[Criteria: Fighter theoretically enters weight category of choice]
CRUISERWEIGHTS or JUNIOR-HEAVYWEIGHTS 196 lbs: p1 Evander Holyfield p1 Rocky Marciano p2 Gene Tunney p3 Jack Dempsey p4 Jersey Joe Walcott p4 Oleksandr Usyk p4 Johnny Nelson p5 Floyd Patterson p5 Marco Huck p5 Carlos de Leon p6 David Haye p6 Dwight Muhammad Qawi p6 Max Schmeling p7 Henry Cooper p7 Leon Spinks p7 John L Sullivan
[9.0] EVANDER HOLYFIELD 57-44(29)-10-2-1 [Heavyweight & Cruiserweight & Light-Heavyweight]: Bert Randolph Sugar - Al Bernstein - Evander Holyfield -
39,882. He is on the cusp … He is at Number Eleven [heavyweights]. He is one of the greats. Bert Randolph Sugar
39,883. v Riddick Bowe I: One of the best heavyweight fights I have ever seen. Al Bernstein
40,110. They don’t show Olympic boxing on TV in prime time. They haven’t done that since 1988. In 1992, they showed one: Oscar De La Hoya. In 1996, they didn’t show it. In 2000, they didn’t show it. In 2004, they didn’t show it. In 2008, they did not even mention boxing at all. You would think the United States didn’t have a boxing team in 2008. Evander Holyfield
40,111. The game’s been good to me and I hope I’ve been good to the game. I’m 50 years old and I’ve pretty much did everything that I wanted to do in boxing. Evander Holyfield
12) Dwight Muhammad Qawi SD15: US Fight Commentary TV -
124,534. v Dwight Muhammad Qawi 5th December 1987 WBA Junior- Heavyweight Atlanta *****: [r1] … Holyfield devastating right now, just out-speeding the champion … Qawi is a good defensive fighter … Evander is getting through … It’s off to a great start … [2] … He taking some licks from Holyfield … Evander has to defend himself … [3] … Holyfield a couple of big punches … Holyfield is going for it … Boy, their exchanging so many punches … Qawi the thick neck, built like a tree-trunk … [r4] … He [Holyfield] is very very tired … Good body shot by Qawi … Holyfield stumbled … That combo has worked well for Holyfield … [r5] … This bout has been fought at a tremendous pace … Right and left combo to Holyfield … [r6] … The rounds have got closer and closer … Here’s Holyfield … and came back and landed punches of his own … This one is moving along at a great pace … [r7] … Another low blow [Qawi] … Those combinations not getting in, simply hitting the gloves of Qawi … Another right uppercut from Qawi … [r8] … Qawi has been a bulldog throughout … Good combination from Evander … Nose to nose … He has Evander hurt … Just a gruelling battle of attrition … Good body shots by Qawi … [r9] … It’s a tough fight to score … Holyfield still bouncing … [r10] … Using the jab, using the movement … That one from Holyfield got in with authority … Qawi has a tremendous heart … [r11] … Holyfield with a vicious combination of punches … Qawi will rally … Scoring combination from Evander … [r12] … Tee-off on Qawi … A tremendous learning experience … A powerful right [Holyfield] … He took a good stiff jab … [r13] … Teeing off on the head of Qawi … Evander’s just outbusying him … Good combinations through to the chin of Qawi … [r14] … They’re loving it in Atlanta … Dwight is just not throwing … Still the pursuit unrelenting … Both men showing unbelievable courage and determination … [r15] … Another left coming in from Qawi … Qawi landed a good left hook there … 144-140 141-143 147-138 (Boxers: Holyfield & Boxers: Qawi) ABC US fight commentary
17) Muhammad Qawi II KO4: US Fight Commentary TV -
124,537. Muhammad Qawi II 5th December 1987 WBA & IBF Cruiserweight Atlantic City: [r1] … Good counter-punch by Holyfield … He’s boxing a bit more cleverly … The first fight over 2,300 punches combined … [p2] He’s bringing the fight to Holyfield … Holyfield 100% business … Holyfield pressing the attack … again on the attack … [r3] … Welcome to the second war … Holyfield triggers off … A solid right by Holyfield … Qawi comes back … and then Holyfield finishes with a flurry … [r4] … The pace has been wild … Holyfield to the body and the head … Qawi is down! Good sharp hook … Down again … It’s all over. (Boxers: Holyfield & Boxers: Qawi) US fight commentary
18) Carlos de Leon TKO8: US Fight Commentary TV -
124,538. v Carlos de Leon 9 April 1988 WBA WBC IBF Cruiserweight Paradise Nevada *****: [r1] … They come out wailing away … A left scores by Evander Holyfield … Holyfield is hunting patiently … Right now it’s an even round … Crisp left by Evander Holyfield … [r2] … A different Holyfield in the second round … landing with rights and lefts … A right by Holyfield … Holyfield with a flurry … de Leon is in trouble … de Leon fighting back … [r3] … Beautiful body shots by Holyfield … Left hook by Holyfield … Tripling up with the left … [r4] … A flurry … Combination by Holyfield … again slipping through … A blueprint for a beating … Here comes a right … [r5] … He [de Leon] will not run … [r6] … A crisp right [Holyfield], another right and a left … some very hard shots … another barrage by Holyfield … [r7] … Holyfield is the fighter of the year … A powerful shot by Holyfield … Now the lefts … Now the right … combination by Holyfield … Mills Lane steps in. (Boxers: Holyfield & Boxers: de Leon) US fight commentary
