, we saved for last the guys at the top of the beanstalk: the big men; the heavyweights.
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 fighter’s time and the quality of the opposition they bested (which is why, for example, we rate Joe Frazier above George Foreman). 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 or Sam Langford here, as they are on our list of the all-time best light heavyweights. So, without further ado, the best heavyweights of all-time. Feel free to add your thoughts and comments!
12. Sonny Liston: In the late 50’s and early 60’s Liston devastated the division with knockouts over Cleveland Williams, Nino Valdes, Roy Harris, Zora Folley and Eddie Machen, before taking the title from Floyd Patterson in 1962. Even after his decisive stoppage defeats to Muhammad Ali, he remained a force in the division thanks to his brute strength, devastating jab, and KO power in either fist.
11. 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 1990’s. He boasts solid wins over David Tua, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer and Vitali Klitschko.
10. James J. Jeffries: “The Boilermaker” was revered for decades as one of the greatest ringman in the history of the sport as his combination of bone-crunching power, durability and amazing stamina allowed him to retire undefeated in 1904. His famous defeat six years after to Jack Johnson has, over time, obscured his achievements, but there’s no arguing with victories over James J. Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, Joe Choynski and “Sailor” Tom Sharkey.
9. George Foreman: One of the hardest punchers in boxing history is revered both for his amazing power and his incredible comeback in the 1990’s 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.
8. Jack Dempsey: Fast, aggressive and powerful, “The Manassa Mauler” revolutionized boxing with his swarming, all-action style. Wins over Jess Willard, Georges Carpentier, Jim Flynn, Big Bill Tate, Billy Miske, Luis Firpo, Gunboat Smith and Jack Sharkey. Reviled early on in his championship reign, he eventually became nothing less than an American icon.
7. 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. And they enabled him to vanquish, among others, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney, Tim Witherspoon, Mike Weaver and Trevor Berbick. Having held the world title for seven years, his late career comeback saw him defeat Ray Mercer and almost upset Oliver McCall.
6. Joe Frazier: The man they called “Smokin’ Joe” doesn’t get enough love on most ‘ATG’ lists, but overlooked are two things: 1. Frazier’s iconic and convincing victory over Muhammad Ali, and 2. the fact he is second only to Ali in terms of the best boxers competing in the strongest era in division history. 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. As Joe liked to say, “‘Nuff said.”
5. Rocky Marciano: With the highest knockout percentage of all heavyweight champions and boasting wins over such greats as Archie Moore, Jersey Joe Walcott, Joe Louis and Ezzard Charles, the undefeated “Brockton Blockbuster” proved himself a remarkable warrior. Power, toughness, and unsurpassed conditioning were Rocky’s calling-cards, along with a brutal relentlessness which no one in his era could withstand.
4. Harry Wills: Vastly underrated today, it’s easy to forget that for a time in the 1920’s “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. 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.
3. Jack Johnson: Boxing’s first Black champion of the big men was remarkably quick, very hard to hit, and dangerous with either fist. Cunning and clever, “The Galveston Giant” didn’t just defeat his opponents, but often humiliated them with his skill, smarts and unceasing control of the ring. Among his vanquished foes are Sam Langford, Tommy Burns, James J. Jeffries, Stanley Ketchel, Jim Flynn, Joe Jeannette and Sam McVea.
2. Joe Louis: Deadly power, astonishing timing and accuracy, and an amazing 25 defenses of the heavyweight crown make “The Brown Bomber” one of the greatest boxers who has ever lived, at any weight. 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. Final record: 66-3, with 52 knockouts.
1. Muhammad Ali: Why is Ali number one? Simple: no heavyweight in history faced, let alone defeated, a trio of deadly greats like Liston, Frazier and Foreman. But that’s just for starters. Throw in Norton, Quarry, Patterson, Lyle and Bonavena too. And don’t forget Terrell, Shavers and Chuvalo. Or Williams, Ellis and Folley.
As fate would have it, the most gifted athlete the heavyweights ever saw emerged just when the division was stacked with formidable talent like never before or since. And Ali proved himself the best of them all. 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 1960’s and 70’s, and in truth, as he liked to say himself, “The Greatest Of All-Times.”
