Hypothetical: Boxing legends all at their peak year

Also... please (I know it's difficult) refrain from letting any feelings of nostalgia or any bias cloud your answers / feelings.

For the love of wrote:

Tyson, Ali, Coleman, Lewis, holyfield, Fraizer even, etc. Who gives who trouble? anyone able to handle every other contender?

Ali in his prime could handle them all. Tyson didn't much quality competition coming up. That's why he was beat by Buster Douglas. Ali never would have lost to a chump like Douglas.

Louis (not Lewis!) probably would have been the toughest match for Ali, although they fought in different eras. Ali was much quicker on his feet than heavy weights in the 1930s.

Of course, Frazier was tough for Ali.

Either one of the Klitschko's would have little trouble beating the past heavyweights on points. Vitaly had Lewis dead on his feet until he was stopped by the doctor for a cut.

People hate them for their defensive boring boxing but a fit giant with those skills is nigh unbeatable.

The Klitschko's were amazing tough skilled boxers who couldn't be touched. Since they aren't Americans and had no close American competitors their level of dominance to unknown to Americans.None of the previously mentioned champs would have had a chance against them. Louis would have thebsize but was to slow. Ali didn't have the strength to compete with them.

Bad Wigins wrote:

Either one of the Klitschko's would have little trouble beating the past heavyweights on points. Vitaly had Lewis dead on his feet until he was stopped by the doctor for a cut.

People hate them for their defensive boring boxing but a fit giant with those skills is nigh unbeatable.

For the love of wrote:

Tyson, Ali, Coleman, Lewis, holyfield, Fraizer even, etc. Who gives who trouble? anyone able to handle every other contender?

Marciano. No woulda, coulda, shoulda, what ifs. He actually did it. Took on all comers and beat them.

For the love of wrote:

Also... please (I know it's difficult) refrain from letting any feelings of nostalgia or any bias cloud your answers / feelings.

Mike Tyson in 87-88 was by far the best heavyweight I've ever seen. His assistant and friend Steve Lott has a terrific Youtube channel; a few of the videos deal with the "what if" question Re: Tyson:

I don't believe Tyson will be placed in his proper perspective--historically--for decades. His self-destruction as an athlete from the moment he fired Kevin Rooney following the Spinks fight in 1988 until the end of his career left far too many people feeling betrayed, disappointed, conned, etc. for them to not engage in vindictive revisionism and reappraisal.

The older Klitschko was huge, tough, and very skilled. I'm glad Ali or Frazier never had to fight to him. They might have gotten hurt. Frazier couldn't protect himself and if Ali ever tried rope-a-dope it would have been sad.

Despite what we were lead to believe Ali had no competition. Sony Liston was past his prime, George Foreman was big and strong but had no skills and Frazier always lead with his head. Ken Norton was tough but small and had no real boxing skill. Ali looked good because of weak opponents.

I cant help but wonder about the training environment you have with the klitschko's and past greats. The K's are extremely vascular / cut / lifting-type physique in contrast to the older guys. It's like comparing carl lewis to bolt - just clearly different workout / suppliment / lifting technology.

BillyJack wrote:

The Klitschko's were amazing tough skilled boxers who couldn't be touched. Since they aren't Americans and had no close American competitors their level of dominance to unknown to Americans.

None of the previously mentioned champs would have had a chance against them. Louis would have thebsize but was to slow. Ali didn't have the strength to compete with them.

Bad Wigins wrote:

Either one of the Klitschko's would have little trouble beating the past heavyweights on points. Vitaly had Lewis dead on his feet until he was stopped by the doctor for a cut.

People hate them for their defensive boring boxing but a fit giant with those skills is nigh unbeatable.

hypo wrote:

For the love of wrote:

Tyson, Ali, Coleman, Lewis, holyfield, Fraizer even, etc. Who gives who trouble? anyone able to handle every other contender?

Marciano. No woulda, coulda, shoulda, what ifs. He actually did it. Took on all comers and beat them.

Very true but that is why the old time champs would not have a chance. I mean foreman, back in the time was big and ominous, but Ali destroyed him on the rope-a-dope. Ali let Foreman punch himself out.Could you imagine if he just let Klitschko wail away on him like that? Ali would have been killed.

For the love of wrote:

I cant help but wonder about the training environment you have with the klitschko's and past greats. The K's are extremely vascular / cut / lifting-type physique in contrast to the older guys. It's like comparing carl lewis to bolt - just clearly different workout / suppliment / lifting technology.

