As did fights from the greatest of the greats, from Rocky Marciano and Muhammad Ali to Larry Holmes . I like him more now that he is HONEST about his career, his shortcomings. Sonny Liston (1953-1970, 50-4-0): 625.7, 3. Another boxings greatest robberies. Naturally, heavyweights of the 1950s couldnt compete in-ring with giants like the Klitschko brothers. That means this isn't a ranking from 1 to 10; rather the ten who, in this writer's opinion, make the cut. And as we know, the sport never stops toevolves so Joshua has an unfair advantage over Ali. Holmes had been out of action 2 years and was 38. That way he was nullifying the reach and height advantages of his opponents. Antoni Nogueira is one of the most accomplished fighters in the history of the heavyweight division. 49-0! Is it the toys? 1 Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. (January 17, 1942 - June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, entertainer, poet, and philanthropist. In his great boxing career, Jones has won several world titles, and he also won a Silver medal at the Olympics in 1988. What is clear is the amount of opponents Tyson overwhelmed with his devastating power. 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. Cant believe some of these comments! Before he went to jail and before Cus DAmato died, he couldnt be touched. No Tyson in the list? 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. Click Agree to accept our use of cookies or you can choose to opt out of our use of cookies by following the instructions in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice. Required fields are marked *. None of the fighters listed knocked out opponents the way Tyson did with speed and fury!!!! But they, too, are among the greatest of all time, so thats not too shabby. He is an out-boxer (someone who maintain a distance from their opponent and throws fast and long punches) but unlike the most out-boxers, he has knockout power in both his hands. Besides this strategy, his size advantage was also a huge factor in those two fights (Lewis is 65 tall with 84 reach). It is a damn shame and TRAGEDY what happened to Mike. Primo Carnera (1928-1946, 89-14-0): 111.2, 48. Joey. Fury has combined pure boxing skills with underrated punching power to a supreme level amidst his growing dominance. A true STUDENT of the sweet science. Yeah, Holmes lost twice to Michael Spinks, while Tyson knocked out Spinks in 90 seconds. Holmes 8. The old man must have been a wild old rooster! Jimmy Ellis (1961-1975, 40-12-1): 114.2, 47. With his never back style, granite chin and knockout power, he was a really exciting fighter to watch. Beating Sonny Liston to win his first championship as a 7-to-1 underdog, defeating chief rival Joe Frazier two out of three times, stopping the undefeated George Foreman as a 4-to-1 underdog (to regain the title), outpointing Kenny . Thats why many of his wins are on points (which wasnt highly appreciated by the fans, who want to see knockouts). There couldnt be two more diametrically opposed fighters, in terms of surviving being hurt. Jack Dempsey 7 5 The top 10 heavyweights of all time Matt Christie lists the history's finest heavyweights 1. Having held the world title for seven years, his late career comeback saw him defeat Ray Mercer and almost upset Oliver McCall. 1. Watch the DAZN Boxing Show and live fights on DAZN. Check out which of today's heavyweight fighters make our top 10. The vast majority of boxing historians consider Joe Louis to be the greatest puncher of all time. 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. Back in the day, Leonard was also part of "The Fabulous Four.". As one of the world's greatest boxers of all time, Roberto Duran had 31 consecutive wins before he stepped into the ring with Ken Buchanan in 1972 for his first shot at the title. A more intelligent fighter and harder puncher than Ali. 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. But they, too, are among the greatest of all time, so thats not too shabby. Well, at least Foremans hands. Holmes was a deadbeat along with Klitschko. Sugar Ray Robinson 3. Henry Cooper (1954-1971, 40-14-1): 118.8, 42. Evander Holyfield (1984-2011, 44-10-2): 357.7, 10. But can we put him up there with the absolute all-time greats just yet? This site is owned and operated by Dimitar Ivanov. He has no comeback ability. Had three fights with Ali. Scoring a pair of second-round TKOs of Joe Frazier and Ken Norton are a sample size of how terrifying Foreman was in his era. Joe Louis won his first world heavyweight title in 1937 and held that title for . Tyson lost every fight that ever meant something. Ali was definitely the most famous but also the most successful out-boxer. Rocky Marciano 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. Top 15 All-Time Greatest Heavyweight Boxers (Style Breakdown). Joe Louis Knockouts - Best of Brown Bomber (Tribute) 2. Posted below are the top 50 heavyweight boxers of all time. Credit: PA 50. Jack Johnson usually prevented his opponents from entering into a clinch by resting his hands on their shoulder and pushing them back. 