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.
Crazy to think Mike Tyson was not part of that list
Couldn’t agree more. He destroyed Holmes.
Holmes had been out of action 2 years and was 38. A prime Holmes would have battered Tyson into submission. Tyson could never deal with adversity, which is why he doesn’t belong on the list of ATGs.
& Lennox Lewis could? Give me a break. “All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Champions” is the title. Mike Tyson earn his stripes. He did what not one of the above mentioned ever did!
Tyson lost every fight that ever meant something. His record is no different than Tommy Morrison’s, same tomato cans, Tommy had an even higher KO %. But when it came time for Tyson to fight top prime guys, He’s 0-6 in fights that actually matter.
Lewis beat Tyson if you don’t remember.
I agree One thousand percent!
Exactly
You are out of your mind. He’s not even in the top 10.
Absolutely, Mr. Weiler. Holmes fought real fighters – men like Earnie Shavers. Ali. Ken Norton. Tyson gives up fast when he senses he’s losing. He has no comeback ability. Bonecrusher Smith happened WAY too early. Holyfield, for example, beat Tyson twice. Tyson ADMITS he bit EH (classy) out of frustration — not knowing what to do when he knew he’d lose). Holyfield had a trilogy with Riddick Bowe, beat Foreman, who, while old, had a serious comeback, earlier killed Frasier and Norton inside two rounds, then 5 for Frazier, beat Ron Lyle, and later beat Michael Moorer, half his age, who’d BEATEN Holyfield. The difference? Holyfield — I choose him because he’s very contemporary to MT) doesn’t talk trash.
Holyfield held his own, 15 rounds, against a young Lennox Lewis (who destroyed Tyson), and, beat (not on the scorecards) Nikolai Valuev – LATE in EV’s career. THAT’s reality, Tyson fans.
Tyson took the title in a lackluster period after an admittedly STRONG early run but gave out fast.
Is it the toys?
The cartoon?
The video game?
Prison?
Salesmanship?
Look at Tyson get hammered (YOUNGER than Larry Holmes) in his last two fights against journeymen.
Holmes went, what, 48-0. Tyson makes lists because he talked trash with alacrity and had an unbelievable EARLY (ultra early) great run. Tyson would never beat Sonny Liston or Joe Frazier or Deontay Wilder for that matter. He is like Morrison, as Stevey below says.
Deontay Wilder! Didn’t he get beaten by a fat man?
Today I saw alacrity used correctly (perfectly, for that matter). *golf clap*
That list is crap. Tyson would have destroyed a peak Holmes. And a peak Tyson would have obliterated a peak Lennox Lewis too. Lewis only fought guys who were at the end of their careers.
Amen!! Cant believe some of these comments! I remember how he destroyed Holmes! Haha… he was falling all over the place, shaking his head like the little bitch that he was!!
Maybe Tyson would beat prime Lennox Lewis, but a prime Larry Holmes? No way. There couldn’t be two more diametrically opposed fighters, in terms of surviving being hurt. Larry Holmes is the very definition of a warrior. Go back and watch the Norton fight, even just round 15 if you don’t have the time. Go to YouTube and watch his comeback wins (after nearly being stopped) vs Mike Weaver, Earnie Shavers, Renaldo Snipes. Then show me a fight where Tyson did anything similar. It may well be that the best defense is a good offense, and Tyson had been an “unstoppable force” when coming forward, but he was lost when things didn’t go his way. There was never a “Plan B,” and there’s a point in every boxer’s career when he’s going to need one.
How do you say Tyson beats Lewis when Lewis actually beat Tyson? And they are similar in age so how can you talk about their primes? Tyson could not get past the defense of Lewis and he got knocked out.
Yeah, Holmes lost twice to Michael Spinks, while Tyson knocked out Spinks in 90 seconds. Once boxers lose their quickness, they’re never the same. After three years in prison, Tyson’s quickness was gone. All the people who claim he never beat anyone forget that he won the title in a tournament. He beat everyone and won all the belts.
That’s true, Tyson was pretty much out of his prime. A 1987 version of Mike would have demolished him.
