Mythical Dave’s Top 20 Heavyweights of All Time: (#10-1)

By Dave “Mythical” Siderski

10. James J. Jeffries

Some of you who are reading this are probably saying to yourselves: Who? Indeed, the sport of boxing was barely removed from its bare knuckled roots when Jim Jeffries reigned as Heavyweight Champion in the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. Standing nearly 6’2’’ and weighing roughly 220 lbs., Jeffries was a formidable presence in the ring, a man capable of both dishing out and taking tremendous punishment.

A tremendous all-around athlete, he captured the Heavyweight title in June of 1899 with an 11th round KO over the legendary Bob Fitzsimmons. He defended the title 7 times before retiring undefeated in May 1905. Among his victims as champion were Fitzsimmons, who he defeated by 8th round knockout in a rematch and former Heavyweight Champion James J. Corbett who he stopped twice. Jeffries also defeated rugged Heavyweight contender Tom Sharkey.

Jeffries had a long and distinguished title run and faced strong opposition during the course of his career. In particular, I gave both Fitzsimmons and Corbett strong consideration for a place among the top 20 of this list. Ultimately, I believe Jim deserves a place in the top ten.

9. Rocky Marciano

I’m not sure I’ve seen a fighter of whom perceptions have changed so much over the past few decades as Rocky Marciano. Back in the 1980’s, Rocky would have been a consensus top five pick among boxing fans and experts. Today, some of the RSR readers will likely argue that a #9 ranking is far too high. In the end, I think the truth is somewhere in between.

Rocky retired with an incredible record of 49-0, 43 KO’s and held the undisputed Heavyweight championship for nearly four years. However, much of this was accomplished against opposition that was pretty non-descript. Roland La Starza, Rex Layne, and Don Cockell: These guys were utterly forgettable. Rocky beat a Joe Louis who was ancient so we can pretty much throw that own out for the basis of historical comparison. Archie Moore? Yes, he was a legend but accomplished little of note in the Heavyweight division. A year after losing to Marciano, Floyd Patterson beat him even more convincingly.

Now victories over Jersey Joe Walcott and Ezzard Charles actually do mean something. Walcott barely missed this list and Charles, although more of a natural Light Heavyweight, made it at #18. In his four matchups with these two men, Rocky demonstrated the tenacity and courage that exemplify what an all-time great is. Marciano wasn’t particularly skilled but he made up for his short-comings with tremendous heart and stamina, along with incredible punching power. In the end, I’m forced to conclude that Marciano does deserve a place among the top 10.

8. Jack Dempsey

Many of you will undoubtedly be outraged that I have Jack Dempsey this low on my list. I respect your opinions but ask you to be open-minded and try to separate Jack Dempsey the sports icon from Jack Dempsey the fighter.

Was Jack Dempsey the fighter great? Yes, of course he was. Dempsey was Mike Tyson before Mike Tyson, combining terrific speed and awesome punching power in a way that’s rarely been seen in the history of boxing. Jack’s demolition of Jess Willard might be the most destructive performance ever seen in a boxing ring. That said, looking at the evidence objectively, his in ring accomplishments are historically overrated in my view.

Dempsey’s career prior to winning the title was not particularly noteworthy, including two losses and two draws against Willie Meehan and a first round knockout loss to Fireman Jim Flynn. Yes, he held the Heavyweight championship for more than 7 years but he only defended four times. The two best fighters he defeated, Georges Carpentier and Tommy Gibbons, were not Heavyweights but rather Light Heavyweights. Dempsey also lost twice to the best fighter he ever faced in Light Heavyweight Gene Tunney. One could argue that Dempsey was past it when he lost to Tunney. However, he was still only 31 years of age when they first faced. I do believe Dempsey accomplished enough to earn a place among the top 10 but, in my view, he ranks a significant notch below those who appear at the top of the list.

7. Lennox Lewis

Lennox Lewis was the best of a strong Heavyweight class in the 1990’s that included the likes of Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe, George Foreman, and Mike Tyson. After capturing Olympic Gold in 1988, Lewis turned professional in June 1989. Over a 14 year career, he was 41-2-1 (32 KO’s) and was a three time Heavyweight Champion. Critics will point to shocking knockout losses to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. However, he avenged both defeats and ultimately holds victories over every fighter he ever faced.