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. Roscoe Toles (1931-1950, 45-10-6): 140.1, 31. 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. They usually, stay at a mid-range, in position dangerous for both for them and for their opponents. And Jersey Joe Walcott, who made him look amateurish and dropped him at like 39 years of age. Karel Sys (1932-1954, 117-15-10): 115.4, 45. 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. Because if you want to walk somebody down, youre probably going to get some punches in the face, so you need to know how to deal with them. With his Peek-a-Boo guard and his quick head movement, it was really hard for his opponents to catch him. He knew that Foreman was bigger and stronger than him and also that he deals pretty handily with infighters (as you can see in his fight with Joe Frazier). He was a bully and a quitter. Foreman, who in 1994 knocke Your email address will not be published. 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). Possessing an uncanny ability to absorb punishment and keep coming until he landed his crushing right hand, Marciano never looked like an elite boxer but try telling that to all the men he pulverised in the ring. The combination is very tricky becauseby attacking the body first, he made his rivals lower their guards so they can block the body shots. Big George knocked the hell out of Frazier twice and Smoking Joe is ranked over Foreman? 49. Montreal is The Fight City. After three years in prison, Tysons quickness was gone. By Tyson Bruce 1. 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. Terence Crawford 63. He was usually much bigger and stronger than his opponents and he easily controlled them in the ring. Height: 6 ft 2 in. 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. 16 Reasons why Lebron is greater than Jordan. Amazingly, he defended his title on 14 different occasions against 13 different boxers from the year he won it until 1974. But such punches are very easy to be seen because they require building huge momentum. Mike Tyson was the best fighter I ever saw. He is where he belongs: Honorable Mention, with a lot of other very good but not great heavyweights. 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. 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. George Foreman. So for Holyfield, the only way to beat such a monster was to fight from the outside and to outpoint him. Johnsons defense should rank him number one. 29 Bob Fitzsimmons. And he was able to use it really effectively. In his short prime, Tyson is a serious challenge for anyone. Today's big question Where does Tyson Fury rank among the best heavyweight boxers of all time? And against George Foreman, he was staying at the ropes blocking all punches for several rounds, gassing Foreman out so he can finish him later. That way he built huge momentum in his punch and dramatically increased its power. He was parrying the jabs with his right glove, ducking under the hooks and right straights and usually countering with a left hook to the head or to the body. Larry Holmes (1973-2002, 69-6-0): 330.3, 13. In 1980, Holmes beat Ali in the 10th round by corner stoppage. During the whole fight, he stood his ground and waited for Myke to attack first so he can counter him. With a technique called by him The Dempseys drop step, he was able to generate huge power in his punches no matter how close or how far away from his opponents he was. Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis didnt fear Tyson and were able to subsequently bully the bully. Marcel Thil 68. Muhammad Ali: Why is Ali number one? Fury has combined pure boxing skills with underrated punching power to a supreme level amidst his growing dominance. Signature technique:Bait a cross -> Counter with a check lead hook. 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. 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. Max Baer, Max Schmeling, James J. Braddock and Jersey Joe Walcott all felt Louis wrath. Henry Armstrong 10. Hence, Ali is considered the greatest. Im Dimitar Ivanov. Holyfield held his own, 15 rounds, against a young Lennox Lewis (who destroyed Tyson), and, beat (not on the scorecards) Nikolai Valuev LATE in EVs career. 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. Joe Frazier (32-4-1, 27 KO) Joe Frazier had beaten many great opponents including Buster Mathis, Doug Jones and Muhammad Ali (once). Sugar Ray Leonard 9. 