Some More about Rankings

I stand by the fact that all-time heavyweight boxers can be ranked against each other. However, sometimes it's easier to rank the fighters on a level system than it is to specifically rank them in an exact order.

For me, these are the levels (and within these levels, I fully accept differing opinions)

TOP LEVEL: Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali. No question for me, these guys are the best.

LEGENDARY CHAMPIONS: Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, Jack Johnson, George Foreman, Rocky Marciano, Jack Dempsey. These guys were dominant champions in their time and competed at a championship level for many years.

GREAT CHAMPIONS: Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson. Achieved great things, but too many memorable losses; when they left the top, they fell hard.

TRULY IMPRESSIVE IN THEIR TIME: Riddick Bowe, Ezzard Charles, Ken Norton, Floyd Patterson, Wladimir Klitschko, James J. Jeffries, Vitali Klitschko, John L. Sullivan. These guys lack the number of top-level victories to call themselves great. All respected champions.

NEVER QUITE ACHIEVED GREATNESS: Jersey Joe Walcott, Max Baer, Max Schmeling, Harry Wills, Sam Langford, Michael Moorer, Tim Witherspoon, Ingemar Johansson, Sam McVea. Short stays at the top, or careers that had too many flaws.

GOOD HEAVYWEIGHTS: Jimmy Bivins, Jack Sharkey, Primo Carnera, Buster Douglas, Jerry Quarry, Ray Mercer, Oscar Bonavena, Michael Dokes, Mike Weaver, James J. Braddock, Ernie Terrell, John Ruiz, Chris Byrd, Ron Lyle, Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Young, Pinklon Thomas, James J. Corbett, Tommy Morrison, Jimmy Ellis, Tony Tubbs. Moments of greatness mixed in with many moments of not-quite-good-enough.