Top 10 Heavyweights in Boxing History

The Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the world used to be the most precious of all titles in any sport. Oh, how times have changed.

There have been many champions over the course of history, some well known and great, and some not so well known (ever hear of Michael Bentt?).

Ordered lists such as this are as varied as snowflakes. You may totally disagree with all of my choices, that Sir, is your prerogative. That is one of the few things that is still great about living here in the fruited plain.

I write my list and you pick it apart. Cool, I can live with that.

Remember, I am old school, so do not expect any of the Russian guys on the list, it won't happen. Eight of the ten are African-Americans however.

Without any more bull, let us look at the list.

No. 10—Jersey Joe Walcott

Joe Walcott—1/31/1914-2/25/1994.

Walcott was born in Merchantville, NJ, as Arnold Raymond Cream and later changed his name in honor of his idol, welterweight champion Joe Walcott.

Joe was one of only two men to ever knock down undefeated Rocky Marciano. He fought Marciano twice and was knocked out both times, first time in the 13th round and sent into retirement by virtue of a first-round KO in the other.

Walcott fought Ezzard Charles four times, losing the first two and winning the next two. He beat Joey Maxim twice and lost to him once.

He unsuccessfully challenged Joe Louis for his Heavyweight Title but was on the short end of a split decision in the first fight after knocking Louis down in the first and fourth rounds. Louis knocked him out in the 11th round of the rematch in 1948.

In the Ring Magazine Fight of the Year in 1951, Joe won the Heavyweight Title by knocking out Ezzard Charles in the seventh round.

He successfully defended his crown in 1952 by beating Charles by unanimous decision before losing the title for good to Marciano in September of the same year.

Walcott's career record is 51-18-2 with 32 KOs.

No. 9—Joe Frazier

Joe was born in Beaufort, SC in 1944 and won the Olympic Heavyweight Gold Medal in 1964. He is best known for his trilogy with Muhammad Ali.

He became the first man to beat Ali in 1972. He fought "Big" George Foreman in 1973 as an undefeated champion.

Foreman brutally defeated Frazier, flooring him seven times before the referee called a halt to it in the second round.

After defeating tough Englishman, Joe Bugner in London, he fought Ali in Madison Square Garden, the scene of their first fight. Ali won a 12-round unanimous decision in a battle of non-champions.

The third fight with Ali, known as the "Thrilla in Manilla" was one of the best fights ever. Ali later said it was the closest to death he had ever been.

Frazier had to quit at the end of the 14th round because of the beating he took. He fought Foreman once more in 1976, this time being knocked out in the fifth round, causing Joe to retire.

He made a return to the ring five years later to beat Jumbo Cummings by majority decision. His career record is 32-4-1 with 27 KOs.

No. 8—Mike Tyson

Iron Mike became the youngest Heavyweight Champion in history at 20, by knocking out champion Trevor Berbick in 1986.

Although losing three of his final four fights, Tyson was a fearless, relentless fighter. He owns wins over some spectacular fighters including Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks.

He is probably remembered most for biting the ear off of Evander Holyfield in their second fight. Holyfield beat him twice, although most people remember his first career loss the most.

After winning his first 37 fights he was knocked out by Buster Douglas in the 10th round in 1990.

Tyson's career record is 50-6 with 44 KOs.

No. 7—Larry Holmes

The "Easton Assasin" had one of the best jabs in boxing history which he used profusely to set up his opponent with a huge right hand.

Holmes won the title in 1978 in one of the best fights ever. He and Kenny Norton fought 15 of the toughest rounds imaginable. In the end, Holmes hand was raised in a split decision.

He was 48-0 before being decisioned twice by Mike Spinks.

His list of conquests include Ali, Earnie Shavers (2), Leon Spinks, an undefeated Gerry Cooney, Tim Witherspoon, Bonecrusher Smith, and Mike Weaver (2).

His career record is 69-6 with 44 KOs.

No. 6—Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson—3/31/1878-6/10/1946

The "Galveston Giant" was the first black heavyweight champion and held the title from 1908-1915.

In fact in 1903 Johnson won the World Colored championship by decision in 20 rounds.

Six of his losses were in succession from 1926-1931.

He would often torture his opponents by beating them badly without knocking them out intentionally.

His career record is 61-13-8 with 40 KOs.

No. 5—Jack Dempsey

Jack Dempsey—6/24/1895-5/31/1983

The Manassa Mauler won the Heavyweight Title by knocking out Jess Willard in the third round in 1919.

He was a busy fighter, fighting 16 times in 1916. One of the most popular champions of all time, Dempsey always drew a good crowd.

He is perhaps best remembered for this second fight with Gene Tunney. Tunney was knocked down in the seventh round and it is believed by many that Tunney was down for 14 seconds instead of nine.

Jack retired after that fight with a career record of 62-6-9 with 51 KOs.

No. 4—George Foreman

Big George Foreman has had two careers in one. In his first career he was an Olympic Gold Medal winner, seemed to be invincible, and was sent into retirement by Jimmy Young.

In his second he was overweight, old and determined. He was 34-0 and fearless when he fought Muhammad Ali in Zayre. Ali knocked him out in the eighth round.

Foreman came back after a 10 year retirement and won the title at age 45 by knocking out Michael Moorer in the 10th round.

Foreman has wins over Frazier, Norton, Cooney, Ron Lyle, George Chuvalo.

His career record is 76-5 with 68 KOs.

No. 3—Joe Louis

Joe Louis—5/13/1914-4/12/1981

The Brown Bomber was born Joseph Louis Barrow. Louis ranks high on everyone's all-time lists.

He was undefeated until Max Schmelling knocked him out in the 12th round in 1936.

In 1938 he won the Heavyweight Title by knocking out Schmelling in the first round of their rematch. Joe didn't taste defeat again for 12 years when he lost his crown by a decision to Ezzard Charles in 1950.

He retired in 1951 after being KOd by Rocky Marciano in the eighth round.

His career record is 66-3 with 52 KOs.

No. 2—Rocky Marciano

Rocky Marciano—6/1/1923-8/31/1969

The Brockton Blockbuster is the only heavyweight to retire undefeated as champion. He won all 49 of his fights, 43 by knockout.

He won the title in 1952 with a 13th round stoppage of Jersey Joe Walcott.

He successfully defended the title six times, beating Walcott in a rematch, two with Ezzard Charles and his final fight with Archie Moore.

No. 1—Muhammad Ali

Cassius Clay won the 1960 Olympic Gold Medal and proceeded to show the world tht he was the greatest heavyweight boxer the world had ever seen.

He changed his name to Ali when he became a Muslim after retiring because he refused to enter the armed forces.

When he returned to the ring in 1972 he won the first two fights before suffering his first loss to Joe Frazier. He went on to fight Joe two more times, winning them both.

He had three wars with Ken Norton, winning two and losing one.

He also beat Sonny Liston, Floyd Patterson, Archie Moore, Jerry Quarry (2), Jimmy Ellis, Oscar Bonaveno, George Chuvalo, George Foreman, and Joe Bugner (2).

His career record is 56-5 with 37 KOs. Three of his four losses came after the age of 36.
--------------------------------------------------------
HONORABLE MENTION LIST
In no particular order

Ken Norton, Ezzard Charles. Floyd Patterson, George Chuvalo, Evander Holyfield, James Jeffries, Sonny Liston, Max Schmeling, Lennox Lewis, Jim Corbett, Max Baer, John L. Sullivan, Harry Wills, Riddick Bowe, Bob Fitzsimmons, Jerry Quarry.