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Who is the best heavyweight to ever step into the ring?
Johann Walter Bantz, CC0, via Unsplash
Boxing has a rich history, with heavyweights dominating the sport. There were many players who used their skill, speed and strength to beat their opponents and win some gold medals. Boxing fans have always been fascinated by their quick knockouts or epic 12-round bouts.
The Kings sport has had plenty of pinnacles, but the best champions are the ones who aren’t talked about long after they hang up their gloves. Here are the best heavyweights the ring has ever seen.
Muhammad Ali is watching a replay of his game.
National Archives of the Netherlands, CC-BY-SA-3.0-NL, via Wikimedia Commons
muhammad ali
- Career: 1960-1981
- Career record: 56 wins, 5 losses, 37 knockouts
- Titles: Four-time WBA Heavyweight Champion, two-time WBC Heavyweight Champion, three-time WBC Heavyweight Champion ring heavyweight champion
Cassius Clay was born January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. I could talk about this legend for hours, but I’m going to focus on his great achievements in the sport. In 1960, Clay won a gold medal at the Rome Olympics as a light heavyweight.
Clay made the promotion easily. He has quick hands, quick feet, and quick mouth, and he keeps climbing up the ladder. His brilliant jab, quick reflexes and amazing footwork secured his place in boxing history. In 1964, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali for religious reasons.
Ali fought and defeated several serious contenders on his way to the title. These include former champions such as Floyd Patterson and Archie Moore. The fast-rising boxer finally gets his chance to fight dangerous future Hall of Famer Sonny Liston for the title. Ali was the loser, but he didn’t get the memo. Ali danced around Liston for most of the fight and landed his jab with astonishing ease. When Ali shocked the world, a new era has begun. The rematch ended with a first-round knockout for The Greatest. He went on to dominate Cleveland Williams, Floyd Patterson and Zola Foley.
Ali was unjustly stripped of his title for refusing to enlist in the Vietnam War. Ali returned to professional boxing after losing his prime for about three years. His speed is noticeably slower, but it allows him to show he has a chin and a heart. He defeated top contenders such as Oscar Bonavena and Jerry Quarry before taking on Joe Frazier for the old crown. Ali lost, but came close. He defeated Frazier in the next two fights, including a TKO win in the third and final fight.
The legendary Ali also had a win over Ken Norton (two out of three fights). He fought in the 1960s and 1970s, beating the best fighters of both decades. He triumphed over names like Ron Lyle and Earnie Shavers. Ali beat Leon Spinks for the heavyweight title, proving he can still beat top contenders even after he’s past his prime,
Ali won his second title over the undefeated George Foreman, and it really showed why he is the best heavyweight champion of all time. Alli is past his best years and Foreman is a big favorite. Ali, however, won with an eighth-round knockout. It was Foreman’s only knockout in more than 70 fights.
When people think of goats, they think of quick hands and feet, and excellent reflexes. I was reminded of the chin and heart Ali had to show on multiple occasions. If you look back at his fights against Frazier, Lyle and Schaeffers, Ali took a major penalty but won anyway.
Muhammad Ali’s Scorecard
- Jab: A+
- Left hook: B+
- Uppercut: C
- Right hand: A
- Body work: F
- Speed: A+
- Response ability: A+
- Footwork: A+
- Chin: A+
- Heart: A+
- Defense: A
- Power: C+
Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling.
World Telegraph, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
joe louis
- Career: 1934-1951
- Career record: 66 wins, 3 losses, 52 knockouts
- championship: ring heavyweight champion
Joe Louis was born in Chambers County, Alabama. At age 12, his family moved to Detroit, Michigan as part of the Great Southern Migration. Lewis learned boxing from Jack Blackburn, a former boxer who knows the boxing industry well. Luiz had some flaws, like being slow and unprepared, but he also had some great qualities.
Luis’ jab was painful and accurate, with devastating power in both fists. By the time the Brown Bomber starts unleashing his combinations to the head and body, his opponent is usually nearing the end. During his ascension, Louis wasted no time in demonstrating his skill and deadly strength. Former champions Max Bale and Primo Canela were destroyed by a textbook combination. After being shockingly stopped by former champion Max Schmeling in the preliminary 12 games, Luiz unleashed a devastating spree in the division.
Louis beat Jack Sharkey en route to the title. He disarmed Jim Braddock in eight rounds. The Brown Bomber had 25 consecutive title defenses, a record that still stands today. Schmeling fought Louis in a rematch and was soundly defeated in one of the most brutal knockouts in heavyweight history. Louis’s victims in winning the title included Jersey Joe Walcott and Billy Conn.
There are those who believe Louis is the best heavyweight in the sport, and they have a point. With power and deadly accuracy, his short combos are a thing of beauty to witness. He has a confident aura in Fangyuan, which allows him to make a comeback when he is frustrated. He can change the game at any given moment.
Luiz is also special in the rematch. When he lost to Schmeling, he was very troubled. In the second round, the German boxer failed to finish the first bout. When Louis first fought light heavyweight champion Billy Conn, he was knocked out in a tight fight. When they fought again, Louis took control of his foe and stopped him without hesitation.
joe louis scorecard
- Jab: A+
- Left hook: A+
- Uppercut: A
- Right hand: A+
- Body Work: A
- Speed: B-
- Responsiveness: C+
- Footwork: C
- Chin: C
- Heart: A+
- Defense: C
- Power: A+
George Foreman with his trainer Archie Moore.
