Greatest Heavyweights of All Time - Teddy Atlas Shares His Top 5 

This one should kick off some debate. Let's hear your Top 5. Put 'em in the comments.

The feeling of being a kid and listening to a great story teller telling a great story.

Teddy is so enjoyable to listen to. Pure gold.

My top 5 or more 1. Joe Louis 2. Muhammad Ali 3. Rocky Marciano 4. Jack Johnson 5. George Foreman 6. Jack Dempsey 7. Lennox Lewis 8. Sonny Liston 9. Joe Frazier 10. 3 way tie Evander Holyfield/Mike Tyson/ Larry Holmes.

Teddy's Top 5 in case you don't have an hour spare: 1. Joe Louis 2. Ali 3. Jack Johnson 4. Rocky Marciano 5. Gene Tunny

Love this video. Teddy Atlas has so much heart. He has such a broad range of respect for history and understanding of what these boxers went through. Love your program guys.

1.Marciano 2. Joe Louis 3. Ali 4. Gene Tunney 5. Jack Dempsey

Sam Langfords most notable stat isn’t the 210 wins 126 by knockout. It’s the fact that he fought successfully as a heavyweight against boxers as large as 6’6 , 260lbs. He was only 5’6 1/2” tall and 185lbs.

Great to hear your list, Teddy. It carries a bit more weight knowing that you had access to Jimmy Jacob’s library of vintage fights and have seen a few more fights than the average person. If you provided some education on more pioneering boxers from history for us younger guys, I think some of us would appreciate an episode or two of that too. Thanks!

I Love this Intro, Teddy. It's the kind of Prelude and Disclaimer that I favor giving. Explanations are beautiful.

Lennox Lewis, needs a mention, he had elite speed and power and along with Holmes had the greatest jab ever. He had a great career, and made all his wins look easy so he doesn't get the credit for being in tough great fights I think Lennox is the most skilled Heavyweight ever, his footwork, his ring IQ, his power, and speed are all elite. I don't think any Heavyweight ever could beat Lennox at his best!

45 rounds, this is why conditioning was a much more significant part of training and why the fighters were smaller. Today Jack Johnson would be fighting at 225 and Jim Jeffries would be 235lbs.

It was great how after Joe Louis beat James J Braddock and one of the reporters refered to him as "champ" and Joe told the reporter not to call him that ...not yet ." Not until I beat that man."Louis wouldn't even say his name . "that man." Classic!

Let us not forget that Max Shmelling when Joe Louis died sent £10,000 to his widow with an apology that he was not at the funeral, that was respect. Please excuse my spelling of Shmelling.

You Gentlemen hit the dead center every time! Keep the Great Stuff coming!🥊NOLA❤️

We Love you Teddy, you have a legion of Boxing fans that respect you as the Godfather of Boxing. The realest left.

As much as I respect Teddy's opinion, I have to go with Ali for #1, because, I don't see Joe Louis beating Ali. As for pressure, there's Liston in '64 and Foreman in '74, neither of these fights anyone picked Ali to win, and Ali won both emphatically. To say nothing of his ability to reinvent himself after his forced retirement. In a career that began in 1960, Ali was only stopped in 1980

I also rank Jack Johnson #3 heavyweight of all time. Many modern sportswriters and analysts neglect to rank Jack Johnson within the top 10 best heavyweights ever. Very nice and accurate inclusion of Johnson, Teddy...

I've ALWAYS respected Teddy as a knowledgeable man in boxing, but after hearing him talk about Louis, Ali AND Jack Johnson, I have to consider him one of the best boxing minds and historians of the sweet science, period!👍✊

Teddy Atlas is truly a genius

Teddy paints pictures with his words. And he is so passionate about boxing it's beautiful

I may be wrong about this but there was a very old heavyweight boxer named John L. Sullivan, who in the 1880s fought an 84 round fight against an opponnent (the name i dont remember)and won. 8 4 R O U N D S

Dempsey was the Manassa Mauler, not Rocky. He was the Brockton Blockbuster.

Teddy’s list; 1. Joe Louis 2. Muhammad Ali 3. Jack Johnson 4. Rocky Marciano 5. Gene Tunney (Bonus - 6. Jack Dempsey, 7. Jim Jeffereis) My list; 1. Jack Johnson 2. Muhammad Ali 3. Joe Louis 4. Rocky Marciano 5. Sam Langford (Imo if Mike Tyson had Cus D. around for another ten years he would be the goat. Also think that Tyson Fury will be top 5 after career is over. 6ft9, 270 lbs with God level Boxing IQ would be too much for even the greats.)