With respect you talk rubbish when you assert that a peak Tyson would obliterate a peak Lennox Lewis!!! A peak Tyson could not obliterate a mediocre Bonecrusher Smith, who had limited counter punching skills. Nor did he obliterate a mediocre Tony Tucker, both title fights in 1987. Lennox Lewis would wear Mike down with a strong jab peppering his face, a powerful dynamite right uppercut at close range, and tying Mike up and leaning on him to weaken and debilitate him. Eventually he would be being hit with pinpoint left hooks and right crosses. I take Lennox Lewis by knockout in later rounds.
Yeah the same one who lost his title to a light heavy?
Ya uhm no. Holmes was a deadbeat along with Klitschko. Both equally as boring and predictable. A jab and a right hand. Both ruined the division for a decade. Holmes destroying Tyson? Thudding around the ring? Tyson would have torn apart Holmes in any era.
Ridiculous
Shut the hell up! Tyson better than Holmes?
Holmes was 38 when he fought a 21-year-old, peak Tyson, same age as Ali was when he fought Holmes. A young Holmes most likely beats Tyson, but apart from that, Holmes is without a doubt in the top ten all-time, while Tyson, to the surprise of many, is not. But one needs to think in overall terms and career achievements.
Holmes was well old by then and took the fight with only a few weeks to train after a long lay off. Tyson never fought anyone in there prime or of any note before 1990.
Holmes was completely washed up-way past his prime.
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 . Holyfield , Lewis , Douglas got the best of him …… yet Tyson never faced Foreman or either of the Klitscko brothers …I believe these three fighters could have beat Tyson as well …… Also Riddick Bowe would have a Big advantage over Tyson…. So Maybe Tyson is in the top10 of his era ….. But definitely NOT an all time top 10 Heavyweight..
Tyson’s boxing ability came down when Cus D’Amato died. It was very noticeable. Don King handled him after that. If we go back in time looking at the fights, we can see it.
I agree with you. Tyson is in the top 5, hands down.
Mike Tyson was in an awfully weak era. Literally knocking over tomato cans. Don’t let that KO reel fool ya
Mike Tyson was knocking people out! Granted you can say in his era there was a lack of talent, but this is beyond his control. What is clear is the amount of opponents Tyson overwhelmed with his devastating power.
Worst list I’ve ever seen
Leave Iron Mike out
Go Away
lol
Mike Tyson Likely Deserves Mention For His Impressive Wins Over Numberous Belt Holders Including Larry Holmes Trevor Berbick Frank Bruno James Bone Crusher Smith Bruce Seldon Michael Spinks Tony Tubbs And Tony Tucker
Tyson should be number 2 or 3. Not to be mentioned is BS.
Hell yes.
Marciano never fought Joe Louis. Many cite this as a feat of Marciano. Lets set the record straight. Marciano fought and beat the Shadow of Joe Louis’ SHADOW.
And Archie Moore and Ezzard Charles. Not his fault if he fought and beat old men as champ. He could do no more than beat them but, perhaps wisely, he didn’t wait to face any up-and-coming boxers!
And Jersey Joe Walcott, who made him look amateurish and dropped him at like 39 years of age. Archie Moore, Louis, Walcott are all better, and win over Rocky if younger.
No way. That’s insane. And inane. And lame.
Whoever made this list is a Damm fool if you don’t put Mike Tyson either 2 or 3 and to not even have Evander Holyfield on the list but Lennox Lewis have to be the dumbest people ever….I mean ever
You’ve got to be the dumbest. Lewis beat tyson and evander and every boxer he ever faced
Do people not know that Lewis beat Tyson in 8 rounds? DANNY WILLIAMS who LOST 27 fights knocked out a 38 year-old Tyson in 4 rounds. FOUR. And Kevin McBride TKO’d Tyson is SIX. These are hardly heavyweight limelights and I mention Tyson’s age 38 – because considering the legit comebacks going on, Tyson was NOT that old. Anyone know Bernard Hopkins? Tyson is a video-game. I like him more now – that he is HONEST about his career, his shortcomings.
For your information, 38 isn’t your prime, so yeah.