Lewis earns the number seven spot on this list by defeating the two signature fighters of his generation in Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson. He defeated Vitali Klitschko in his final fight giving him a total of three victories over Heavyweights who appear on this top 20 list. This is not to mention some of the other excellent fighters he defeated including: David Tua, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer, Tony Tucker, Frank Bruno and Razor Ruddock. Lewis had a total of 16 victories in world championship fights. As the signature Heavyweight of the 1990’s, Lewis belongs among the top 10 Heavyweights of all-time.

6. Larry Holmes

Larry Holmes was the Rodney Dangerfield of Heavyweight boxing champions never gaining the respect he was due. Larry had the misfortune of being the first great Heavyweight to come along after the era of Muhammad Ali, stuck in the shadow of a legacy that no one could live up to. Larry Holmes wasn’t flashy. He didn’t possess the quick wit or bravado of a Muhammad Ali. All Larry did was win; He did it 48 consecutive times before finally losing his title at nearly 36 years of age to Michael Spinks.

Larry captured the WBC Heavyweight championship by a 15 round split decision over Ken Norton in June 1978. He went on to defend the WBC/IBF version of the Heavyweight title 20 times over a 7 year period, including victories over: Mike Weaver, Earnie Shavers, Trevor Berbick, Gerry Cooney, Tim Witherspoon and James “Bonecrusher” Smith. Holmes remained competitive well into his 40’s, scoring an upset victory over Ray Mercer and forcing Evander Holyfield to go the distance in 1992.

The reason Larry does not rank higher on this list is that he lacked a singular, defining victory over a fellow all-time great in his prime. His best victory was over hall of famer Ken Norton, who was a terrific fighter but didn’t make this list. Nonetheless, Holmes’ longevity as champion and the dominance of his reign cannot be denied.

5. Joe Frazier

Joe Frazier may have been the “B” side of the greatest rivalry in boxing history, but just barely. His performance against Muhammad Ali on March 8, 1971 was among the greatest ever seen in the sport. “Smokin” Joe put an old fashioned ass whupping on an Ali who was still under 30 years old and, at least fairly close, to the peak of his powers. After losing a 12 round decision to Ali in February of 1974, he entered the rubber match as a heavy underdog but apparently no one informed Frazier this was a fight he could not win. Once again, he took “The Greatest” to hell and back. Muhammad himself would later say it was the closest thing to death he’d ever experienced. Perhaps “Smokin” Joe may have prevailed were it not for his compromised vision.

His rivalry with Ali aside, Frazier was an outstanding champion in his own right, holding the crown for more than four years and defending successfully 9 times. His record against men not named Ali or Foreman was 31-0-1, 27 KO’s, including wins over such prominent Heavyweights as Doug Jones, George Chuvalo, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Eddie Machen and Jerry Quarry. Joe Frazier wasn’t the prettiest or most talented Heavyweight who ever lived but he was a tank, impervious to pain or punishment. When he lost, it was only to the very best. That earns him a place among the top five greatest Heavyweights who ever lived.

4. George Foreman

Some may take issue with my having “Big” George this high on my list. That said, I view the career of George Foreman as a perfect example that: “The whole is sometimes greater than the sum of its parts”. Neither the Foreman of the 1970’s nor the Foreman of the 1990’, standing alone, would warrant a place this high among the pantheon of all-time great Heavyweights. However, when one takes into account the entire body of his work and the uniqueness of his accomplishments, he does deserve to be this high.

Yes, the 1970’s version of Foreman was somewhat crude and limited as first Muhammad Ali and then Jimmy Young were able to expose. However, he was also perhaps the most destructive force ever seen in the Heavyweight division. That George Foreman destroyed Joe Frazier not once but twice. He also dismantled hall of famer Ken Norton and defeated other outstanding fighters as George Chuvalo and Ron Lyle.