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. Pure sweet science, master class boxing skills on display from Lewis across his brilliant career. At 18, he won a Gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics. 34 Marcel Cerdan. Couldnt agree more. And they enabled him to vanquish, among others, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Gerry Cooney,Tim Witherspoon, Mike Weaver and Trevor Berbick. Ali 2. Foreman was also very tough and has a great punching power which makes it really hard to exchange with him. This is no small achievement. 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. FOUR. Accurate list! The difference? Was the baddest man on the planet!!!! The style he developed required goodhead movement and timing. 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. Jersey Joe Walcott 66. Thats a really cool technique. The Top 21 Offensive Linemen in NFL History. The Fight of the Century in March 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali his first loss, was proof of that. & Lennox Lewis could? Cunning and clever, The Galveston Giant didnt just defeat his opponents, but often humiliated them with his skill, smarts and unceasing control of the ring. These are hardly heavyweight limelights and I mention Tysons age 38 because considering the legit comebacks going on, Tyson was NOT that old. Tyson should definitely be in the top 10. Plus, hes the only heavyweight world champion to have finished his career undefeated. Lets set the record straight. Frazier at #6 ABOVE Foreman? Still, the fact he beat Holyfield, Tyson, Vitali Klitschko, David Tua, Razor Ruddock and more says it all. Most great boxers have done this and Lennox Lewis only lost twice and then won in the rematch. The strategy of Smokin Joe was simple to make his opponents step back using his constant pressure, feints, body shots and wrestling techniques (such as pushing the other boxers chest with his head). But thats just for starters. Any ranking also shouldnt be about which boxer beats which in some fantasy fight. Fury has made a case to be considered one of the best heavyweights ever, but just how good is he? Are you guys kidding me? 5. Boxing movies share tropes with sports movies generally, but throughout its history, the real-life version has tended to attract both bona fide athletes and a cross-section of America's less . So he was a thought matchup for everyone. 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. Shorboxing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Holmes was well old by then and took the fight with only a few weeks to train after a long lay off. He fought in one of the best heavyweight eras and was clearly the best within it for a long time. 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. When he was fighting with infighters, he just pushed them away as they tried to close the distance. The cartoon? Ali didnt have the power of boxers such as Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Sonny Liston, but he was really skilled and was definitely very smart fighter with high fight IQ. 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. Nationality: Japanese. Famous fight: Archie Moore vs Yvon Durelle I. Holmes style was similar to the style of Muhammad Ali (a classical out-boxer). 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. But Wladimir beat better boxers and has much more title defenses and thats why is ranked higher in this list. A three-time world heavyweight champion, Lewis outpointed Evander Holyfield (essentially twice), laid Mike Tyson flat on his back via a devastating knockout and let Vitali Klitschko know that hes not to be messed with as part of his polished resume. Marciano 4. Top 19 Heavyweights of all time - The Grueling Truth Today we rank the 20 greatest Heavyweights of all time, some on this list may surprise you while others may not. A one-dimensional fighter. Absolutely, Mr. Weiler. Louis too, though I think Louis courage would put him over Tyson. The 18 greates Coaches in College Football History. Granted you can say in his era there was a lack of talent, but this is beyond his control. But that way Ali was much more mobile and was able to see the punches better and to slip them. David Haye (2002-2018, 28-4-0): 133.4, 36. Walcott. How do you say Tyson beats Lewis when Lewis actually beat Tyson? Primo Carnera (1928-1946, 89-14-0): 111.2 48. His joint record of defeating 21 boxers for the world heavyweight championship and winning 14 championship bouts was unbeaten for 35 years. Mike Tyson was knocking people out! Whos ranked an all time great? Lennox Lewis is too low. Best pure puncher who ever got in a ring. There are many different ways to define who is the greatest boxer. If you dont think that has anything to do with it you are crazy. Go back and watch the Norton fight, even just round 15 if you dont have the time. Defeating a 