Are you joking? He fought a way past his prime Tyson, almost lost to Holyfield in their second fight, and Vitaly would have knocked him out if they hadn’t stopped it because of the cut. Go play somewhere else, child.
Tyson never beat anyone great and he held the title for only three years.
Where’s Tyson? Kick ass on half that page at least. Show some respect.
Can’t make this list without Tyson and Holyfield. Sorry, if Holmes is on they should both be in the top 5.
Holyfield should be on the list. Tyson, maybe, but I have no issue with him being left off.
Holmes was better than either.
Where the hell is Iron Mike Tyson?!?!
Really? No iron mike?? Don’t be a hater all your life!
Hahahahahaha. This is supposed to be joke right? No iron Mike on top of the list? Some sort of elaborate prank?
There is no way Frazier can be ranked above Foreman. What about Tyson? Very surprising.
I agree with you. Foreman demolished Frazier in both their fights, the only man that did or could. Tyson should definitely be in the top 10.
Yes, Frazier is a better fighter than a Foreman, even though Foreman beat him up, twice. More, and better, accomplishments. Frazier is the only man to defeat Muhammad Ali when he was anywhere close to his prime. Shane Mosley couldn’t beat Vernon Forrest, but who had the “better” career? Who’s ranked an all time great? Get it?
Your right how in the hell can Frazier be ranked in front of Foreman when Foreman brutally knocked Frazier out TWICE and Foreman should be higher on the list the man was 40-0 when he lost to the greatest and annihilated everyone before that and came back and became world champ again at age 45 and not to mention winning the gold medal after only boxing for 1 yr and 21 fights nobody not even Ali did that
Tyson should be on here all right. Most athletic slugger I ever saw. More athletic and aggressive than Liston. Louis too, though I think Louis’ courage would put him over Tyson. Johnson’s defense should rank him number one. A more intelligent fighter and harder puncher than Ali.
Are you guys kidding me? Cant understand this fixation with Tyson, all these guys mop the floor with Tyson.
You’re the only one with sense. When was Tyson ever able to overcome anyone who fought back? Tyson had little heart but plenty quit in him. The biggest myth ever. No substance.
I would have Tyson at #12, Frazier at #11, Dempsey #10, Holmes #9, W Klitschko #8, Liston #7, Marciano #6, Holyfield #5, Foreman #4, Johnson #3, Louis #2 and Ali #1. Holmes or V Klitschko never unified the title to become undisputed like the others. Foreman’s last 10 opponents were unbeaten or just had 1 loss.
I must say I like your list. Tyson at 12 is good. When the going got tough, Tyson had problems. Everyone, maybe save Sonny Liston and Vladimir Klitschko, overcame tough situations in a fight and found a way to win. Accurate list!
Liston was nearly knocked out by Cleveland Williams, and also had trouble from Amos Lincoln, but he beat both of them.
No Mike Tyson is a shame!! Was the baddest man on the planet!!!! None of the fighters listed knocked out opponents the way Tyson did with speed and fury!!!!
Tyson is completely overrated. A one-dimensional fighter.
Lennox has to be top five easy! The record speaks for itself. Only 2 losses, and he came back and rectified them. Also, both loses clearly because he didn’t take the fights as seriously as he should have, but when he did, he made quick work of both.
l give credit to any boxer who can rectify their losses. Most great boxers have done this and Lennox Lewis only lost twice and then won in the rematch. This is no small achievement. You have been beaten and know it but then train to overcome this adversity. Very impressive. Many have failed at this. Respect.
Lennox Lewis made the cut and Iron Mike didn’t..laughable. Another boxing’s greatest robberies. The boy from Catsville New York is the second greatest. He is not the greatest because he wasn’t a role model. Remove altitude and behavior, he is the greatest…
Frazier at #6 ABOVE Foreman? Hard to justify given what Foreman did to Frazier twice, but of course, styles make fights and Foreman was the worst possible match for Frazier. But even if you take into account their overall careers, I’d still give the edge to Foreman because of his comeback years. Kudos on not putting Tyson in the top 12. Great fighter but mentally and emotionally not in the same class with the ones you listed.