More than a decade later, “Big” George launched the most improbable comeback ever seen in boxing. The 1990’s version of Foreman was old, fat and dreadfully slow. However, he made up for that with the ring intelligence and patience he’d lacked as a youth while retaining the same devastating punching power. The 90’s version of Foreman destroyed Gerry Cooney, took all-time great Evander Holyfield to hell and back and ultimately became the oldest Heavyweight Champion in boxing history with his upset knockout victory over Michael Moorer. Ultimately, this adds up to a very special career that earns him a place near the top of this list.

3. Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson, as the first African American Heavyweight Champion, is arguably the most historically important figure in sports history. Consider that his reign as Heavyweight Champion occurred two generations before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Baseball. The injustices he endured were unconscionable, a reminder of a sad chapter in our nation’s history. Social implications aside, Jack Johnson was also one hell of a fighter.

Over a 30+ year boxing career, Johnson defeated a literal who’s/who of outstanding boxers of the time including men such as Sam McVea, Joe Jeannette, George Gardiner, Young Peter Jackson, Sam Langford, Bob Fitzsimmons and Stanley Ketchel. He was unbeatable over the course of his 6+ year reign as Heavyweight Champion. The racists of the time became so desperate they lured former retired champion James J. Jeffries out of retirement to carry the white man’s burden. Poor Jim was shellacked over 15 brutal rounds. Nearly five years later Johnson lost the title by a 26th round knockout to Jess Willard in April 1915. Allegations still persist to this day that Johnson threw the fight. In the end, Johnson was among the top three Heavyweights who ever lived.

2. Joe Louis

Joe Louis had perhaps the most historic championship reign in boxing history, ruling the Heavyweight division for nearly 12 years and making 25 successful title defenses, both all-time records. Louis had an incredible career record of 66-3, 52 KO’s, with two of the losses occurring during his ill-advised comeback when he was past the age of 35. In short, the man was virtually unbeatable during his boxing prime.

Joe Louis was the quintessential boxer-puncher who could beat opponents in various different ways. He possessed excellent hand speed and underrated footwork. Most notably, Louis possessed devastating punching power and was, arguably, the greatest finisher in boxing history as Max Schmeling found out in June 1938. In his signature performance, Joe avenged his loss to Schmeling two years earlier and dismantled the former champion over two of the most painful minutes ever seen in a boxing ring.

Some might criticize the “Brown Bomber’s” quality of opposition but consider that he held victories over the likes of Schmeling, Primo Carnera, Jack Sharkey, James J Braddock and Billy Conn. A past his prime Louis was still good enough to prevail twice over hall of famer Jersey Joe Walcott. Only one Heavyweight in boxing history was better than the Brown Bomber.

1. Muhammad Ali

Whatever argument you might have with the rest of this list, the top two are indisputable. The only challenge was choosing between Ali and Louis for the top spot. Some researchers insist Louis had the perfect style to beat Ali and they may well be right. However, in my view, Ali deserves the edge for the number one spot by the slightest of margins.

Muhammad Ali had, by far, the fastest set of hands and feet the division has ever seen. He dominated the division during the 1960’s and 70’s, becoming the first man to win the Heavyweight championship three times. Overall, Ali made 20 successful title defenses and who knows how much higher that total might have been had not been forced to sacrifice more than three years of his boxing prime? What truly sets him apart historically is his quality of opposition. Ali holds victories over four other fighters on this list: Foreman, Frazier, Liston, and Patterson, not to mention one who just missed, Norton.

Ali was the epitome of a great fighter. He had unique skills, an indomitable will and the rare ability to perform at his best under pressure. Ali is responsible for two of the greatest upsets in sports history, over Sonny Liston and George Foreman respectively. His rivalry with Frazier was the greatest sport of boxing has ever seen. And let’s not forgot the litany of other outstanding fighters he defeated: Oscar Bonavena, George Chuvalo, Earnie Shavers, Jerry Quarry, and Jimmy Young, just to name a few. In short, Muhammad Ali was truly “The Greatest” among the Heavyweights.

Honorable Mention: Peter Jackson, James J. Corbett, Joe Jeannette, Sam McVea, Bob Fitzsimmons, Max Schmeling, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ken Norton and Riddick Bowe

Read Part I: Mythical Dave’s Top 20 Heavyweights of All Time: (#20-11)

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