The Greatest Heavyweight Champions:

Who is the greatest? This highly contested and fun issue has been debated by boxing analysts and fans alike since the sport started. With the Big Three – Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury each claiming a stake in the argument of who the current best is, we look at the best Heavyweights in history.  There are many factors which go into ranking the greatest boxers including how dominant they were in their respective era.
Here is the list of the 20 Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time:

Best Heavyweight Boxers – GOAT:

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Jack Johnson
4. Jack Dempsey
5. Jim Jeffries
6. Rocky Marciano
7. Sam Langford
8. Mike Tyson
9. Larry Holmes
10. Joe Frazier
11. Lennox Lewis
12. Vitali Klitschko
13. George Foreman
14. Sonny Liston
15. Evander Holyfield
16. Wladimir Klitschko
17. Gene Tunney
18. Floyd Patterson
19. John L. Sullivan
20. Jersey Joe Walcott

Honorable Mentions:

Bob Fitzsimmons
Max Schmeling
Max Baer
Harry Wills
Riddick Bowe
Michael Spinks
Ezzard Charles
Jack Sharkey
Jim Braddock

1. Muhammad Ali

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in 1960 Won the Light Heavyweight Gold Medal in Rome. Four years later in 1964 at age 22, he shocked the world by beating heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. Ali is the only three time lineal heavyweight champion. Ali’s title defense records, wins in heavyweight title fights, along with fighter of the year accolades is unprecedented. Some of his legendary fights include, The fight of the Century, Thriller in Manila and The rumble in the Jungle. Ali’s great boxing skills, personality, flamboyance and Genius captured the world by storm. Even though he missed out on almost 4 years of boxing in his prime, he became know as The Greatest. Ali had many boxing styles and is also credited with creating the Rope-a-dope fighting style. Ali floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee.

2. Joe Louis
Born in Chambers County, Alabama, Louis was the seventh of eight children. The Brown Bomber had a professional boxing career of 17 years. Joe Louis became world heavyweight champion in 1937 and won a consecutive 26 championship fights. He was world heavyweight champion for an unprecedented 12 years ( 140 months). Joe Louis is probably the most dominant boxer to ever enter the squared circle.

3. Jack Johnson
John Arthur Johnson was the first African American World Heavyweight Champion. The Galveston Giant dominated boxing, and his almost eight year reign as champion (1908-1915) is legendary. He simply did things in the ring that no one has done before (similar to what Michael Jordan did in the NBA). Some historians still consider Johnson the greatest heavyweight ever.

4. Jack Dempsey
I guess we would have to be there to truly understand Jack Dempsey‘s (Nicknamed Kid Blackie and The Manassa Mauler) boxing excellence and popularity. Dempsey’s reign as world heavyweight champion was from 1919 to 1926. Considered unbeatable by most, Dempsey set multiple financial and attendance records. Dempsey’s last fight against Gene Tunney in 1927 brought in a record $2 million gate and is famously known as, The Long Count Fight.

5. Jim Jeffries
James Jackson Jeffries nicknamed, The Boilermaker had a tremendous 10 year boxing career. Jeffries became world heavyweight champion on June 9, 1899 and retired in late 1904 undefeated and world champion. After being retired for over five years, Jeffries lost over 100 pounds and made a comeback to fight Jack Johnson in the original Fight of the Century.

6. Rocky Marciano
Nicknamed The Rock from Brockton and The Brockton Blockbuster, Rocky held the world heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956. Rocky’s aggressive style, stamina and punching power made him A force to be reckon with. Rocky was an inspiration to Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky movies. He retired with a perfect record of 49-0 in 1955.

7. Sam Langford
The Boston Tar Baby had an incredible career fighting at Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Light heavyweight and Heavyweight. His talent and career are so outstanding, he is often ranked as one of the greatest of all time in all divisions. Most champions avoided fighting The Boston Bonecrusher. Jack Dempsey said, “ I think Sam Langford was the greatest fighter we ever had.”

8. Mike Tyson
Iron Mike Tyson started his legendary professional boxing career on March 6, 1985. Tyson fought 15 times in 1985 and 13 more times in 1986. On November 22, 1986 Tyson beat Trevor Berbick to become the youngest heavyweight champion at 20 years of age. Tysons furious style caught the world by storm and he not only became The Baddest Man on the Planet, but also the most famous person in the world(along with Michael Jackson). His exciting knockouts and amazing training and focus had him ranked best pound for pound fighter in the world. He carried the torch from Muhammad Ali to become the all time PPV and attendance king. After starting his career 37-0, he lost to Buster Douglas on February 11, 1990 in Japan (The Tyson- Buster Douglas fight is considered by many to be the greatest upset of all time). There has arguably never been a boxer as dominant as Mike Tyson was in his first five years as a professional. He was a simple boxer that wore black trunks and black boots with a white towel on his shoulder (over his head), no fancy music, no fancy outfits, he just simply took the world by storm. The lack of guidance and family issues Tyson had during his career ultimately led to his downfall. To have been able to watch him box is a treat and Tyson generated such excitement, very few sporting events can rival. Tyson’s hunger might not have lasted as long as some of the other all-time great’s, but no one ever defeated a boxer prior to a fight like Mike Tyson did.

9. Larry Holmes
The Easton Assassin had a professional career that spand almost 30 years. Holmes won his first 48 fights and defended the heavyweight title for 20 consecutive bouts. Holmes lost his title to Michael Spinks in 1985 who was 7 years younger then the great champion. Larry Holmes boxing record is an outstanding 69-6.

10. Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier won a gold metal in the 1964 Olympics. As a professional, Smokin’ Joe won his first 29 fights. Frazier’s first fight with Muhamed Ali on March 8, 1971 was dubbed, “Fight of the Century”. Frazier beat Ali (Ali’s first loss) in a very hard brutal fight, the pair would continue their legendary rivalry by fighting two more times. Frazier reigned undisputed heavyweight champion from 1970 to 1973. Frazier’s strength, punching power and aggression made him a legend during the Golden age of the heavyweights.

11. Lennox Lewis
Nicknamed The Lion, Lewis only lost two times in his professional career, in which he would later go on to avenge both losses by knockout. In an era where everybody was talking about Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield, The Lion rose to the top and cemented his place in boxing history as one of the all-time great heavyweights.

12. Vitali Klitschko
Doctor Ironfist had a professional record of 45-2 and KO 87% of his opponents. Klitschko won multiple championships and had record consecutive defenses in the heavyweight division. Standing at 6’ 7” he dominated the heavyweight division like only few can and took Lennox Lewis to the absolute limit in there classic fight in 2003.

13. George Foreman
Foreman professional boxing career spanned from 1969 to 1977. Foreman won a Gold Medal in the 1968 Olympics. In 1973 Foreman became the world heavyweight champion by knocking out undefeated champion Joe Frazier. Foreman was 40-0 before he lost his first fight in 1974 to Muhammad Ali. After retiring in 1977 Foreman made an amazing come back 10 years later in 1987. He went on to win 24 consecutive bouts in almost 5 years. In 1994 Foreman fought Michael Moore and stunningly knocked him out in the 10th round to become the oldest heavyweight champion of all time at age 45. With a professional record of 76 wins to only five losses, George Foreman’s career is one of the most unique in boxing history.

14. Sonny Liston
The big bear became world heavyweight champion in 1962 when he knocked out Floyd Patterson in the first round. Sonny Liston dominated the heavyweight division during the 50s and early 60s, before losing to Muhammad Ali in 1964, he was basically undefeated (had one controversial split decision lost to Marty Marshall which he later avenged) in his first 36 professional fights. The only two opponents he ever lost two (Ali and Martin) I believe were both at least 10 years younger than him. Liston’s size and strength along with his quickness and boxing ability are legendary. Many experts believe he is a top-five heavyweight of all time, if you feel the same, I can’t argue with that.

15. Evander Holyfield
A true champion and warrior in every sense of the world. Evander Holyfield was The Real Deal. Having one of the most successful and legendary careers a boxer could have, Holyfield gave and used every ounce of his body in the sport. With an amazing chiseled body, Holyfield was an undersized heavyweight, often fighting boxers much bigger than him, no matter the size of the opponent no one ever stood taller than a Evander Holyfield in the ring. The Real Deal Won his first 28 professional bouts and was ranked #1 contender for the longest time to Mike Tyson‘s world championships. Unfortunately, by the time they fought, Mike Tyson the dominant figure that took the world by storm was no long that bull. Holyfield had many epic wars in the ring including those with Riddick Bowe, Lennox Lewis and John Ruiz. Every time the experts counted Holyfield out because of age, he prove them wrong because that’s what a true Warrior does.

16. Wladimir Klitschko
Klitschko became a professional boxer after winning a gold medal in the 1996 Olympics. Dr. Steelhammer’s boxing career spanned over 20 years and he dominated the heavyweight division for over a decade becoming the gold standard in Heavyweight boxing. Klitschko‘s sheer size and power was something to behold. He earned many records including fighting in 29 heavyweight title fights.

17. Gene Tunney
The Fighting Marine turned Pro in 1915 and became light heavyweight champion in 1922. Incredibly, Tunney’ s first and only loss (which he later avenged) was in 1922 against Harry Greb by unanimous decision (in his 50th professional fight). Gene Tunny had a great 14 year career beating the Great Jack Dempsey twice. Tunney’s career record was 65-1-1.

18. Floyd Patterson
Nicknamed The Gentleman of Boxing, Patterson had an incredible 20 year professional boxing career. Patterson won the world heavyweight championship in 1956 and became the youngest boxer in history to win the title at age 21. He held the championship for six consecutive years losing only to Ingemar Johansson (in 1959) in that time span (he avenge the loss twice in 1960 & 1961). Floyd finally met his match when he fought The Big Bear, Listen’s size and strength were to much to over come.

19. John L. Sullivan
Nicknamed the Boston Strong Boy, Sullivan is recognized as the first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing. Sullivan held the world title for an amazing 10 years (1882-1892)(Official heavyweight championship started in 1887)(others say first champ was Jem Mace who defeated Tom Allen in 1870). Sullivan was undefeated during his professional career with a record of 40-0-2. Three years after retiring, he fought James Corbett (who was 8 years younger) in 1892 and lost in round 21. The Boston Strong Boy had many legendary fights including with Charlie Mitchell and Jake Kilrain.

20. Jersey Joe Walcott
Jersey Joe’s professional boxing career was from 1930 to 1953. In 1947, Jersey Joe fought Joe Louis for the world championship and broke the record for oldest man to fight for the heavyweight title at age 33. In 1951, Joe beat Ezzard Charles for the world heavyweight championship at age 37 becoming the oldest man to ever win the title. Walcott’s Legendary career had a lot of ups and downs. Walcott’s boxing career record was 51-18-2.

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