Rank these 70's heavyweights

[Hut*Hut]

Ken Norton
Got destroyed by Foreman and Shavers, but had three tight fights with Ali, lost a close decision to Holmes and wins over Jimmy Young and Jerry Quarry.

Ron Lyle
Probably best remembered for the war with Big George. Beat Bonavena, Ellis and Shavers but lost by TKO to Ali and two decisions to Jimmy Young.

Earnie Shavers
Biggest puncher in heavyweight history? Lost to Ali, Holmes twice , Ron Lyle and a couple of other dudes but got 1st round wins over Jimmy Young, Jimmy Ellis and ken Norton.

Jimmy Young
Hold official wins over Foreman and Lyle as well as a Draw with Shavers and also an unofficial win over Ali, from what Ive heard. Extreemly inconsistent finished 34-19-2.

from 1-4 where would you's rank these dudes?

[Hut*Hut]

I would say

1) Young
2) Norton
3) Lyle
4) Shavers

its really close though.

[ November 06, 2003, 08:31 AM: Message edited by: Hut*Hut ]

[Rebel]

Do you mean rank them in terms of who was the best fighter at their "peak" or overall who was the greater fighter?

[Hut*Hut]

Originally posted by Rebel:
Do you mean rank them in terms of who was the best fighter at their "peak" or overall who was the greater fighter? I think all their careers were so similar in span and era that those two are basically the same thing.

[BJ*]

why exlude ellis in this?
not that it matters - none would be memorable if it weren't for their era...

[Yori Boy]

Hmmm,

Norton
Shavers
Young
Lyle

[TIP]

Quarry Ko'd Shavers and out boxed Lyle. He took the Norton fight on about a weeks notice. I'd rate Quarry over all of them but Young might outslick him. Rating these three guys is an interesting question. Styles are an important consideration and I think Lyle is maybe the most rounded with good power and some boxing skill. Young lacked power but was extremely clever and tricky I thought Young beat Norton in their encounter. Norton had good power but couldn't fight anyway but forward. Back him up and he's lost. Shavers had huge power and was a danger to anyone but lacked stamina and chin. Record and success wise Norton and Lyle achieved more IMO with Shavers running a close 3rd. I'd rate them. TIP

Lyle
Norton
Shavers
Young

[Manowar]

Originally posted by TIP:
Quarry Ko'd Shavers and out boxed Lyle. He took the Norton fight on about a weeks notice. I'd rate Quarry over all of them but Young might outslick him. Rating these three guys is an interesting question. Styles are an important consideration and I think Lyle is maybe the most rounded with good power and some boxing skill. Young lacked power but was extremely clever and tricky I thought Young beat Norton in their encounter. Norton had good power but couldn't fight anyway but forward. Back him up and he's lost. Shavers had huge power and was a danger to anyone but lacked stamina and chin. Record and success wise Norton and Lyle achieved more IMO with Shavers running a close 3rd. I'd rate them. TIP

Lyle
Norton
Shavers
Young I agree with your rankings.

[Hut*Hut]

Young basically beat every single guy mentioned, either officialy or otherwise, I cant understand anyone ranking him last.

As for Quarry and Elliss.
Quarry probably should be mentioned with these guys but to be honest he would have to be in 5th position, to my way of thinking. He did manage to beat Lyle and Shavers but got pretty much dominated every time he met Norton, Fraizer or Ali.

Elliss shouldn't be there.

[Michael Matos]

Originally posted by Hut*Hut:
Young basically beat every single guy mentioned, either officialy or otherwise, I cant understand anyone ranking him last.

As for Quarry and Elliss.
Quarry probably should be mentioned with these guys but to be honest he would have to be in 5th position, to my way of thinking. He did manage to beat Lyle and Shavers but got pretty much dominated every time he met Norton, Fraizer or Ali.

Elliss shouldn't be there. No Ellis shouldn't be there for the simple reason he was a 60's heavyweight. Ellis essentially dropped off the map after the February 1970 knockout loss to Frazier. He had a victory over Chuvalo in 1971 and the "fight" with Ali later that year. A washed up version of Ellis was produced as Cannon-Fodder for both Earnie Shavers and Joe Frazier near the end of his career. Definitely not by any stretch of the imagination a 70's heavyweight.