28) Riddick Bowe I Lost Points 12: US Fight Commentary TV -
127,597. v Riddick Bowe I 13 November 1992 WBA WBC IBF Heavyweight Nevada *****: [r1] … Both men throwing jabs … Left hook to the body from Holyfield and a left hook to the jaw … the right hand lead … scoring a combination … left-right … Bowe lands the right hand for the first time … [r2] Right hand lead again [Holyfield] … They brawl in the centre of the ring … Right hand over the top by Bowe … and the left hook from Holyfield … left hook from Bowe … uppercut again … Left hook by Holyfield … Good right hand by Riddick Bowe … [r3] … Holyfield firing the left twice … long right hand … Bowe comes right back … all Bowe punches … Holyfield seemingly in trouble … Left hook by Holyfield … and another … wobbled Bowe … Furious give and take … [r4] … Bowe lands the right hand … Left hook inside by Holyfield … Right hand shot [Bowe] … Holyfield with a right hand … [r5] … These are solid shots [Bowe] … Holyfield with a right and a left … [r6] … They trade right hands … Uppercut inside by Holyfield … [r7] … Bowe lands the right hand over the top … Evander is reeling … Another right hand over the top … Bowe beginning to box again … Holyfield right hands … [r8] … Blood on the left eye [Holyfield] … Holyfield with another left hook … Both coming back with right hands … Holyfield twice lands the left … takes a right hand in return … [r9] … Bowe pounding away … Riddick’s right eye is closing … Trading right hands … Right uppercut by Holyfield … [r10] … Three good combinations … The champion struggles to stay on his feet … Holyfield weathers the storm … Look at Holyfield: what a warrior! … A right hand by Holyfield … and another … [r11] … Holyfied in serious trouble … and he’s got to go down … Holyfield still fighting … uppercut … [r12] … [Holyfield] does not seem to have the ammunition … An extraordinary battle … [115-112 117-110 117-110] US fight commentary
31) Riddick Bowe II MD Points 12: US Fight Commentary TV -
127,679. Riddick Bowe II 6 November 1993 WBA IBF Heavyweight Nevada: [r1] … Bowe cops Holyfield with two overhand rights … a hard right … [Holyfield] left to the side of the head … Bowe lands a jab and a right hand … Trading punches … [r2] … Bowe is back on track … sticking the jab … Holyfield lands a right and takes one … left hook … another … Bowe landed the right hand … [r3] … Right hand over the top by Bowe … right to the body … [Holyfield] lands a right in close … throws combinations … Right hand by Bowe … [r4] … Left hook [Bowe] … Left hook [Holyfield] … They trade leather at close quarters … Holyfield lands a right … Two cuts [Bowe] … [r5] … [Bowe] came in a little too big [Foreman’s co-commentary] … Bowe is hurt! … Stuns Bowe again … [r6] … Holyfield commanding with the jab … great combination … and another … right hand landed flush … [Bowe] right hand … Uppercut by Evander … [r7] … Right hand [Holyfield] … and Bowe comes back fighting … [r8] … And a parachute has just landed on the edge of the ring! … The most bizarre thing I’ve seen in a prize fight [Lederman] … [r9] … Hand right hand and Holyfield wobbles … the right hand again … Left/right combination [Holyfield] … [Lederman 86-85 Bowe] … [r10] … In-fighting … Right hand by Holyfield … Trading and trading … Right hand by Holyfield … left hook … [r11] … Holyfield delivers another right hand … left hook inside … Counter right hand … got him again … [r12] … Hit Bowe with the biggest right hand of the night. Riddick came back … Bowe lands an uppercut … Right hand by Holyfield … [Lederman 114-114] [114-114, 115-114, 115-13 Holyfield] US fight commentary
34) Riddick Bowe III Lost TKO8: US Fight Commentary TV -
127,733. v Riddick Bowe III 4 November 1995 Nevada: [r1] … Nice effective jab [Holyfield] … good movement … Nice jab [Bowe] … [r2] … Bowe now with the jab … right hand … uppercut … [r3] … Uppercut by Bowe … Right uppercut by Holyfield … These two men just a couple of inches away from each other … [r4] … Nice left hand from Holyfield … Four punch combination [Bower] … [Holyfield] comes back with a combination … [r5] … Good exchange … Bowe on the attack … [r6] … Nice hooks Holyfield … Holyfield good left hook: holy cow! What a turnaround: can you believe this! … Riddick Bowe has been knocked down … Holyfield on the attack … And now Bowe returns some fire … Very good work with the jab [Holyfield] … What a sixth round! … [r7] … [Holyfield] arms are looking heavy … jab … uppercut … left hand … Good exchange … [r8] … Here comes Holyfield and gets caught by a short right hand … That’s it … US fight commentary