Not a bad list, but a few observations:
– Frazier above Foreman? Huh? Foreman destroyed Frazier on two occasions.
– No Holyfield? A four time heavyweight champion (not to mention cruiserweight champion), The Real Deal never ducked anyone and fought through adversity too many times to count.
– Applause for not ranking Tyson. A fearsome puncher no doubt, but see Holyfield above. Tyson never once rose from the canvas or “walked through fire” to win a fight. He was a bully and a quitter.
Mike Tyson should be in the top 12! How can you leave him off.
No Tyson in the list? Biggest joke of the year .
Mike tyson in his prime was unstoppable. Holyfield was only person fought well with tyson in his prime. Doughlas got lucky and Lewis no match to him .
I liked Tyson because he he was an exciting boxer to watch. I could see though that there was a week link in his armour. This appeared in his fight against Tony Tucker. Tucker boxed behind a solid jab and lasted the distance and lost on points even though he landed more punches. Then along came Douglas. He also boxed behind a good jab and put Tyson on his back. After that Tyson went downhill. Now Lewis had an even stronger jab and would have knocked out Tyson in his prime. But Don King kept them apart because he knew Lewis would have beaten him and King wanted to earn a lot more out of him. When Lewis and Tyson finally met it was because Tyson’s money pot was nearly empty so it was simply a money fight. He’s not on the list for the simple reason that he didn’t beat anyone who was that good. End of.
Vitali destroys this whole list
Ohh the “Tysonites” who think boxing was invented in 1984 are out in full force. He is where he belongs: Honorable Mention, with a lot of other very good but not great heavyweights.
Tyson in his prime was unstoppable. Before he went to jail, everyone ducked him. He spent five years of his prime in jail and then people fought him. Before he went to jail and before Cus D’Amato died, he couldn’t be touched.
Another thing: Joe Frazier and Rocky Marciano would be light heavyweights today. They were both under six feet and 200 pounds. Ali and George Foreman were much bigger. If you don’t think that has anything to do with it you are crazy.
Evander Holyfield should be top ten. Three time champ and he was the king of the 90’s, which was a very good generation for heavyweights.
My gripe is not fully with the omissions of Tyson, and Holyfield, as much as it is that those two were put in the same so called, “Honorable” pool as one of the god damn Klitschko brothers. Instead, Lennox Lewis represents their era as an all time great, and the 11th best ever? Can’t get upset by your list, since I can’t even take you seriously..
Greatest of all time, Rocky Marciano. He was a powerful puncher and the most relentless fighter ever. Big heart, just would not be beaten. Retired undefeated. No one could take him, bigger fighters were not given the room or the time to punch. Both Louis and Ali have stated in their primes, Rocky probably would have beaten them.
Mike Tyson was the best fighter I ever saw. He was poorly managed and handled. If he had people around him who had cared about him he may have won every fight. Best pure puncher who ever got in a ring.
It is a damn shame and TRAGEDY what happened to Mike. He was the mad experiment of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, boxing minds ever in Cus D’amato. No one better to learn from. A true STUDENT of the sweet science. The mold of a perfect fighter. The Youngest Heavyweight Champion ever, a record that will never be broken, is the only true accolade Mike has to his name. A gift and a curse. We saw the skill but we were ROBBED of the will, his future, and his full potential. Although he didn’t make the list, it doesn’t mean he isn’t a major problem for the legends at the top of this list. In his short prime, Tyson is a serious challenge for anyone.
Anyone who puts Joe Frazier ahead of a serious power-puncher is ignorant. Frazier was a very carefully managed fighter who could not win against power punchers. He nearly lost twice to Ringo Bonevena and was bitch-slapped by Foreman. He ducked Shavers, Lyle and even an old Sonny Liston.
Tyson was a thicker, harder-hitting Joe Frazier. He peaked early, lost Cus D’Amato, then lost all focus because he was very immature. At twenty, he could’ve beaten anyone on the list EXCEPT Ali. Even I know THAT!
Ken Norton should get at least an honorable mention. Had three fights with Ali. He won the first one and was robbed by the judges in the third one.
