Looking Back At The Heavyweight Champions

Ring Magazine’s founder, Nat Fleischer, called Jack Johnson, 53-11-8 (33), of Raleigh, NC, the best heavyweight champion he ever saw.

In 1910, Johnson stopped former champion James J. Jeffries, 19-0-2, in 15 rounds. He would lose to Jess Willard, 22-5-2, being stopped in the 26th round.

Dempsey and the Roaring Era

Jack ‘The Manassa Mauler’ Dempsey, 53-6-8 (43), out of Salt Lake City, Utah, was a very popular champion who busted up Willard but lost twice to light heavyweight champion Gene ‘The Fighting Marine’ Tunney, 65-1-1 (48), of Greenwich, CT.

One considered one of the best or second best was Joe ‘The Brown Bomber’ Louis, 66-3 (52), of Detroit, MI. He had a record of 25 successful title defenses. He lost to another champion, Max Schmeling, 56-10-4 (39) of Germany. In his final bout, Louis was stopped by Rocky ‘The Brockton Blockbuster’, Marciano, 49-0 (43), of Brockton, MASS, who was 37-0 at the time.

It was said that Marciano shed tears after beating his favorite fighter, who was well past his prime. Marciano had a style that would beat on one’s arms, which could cause problems after about five rounds in holding them up.

In 1952, behind on points, he stopped NBA champion ‘Jersey’ Joe Walcott, 49-18-1, in the 13th round. After the bout, Hank Cisco, out of the Marciano camp, went into Walcott’s dressing room and heard the ring physician say, “This man should never fight again due to a broken bone under his eye. The first good blow would stop him”. The mob put him in a rematch that ended in the first round.

Another champion considered the best of one of them was 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist and 3-time champion Muhammad ‘The Greatest’ Ali, 56-5 (37), of Louisville, KY. He defeated four other Olympic Gold Medalists who were world champions in Floyd Patterson, 55-8-1 (40), of New York, ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier, 32-4-1 (27), Philadelphia, PA, ‘Big’ George Foreman, 76-5 (68) of Houston, TX, and Leon ‘Neon’ Spinks, 26-17-3 (14), of St. Louis, MO.

Ali had 19 defenses, Larry ‘East Assassin’ Holmes, 69-6 (44), of Easton, PA, 20, Wladimir ‘Dr. Steelhammer’ Klitschko, 64-5 (53), with 23, of Kyiv, Ukraine.

Holmes was 48-0 when he lost to light heavyweight champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Michael ‘Jinx’ Spinks, 31-1 (21), whose only loss was to Mike Tyson in his final fight.

Klitschko’s brother, world champion Vitali ‘Dr. Ironfist’ Klitschko, 45-2 (41), was ahead of Lennox ‘The Lion’ Lewis, 41-2-1 (32), of London, UK. In Seoul, South Korea, he won an Olympic Gold Medal defeating future world champion Riddick ‘Big Daddy’ Bowe, 43-1 (33), of Ft. Washington, MD.

Bowe defeated world champion Evander ‘The Real Deal’ Holyfield, 44-10-2 (29), of Atlanta, GA. Two out of three were also Olympians.

‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, 50-7 (44), of Henderson, NV, lost to Holyfield twice. Tyson was known for his punching power and fast hands out of the “peek-a-boo” style. He lost twice to Holyfield.

At 6’09” Tyson ‘The Gypsy’ King, 34-2-1 (24), of Morecambe, UK, twice defeated Olympian Deontay ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Wilder, 44-4-1 (43), of Tuscaloosa, AL.

The current champion is Oleksander Usyk, 24-0 (15), of Crimea, UKR, also once the cruiserweight champion.

There you have them, and look forward to those comments on who you thought was the best heavyweight of all-time.