The 20 best super heavyweights in boxing history

Boxing, like any sport, changes over the years. There is much debate about whether boxers from previous generations would be as effective today as they once were. Is the greatness of a particular athlete still relevant today?

Generations of super heavyweights are different. They differ in size, fighting styles, and the abundance of talent in a given period. On the eve of the second confrontation between the main super heavyweights of the current generation, we have compiled a list of the best representatives of the royal category — the best of the best. Fans can also add to the excitement with the Wanted Win Casino no deposit bonus, a great way to enjoy some extra action while following the fights.

20. Floyd Patterson

A boxer whose record as the youngest heavyweight champion in history was only broken by Muhammad Ali in 1964. To understand the toughness of fighters in that era, consider this: Patterson’s championship bout in 1961 against Tom McNeely was fought with 6-ounce gloves — the same weight used in MMA today. McNeely was knocked down 11 times before the fight ended in the fourth round.

Unfortunately for Floyd, after a series of successful defences, he faced the fearsome Sonny Liston, followed by Muhammad Ali. Still, Patterson was a smart and skilful fighter during his reign as champion.

19. Riddick Bowe

Riddick was a top-class puncher, a natural striker. He could punish both the head and body, wear down his opponent, and keep fighting until the end. His legendary trilogy with Holyfield alone earns him a place among the best.

Bowe lacked consistency and often made poor career choices. He didn’t have the discipline to hold on to his WBC title and face Lennox Lewis — the fight that could have confirmed his greatness.

A world heavyweight champion is always a little crazy, but to leave a legacy, you need to know when to turn that off and make the right decisions.

18. Ezzard Charles

The best light heavyweight of all time according to BoxRec also shone in the heavyweight division. He moved up to heavyweight early in his career but only became a fully recognised champion in 1951, when he defeated the great Joe Louis.

Louis, notably, never faced Ezzard again, and Charles went on to defend his title several times before losing it in a rematch to Jersey Joe Walcott, who became the oldest heavyweight champion at the time.

17. Sonny Liston

Sonny Liston was genuinely terrifying. Fighters spoke of his cold, intimidating stare and his unshakable composure in the ring.

Beyond that, the American possessed devastating power. Floyd Patterson faced him twice — and was knocked out in the first round both times. Then came Muhammad Ali, who wasn’t intimidated by Liston or his aura, and went on to beat him twice.

Despite those losses, Liston’s career remained remarkable. Its ending was equally striking — he fought the giant Chuck Wepner, and even with a chronically injured eye, he dismantled the man who would later knock Ali down.

16. Jack Dempsey

Jack Dempsey proved to the world that boxing could be both fast-paced and aggressive at the highest level. His dynamic and crowd-pleasing style amazed fans and redefined what heavyweight boxing could look like.

Victories over Jess Willard, Georges Carpentier, Big Bill Tate, and others cemented Dempsey’s legacy not only as one of the sport’s greatest champions but also as an athlete whose influence would inspire generations to come.

15. Gene Tani

Another light heavyweight who successfully moved up to the heavyweight ranks, Gene Tunney was the man who ended Jack Dempsey’s reign. He outboxed the legendary champion twice in ten-round bouts, securing back-to-back victories that defined his career.

Tunney’s time in the heavyweight division is often underrated, largely because it was brief — after defeating Dempsey, he beat one more opponent before retiring. Yet, there’s a certain mastery in walking away at the very peak of one’s career, after achieving such monumental success.

14. Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson wasn’t just about strength and power. Though often described as a giant, he possessed exceptional boxing skills — agile, strategic, and intelligent in the ring, able to outmanoeuvre his opponents with ease.

Just as significant was his cultural impact. As the first African American heavyweight champion, Johnson became a symbol far beyond the sport. He claimed the title from Tommy Burns and went on to defeat notable fighters such as Sam Langford, Jim Flynn, and many others, securing his place as one of boxing’s true pioneers.

13. Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury deserves his place among the best. He was the man who ended the Klitschko era. While many later pointed to Vladimir’s age, at the time Fury entered the ring, he was a clear underdog.

He also dominated Deontay Wilder, one of the hardest punchers of his era, breaking him on his own turf and delivering one of the finest heavyweight trilogies in recent history. Fury was the first to hold all four major heavyweight belts, albeit at different times.

A massive yet highly skilled, technical, and intelligent boxer.

12. Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson’s persona remains a subject of debate. To some, he was a fighter who faced weaker opponents, while to others, he embodied sheer terror in the ring. Some argue he lost all the top-level fights, yet others point to the relentless battles with Evander Holyfield.

Tyson was unique, and that is what makes him great. Physically, he was incredibly strong; mentally, he could be vulnerable. He often feared his opponents but managed to instil even greater fear in them. Two things are undeniable: the brilliance of young Mike’s attacks and his rightful place among the top 20 heavyweights of all time.

