Boxing: The 10 Greatest Heavyweights Of All Time

Stadiums were packed all over the world to see Muhammad Ali fight Joe Fraser and George Foreman.

What it meant to be a world heavyweight champion has dramatically lost its prestige, but these 10 fighters have changed the world of sports. It's a shame the boxing world will never be what it once was. We wish we could jump into a time machine and see all these fighters in their prime.

As the world of fighting moves into the era of MMA, these legends will only live on in our memories, at a time when these heavyweights ruled the media.
 
10 PHOTOS

1. Mike Tyson.

From prison to the movie screen, Iron Mike Tyson's prolific career has been surrounded by more controversy than any other fighter in the regular era of professional boxing. If it weren't for his out-of-the-ring troubles, Mike Tyson might have become one of the greatest fighters in sports history. Let's not forget all of Mike's successes while in the ring. Tyson's career record was 50-6-0-2, and his career spanned over 20 years, from 1985 to 2005. He would have had more fights if it weren't for his prison sentence in the early 1990s. Mike Tyson won 44 of 50 fights by knockout.

2. Evander Holyfield.

The eternal Evander Holyfield is one of the greatest champions and greats boxing has ever seen. Holyfield is considered one of the most determined fighters of all time. Evander earned his first heavyweight title when he knocked out Buster Douglas in the third round in 1990.

3. Larry Holmes.

Larry Holmes was one of the longest-running fighters in boxing history, with a career spanning nearly 30 years from 1973 to 2002. Just unbelievable. Holmes set a 69-6 record with 44 knockout wins. Holmes' first heavyweight title was won after a 15-round war by split decision over Ken Norton in 1978. In 1980, Muhammad Ali came out of retirement to challenge him, and Holmes responded by stabbing Ali, which resulted in his corner stopping shortly after round ten came to a close.

4. Joe Fraser.

The firm-nosed and tough wrestler has made one of the most rewarding careers in professional boxing history. His career lasted from 1965 to 1981 and had a record of 32-4-1, of which 27 fights ended in a knockout. Joe fought the greatest generation of heavyweight boxers of all time. In four defeats, he went to only two opponents, and one was the greatest fighter of all time in the person of Muhammad Ali, and the other was George Foreman.

5. George Foreman.

One of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time. His fighting career lasted from 1969 to 1997, 28 incredible years. On November 5, 1994, he knocked out Michael Moorer and became the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history at the age of 45. George combined strength, size, and agility to become one of the most powerful fighters of all time. He won his first title after defeating Joe Fraser in January 1973, knocking the legend down six times.

6. Jack Dempsey.

From 1914 to 1927, William Harrison Dempsey was king of the heavyweight division. During his career, he scored 61-6-8 (50 KOs). He was the world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. Jack "Manassa Mauler" fought at a time when the Yankees were kings and baseball ruled the world of sports. Jack was able to invest some of his popularity in the boxing world, becoming one of the first boxing superstars. He won his first heavyweight title by breaking Jess Willard's jaw.

7. Rocky Marciano.

Born September 1, 1923, Rocky's career has been perfect in every way. He finished with an excellent 49-0 score with 43 knockout wins. People loved Rocky more than almost any other fighter. His career was short-lived compared to most future fighters, only from 1947 to 1956. He fought after World War II. The peak of his career came when he won the heavyweight title by knocking out Joe Walcott in Philadelphia in 1952. Rocky defended his title six times before he announced his retirement on April 27, 1956.