Big George knocked the hell out of Frazier twice and Smoking Joe is ranked over Foreman?
1. Ali 2. Louis 3. Marciano 4. Foreman 5. Frazier 6. Lewis 7. Holmes 8. Holyfield 9. Tyson 10. Norton 11. Johnson 12. Liston 13. Dempsey 14. Jeffries 15. Wills 16. Walcott
Lennox Lewis is too low. I agree, those two losses are crap. But they were avenged and the degree to which Rahman and McCall were supposed to stand no chance is exaggerated. He fought in one of the best heavyweight eras and was clearly the best within it for a long time.
Jack Johnson is too high. I’ve read a couple of bios and researched that era. So I know it reasonably well. If a new fan asked me what Johnson’s best win was and why, I’d have a hard time convincing them. I’d probably say Tommy Burns, a good but small heavyweight from whom he took the crown. Langford was tiny when he fought Johnson. McVea and Jeannette were great, but were at their best several years after they last fought Johnson. He never gave any of the three rematches in their heavyweight primes. Ketchel had no business at heavyweight. The Jeffries fight was a huge event, but I didn’t think this a popularity contest and I don’t know how to explain that a 6-year retired ex-champion could be considered one of a guy’s best wins. Johnson’s story as a whole is worth learning about. But strictly off resume, he belongs closer to the bottom of this list than to the top.
how could you possible list frazier ahead of foreman, that is crazy, simply because foreman DESTROYED him twice.
If only Cus would have lived ten more years I think Tyson would be top 5. Cus was more than just his coach he was Tyson’s everything and guided him.
Wills – are you crazy? The Tyson of the late 80s definitely belongs there.
This list is absolute dooodooo. Where’s mike Tyson? And it’s hard to say that someone that has the highest knock out percentage and never lost isn’t at least top two, or more likely number one. Sorry.
Must be Rocky Marciano, surely? 49-0! Never knew defeat. Couldn’t be hurt.
A reasonably good list. Only reasonable because you have mostly good fighters on it, except for One. Any list with Marciano loses credibility with the knowledgeable. He was a manufactured Mafia fighter. 50% of his purses went to his manager who paid of Mafia figures. His Promoter, the brother og hisnmanager was definitely “connected”, His first 10 “opponents” had a combined total record of ZERO wins, 19 losses and 1 draw. His second 10 was not much better. His best opponents were very old, dragged out of retirement given a few set-ups etc. no way. He would be about #86 on a genuine list. Louis was in and out of Sanatoriums, and according to his son, when out, would hide under the table with the cloth pulled down.
Joe Louis should be #ONE, Ali 2, Tyson 3, Johnson 4, Holmes 5, Holyfield 6, Bowe 7, Foreman 8 Lewis 9 Vitali Klitschko 10. Joe Frazier 11. Dempsey 12. W.Klitschko 12.
I’ve read all the criticism of Tyson and it is, in my opinion, not merited. After D’Amato died, he lost something but his ferocity and unique skills in both defence and attack stayed on, until he changed Kevin Rooney, due to the cunning and crookery of Don King. This episode is well documented, also the fake rape and prison term, his schizophrenic mental affliction, needing medications and not diagnosed then, His loss to Douglas was a farce, and due to the 15 sec count that Douglas got, he won. Tyson spent all his time in Tokyo with Geisha prostitutes, and I saw him myself walking down the Ginza with 3-4 of them. he trained for a week before the fight. I couldn’t get tickets .
His later losses to such as Danny Williams and old , McBride were when he was not only totally washed up, but untrained and uninterested in anything except to earn money to pay his debts. Against Williams I heard his ligament snap when he was gong in to finish him off. You could see the sudden “halt” in his leg. But he never retired on his stool but stuck it out.,
His loss to Lewis was a farce. He was old, washed up beyond even patching, had NOT wanted to fight any more for at least 7-8 years, Lewis either took him to court or threatened to ,to make the fight which had a predetermined conclusion.
He could have had the greatest career in history, but the circumstances above which I’ve barely touched on, were against it.
There is only one and the rest is pure preference, opinion, speculation or blind ignorance. There’s no true top ten, twenty, just number one, The Greatest.