26-year-old Michael Moorer at the age of 45 back in November 1994 to once again be crowned as heavyweight champion demonstrated how a heavyweights power is the last to leave his hands. Then he just waited for his opponents to take the bait, so he can counter them with a short lead hook to the head. Signature technique:Right uppercut to the body -> Right uppercut to the face. The best American pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked, The best super-middleweights in the world, named and ranked, The best lightweight boxers in the world, named and ranked, The best British pound for pound boxers right now, named and ranked. His strategy basically was to jab his opponents from a distance where they cant reach him andoccasionally land some powerful straight rights. Muhammad Ali. Ranking Explanation . In boxing history, Gerald Arthur Cooney came as the one who gave contenders the most powerful punches. Ya uhm no. Ken Norton. Tyson is a video-game. In my opinion, Moore was a boxer-puncher (someone who is good everywhere inside, outside, can fight in any stance, etc) because he was fighting effective no matter if it was in the clinch or from a long distance where he was circling around his opponents and jabbing them Muhammad Ali style. You can see in some of his fights how he rag dolls the other boxers and even picking them up after dropping them. The Fight of the Century in March 1971, when he handed Muhammad Ali his first loss, was proof of that. Jimmy Bivins (1940-1955, 86-25-1): 389, 7. Look at the fear Tyson compounded with ferocious punches for Trevor Berbick, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno and Donovan Ruddock to name a few amidst his reign of terror during the mid to late 1980s and early 1990s. What time is Shevchenko vs. Grasso tonight? Worst list Ive ever seen Lennox Lewis 11. What time is the Jay Swingler vs. NichLMAO fight tonight. 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. Among all the professional boxers in the world, the following 30 can be considered the best boxers of all time. He was known for his deadly hitting power throughout his famous boxing career. Rocky Marciano 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. George Foreman (1969-1997, 76-5-0): 233.3, 19. Before he went to jail, everyone ducked him. Your email address will not be published. Most of the knockout blows came from his right hand. Ive read a couple of bios and researched that era. Ali is a three-time heavyweight world champion and is widely considered the best boxer of all time. 4. woodrowmoses 1 yr. ago. 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. Muhammad Ali has been named the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time and the greatest athlete of the 20th century by the magazine 'Sports Illustrated'. His 68 knockouts speak for themselves. Two comeback fights, when he was pushing 40, spoiled that record - but nothing can change the fact that he is indeed The Greatest. That way he stopped the punches even before they were thrown. It is a city of fights and fighters, of hockey and heroes, of broken dreams and immortal glory, a city unlike any other. For example, Muhammad Ali is a much greater boxer than Anthony Joshua, because of his competition and the things he accomplished but I dont think that he is able to beat Joshua if they fought in their primes. And a peak Tyson would have obliterated a peak Lennox Lewis too. The 10 Best Heavyweight Boxers In The World Right Now, Named And Ranked. 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. 27 Abe Attell. There was never a Plan B, and theres a point in every boxers career when hes going to need one. The reason why he is one of the greatest boxers is that he has wins over boxers fighting in all styles out-boxers, brawlers, other infighters. Stone-faced, unstoppable, with a jab that felt like someone jammed an electric light bulb in your face (said opponent James J Braddock). 33 Ted (Kid) Lewis. Salesmanship? Very surprising. Unarguably the divisions greatest comeback. If a new fan asked me what Johnsons best win was and why, Id have a hard time convincing them. Holyfield was a boxer-puncher. He was a pressuring fighter who was really explosive (especially with his left hook). In a real fight with Smokin Joe, it was really hard to see the punch coming, because of the way he moved. 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. He nearly lost twice to Ringo Bonevena and was bitch-slapped by Foreman. Most athletic slugger I ever saw. 9) Sugar Ray Leonard. *golf clap*. Many have failed at this. He was 61 tall, but his reach was really impressive (84 in). Marciano was a classical infighter. 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. Lewis 7. 