TEDDY'S CHOICES 1st - Joe Louis 2nd - Muhammad Ali 3rd - Jack Johnson 4th - Rocky Marciano 5th - Gene Tunney MY CHOICES 1st - Joe Louis 2nd - Muhammad Ali 3rd - Larry Holmes 4th - Lennox Lewis 5th - Jack Johnson

Jim Jeffries was stopped in the 15th round against Jack Johnson. The fight was scheduled for 45 rounds. Great video Teddy !!!

Just off the top of my head before even watching any of this: Ali, Frazer, Rocky Marciano, Joe Lewis, Tyson.

Awesome!!! Thanks Teddy for ur great comments, your lists, and your stories.

Loved this! Would love to hear teddy’s favorite middleweights

Glad to hear Gentleman Jim Corbett get some love. He was the earliest prototype (based on any footage I've seen) of the modern, mobile boxer.

Not all but a good amount of the top 20 best heavyweights could beat each other on any given day that's what intrigues us about heavyweight boxing 🥊

Teddy is praising Louis and his trainers relationship as the greatest bond in boxing history, when he himself saw cus damato transform mike Tyson from a scared and broken child into the most viscous boxer to lace up the gloves.

Thank you Teddy! Glad to see a guy with teddy's credentials saying the brown bomber is the goat. You don't reign over a division for 12 years without being someone special. Plus he fought some good competition and ex champions in his career. He avenged 2 of his 3 losses and probably wouldn't have lost to Marciano if he was younger. The only reason he took the fight is because he needed money because he was screwed out of his money by so many people including the irs. My list: 1. Joe Louis 2. Rocky Marciano 3. Muhammad Ali 4. George Foreman 5. Gene Tunney Honorable mention for Jack Johnson and Larry Holmes

A love Letter to Ali👍 i Like how he praises all aspects of Ali as a human being not only as a boxer

I love Teddy but Gene Tunney as the 5th best Heavyweight of all time is ridiculous. The guy was a Light Heavyweight most of his career.

I've replayed this with relish at least 5 times now. It'd be nice to see Teddy do a best of Trainers. I'd include him personally. Perhaps the best. Certainly the GOAT commentator on sports and boxing historian.

If I remember correctly I believe Sam Langford told Joe Louis' trainer and former fighter Jack Blackburn (who Teddy mentions) to "pack a lunch" before their rematch and got in his head before the fight. Based on the Joe Louis movie, The Joe Louis Story.

1) Ali 2) Louis 3) Foreman 4) Holmes 5) Lewis 6) Holyfield 7) Frazier 8) Liston 9) Tyson 10) Wlad I have Johnson and Marciano in the 12-15th bracket.

1: Joe Louis 2: Muhammad Ali 3: George Foreman 4: Lennox Lewis 5: Rocky Marciano or Tyson Fury (if he beats Wilder and Joshua)

1. Ali 2. Louis 3.J Johnson 4.Marciano 5.Dempsey

My top 5 Heavyweights of All-Time: 1. Ali 2. Tyson 3. Foreman 4. Louis 5. Holyfield This is in no particular order but these 5 HW champs had it all in every way!! Some had power, others had speed, others great defense!! These are the great arc to strap on gloves and enter the squared circle imo.

Brilliant pod cast increadiblly insightful.educational and informative

1- Joe Louis 2- Rocky Marciano 3- Mohammed Ali 4- Jack Johnson 5- George Foreman

When you said Joe Louis it brought tears to my eyes....You nailed it! He held the title for 12 years! He defended his title 25 times! His record would be even greater if WW 2 had not derailed his reign...Thank you Mr. Atlas. No one is on your level when it comes to boxing.

Teddy. I really think, and a physicist could confirm this, that part of Marciano’s power came from his perceived deficit, his short arms. I think it increased his torque. I think this might explain how he tore people up inside. I also think his physical engine was greater than others, like Secretariat had a bigger heart. That can’t b confirmed though. However his fighter’s heart was gigantic! Sooo underrated. Can be settled only in Boxer’s Heaven.