BillyJack wrote:

The Klitschko's were amazing tough skilled boxers who couldn't be touched. Since they aren't Americans and had no close American competitors their level of dominance to unknown to Americans.

None of the previously mentioned champs would have had a chance against them. Louis would have thebsize but was to slow. Ali didn't have the strength to compete with them.

lol lol lol lol wrote:

For the love of wrote:

Also... please (I know it's difficult) refrain from letting any feelings of nostalgia or any bias cloud your answers / feelings.

Mike Tyson in 87-88 was by far the best heavyweight I've ever seen. His assistant and friend Steve Lott has a terrific Youtube channel; a few of the videos deal with the "what if" question Re: Tyson:

http://www.youtube.com/user/BoxingHOF

I don't believe Tyson will be placed in his proper perspective--historically--for decades. His self-destruction as an athlete from the moment he fired Kevin Rooney following the Spinks fight in 1988 until the end of his career left far too many people feeling betrayed, disappointed, conned, etc. for them to not engage in vindictive revisionism and reappraisal.

This man has it correct. Tyson was a monster. Knocked out roughly a million dudes in a row, many in 30 seconds or less.

If we are comparing fighters in their best years I would take Tyson to win 8 times out of 10 against anyone. There is a reason Mike Tyson is one of the most difficult video game bosses of all time. The man was a monster.

lol lol lol lol wrote:

For the love of wrote:

Also... please (I know it's difficult) refrain from letting any feelings of nostalgia or any bias cloud your answers / feelings.

Mike Tyson in 87-88 was by far the best heavyweight I've ever seen. His assistant and friend Steve Lott has a terrific Youtube channel; a few of the videos deal with the "what if" question Re: Tyson:

http://www.youtube.com/user/BoxingHOF

I don't believe Tyson will be placed in his proper perspective--historically--for decades. His self-destruction as an athlete from the moment he fired Kevin Rooney following the Spinks fight in 1988 until the end of his career left far too many people feeling betrayed, disappointed, conned, etc. for them to not engage in vindictive revisionism and reappraisal.

This man has it correct. Tyson was a monster. Knocked out roughly a million dudes in a row, many in 30 seconds or less.

If we are comparing fighters in their best years I would take Tyson to win 8 times out of 10 against anyone. There is a reason Mike Tyson is one of the most difficult video game bosses of all time. The man was a monster.

But who was his most impressive win against?

First thoughts when clicking on the thread, "Tyson is my pick but a bunch of posters are going to be on Kitschko's nuts"

Tyson is a cannibal

u sure?? wrote:

But who was his most impressive win against?

Depends on the meaning of "most impressive", IMHO.

Most spectacular? I'd choose (I believe) his first fight on national TV, Vs. Marvis Frazier:

Career high-point? Obviously retiring Michael Spinks:

Best to boxing insiders?

Probably Vs. Holmes, who had been robbed in his rematch with Spinks and was in the eyes of many the legit heavyweight champion (and should have been 49-1), winning the title Vs. Berbick, and his performances against Tubbs, Biggs and Thomas. Joyce Carol Oates on Tyson-Berbick:

and Tyson-Biggs:

Future Shock wrote:

For the love of wrote:

Tyson, Ali, Coleman, Lewis, holyfield, Fraizer even, etc. Who gives who trouble? anyone able to handle every other contender?

Ali in his prime could handle them all. Tyson didn't much quality competition coming up. That's why he was beat by Buster Douglas. Ali never would have lost to a chump like Douglas.

Louis (not Lewis!) probably would have been the toughest match for Ali, although they fought in different eras. Ali was much quicker on his feet than heavy weights in the 1930s.

Of course, Frazier was tough for Ali.

You state that Ali could handle them all but acknowledge that Frazier was tough for Ali. You are half right. Frazier BEAT Ali when they were in their prime. Ali won a couple of lesser fights against Frazier when they were both past their prime.

Ali once said that Marciano would beat him.

Marciano is #1 all time.

Bad Wigins wrote:

Either one of the Klitschko's would have little trouble beating the past heavyweights on points. Vitaly had Lewis dead on his feet until he was stopped by the doctor for a cut.

People hate them for their defensive boring boxing but a fit giant with those skills is nigh unbeatable.

I don't agree that Vitali had Lewis dead on his feet, I think Lewis probably would have won on points had it not been stopped. It wasn't a controversial stoppage anyway, Vitali's eyelid was hanging off, I'm not sure I have ever seen a worse cut.