Associated Press, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
george foreman
- Career: 1969-1977, 1987-1997
- Career record: 76 wins, 5 losses, 68 knockouts
- Titles: Two-time WBA Heavyweight Champion, WBC Heavyweight Champion, IBF Heavyweight Champion ring heavyweight champion
George Foreman of Houston, Texas won the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics. After that, he turned pro and started climbing to the top. Big George was a devastating boxer who quickly climbed the ranks. He held off contenders such as Jorge Chuvalo and Gregorio Peralta on his way to the title. Foreman stunned the world by knocking out previously undefeated champion Joe Frazier in two devastating bouts. He knocked out the future Hall of Famer again when he defended his title against Ken Norton. He also beat him to two rounds.
Foreman lost his belt to the legendary Muhammad Ali with a 40-0 record in 38 knockout fights. Foreman made a comeback, defeating Ron Lyle in one of the best heavyweight fights ever. Both hit the canvas before Foreman beat his opponent in the fifth round. In the rematch, Frazier was eliminated again, this time in five heats.
Foreman first retired from boxing in 1977. Ten years later, he made a successful comeback. On his way to becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in history, George knocked out Dwight Carvey, Burt Cooper and Gerry Cooney before coming back to stop Michael Moore in 10 rounds. The victory made Foreman a two-time heavyweight champion.
To me, George is the hardest punching heavyweight ever. He regularly knocks out opponents, and often it doesn’t look like he’s even putting all his weight on the bomb. I actually met Foreman and had him sign his book. He held my hand, and his hand swallowed mine.
George Foreman’s Scorecard
- Jab: A
- Left hook: A
- Uppercut: A+
- Right hand: A+
- Body work: B
- Speed: B-
- Responsiveness: C+
- Footwork: C
- China
- Heart: A+
- Defense: C+
- Power: A+
Evander Holyfield, 2007.
Shelka04, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Evander Holyfield
- Career: 1984-2011
- Career record: 44 wins, 10 losses, 2 losses, 29 knockouts
- Titles: Four-time WBA Heavyweight Champion, WBC Heavyweight Champion, three-time IBF Heavyweight Champion
Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield was born in Atmore, Alabama, but grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. Holyfield won a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics, and he quickly became the undisputed lightweight king of the pros. However, we’ll only be discussing his heavyweight exploits, of which there are many.
Holyfield battled and eliminated top contenders including James Tillis, Michael Doakes and Alex Stewart before clinching the title. When James “Buster” Douglas stunned the sports world by beating undefeated champion Mike Tyson, he agreed to fight the lesser Holyfield for the title. The real deal won with a beautiful right-hand counter in a third-round knockout.
After beating Douglas, Holyfield beat George Foreman, Bert Cooper and Larry Holmes before losing to Riddick Bow for the first time in his career. Ironically, Holyfield gained more fans for his loss to Bowie than for all of his previous victories.
The Real Deal made a comeback and, after beating Stewart again, defeated Bowie in a tight round of 12 to regain the title. Holyfield lost his crown by narrowly edging out Michael Muller in his first defence. He beat Ray Mercer, then lost again to Bow in the third.
Holyfield appears to be tired of top-level competition, but that’s not the case. As the underdog, Commander Vander knocked out Iron Man Mike Tyson in 11 rounds to become the three-time heavyweight champion. Holyfield, who defeated Tyson in the infamous nipping fight, also avenged his previous loss to Moore by knocking out a double-M in eight rounds. Holyfield lost to Lennox Lewis and it looks like his prime is over. However, he won the title from John Ruiz, becoming the only four-time heavyweight champion.
Holyfield has a big heart. His persistence helped him win over people much older than him. He’s always been in exciting games, like his fantastic game against Michael Doakes. That game showed Holyfield could play against big men.
Evander Holyfield’s Scorecard
- Jab: A-
- Left hook: A
- Uppercut: B+
- Right hand: B+
- Body work: B-
- Speed: A
- Reflexes: A
- Footwork: A-
- China
- Heart: A+
- Defense: B
- Power: B
Rocky Marciano meets with President Dwight D. Eisenhower with Joe DiMaggio.
National Archives and Records Administration, CC-PD-Mark, via Wikimedia Commons
Rocky Marciano
- Career: 1947-1955
- Career record: 49 wins, 0 losses, 43 knockouts
- championship: ring heavyweight champion
Rocky Marciano was born in Brockton, Massachusetts. He has his flaws, he’s a little rough, but he has the skills to match his fierce power punching style. Standing 5-foot-10, Marciano was very short for a heavyweight, but he would dangle and weave in the paint, unleashing brutal uppercuts, right hands and uppercuts to the head and body. In his promotion, Brockton Blockbuster beat out contenders Roland Rastaza, Rex Lane and Harry Matthews. He also knocked out former champion Joe Louis in the eighth round.
The Rock finally sealed the title against Jersey Joe Walcott. Marciano has to show a lot of courage in this game. He trailed in the first round and was hopelessly behind after 12 strokes, but he eventually won the championship. Marciano defended his title six times, including a first-round knockout of Theo Walcott in a rematch. LaStarza was held back in the rematch, followed by back-to-back wins over the legendary Ezzard…
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