1.joe Louis 2.joe Louis 3.joe Louis 4.joe Louis 5.joe Louis

This is only if they fought in their peak. 1. Ali 2. Foreman 3. Iron Mike 4. Joe Louis 5. Riddick Bowe

That Marciano VS Wallcott 1 KO was frightening and beautiful at the same time

How about doing a top 5 trainers of all time? Some great characters and innovators down the years.... it would be interesting to hear teddy's take on that side of boxing.

The correct order would be....... 1. Ali 2. Louis* 3. Tyson 4. Holmes 5. Marciano 6. Johnson or (Sam Langford) 7. Forman 8. Lewis 9. Holyfield 10. Frazier or (Jack Dempsey) and the * means they arguably could be number 1.

I don't always agree with Teddy, but I respect his knowledge as a historian in boxing.

Ali made wrong right until he lost his speed and since he did not have traditional boxing skill and he became a punching bag and wrecked his brain. Did anyone ever see Ali throw a body punch? Teddy Brenner said it best. Ali couldn’t box and he couldn’t punch but he sure could fight.

Actually, I would put Louis and Ali one, two just like Teddy. I put Dempsey and Tyson (very similar fighters) 3 and 4. Dempsey did not defend his title often enough through no fault of his own. Jack was a relentless puncher with devastating power. Lastly, George Foreman.

Don't agree .....disrespecting the greatest record of any heavyweight. 49-0 43 KOs

Louis knocked out more than one big HW

Top four heavyweights of all time: 1. Jack Dempsey 2. Joe Louis 3. Rocky Marciano 4. Muhammad Ali

My Top 5: Ali - Joe Louis - Tyson - Marciano - Jack Johnson

Just starting video really interested in teddy take I got 1. Joe Louis 2. Muhammad ali 3. Rocky Marciano 4. Lennox Lewis 5. Evander holyfield

I can't see Joe Louis being rated over Muhammad Ali. Joe was beaten up and brutally knocked out during his prime by Schmelling and in his final fight with Marciano. Can't say that about Ali. Also, Louis had nowhere near Ali's chin, nor footwork. Ali beat more Hall of Fame fighters. In addition, Louis really lost to Walcott in their first meeting. Louis was also getting beaten by a light heavyweight in Billy Conn through 13 rounds. That never happened to Ali when he fought Bob Foster, an even better light heavyweight than Conn. Yes, Louis stopped Conn in both their fights, but so too did Ali against Foster. Louis was also decisively beaten by Charles when he attempted to win back the title at age 36. Ali was 36 and won back the title decisively against Leon Spinks. Each reigned for 2 decades. Louis during the 1930s-40s, and Ali 1960s-70s. Ali's reign was better. Ali was a 3-time heavyweight champion of the world. Head-to-head, Ali beats Louis. It would resemble something like Ali's fight with Ernie Terrell with Ernie shuffling along hitting air all night.

I could listen to Teddy talk boxing all day long, so knowledgeable, his autobiography is a great read! 😁

ali, dempsey, lewis, fury, tyson. - wrote those at the start of the pod and think i can still justify it.

Teddy Atlas always has interesting things to say. He seems to respect and love what does.

It's really hard for me to rate a fighter in the top-5 unless they were able to demonstrate some level of dominance after their prime -- when their skills started to fade. Some of the most impressive heavyweights during their prime (e.g., Tyson, Liston, Patterson, Marciano) never did this. My list: 1) Ali, 2) Louis, 3) Holmes, 4) Foreman, 5) Lewis.

Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis and Tyson Fury

1.ROCKY 2.ROCKY 2 3.ROCKY 3 4.ROCKY 4 5.ROCKY BALBOA The irony is it was Jack Dempsey that brought in those rules

#1- Lennox Lewis #2- Rocky Maricano #3 Muhammed Ali #4 Jack Dempsey #5 tie. Smokin joe fraizer and big george foreman

1 1980s Mike Tyson 2 1980s Mike Tyson 3 1980s Mike Tyson 4 1980s Mike Tyson 5 1980s Mike Tyson

Great video, from imho, one of the greats in boxing with an incredibly knowledgeable and balanced mind. I would agree with your top six, didn't know much about tunny regrettably, but will definitely read up on him. I think 1 and 2 will be debated for a long time to come, but the one thing i will say, is that imo i think Lennox Lewis deserves at least an honorable mention among the greatest heavyweights. I don't think anybody can really dispute his resume, and i also think he was just really exciting to watch, and of course let's not forget the great Iron Mike. Maybe do a top ten ? lol Thanks Teddy.

