Boxing is a sport that is simply not for the faint-hearted as there is a lot of punches, bloodshed etc involved in the ring. The sport has several categories from Lightweight, Welterweight to Heavyweight. In this write up we will be focusing solely on Heavyweight emperors who have ruled the roost for many years. If we had an incredible lineup of Heavyweights such as Muhammed Ali, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson etc in the past then today we have Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury etc. So, here we are presenting our own league of five all-time greats in the Heavyweight division. Anybody can dispute these claims as well, after what’s democracy without diverse viewpoints or counterarguments.
Muhammad Ali
Without a shred of doubt, Muhammad Ali was a GOAT as far as the Heavyweight Boxing category is concerned. Nobody can afford to ignore the American legend while talking about the combat sport. Be it his act of vengeance against Joe Frazier for the loss he suffered or way of unleashing fury upon George Foreman at the historic Rumble in the Jungle or tough battles against imposing personalities such as Floyd Patterson and Ken Norton, Ali has provided some astounding moments that are yet to find suitable matches.
Evander Holyfield
This American legend ruled the ring in the Heavyweight category in the 1990s. The sole four-time heavyweight world champion in the game’s history, Holyfield’s supremacy over Riddick Bowe and Mike Tyson is widely celebrated in the annals of combat sports history. During the peak of Holyfield’s career, he has on several occasions stamped his authority in the sport, not the least for getting even with Michael Moore and reclaiming the IBF title.
Mike Tyson
His rule as the undisputed heavyweight czar continued unabated from 1987 to 1990. More than anything else, Tyson attained cult status in the game for unleashing the reign of terror through lethal punches against the likes of Trevor Berbick, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno and Donovan Ruddock. However, his brilliance got a lot of blemish due to his on and off-field misadventures, which fetched him the title “Baddest Man On The Planet”. Despite all the controversies, it can’t be denied that he happens to be one of the finest to have fought in the ring.
Joe Frazier
Nicknamed as Smokin’ Joe, Frazier made several heads turn by beating the all-time great Muhammed Ali in March 1971 for the first time in the game’s history. Rightly dubbed as the Fight of the Century, the feat of Joe Frazier was then touted as incredible and unprecedented. Ali always rued the lack of fighters who could make him sweat in the Boxing ring and Frazier simply offered what the former desired all along. So, this Heavyweight champion easily makes the cut as an all-time great boxer.
Tyson Fury
The modern-day fighter often gets unfairly compared with the legendary Boxers of the 21st century and then gets unnecessarily dubbed as an underachiever of the game. This is nothing but plain ridiculous as Fury has exemplary skillsets as a Boxer and the ferocity with which he lands his punches is ample proof of his growing supremacy in the game. Having had enough of negativities surrounding his game, Fury trashed all the loose talks regarding his ordinariness through his sensational victories against Deontay Wilder, one of boxing’s heaviest punchers of all time, and Wladimir Klitschko.
