Who was the best heavyweight boxing champion of all time?

[Gary Devine]

The trivia answer is Ray Mercer was the last American boxer to win an Olympic gold metal in the heavy weight division in 1988 at Seoul, Korea.
Other boxing heavy weights to win an Olympic gold metal;
1. Cassius Clay “Muhammad Ali” in 1960 Rome, Italy.
2. Joe Frazier in 1964 Tokyo, Japan.
3. George Foreman in 1968 Mexico City, Mexico.

[99explorer]

I don't care much for the MMA bouts. They seem to be less disciplined than traditional boxing, and require a "stand up" rule when the fighters take a long rest break on the mat to conserve their energy. Maybe the five-minute rounds are too long.
I understand that Ali was diagnosed with Pugilistic Parkinson's Disease from repeated concussions sustained in the ring. Professional football players are becoming aware of this hazard.

[Carl Huber]

PPS The same goes for Iron Mike had he not met Angelo Dundee he would be doing life times 10. Now he does movies.
Another boxer turned movie star was Vito Antoufermo. I met him in Cricies Restaurantt the night he won the WBC Middle Weight Championship. A nice quiet guy; but hands harder than a dead man. I'm glad they didn't wind up like the the majority of boxers. People don't realize the sacrifice they make.

[Carl Huber]

Very true 99. What I find amusing is my boys find Smokin Joe such a lovable guy. I rented and old clip of his fights. They thought it was a different guy.
PS What do you think of the MMA bouts. At least they can get through their carrier with their IQ's in tact.

[99explorer]

Ali said that Smokin' Joe Frazier was the toughest fighter he had ever fought, so he would have to be a top choice.
I also like the way Lennox Lewis handled Mike Tyson.

[Carl Huber]

I'm surprised no one picked Gene Tunny. A former Marine handsome and educated. And he KOed Dempsey. Albeit after coming back from the "long count". Then staying out of his reach. That was his second win against Dempsey the first by decision. I wonder who would be champ if you could bring everyone back for a match. My Father said Dempsey would fight from a crouch and allow his opponent to come in. Tyson like Joe Louis would stalk his opponent wearing him out. Then there's Ali the one that showed Heavy Weights were lightning fast and could move back wards throwing a punch. All things equal WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD BE CHAMP? My self Rocky Balboa [Silvester Stallone} the only boxer prettier at the end of his career.

[RJ Arena]

Got to go with the Rock. Undefeated.

Rocky Marciano, undefeated.
Evander Holyfield, fought in most? weight divisions. Sweetest punch I ever saw was when Evander knocked Tyson out when he was a 100 to 1 underdog.
Roy Jones Jr. was fairly good, also.
Hard to pick the best, been so many different eras.

[Pmacc60]

99 Joe louis lost to Max Schmeling in 1936 by knock out,he then became champion and knocked out Max in 1938.The brown bomber was a great champ and american,no one wanted that belt to go to Germany and Hitler. Joe said he wasn't the champ until he beat Max.He may have been this countries first black hero!

[Gary Devine]

Who was the last American to win a Olympic gold medal in the boxing heavyweight division?

[Gary Devine]

The fastest and the greatest boxer of all time was Muhammad Ali. In 1974 during the "Rumble in the Jungle" Ali layed against the ropes on purpose, just to prove he could take a punch. George Forearm was hitting Ali's body like two iron balls and most of the fight Forearm was swinging at air. Forearm punched himself out in that famous "Rope a Dope".
Ali also won the series against the great Smoking Joe Frazier 2-1.
One of Ali's quotes;
"I'm not the greatest; I'm the double greatest. Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round."

[Grassroots89]

Sorry about the double post.

[Grassroots89]

Mohammad Ali or Rocky Marciano.

[Grassroots89]

Mohammad Ali or Rocky Marciano.

[Carl Huber]

All very good picks of some very heroic fighters. One thing I believe that wasn't mentioned about the heavy weight champ. He was usually celebrated through an ethnic or political venue. Usually the new immigration or very humble means. The older rules were very different and corruption was rampant. A boxer literally put his life on the line. One boxer that went against the grain was Jack Johnson. He was champ in America in very different times. A black man he drove expensive cars, escorted two white women in public [Jim Crow Laws], flouted convention. He even got the entire staff of an all white brothel fired by getting served. He was threatened that if he stepped into the ring against a white opponent he would be shot. He was arrested for driving a white woman across state lines [the Mann Act]. He was maligned by sports writer Damon Runyon. All this when the Klan was king and a sitting President and Supreme Court Justice called "Birth of a Nation" history written in light. On a lighter note he was denied passage on the Titanic. I believe he should get a mention just for risking his life and deifying the norm and being the bad boy in boxing.
PS If you want to see a good boxing documentary rent " Unforgivable Blackness".