While the glamor divisions have taken force in recent years, professional boxing at it’s roots have produced heavyweight greats.
Seeing a recent resurgence in both talent and popularity in the last decade, the staturesque heavyweight division has never been more exciting in the modern day since the turn of the century.
From behemoths including Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, and Anthony Joshua — to cruiserweight emerger, Oleksandr Usyk — any of them could be considered ripe candidates for this latest list following our ranking of the Top 10 fighters of all time. So, let’s cut to the chase and rank them.
10. Mike Tyson (50-7(2))
In our top 10 fighters of all time ranking list, Tyson would crack that — quite comfortably, in fact.
But given the names we’re about to feature this time around, the former undisputed heavyweight champion has lost some considerable grounds.
Taking on multiple names set to feature on this ranking, too, Tyson is remembered for his hellacious knockout power — as well as his roughshod run early in his career.
Becoming the youngest ever heavyweight world champion at just 20 years of age, Tyson ended his career proper back in 2005 — well, well beyond his prime from almost two decades earlier.
During his pomp, Tyson would beat the likes of Trevor Berbick, Razor Ruddock, Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno, and Bruce Seldon.
9. Wladimir Klitschko (64-5)
Entering the ring as part of the heavyweight golden era, Klitschko had quite the mentor during his years in combat sports.
A formidable Ukrainian heavyweight puncher, Klitschko enjoyed a stellar career — as did his oft-forgotten brother, Vitali Klitschko, who himself ran the heavyweight division for years as a marauding striker.
Enjoying a near 21-year run at the upper echelons of the heavyweight division, Klitschko first won gold back at the turn of the century, landing the WBO crown against Chris Byrd.
Bowing out in 2015 following back-to-back losses against the next generation of Fury and Joshua, Klitschko would land a slew of notable wins during his decorated career — largely fought in Germany.
Taking out British veteran David Haye in an infamous 2011 showdown, Klitschko also laid waste to the likes of Alexander Povetkin, Kubrat Pulev, Hasim Rahman, Lamon Brewster, Ray Mercer, and Francois Botha.
8. Evander Holyfield (44-10-2(1))
Not just an iconic heavyweight champion, but earlier in his stellar career, Holyfield would win the cruiserweight — akin to the above-mentioned Usyk — before his move up a weight class.
And when you mention Evander Holyfield — the Alabama veteran is immediately tied to long-time rival, Tyson — whom he shared the ring with in a pair of iconic heavyweight title clashes in New York.
Going unbeaten against his fellow heavyweight icon, Holyfield first landed a penultimate round knockout win at Madison Square Garden in 1996.
And that following summer, Holyfield had a section of his ear physically bitten off by Tyson — before scoring a disqualification victory. A truly memorable moment which will remain at the forefront of heavyweight boxing discourse for years to come.
Known for his tremendous stopping power, Holyfield beat names such as Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Ricky Parkey, Carlos de León, Buster Douglas, Larry Holmes, George Foreman, Riddick Bowe, and Hashim Rahman during his career.
To this day, Holyfield is also the only four-time WBA heavyweight champion in the history of the sport.
7. Joe Frazier (32-4-1)
Smokin’ Joe — not just one of the coldest nicknames, but one of the most memorable to ever come out of professional sports goes to the late heavyweight icon, Joe Frazier.
Sharing the ring with the likes of George Foreman, and Buster Mathis — Frazier is best known for his Fight of the Century and the Thrilla in Manila showdowns with Muhammad Ali.
Sharing a trilogy with sporting icon, Ali, Frazier became the first fighter in boxing to beat the late global force, winning the WBA, WBC and The Ring heavyweight crowns in a unanimous decision win in New York. This was also back when championship fights were scheduled for a gruelling 15 rounds.
Coming unstuck against both Ali and Foreman in stoppage losses, Frazier’s monstrous finishing rate had left a slew of heavyweight contenders in his wake — 27, in fact.
An Olympic Games gold medal winner back in 1964, Frazier would thrice win Fighter of the Year in two separate decades, to boot.
6. Sonny Liston (50-4)
When you mention the name Sonny Liston amongst boxing aficionados, the room should really go silent. Such were the formidable shockwaves sent through the boxing world during the late pugilist’s extended career.
A hellacious puncher, Liston is often regarded as the most dangerous fighter to compete in combat sports. And that’s across the board, whichever form of combat we’re discussing.
Liston won his first world heavyweight championship against his fellow great, Floyd Patterson, with a first round knockout back in 1962. And just a year later, Liston would do the same again — flattening Patterson inside two minutes.
