While ESPN sniffs the jock straps of these fighters almost every night, how good were they really? All were good, all had talent but were they as great as the media would have us believe?
Johnson was knocked out by Joe Choynski, who then taught him how to fight while in jail. He lost to Marvin Hart, and suffered 14 defeats including a KO to Jess Willard. Johnson would be lucky to go 3 rounds with Dempsey.
Louis was dropped many times in his career. He was outboxed by 174 pound Billy Conn. He was ko'd in his prime by Max Schmeling. He was given a gift decision against Tommy Farr. His title was frozen during the war, when the best men were dying in the war, and Louis drank coke at the U.S.O. A prime Marciano knocks out a prime Louis in 10 rounds.
Sugar Ray Robinson lost 19 fights in his career. He was beaten by men like Gene Fullmer, Carmen Basilio, Terry Downes, Joey Giardello. He could have never beaten the true pound for pound best (and best middleweight) Harry Greb.
Muhammad Ali is perhaps the most overrated fighter of all. He was beaten five times, and had five gift decisions. He was knocked down and out by 185 pound Henry Cooper, but was saved by Angelo Dundee's "torn glove". He was knocked down by light punching 191 pound Sonny Banks. He was knocked down by journeyman Chuck Wepner. He lost to Leon Spinks, the worst Heavyweight Champion in history. He wanted to quit in the first Liston fight, but was pushed back into the ring. He came along at the right time (during the civil rights movement) and was therefore the darling of the media. The computer was right in 1967 when Jeffries was picked over Ali in the all-time heavyweight tournament.
Mike Tyson was short at 5'10. He lost 6 fights, and never looked good against a big fighter (Douglas, Lewis or McBride who made him quit). He was lucky to have come along at a weak era where victories over guys like Trevor Berbick, Bonecrusher Smith, and Pinklon Thomas were considered enough to make him great. He never had to face the top Russians. He would have stood no chance against Vitali Klitschko, who would have stopped him in 5 rounds. Edited by: Gary
Johnson was knocked out by Joe Choynski, who then taught him how to fight while in jail. He lost to Marvin Hart, and suffered 14 defeats including a KO to Jess Willard. Johnson would be lucky to go 3 rounds with Dempsey.
Louis was dropped many times in his career. He was outboxed by 174 pound Billy Conn. He was ko'd in his prime by Max Schmeling. He was given a gift decision against Tommy Farr. His title was frozen during the war, when the best men were dying in the war, and Louis drank coke at the U.S.O. A prime Marciano knocks out a prime Louis in 10 rounds.
Sugar Ray Robinson lost 19 fights in his career. He was beaten by men like Gene Fullmer, Carmen Basilio, Terry Downes, Joey Giardello. He could have never beaten the true pound for pound best (and best middleweight) Harry Greb.
Muhammad Ali is perhaps the most overrated fighter of all. He was beaten five times, and had five gift decisions. He was knocked down and out by 185 pound Henry Cooper, but was saved by Angelo Dundee's "torn glove". He was knocked down by light punching 191 pound Sonny Banks. He was knocked down by journeyman Chuck Wepner. He lost to Leon Spinks, the worst Heavyweight Champion in history. He wanted to quit in the first Liston fight, but was pushed back into the ring. He came along at the right time (during the civil rights movement) and was therefore the darling of the media. The computer was right in 1967 when Jeffries was picked over Ali in the all-time heavyweight tournament.
Mike Tyson was short at 5'10. He lost 6 fights, and never looked good against a big fighter (Douglas, Lewis or McBride who made him quit). He was lucky to have come along at a weak era where victories over guys like Trevor Berbick, Bonecrusher Smith, and Pinklon Thomas were considered enough to make him great. He never had to face the top Russians. He would have stood no chance against Vitali Klitschko, who would have stopped him in 5 rounds. Edited by: Gary