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 didnt go his way. Marciano fought and beat the Shadow of Joe Louis SHADOW. Without a doubt for me. Sammy Angott 67. His right overhand was a really had punch, because Luis was able to transfer the power from hisfeet, through the body, to the fist very efficiently with a crisp technique. Kudos on not putting Tyson in the top 12. It was avenged in devastating style: two minutes and four seconds of violence that left Schmeling with broken bones in his back. He should be considered as one of the best Lightweights of all time. Brawlers arent the most technical boxers, thats why they rely mostly on their power and their chin. The technique of that punch wasnt perfect at all, (every boxing coach will be shocked if he sees it), but that doesnt mean it wasnt effective. Aged 46 and pudgy and smiling, rather than sculpted and scowling, the American KOd heavyweight champ Michael Moorer with one punch in 1994, claiming back his crown 21 years after he first won it. How can you leave him off. George Foreman was a classical slugger (or brawler). Because Joshua is much bigger and he is generations ahead of Ali. If he had people around him who had cared about him he may have won every fight. DAZN uses cookies to help us deliver our services and improve your user experience. Another thing: Joe Frazier and Rocky Marciano would be light heavyweights today. Joe Frazier: The man they called Smokin Joe doesnt get enough love on most ATG lists, but overlooked are two things: 1. Joe Louis 4. Date of Birth: 10 July 1988, Age: 34 years old. Jersey Joe Walcott (1930-1953, 50-20-1): 261.7, 16. Once boxers lose their quickness, theyre never the same. 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. Holmes threw that combo usually while he was circling around his opponents. After that, he finished the combo with a powerful lead hook to the head. No one better to learn from. To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders, Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications, .css-n1h13z{color:black;color:#fff;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-n1h13z{color:#fff;}}Published10:53,03 September 2021 BST.css-qdg7d1{color:#72B97D;}@media (prefers-color-scheme:dark){.css-qdg7d1{color:#72B97D;}}| Last updated10:54,04 May 2022 BST. He would have no chance if he fought from a distance against someone with a longer reach. TGT Play! Odds Deals Podcasts US USA Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Maryland Michigan New Jersey The technique was simple he leaned all his weight on his front foot before throwing the punch. Mickey Walker 64. That list is crap. Couldnt be hurt. Power, toughness, and unsurpassed conditioning were Rockys calling-cards, along with a brutal relentlessness which no one in his era could withstand. Marciano never fought Joe Louis. Signature technique: Multiple hooks to the body. 7. Deontay Wilder! Frazier was able to knock everyone out with it. Click Agree to accept our use of cookies or you can choose to opt out of our use of cookies by following the instructions in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice. Holyfield was only person fought well with tyson in his prime. Jeffries 15. More athletic and aggressive than Liston. DANNY WILLIAMS who LOST 27 fights knocked out a 38 year-old Tyson in 4 rounds. Biggest Boxing Knockouts in the heavyweight division? Sometimes he feinted a punch to the head but then went to the body. We saw the skill but we were ROBBED of the will, his future, and his full potential. 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. MF & DAZN: X Series 005 Jay Swingler v NichLmao, Who won the PFL Challenger Series last night? What about Tyson? Eddie Machen (1955-1967, 50-11-3): 157.1, 26. Name: Naoya Inoue. 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. It was fast and precise but also very powerful. The 20 Greatest Athletes of all Time A boxing enthusiast who is always eager to learn something new about boxing and share it! That definitely wasnt the prime Ali but still, there arent many people who can say that they have a win over such a boxer. Robinson cannot beat a heavyweight. His famous defeat six years after to Jack Johnson has, over time, obscured his achievements, but theres no arguing with victories over James J. Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons, Joe Choynski and Sailor Tom Sharkey. Eventually he would be being hit with pinpoint left hooks and right crosses. Ali and George Foreman were much bigger. They werent expecting him to generate such power from such short-range, which caught them unprepared. Tyson never fought anyone in there prime or of any note before 1990. He destroyed Holmes. A jab and a right hand. The Top Ten. I think he is one of the greatest boxers not only because of the fact he was a champion or because of his title defenses but also because of his unique style.