11. Evander Holyfield

Evander Holyfield defeated Mike Tyson using the toughest approach possible: he absorbed the punishment and wore his opponent down both physically and mentally. He faced Riddick Bowe three times and squared off against Lennox Lewis twice. His remarkable career was preceded by grueling 15-round fights in the cruiserweight division.

Though often considered too old for top-level competition, Holyfield did what mattered most. He stayed in peak condition so that after many of his contemporaries had retired, he could defeat the giant Nikolai Valuev — only losing due to the judges’ decision.

A magnificent, strong, intelligent, and highly technical super heavyweight.

10. Joe Frazier

Joe Frazier was the first to defeat Muhammad Ali, though he later lost to him twice. He hit hard and from unexpected angles, scoring victories over fighters like Eddie Mayne, George Chuvalo, Doug Jones, and many others.

Joe may not have been the most skilled boxer of the famous trio that included Ali and Foreman, but being part of that legendary group speaks volumes about his place in boxing history.

9. Wladimir Klitschko

Vladimir Klitschko went from Olympic gold medallist to a fighter often remembered for his supposed “glass chin” and personal controversies, yet he rose to become a dominant, long-reigning champion.

The era he shared with his brother was not the most talent-rich period in heavyweight history, but their reign defined an entire era of the division. In his prime, Vladimir destroyed opponent after opponent with skill, determination, and heart.

8. Vitali Klitschko

Vitali Klitschko had some truly remarkable fights. His bouts with Lennox Lewis and his comeback after a four-year break against the puncher Sam Peter stand out. He destroyed Corrie Sanders in support of his brother and defeated the previously undefeated Chris Arreola, who had been on track to become Mexico’s first heavyweight champion.

Vitali also earned a reputation as an iron-clad boxer — a fighter who hit hard and never went down. His unconventional technique often appeared to be a weakness during preparation, only to become a trap for opponents in the ring.

7. George Foreman

George Foreman was a phenomenon in the heavyweight division — twice over. First, as a towering natural heavyweight who crushed opponents, defeating Ken Norton and Joe Frazier so decisively that even his team feared Muhammad Ali.

Later, Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion in history. He seized the opportunity when Michael Moorer held the title. Foreman couldn’t beat the younger Holyfield, but his comeback wasn’t just luck. He went for the title, secured a historic victory, and achieved a feat that remains unmatched to this day.

6. Rocky Marciano

Rocky Marciano held a record that boxing legends chased for decades, including Floyd Mayweather, who only surpassed it years later in a crossover bout against MMA fighter Conor McGregor.

Marciano was an aggressive, relentless fighter who inflicted pain on every opponent. He knocked out Ezzard Charles in the 8th round and won by decision, stopped Archie Moore in the 9th, and defeated Jersey Joe Walcott with knockouts in the 13th and 1st rounds. He also knocked out Joe Louis in the 8th. Marciano faced the top fighters of his era and made them endure his punishing style.

5. Larry Holmes

Larry Holmes possessed an excellent jab, an unstoppable right hand, and an incredible ability to recover and turn fights around. He held the world title for many years, establishing himself as one of the great heavyweights of his era.

Holmes feared no opponent and won critical fights against Ken Norton, Ernie Shavers, Tim Witherspoon, Trevor Berbick, Ray Mercer, and Oliver McCall. Intelligence, strength, and technique — he had them all.

4. Oleksandr Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk has risen to become one of the greatest heavyweights in history, achieving feats many thought impossible. Only Mike Tyson had a comparable size disadvantage in title fights, but unlike Tyson, Usyk remains undefeated at the highest level.

His opponents have not been easy. Olympic champion Anthony Joshua, who held titles for years; rising star Daniel Dubois, who dominated his peers but was dismantled by Usyk’s jab and pace; and Tyson Fury, one of the most agile and versatile heavyweights of this era — all were giants compared to Usyk, and all were defeated, some twice.

Usyk proves that skill, intelligence, and a champion’s mindset matter most. He demonstrates that the ideal super heavyweight combines bold ideas, unwavering self-belief, careful planning, intelligent training, and total discipline.

3. Lennox Lewis

Lennox Lewis’s only two professional defeats came from occasional lapses in focus — moments when he underestimated his opponents. Both times, he returned stronger, proving those losses were anomalies.

Lewis could outbox or overpower his opponents. He could endure an onslaught or end fights with precise counter-attacks. He embodied the ideal super heavyweight, a fighter who would be competitive in any era.

2. Joe Louis

Twenty-five title defences — an incredible achievement. Wladimir Klitschko spent years trying to match Joe Louis’s record but never surpassed it, as younger challengers eventually dethroned him.

In his prime, Louis was lethal. His heavy fists, perfect timing, and precise accuracy made it nearly impossible for opponents to survive a full fight in the ring.

1. Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali is the most influential heavyweight in boxing history, the fighter everyone admires.

On his best days, Ali could defeat anyone with flair, joking and playing in the ring. At times, he lacked discipline in training and focus during fights, missing opportunities he might otherwise have capitalised on.

But the ideal Ali was extraordinary — sharp, dangerous, aggressive, and nearly invincible.