36) Mike Tyson I TKO11: US Fight Commentary TV -
124,609. v Mike Tyson I 9 November 1996 WBA Heavyweight Nevada *****: [r1] … Mike Tyson comes out fast … A straight right hand [Tyson] … Holyfield with a combination … A straight right hand by Tyson … [r2] … Tyson able to duck under a number of others … Holyfield digging to the body with a right uppercut … That wrestling is tiring … Tyson against the rope … Combination by Holyfield … This is a fight between two champions … Great left hand by Holyfield … and again … [r3] … Holyfield also showing a lot of hand speed … Mike is not overwhelming him … good exchange … [r4] … Evander is out-speeding him … Holyfield is coming on … Tyson unleashing a flurry but it did not seem to phase Holyfield … He’s [Tyson] losing rounds … [r5] … back comes Holyfield … Holyfield is disorganising Tyson … Tyson unleashing uppercuts … Evander’s hurt … Right hand to the body … Short left hook from Tyson … The power stuff is coming on now … [r6] … Big left hook [Tyson] … Accidental head butt … Tyson is cut … both whaling away … The left eye of Mike Tyson … he’s mad … That was a low blow [Holyfield] … Down goes Tyson! A left hook! … We are seeing Mike Tyson tested … [r7] … Holyfield 1/5 … This crowd continues to chant for Holyfield … Good body shot by Tyson … Tyson walked into a straight left … The head-butt … That one buckled Tyson … [r8] … Left jab by Holyfield … Holyfield’s fighting one of those wise fights … drive you crazy … Holyfield comes right back … The guy that looks worn is Tyson … [r9] … We sit here and wait for Evander to show signs of fatigue … Look at this toe-to-toe action … Nice right hand by Mike … This is a real scorcher … Straight hand by Evander … [r10] … He [Mike] might need a knockout … Mike is slowing … Holyfield countering … A straight hand by Mike Tyson … Holyfield comes back … A straight right combination by Holyfield … Oh Tyson’s in trouble! … Mike is out on his feet … [r11] … He’s got Tyson in trouble! … The most unbelievable thing I’ve ever been privilege to witness! … Bedlam! … (Boxers: Holyfield & Boxers: Tyson) US fight commentary
48) Mike Tyson II Won Disq 3: UK Fight Commentary TV -
124,610. v Mike Tyson II 28 June 1997 WBA Heavyweight Nevada: [r1] … In that first fight Holyfield seemed to be armour-plated … There he [Evander] is again with the right hand … Gets in [Holyfield] with two good punches … The more positive start has come from Evander Holyfield … did enough to win … [r2] … He’s [Tyson] got a cut … doubts come into Tyson’s mind … and he’s [Holyfield] taking control early … Holyfield much the stronger … Tyson does not look a happy man … He feels Holyfield butted him … I don’t think it was deliberate … [r3] … Tyson goes for it … Pushing Holyfield off with the forearm … Good right hand from Tyson … Look at that from Holyfield … Right hand from Tyson … Some nasty stuff in there; there looked to be a bite almost … Holyfield is very unhappy; look at this! … definitely a bite … One point deduction or Tyson … Tyson looks as though he’s about to have another bite … The crowd are booing because they’ve just seen the slow motion … He could have been disqualified; the fight could he over … Now we’ve got a fight going on in the ring … (Boxers: Tyson & Boxers: Holyfield) UK Sky fight commentary
[8.8] ROCKY MARCIANO 49-49(43)-0-0 [Heavyweight 185-188 lbs]: Jimmy Cannon - Mills Lane - Ringside: Top 10 Heavyweights TV - Rocky Marciano: Boxing Legend TV - In This Corner: Great Heavyweights TV - Bert Randolph Sugar - Rocky Marciano - Jack Newfield - Kings of the Ring TV -
39,859. He would bleed without protest and ache without complaint if he could be called champion. Obscurity was all he feared. Jimmy Cannon
39,860. He stands out like a rose in a garbage dump. Jimmy Cannon
39,861. Great discipline. He had the Suzie-Q, the fight hand. Great talent. Mills Lane
39,862. Bert Sugar has him at Number Six. Ringside: Top 10 Heavyweights
39,863. He came late to boxing: twenty-four years old when he had his first pro fight. Rocky Marciano: Boxing Legend
39,864. And so it was that Marciano aged 31 after just 6 title defences retired undefeated before his powers had diminished. ibid.
39,865. He could not be described as graceful ... Marciano had a frightening tolerance for pain. Had a fury few have possessed. In This Corner: Great Heavyweights
39,866. I don’t know what to do with him. He was one of the greats. Bert Randolph Sugar
39,867. Nobody could stop that right hand. Bert Randoph Sugar
39,877. My mother said I was destined to be a fighter because I looked so much like one as a kid. Rocky Marciano
39,878. Pound for pound among the heavyweights he’s got to be among the very best. Jack Newfield, author Only in America: The Life and Crimes of Don King