Top 10 boxing heavyweight greats of all-time

(Original Caption) Louis wins by technical knockout in eighth round. New York City: As Champion Joe Louis blocks with his shoulders, Challenger Arturo Godoy misses a right to his face during their title fight in the Yankee Stadium, June 20th. Louis won by a technical knockout in the eighth round. /

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Paradise, NV – 1978: (L-R) Ken Norton, Larry Holmes boxing at Caesars Palace, June 9, 1978. (Photo by ABC via Getty Images) /

Honorable Mention

Larry Holmes
Evander Holyfield
Riddick Bowe
Sonny Liston

With only 10 spots to go around some immensely talented heavyweight champions didn’t make the cut. Larry Holmes (69-6, 44 Kos) is the most deserving of those not slotted in a top-10 slot.

Holmes reigned as the WBC heavyweight champion from 1978-1983 and held the IBF title from 1984-85. ‘The Easton Assassin’ was a menace during his prime. He was the best heavyweight boxer in the world for half a decade.

At his best, Holmes defeated Earnie Shavers twice, Ken Norton, and Muhammad Ali. The problem is that he fought all of these men when they were past their peak. Shaver’s was good but never great.

Norton was great, but by the time he fought Holmes, he was 35 years old and had been through the wringer in grueling battles with George Foreman and Ali. Ali should never have been allowed to fight Holmes due to the damage his brain sustained after decades of abuse as evidenced in ESPN’s 30 for 30 film Muhammad and Larry. Holmes’ primary issue is that he lacked opponents of substance, and that’s not his fault.

Once Holmes was 36, he no longer had his best stuff and dropped consecutive losses to Michael Spinks and a young Mike Tyson stopped him in four. He’s an all-time great, but his achievements are a tad behind the other 10 men on this list.

Evander Holyfield (44-10-2, 29 KOs) and Riddick Bowe (43-1, 33 KOs) were substantial champions during the 90s. Holyfield won the WBA and WBC belts from Tyson conqueror James ‘Buster’ Douglas in 1990. Bowe took them away in 1992.

They fought two more times with each man earning a victory, but Bowe won the rubber match. Bowe, at his best, could have been one of the best, but he lacked discipline. Holyfield couldn’t sustain his momentum when he had it. That’s why they didn’t make the list.

Many legendary names were considered including Jack Johnson (56-11-8, 35 KOs), John L. Sullivan (38-1-1, 32 KOs), Bob Fitzsimmons (61-8-4, 57 KOs), Sonny Liston (50-4, 39 KOs) and others. However, they didn’t make the list for various reasons, but there’s not enough time or space discuss them all. Without further interruption, here are FanSided’s top-10 greatest heavyweight boxers of all-time.

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