Not long ago, stadiums all over the world were packed to the gills with raving fans, all on the edge of their seat to see Muhammad Ali fight Joe Frazier. The prestige of being the heavyweight champ may not remain, but these 10 fighters remain on top of the best heavyweight boxer of all time list.
Mike Tyson
“Iron Mike” became boxing’s youngest heavyweight champion in 1986. His reign in the ring consisted of a 50-6-0-2 record. More impressive is the fact that 44 of his 50 wins came by way of a knockout. If not for his out of the ring troubles, Tyson could have gone down as the best fighter the sport has ever seen.
Evander Holyfield
Holyfield is infamously known for getting his ear bitten off by Mike Tyson, but he was one of the most determined heavyweight fighters of all-time. Holyfield first claimed the heavyweight belt in 1990, and spent the rest of the 1990’s losing, but recapturing, the heavyweight title.
Larry Holmes
Holmes’ career spanned nearly 30 years, from 1972-2003. Holmes first won the heavyweight belt in 1978 and defended the title an amazing 20 times.
Joe Frazier
Frazier fought during the most heralded time in boxing history and racked up a 32-4-1 record. His only four losses came from two of the greatest boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. His fight with Ali, dubbed the “Thrilla in Manila”, is considered the best boxing match of all-time.
George Foreman
Foreman had a career spanning 28 years. He first became the heavyweight champ in 1973, after knocking Joe Frazier down an incredible six times. His most memorable fight was the “Rumble in the Jungle” against Ali in 1974. In 1994, Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion of all-time at 45.
Jack Dempsey
Dempsey was one of the sport’s first superstars. He was known for being tough as nails and having bricks for boxing gloves. Dempsey held the heavyweight title from 1919-1926.
Rocky Marciano
Rocky will forever be known as having the perfect career. During his nine-year career, the 5-10 Marciano became one of the most popular fighters of all time, racking up a stellar 49-0 record.
Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson became the first African-American heavyweight champion in 1908. In the face of rampant discrimination, he paved the way for every other African American fighter to come into the field of boxing.
Joe Louis
The “Brown Bomber” can arguably be called the greatest boxer of all-time. His career lasted from 1934-1949. He won the heavyweight title in 1937 and defended the belt an astonishing 25 times. He retired as champion in 1949. Joe Louis was an icon and one of the greatest U.S. athletes in history.
Muhammad Ali
Nicknamed “The Greatest,” Ali truly was the greatest boxer and sportsman of all-time. Ali reigned supreme in the most competitive era in boxing history. He was the first heavyweight champ to win the title on three separate occasions. Known throughout the world, Ali epitomized what it was to be champion.
