Ranking the Top 30 Best Heavyweights of All-Time

Ranking all-time heavyweights is a challenging but fascinating task. Regardless of the era, the point of boxing doesn't change - try to hit your opponent without being hit yourself. That's what John L. Sullivan was doing in 1890 and that's what Wladimir Klitschko does today. Without question, the heavyweights of today lack the combination punching, bravery, one-punch knockout power, and fan appeal of heavyweights of the past. But some modern heavyweights crack the top 30 without question. Here they are, based on accomplishments, total skill set and overall success of their legacy: (Note: fighters such as Michael Spinks, Gene Tunney, Bob Fitzsimmons and James Toney not included due to fighting the vast majority of their careers in lower weight divisions)

1. Joe Louis (65-3, 51 KOs) - At his best: 1938 vs Max Schmeling II

2. Muhammad Ali (56-5, 37 KOs) - At his best: 1966 vs Cleveland Williams

3. Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32 KOs) - At his best: 1997 vs Andrew Golota

4. Larry Holmes (69-6, 44 KOs) - At his best: 1982 vs Gerry Cooney

5. Jack Johnson (74-13-10, 40 KOs) - At his best: 1908 vs Tommy Burns

6. George Foreman (76-5, 68 KOs) - At his best: 1973 vs Joe Frazier I

7. Rocky Marciano (49-0, 43 KOs) - At his best: 1953 vs Jersey Joe Walcott II

8. Jack Dempsey (66-6-11, 51 KOs) - At his best: 1919 vs Jess Willard

9. Sonny Liston (50-4, 39 KOs) - At his best: 1962 vs Floyd Patterson I

10. Joe Frazier (32-4-1, 27 KOs) - At his best: 1971 vs Muhammad Ali I

11. Evander Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 KOs) - At his best: 1993 vs Riddick Bowe II

12. Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) - At his best: 1988 vs Michael Spinks

13. Riddick Bowe (43-1, 33 KOs) - At his best: 1992 vs Evander Holyfield I

14. Ken Norton (42-7-1, 33 KOs) - At his best: 1973 vs Muhammad Ali I

15. Ezzard Charles (93-25-1, 52 KOs) - At his best: 1950 vs Joe Louis

16. Floyd Patterson (55-8-1, 40 KOs) - At his best: 1960 vs Ingemar Johansson II

17. Wladimir Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs) - At his best: 2006 vs Chris Byrd II

18. James J. Jeffries (18-1-2, 15 KOs) - At his best: 1899 vs Bob Fitzsimmons I

19. Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs) - At his best: 2003 vs Lennox Lewis

20. Jersey Joe Walcott (51-18-2, 32 KOs) - At his best: 1951 vs Ezzard Charles III

21. Max Baer (66-13, 51 KOs) - At his best: 1933 vs Max Schmeling

22. Max Schmeling (56-10-4, 40 KOs) - At his best: 1936 vs Joe Louis I

23. Harry Wills (68-9-2, 54 KOs) - At his best: 1915 vs Sam Langford

24. Sam Langford (203-47-50, 127 KOs) - At his best: 1912 vs Sam McVea

25. Michael Moorer (52-4-1, 40 KOs) - At his best: 1994 vs Evander Holyfield I

26. John L. Sullivan (38-1-1, 32 KOs) - At his best: 1885 vs Dominic McCaffrey

27. Tim Witherspoon (55-13-1, 38 KOs) - At his best: 1985 vs Bonecrusher Smith

28. Ingemar Johansson (26-2, 17 KOs) - At his best: 1959 vs Floyd Patterson I

29. Sam McVea (65-16-10, 47 KOs) - At his best: 1909 vs Joe Jeannette

30. Jimmy Bivins (86-25-1, 31 KOs) - At his best: 1945 vs Archie Moore