Why nobody is mentioning lennox Lewis in this debate is beyond me!

Wow 45 rounds amazing 👊

Jack Blackburn fought both Sam Langford and Harry Greb. He was a great fighter and trainer.

Top ten in no particular order Muhammad Ali Joe Louis Larry Holmes Wladimir Klitchko George foreman Evander Holyfield Rocky Marciano Sonny Liston Lennox Lewis Mike Tyson

Top 5 heavyweights Ali all day long Joe Louis Rocky Marciano Jack Johnson. Mike Tyson You would have to put Joe Frazier Jack Dempsey Jean Tony Jersey Joe Henry Armstrong Max Baer Evander Holyfield George Foreman. hard to pick a top 5 but it has to be Ali all day long has Mike Tyson said Ali was willing to die in The Ring that left hook he got off Joe Frazier would have knocked anybody clean out especially after going 14 rounds but Ali got up in 3 seconds that's why he is the greatest any fighter would have taken the 8 count

Larry Holmes should be in the conversation, that jab was something else

*Are we scoring popularity and hype, because if that's the case then Tyson and Ali win easily. Everyone knows that athletes eventually improve over time. But let's instead judge them by how good they were FOR THEIR ERA - rather than who would win a fantasy fight:* *1.* Lennox *2.* Ali After that I get stuck.. and it's easily debatable. lol

Teddy Atlas misspoke there when he said "The Rock, The Manassa Mauler". Of course, the "Mauler" was Jack Dempsey. Great list though. I would not have ranked Johnson top five, but hey ... it's fun to compare these legends. Always had a soft spot for Ezzard Charles and would have rated him, together with Big George Foreman.

0:00 louis 11:20 Ali 24:54 Johnson 28:20 Rocky M 33:52 gene tunney

Very excited for this one.

SO GLAD YOU GUYS MENTIONED THE 45 ROUNDSSSSSSSSSS! THAT ALONE SHOWS THE TOUGHNESS AND TRUE POTENTIAL OF MAN!

Gene Tunney?? Dempsey deserves that spot. My reasons why Tunney shouldn't be on that list of Heavyweights... He fought the vast majority of his fights against middleweights or light heavyweights. Tunney was at his best at light heavyweight, where, if he was ranked in that class, he would rank in the top 5 all time; indeed, Mike Spinks had almost twice the title fights at heavyweight than Tunney! There is conflicting information on his willingness to fight Number One contender Harry Wills because he was Black, but additionally because Tunney feared losing a Dempsey title shot, with differing accounts, the truth may never be known; His fame as a heavyweight lies solely in defeating the Great Jack Dempsey, when, in fact, Dempsey had not fought in 3 years, and had gone 5 of the 7 years of his reign without fighting; Dempsey was shot; He had only two defenses, one against Dempsey, and the other,instead of fighting then #1 contender Jack Sharkey, he instead fought Tom Heeney, a limited fighter who he knew he could beat, then he retired.

Top 5 heavyweights 1. Muhammad Ali 2. Joe Louis 3. George Foreman 4. Jack Johnson 5. Rocky Marciano Muhammad Ali is the greatest because he's the only 3 time lineal heavyweight champion ever. His will to win is unmatched. He was also idolized by many because of his bravery to stand up for what he believes in. He could will himself against any opponent in and out of the ring. Joe Louis was America's hero. He defended the heavyweight title a record of 25 times. He won against champions like Jack Sharkey, Primo Carnera, Max Baer, and Jim Braddock. He was also a part of the greatest sporting event ever when he won against Max Schmeling in their second bout. George Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion ever at the age of 45. He made the greatest comeback in sports history when he regained back the title 20 years after he lost it. He also never got knocked down during his comeback. Jack Johnson is the greatest heavyweight of his era. He won against champions like Bob Fitzsimmons, Tommy Burns, and James J Jeffries. He influenced people like Muhammad Ali to stand up for oneself. Rocky Marciano has an undefeated record. He fought the likes of the great Archie Moore, Ezzard Charles, and Jersey Joe Walcott. He would've been great in any era.

Joe Louis is hands-down the greatest boxer of all time 💯

My top five. #5 Exum Speight #4 TRex Corey Sanders. #3 Waxxem Fikes #2 Tommy Morrison #1 Tim Tomashek.

'the Rock from Brockton' is another one.

Thanks for the Tunney discussion!