Fighting the previously noted Ali twice during his career, Liston was finished both times by the former in back-to-back meetings, which would come as the sole losses of his extended prime.
Tragically passing away at 40 years of age, Liston, nicknamed ‘The Big Bear’, succumbed to his heroin addiction as revealed by an investigation following his death.
5. Vitali Klitschko (45-2)
One of the most dominant forces in the history of the heavyweight limit is another Klitschko brother – this time WBC kingpin, Vitali Klitschko.
Calling time on his career back in 2012 — during his WBC heavyweight title reign no less, Klitschko reigned as champion of the governing bodies crown for a lenghty eight year stretch.
In his sole professional defeats, Klitschko would drop a loss to the above-mentioned, Byrd — whom his brother defeated, as well as British icon, Lennox Lewis.
Summoning the golden age of boxing before the turn of the century and just afterwards, Klitschko will likely be best remembered for his stunning reign across the division.
That goes with notable wins over the then-unbeaten Chris Arreola, Samuel Peter, Derek Chisora, Shannon Briggs, and Juan Carlos Gómez, to name a few.
4. Larry Holmes (69-8)
Another legend from yesteryear just narrowly missing out on the top-3 of this list is ‘The Easton Assassin’, Larry Holmes.
Fighting the likes of Tyson, Holyfield, and Spinks later on in his decorated career, Holmes, like many a heavyweight before him on this list, is recognized as one of the most dangerous punchers to ever step foot in the ring.
Facing off with Ali atop The Last Hurrah card — Holmes would hand the former a spectacular tenth round stoppage loss in their WBC and The Ring heavyweight championship offing.
And while that’s such a notable feather in his proverbial cap, the jab-happy Holmes would also defeat the likes of Ken Norton, Gerry Cooney, Marvis Frazier — and in a 2002 return to fighting, beat Butterbean in a ten round unanimous decision win.
3. George Foreman (76-5)
The late George Foreman, who sadly passed away just earlier this year, is the first of three boxers at the very top of this very competitive list.
An Olympic gold medal and former two-time heavyweight world champion, Foreman is revered throughout combat sports as one of the most punishing and heaviest hitters to ever step foot in the ring.
Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame before his death, Foreman won WBA, WBC, and IBF titles during his absolute pomp in the squared circle.
Knocking out the above-mentioned Joe Frazier, Foreman infamously took on Ali atop a huge Rumble in the Jungle card in a trip to Zaire back in 1974.
And coming unstuck in a loss to Ali, Foreman’s participation in that event — one of the most iconic in the history of sports worldwide — cannot be understated.
Enjoying a stunning run in the mid 1970s, Foreman bested Ken Norton and twice the previously noted Frazier before his eighth round KO loss to Ali.
2. Lennox Lewis (41-2-1)
Not just turning in a splendid career — toward an eventual swansong, British star Lewis would enjoy one of the greatest runs before calling time on his incredible career.
Facing the above-mentioned Klitschko, Lewis would prevail in his final ring walk, after flattening both Mike Tyson and Hashim Rahman — all after unifying the heavyweight crowns against Evander Holyfield at the turn of the century.
A sizeable pay-per-view star, too, Lewis drew huge attention in his wins over the trio of Holyfield, Tyson, and Klitschko.
And as noted by many enthusiasts, when facing Lewis, the chances of victory were limited, to say the least. Force him to the later rounds? No problem. Employ a front-forward, aggressive approach. No problem.
And in a sport quite limited in approach, Lewis holds the patent for a boxer who can both push the pace himself in search of a crushing win, or sit back and employ a defensive approach — all en route to triumph.
1. Muhammad Ali (56-5)
The Greatest — and Muhammad Ali’s moniker remains to this day. All for one simple reason. He is definitively the greatest heavyweight fighter to ever compete in the ring — if not the best fighter through each and every weight division.
Another Olympic gold medal winner on this laundry list of talent, Ali is a staggering three-time undisputed heavyweight boxing champion. And to boot, arguably the most recognizable figure in modern history.
On this list alone, Ali has beaten Foreman, Frazier, and Liston. Quite the feat, indeed.
The Rumble in the Jungle, the Thrilla in Manila, The Fight of the Century — three of the most important cards in the history of gloved combat; Ali headlined all three of them.
But beyond all his well-known exploits in the ring, Ali is best remembered as the showman he was born to be — on the biggest stages no less.
Competing in Africa, Dublin, London, Nevada, Germany, Malaysia, the Philipines, Japan, Switzerland — when it comes to worldwide attactions, Ali is the greatest to ever take on that lofty feat, too.
Simply the greatest heavyweight fighter to ever cross that roped ring.