By Zack D

It's always tough to compare athletes from different generations. But generally, I believe sports, like the athletes themselves, are constantly evolving - and therefore better NOW than THEN. Boxing may be the one notable exception to that, mainly because fighters of the past simply FOUGHT MORE. I'd be hard pressed to name a single top fighter today with a hundred or more pro fights. Fifty years ago there were many, and for this reason, I think it's fair to compare a former champion like Dempsey to a modern one like Riddick Bowe. In a sport like football on the other hand, such a comparison would be ridiculous. I always find it so when sports writers call Jim Brown the "greatest running back of all time". Amazing as he was, Jim was a modern day physical specimen playing against smaller, slower athletes. In other words, he never saw anything like LT, and if he had, his numbers would have been much less impressive. Period..

The top three:

1. Muhammed Ali - When talking all time great heavyweights, experts usually agree on Ali, Joe Louis, and Marciano - and usually in that order. I can't argue with it. Ali is to me, as easy to rank as MJ is in hoops... simply the best. You can talk physical skills all you want - and Ali certainly had them. But the thing that stands out most about Ali to me is that he took on and bested ALL COMERS - all styles and all sizes - and did it over the course of fifteen years! Punchers, brawlers, boxers, big guys, smaller guys, Americans, foreigners - you name it. Ali fought 'em, figured 'em out, and beat 'em. And long after his physical gifts began to wane, he still found ways to win, often under the most dramatic and memorable circumstances (e.g. "The Rumble in the Jungle" and "The Thrilla in Manilla").

The man had a chin of granite. Impossible to hit as a young fighter. Impossible to hurt as an old one. And even when he lost, it was never on his back. It was never with Dundee throwing in the towel. You never saw Ali destroyed in the ring the way Louis was by Schmelling in their first fight. In Ali/Frazier 1, Smokin' Joe hit Ali with a left hook that might've taken a statue's head off. He went down, but he got back up, then did some more damage of his own. Great fight. Great fighter. He deserves to be called "The GREATEST".

2. Joe Louis - Though many boxing historians would disagree, I think Louis belongs after Ali. The Brown Bomber was everything they say - a perfect technician with crushing power. But he didn't have a good chin. And though he was himself African American, descrimination may have actually helped his career. Louis only fought four black fighters during his ten year reign as heavyweight champ. This doesn't discredit the opponents he did face - clearly, he fought and beat many great fighters. But through no fault of his own, he competed during an era when some of the more talented prospects never got a shot at him.

3. Rocky Marciano - the man born Rocko Marchegnano belongs in the top three despite his relatively small size. He was remarkable in so many ways that even former greats like Larry Holmes and Ali himself have praised him. According to The Greatest: "I know he (Marciano) would have given me trouble". The Rock was relentless and extremely powerful. Witness the way he put Walcott to sleep late in their war for all the proof you need. When I watch Marciano, it seems he threw only bombs from start to finish. But one of his lesser known strengths was his ability to counter punch. Many think of him as a one-dimensional brawler who simply outlasted opponents. Not so. The man was clever, skilled at presenting different angles and could get great leverage despite his lack of size. (He was only 5'10" and fought mostly between 180-190 lbs.) But despite his ferocity, and his record as the only heavyweight champ to retire undefeated (49-0), I think Ali would have cut him up, kept him off with the jab, and decisioned him. The ORIGINAL Rocky destroyed Louis in their only fight, but it was during Louis' comeback, well beyond his peak years. Had Louis been younger, I think it would have been a different story.

And the remaing twelve:

4. Larry Holmes - a complete fighter. Used jab as well as Ali. Challenged Marciano's undefeated record before losing to Michael Spinks on a controversial decision. Dominated for so long, he should have an era named after him. "The Larry Era?" Catchy.

5. Jack Dempsey - maybe the toughest human that ever lived. Dominated for years. In many ways, the first modern day heavyweight.

6. Jersey Joe Walcott - complete, crafty. A man of the sweet science, especially for a heavyweight. Denied opportunity to fight for the title most of his prime, but was still great enough to to get it done long after most fighters retire.

7. Ezzard Charles - really a light heavyweight, but had so much pure skill. Underrated. Had he been the same fighter with a little more size, no one would have beaten him.

8. Sonny Liston - the most feared fighter ever. Mean, enigmatic in and out of the ring. Seemed invincible until Ali beat him twice. Could knock people out with his jab. Literally.

9. George Foreman - he was really two different fighters. The first incarnation was technically bad, but overcame many shortcomings with sheer power and size - the hardest puncher of all time, Ernie Shavers included.

The second, more loveable George Foreman was a better boxer despite his enormous size. Learned to pace himself and developed strong defense. Captured the title in his forties with a devastating one-punch KO of Michael Moorer. A real spectacle!

10. Joe Frazier - great champion, hard puncher. His wars with Ali are legendary. Really, a much more skilled fighter than Foreman. But given the two complete demolitions George inflicted on him, I had to put George ahead. I'm sure Joe will get over it.

11. Evander Holyfield - I hate to rely on cliches, but this was a "true warrior". There's no other way to put it. A relatively small heavyweight for his era, but with a heart the size of Kentucky. I wish he'd retire before it gets... you know, ugly.

12. Jack Johnson - a cautious fighter actually. Relied on patience, confident that he was so much better than the opposition. And he was. Not a great puncher, and at 6', smaller than one might think. But the most remarkable athlete I can think of. He didn't just take on and defeat all opponents in some of the most obcenely long fights, he took on the WORLD... and won. FYI: this is the fighter for whom the term "great white hope" was coined. And he knocked out all of them.

13. Lennox Lewis - much of his mystique will wear off as the years go by. Ducking a rematch with Vitali won't help his reputation, especially if the older Klitschko goes on to dominate the division for a while. But Lennox's place among the greats is secure. A great puncher with a great jab. Suspect chin, but when focused, usually won convincingly. His combination of size, power, patience, and adaptability make him a tough matchup for most other heavyweights in history. Actually could have and SHOULD have been able to retire undefeated. Sustained KO losses to two fighters who weren't in his league. Won both rematches decisively.

14. Mike Tyson - say what you want about him. In his early years, he was awesome. He is himself a boxing historian who feels he won't be regarded highly. I disagree. Kid Dynamite was a true phenom. Until Buster Douglas demonstrated how he could be beaten, Tyson whipped most of his opponents before they even set foot in the ring. Plus he made one of the greatest pre-fight remarks ever: When asked by a reporter what advice he would give an up-coming opponent, Mike replied: "cancel the fight". Good advice. It was over in less than two minutes. Vintage Iron Mike.

15. Jim Jefferies - this was an incredible human specimen. Tough. Huge. Incredible stamina. An actual Paul Bunyan. It's difficult to rate his skills by modern standards, particularly when the few existing tapes of him are of such poor quality. But based on what can be seen of him, and what is written of him, I believe he could compete with any fighter of any era.