Top 10 (Non US) Heavyweight Champions of alltime !!

In my opinion..........

1. Lennox Lewis...
2. Bob Fitzsimmons...
3. Wlad Klitscho....
4. Tommy Burns...
5. Vitali Klitscho....
6. Max Schmelling..
7. Primo Carnera..
8. Ingemar Johansson..
9. Frank Bruno...
10. Corrie Sanders.......

Did Ike never win a world strap??

Fantastic list. Lewis rightfully number 1. I cant split the brothers. No doubt wlads had the better or least longer reign, tho cant help but think Vitali would win a head to head, so find it hard to split them. Gun to head, I would still place Vitali higher.

Johansson and Bruno both higher than Carnera for me.

If we calling alphabet titles as world champions id have Haye instead of Bruno. Although Haye's reign is wafer thin at least it's a reign Bruno gets a pass , but he displayed one of the most pathetic , gutless title defenses I've seen. Rest looks about right for me Truss.

Cheers Rodders

Suppose I was rating Bruno the Heavyweight, rather than his short alpahbet reign. He should of beat Witherspoon and gave Lewis a hard time before stopped on his feet.

Hayes performance against Wlad wasn't too hot either. Good surviving skills all the same, not pretty to watch though after all his big talk!

Not going to argue about Tyson-Bruno 2........

Must admit Haye was close to Sanders and Frank, Mate.......

Mccall and Wlad wins just pushed them past Haye for me...

But wouldn't argue much either way.......

Burns/Vitali/Schmelling were the hardest choices place wise..

AdamT wrote:Fantastic list. Lewis rightfully number 1. I cant split the brothers. No doubt wlads had the better or least longer reign, tho cant help but think Vitali would win a head to head, so find it hard to split them. Gun to head, I would still place Vitali higher.

Johansson and Bruno both higher than Carnera for me.

I can see where you are coming from.............Wlad's win over Haye for me and the slightly longer reign seals the deal..

But it's all about opinions...

Carnera did have some decent sorts on his record..........

Suppose im being a bit sore on Carnera for the novelty factor and also because of rumoured fight fixings due to his mob ties.

Not really he was controlled by the mob...Hard to know what was fixed and what wasn't..

Apparently though Jack Sharkey was very bitter about people saying he was paid to take a dive...

If Hagler can ship a lead uppercut from Mugabi in the 4th round of their fight..No reason why Carnera couldn't land one against Sharkey on the ropes..

Tom Sharkey and Peter Maher won the World title when Corbett went into retirement the first time.

Better than some of the fighters on the list.

They weren't official champions

As you'd know I'm a huge Sanders fan - he certainly had the talent to give anyone in that top ten a fight and a half... but... does clubbing the weaker Klitschko like a baby seal, and then not even bothering to get in proper shape for his first defense really justify #10?

Who would you have in his place..

Wlad is a top 15/20 Heavy..

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:They weren't official champions

They fought for the world title with the full agreement of Corbett.

Their claims were only disputed when Corbett decided to come out of retirement.

I don't need a history lesson..

They aren't considered heavy champions and they aren't going to be anytime soon.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:In my opinion..........

1. Lennox Lewis...
2. Bob Fitzsimmons...
3. Wlad Klitscho....
4. Tommy Burns...
5. Vitali Klitscho....
6. Max Schmelling..
7. Primo Carnera..
8. Ingemar Johansson..
9. Frank Bruno...
10. Corrie Sanders.......

Only seven were actual champions - three mere titlists (did Sanders even win a belt ?)

Sanders won the WBO from Wlad.

Go away Haz...

Mere titlists how terrible.

He sort of has a point with regard to this discussion Truss, is it fair to compare say Sanders who was a belt holder at the same time as Lewis to Carnera who was the bonafide champion?

That being said if we did confine it to just universally recognised champions it would be a very short list seeing as there are just the seven.

It's fairly poor that Lewis is head and shoulders above every other non american heavyweight champion, as great as he was he isn't a consensus top ten man.