Love me some Teddy Atlas. Don't watch much boxing these days, but love to check out old school fights.

My top 5 with regards to most accomplished careers: 1. Ali 2. Louis 3. Holyfield 4. Dempsey 5. Marciano My top 5 with regards to dominance in their prime: 1. Tyson 2. Ali 3. Foreman 4. Louis 5. Liston

There is not any other actual boxing voice I would want to hear annunciate the best heavy weights in the perfect regional accent. Perfect!

Always love listening to Teddy’s lists. I’d have to throw Holyfield in my top 5. I like his top 4, just switch 1&2 around.

Interesting Pick... Important to include fighters from different eras.

I like Teddy's list. Maybe George Foreman was as good a finisher as Joe Louis.

Joe Louis is also my #1, and I was surprised slightly that T. Atlas picked him, simply due to how tempting our recency bias is in sport. Why? His resume is incomparable, his poise otherworldly, his boxing skill the mould from which decades of boxers were/are trained from, and a guy who, in his prime and at his best walks into an unbiased arena with dead-even or slightly underdog odds. Look at how long he reigned. Dont think for a second that there wasnt a muster roll of killers in that list of downed opponents, yet Louis found a way till his body and mind became too old to do what his instincts and guts could previously do. Anyone with an insane amount if time at the top is ahead of their time. Louis is the best.

Top 10 1.Muhammed Ali 2.George Foreman 3.Sonny Liston 4.Lennox Lewis 5.Mike Tyson 6.Joe Louis 7.Joe Frazier 8.Larry Holmes 9.Riddick Bowe 10.Evander Holyfield

Strange.......Joe Louis was GREAT and most loved.....but I remember he lost a few. Max Schmeling.....Rocky Marciano....who was 49-0.43 KOs. 37 when he fought a 30 ye old Marciano. But Jersey Joe was Champ of the world at 37. Until Rocky CRUSHED him in Round 13. Jersey Joe was a brutally tough fighter. He knocked Rocky to the canvas. Only guy who ever did I believe. How is Rocky not the Greatest. ???? Rocky started his boxing career at 25. When most guys retire.

Teddy Atlas! This was fantastic! You, sir, are the absolute best. What a great History, lesson!.

What cements Ali as the greatest of all time was his win over a prime shavers, and his comeback win against spinks. In thoae fights he already had severe Parkinson's disease.

Many decades ago, a book came out about the greatest track and field athletes of all time, and the author applied a particular criteria when choosing who to put in the book. 1) Win an Olympic title 2 ) Break world records 3 ) Have an aura of invincibility about them. Well, applying/adapting that to heavyweight boxers, Joe Louis comes out on top. 1) Win the world title 2) Youngest champion ( at the time), longest reign and huge unbeaten period 3 ) Invincibility. Well, Joe, for most of his career, entered the ring as a huge favourite. Now, if we apply the criteria to Ali, he comes up short on the " aura of invincibility" criteria 1) He was a huge underdog when he challenged Liston for the title, and he was also an big underdog when he challenged Big George for the title, and in many fights the odds were 50/50. Longevity is another criteria that Joe Louis had, unlike Iron Mike who does tick a lot of boxes. 1 ) Youngest champ and, in the early years, a huge aura of invincibility, but his career at the top was too brief to list him towards the top of any "greatest" list. What, about Rocky? Well, again he fails with the " aura of invincibility" criteria as he was the underdog in a number of his big fights. No, Joe ticks all the boxes and then some.

I find it interesting that the latest Heavyweight to be on Teddy's list is Ali. He clearly has a thing for the old fighters (which isn't necessarily a bad thing). But no one in the last 40 years? If there was to be any in the last 40 years to be in the top 5, for me Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Wladimir Klitschko would be the only ones people could consider. Vitali, Bowe just missing out on the consideration list. Personally the only ones I'd seriously consider though is Holmes & Lennox. Of today's 3 Fury, Wilder, Joshua. I'd want to judge them further down the line, although I think Tyson Fury in the next 10 years has the potential to be an all time great. Time will tell.

Ali, Holmes, Lennox Lewis, Joe louis, Foreman, Vlad, Evander, Fury, Sonny Liston, Mike Tyson, Vitali, Rocky, Dempsey, Frazier.

My top 5 list 1. Muhammad Ali 2. Joe Louis 3. Jack Johnson 4. Rocky Marciano 5. George Foreman