A Critical Analysis of Big George Foreman’s Top Ten All-Time Heavyweight Greats List
Editorial By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Former World Heavyweight champion George Foreman put out his personal list of the top ten heavyweights of all-time, not including Big George himself. Looking at the top ten chart we can analyze who is there, and of course, who is not, and take a look at George’s reasoning for his top ten list. While controversial to some extent, each of the famous names has some merit of justification.
Like a political candidate who cannot vote for himself, George did not vote for himself, which is understandable. On my list, George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Gene Tunney, and maybe also Dr. Vitali Klitschko and Sonny Liston would probably appear, by consistency and reputation.
Joe Louis had many title defenses and maintains name reputation, but Rocky Marciano exposed Louis’ inability to hold or move, which is why Rocky would be first on my list. Marciano also got out of the boxing game while he still had a few good fights left. The prohibitionist champion, John L. Sullivan was the first gloved champion, but Gentleman Jim Corbett exposed his limited foot movement and lack of counterpunching skills. Jack Johnson made his reputation on beating white fighters, but Frank Moran took him the distance and Jess Willard took him out. Whether Johnson did the same amount of work by that time in his career is questionable.
Muhammad Ali makes Foreman’s list, for taking out the egotistical version of the then 40-0 Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire. Floyd Patterson also makes Foreman’s top ten list, which I disagree with since Liston exposed Patterson in the first round twice. Lennox Lewis makes Foreman’s top ten list, a fighter knocked out by Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall. Lewis did not do the work for his two losses, but did do the work for his rematches with McCall and Rahman.
Iron Mike Tyson peaked under trainer Kevin Rooney early, but his five losses exposed Mike as a beatable opponent once his psychological and training edges were neutralized. No question about the fact Mike remains a big name, and always had enormous potential. There is an argument that states Mike could have beaten anybody he really wanted to if he did the work. Evander Holyfield, who evat Tyson twice, is ranked below Tyson on Foreman’s list. Holyfield worked hard, but lost a number of bouts. My personal preference is for Gene Tunney over Holyfield. Tunney, a consistent unbeaten champion, is best known for his battle of the long count with Jack Dempsey. Ironically, Dempsey, Mike Tyson’s favorite, rounds out the list. This reporter would still include Tyson Fury on his top ten list in disagreement with Foreman. Deontay Wilder and Oleksandr Usyk could still be included, depending upon how their careers play out.
From Sam Langford to Mike Weaver, there is a strong argument for many heavyweights now long forgotten. Muhammad Ali and Tyson Fury were the most entertaining of all, in this reporter’s view. In any case, my top ten all-time heavyweight list cannot agree with Big George because George cannot vote for himself.
George was supposed to fight Larry Holmes, in a scheduled bout which ultimately never took place. If Holmes the technical fighter outworked George for all 12 rounds, George the puncher would probably have to change his list. While Ernie Shavers did not make the list, nor Ezzard Charles, Max Baer, Bob Fitzsimmons, or Jersey Joe Walcott do not appear on either George Foreman’s list or the Brizel list, they certainly remain noteworthy heavyweights. Roy Jones Jr. traveled through middleweight to heavyweight, and then back down again. Michael Spinks traveled from light heavyweight to heavyweight while skipping cruiserweight. So many names not on either of our top ten lists remain of interest for various reasons.
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