Gents, why does everyone rate Lewis so very very highly?

He was fighting just before I started to get really interested in boxing so I remember him, beating Bruno (Bruno for me was powerful but ordinary), did he lose to Mcall? beat Holyfield and Tyson (past their best), lose to Rahman, beat Rahman (should have done easily the first time), beat Vitali (who I thought was winning the fight when it was stopped). I'm sure he had other fights but was the heavyweight division full of excellent fighters during his time? Did he have unbelievable skills?
This is not me knocking Lewis, but simply asking for information.
Has an good book(not the usual heavily biased biography) been written about him?

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Go away Haz...

Mere titlists how terrible.

Amazing how repeatedly offensive you are to all and sundry without attracting attention from the mods (until someone gives it back to you and is then hassled themselves).

What is the point of posting a thread if - when posters reply - you merely tell them to "shush" or "shut it" or "go away"?

Total prannet.

Thanks for the contribution Haz..

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Thanks for the contribution Haz..

This is nothing more than incessant trolling because someone pulls you up on a point.

Appreciate it Haz....

I like to troll on my own threads..

A good list. Vile as he is at least Truss contributes something to the forum

Cant say the same for Haz

Steffan wrote:A good list. Vile as he is at least Truss contributes something to the forum

Cant say the same for Haz

I second this but take issue with the vile comment.

TRUSS is like Sir Alex Ferguson, he has seen many come and have a go but he always see's them off.

I would not worry about haz. He will soon be haz-been.

The combined wit and intellect of a clamp stand.

Clamp or clam?

A congregation of clams would clearly outrank this triple-threat. Gotta be clamp.

Haz stop trolling

As I said earlier Im a long time reader but only joined. Always thought you were not a big Lewis fan Truss? Maybe I'm mixed up. I know you hold Old fitzzy in high regard though.

Just curious have you warmed to Lewis recently? Or is it you just dont consider that high compared to the very best of all time

I think the last ten years have shown us what we have missed...

Fitz did run him close but Corbett was outclassing him

Yeah the state of the heavy weight division now, you would do anything for a young Tyson, Evander or Lewis to be around

Especially Tyson..

Might not be the greatest heavyweight ever but he sure was one of the most exciting. Some might not like the man but nobody can deny he was a very entertaining fighter! Imo he still beats more greats than he loses to at his best.

Last fighter since Ali to completely transcend the sport.......

Not sure he could do it now though...

Good topic, shows how much the Americans have dominated this division, and how badly we need a US star. Dont know much about the old timers on the list (need to read up on my boxing history!), did any of them ply their trade in America? If so how was the era seen?

As much as I would love us to have a young Tyson in the division now, who would he fight? Any of the current lot cause him any trouble? any of them get out of round 1?

Shows what a sorry state we are in.

A Tyson might get other talent otherwise lost to other sports in the gym though bebop.............

Success breeds success........Look at your cycling team..

True, big leap of faith though and didnt happen in Tyson's reign, big talents were already there or up & coming.

Anyway, I would welcome some of that talent & more importantly ability to transcend the sport as you mentioned

Part of Holmes bitterness is that he was sandwiched between Ali and Tyson...

Wilder to be the new Tyson-like star?

He'd be more high profile than the Klits..

But Tyson was exciting, all muscle and looked invincible.......A black Dempsey..

He really was a one off.......Hard to explain to guys that weren't around what a huge star he was......Rowley will know what I mean..

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:

Steffan wrote:A good list. Vile as he is at least Truss contributes something to the forum

Cant say the same for Haz

I second this but take issue with the vile comment.

Of course you do, ONETruss.

Nothing to offer as usual..

First post, actually, dickface.

Wasn't even a pop at you!

See what I mean ??

If I cared ..I could get offended !!

Don't give it out if you can't take it back.

Enough now......Dear boy !!

You boys shouldnt play so rough...somebody is gonna end up crying  

People keep having a go at me today Steff....

and I'm a nice guy...Honest !!