‘The World’s Greatest Ever’ Heavyweight Boxers

Posted on | November 19, 2009 | 1 Comment

‘The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer’ Three-Day Celebration Dec. 11-13 in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 19, 2009) – Boxing has traditionally been driven by heavyweights and many of the sport’s most recognizable figures through the years have fought in the highest-profile division.

The Heavyweight Division in the “The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” promotion has two more nominees than the other seven divisions because the nominating committee was unable to limit the number to 10.

Ten of the Heavyweight Division nominees are in the International Boxing Hall of the Fame and the only non-members of this elite group, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, are sure locks as soon as they’re eligible for nomination.

London boxing icon Lennox Lewis is the lone non-American heavyweight nominee, a division that has many of boxing’s most colorful and popular figures, dating all the way back to the end of the 19th century with legends John L. Sullivan and Jack Johnson.

The winners in the eight divisions, plus “The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer,” will be announced Sunday, December 13, the final day of a three-day celebration of these outstanding boxers in The Paris Las Vegas.

The weekend event is being presented by Greatest Ever Enterprises, which already has done “world’s greatest” tributes on two continents in the sports of soccer and rugby.

On-line voting at www.GreatestEver.com allows boxing fans from around the world to select the greatest boxer in each of the original eight weight classes, highlighted by the all-time pound-for-pound “The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer.”

The 12 Heavyweights, listed below in no particular order, follow with their brief profiles:

JACK “The Galveston Giant” JOHNSON – 77-13-4 19 ND (48 KOs)…

International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF)…American…Pro Years: 1897-1938…first black to win world heavyweight championship…World “Colored” heavyweight Champion…Notable Victories: Joe Choynski, George Gardner, Sandy Ferguson (4), Joe Jeannette (5), Young Peter Jackson, Sam Langford, Bob Fitzsimmons, Foreman Jim Flynn (2), Tommy Burns, Stanley Ketchel and James J. Jeffries.

JACK “The Manassa Mauler” DEMPSEY – 61-6-8 6 ND (50 KOs)… IBHOF …American…Pro Years: 1914-1927…changed boxing from slow, defensive style to aggressive brawling…most recognizable and richest athlete of his generation…fought in first $1-million fight and participated in fights that set records for highest gates and attendances on several occasions…Notable Victories: Jack Sharkey, Luis Angel Firpo, Tommy Gibbons, Georges Carpentier, Bill Brennan (2), Jess Willard, Battling Levinsky and Foreman Jim Flynn.

JOE “The Brown Bomber” LOUIS – 68-3 (54 KOs) …IBHOF… American… Pro Years: 1934-1951…all of his fights were the main event…record 26 successful title defenses during his 10-year reign…enlisted in U.S. Army during WWII…avenged loss against Max Schmeling in 1938 “Fight of the Century” that had International implications between U.S. and Hitler’s Germany…Notable Victories: Tony Galento, Jersey Joe Walcott (2), Billy Conn (2), John Henry Lewis, Jim Braddock, Jack Sharkey, Max Baer and Primo Carnera.

ROCKY “The Brockton Blockbuster” MARCIANO – 49-0 (43 KOs) … IBHOF… American…Ring Fighter of the Year 1952, 1954 and 1955….only world heavyweight champion to retire undefeated…died in a plane crash…Notable Victories: Jersey Joe Walcott (2), Archie Moore, Joe Louis and Ezzard Charles (2).

“Iron” MIKE TYSON – 50-6 (44 KOs)…American…Pro Years: 1985-2005… youngest world heavyweight champion of all-time (20)…fierceness in and out of ring made him a cult-like figure…Notable Victories: Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks, Pinklon Thomas, Tyrell Briggs, Tony Tubbs, Henry Tillman, Donovan Ruddock and Bruce Seldon.

LARRY “The Easton Assassin” HOLMES – 69-6 (44 KOs)…IBHOF … American…Pro Years: 1973-2002…second all-time with 20 successful title defenses…won first 48 pro fights, one shy of Marciano’s record…Notable Victories: Muhammad Ali, Gerry Cooney, Trevor Berbick, Ken Norton, Earnie Shaves, Tim Witherspoon and James Smith.

MUHAMMAD “The Louisville Lip” ALI – 56-5 (37 KOs)…IBHOF… American…Pro Years: 1960-1981…gold medal winner in 1960 Olympics as Cassius Clay…3-time world heavyweight champion…Notable Victories: Joe Frazier (2), Sonny Liston (2), George Foreman, Archie Moore, George Chuvalo, Ernie Terrell, Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Ken Norton, Alfredo Evangelista and Earnie Shavers.

GEORGE FOREMAN – 76-5 (68 KOs)…IBHOF…American…Pro Years: 1969-1997 …oldest world heavyweight champion (45)…gold medal winner at 1968 Olympics …Notable Victories: Bert Cooper, Gerry Cooney, Joe Frazier (2), Ron Lyle, Michael Moorer and Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

“The Boston Strong Boy” JOHN L. SULLIVAN – 38-1-3 (33 KOs) … IBHOF… American…Pro Years: 1878-1905…last world heavyweight bare knuckles champion and first gloved world heavyweight champion…earned more than $1-million…boxing outfit looked like long johns…Notable Victories: Paddy Ryan, Charley Mitchell and Jake Kilrain.

“Smokin” JOE FRAZIER – 32-4-1 (27 KOs)…IBHOF…American…Pro Years: 1965-1981…gold medalist 1964 Olympics…tough, aggressive style embodied ‘Philly fighter’…Notable Victories: Muhammad Ali, Oscar Bonavena, George Chuvalo, Buster Mathis, Bob Foster and Jimmy Ellis.

LENNOX “The Lion” LEWIS – 41-2-1 (27 KOs)…IBHOF…British…Pro Years: 41-2-1 (27 KOs)…1989-2003…1988 Olympic gold medalist…one of four 3-time world heavyweight champions…Notable Victories: Mike Tyson, Donovan Ruddock, Tony Tucker, Frank Bruno, Oliver Mithcell, Ray Mercer, Tommy Morrison, Shannon Briggs, Henry Akinwande, Evander Holyfield, Michael Grant, Hasim Rahman and Vitali Klitschko.

EVANDER “The Real Deal” HOLYFIELD – 42-10-2 (27 KOs) American…Pro Years: 1984-Present…only 4-time world heavyweight champion…1984 Olympic bronze medalist…Notable Victories: Mike Tyson (2), Dwight Muhammad Qawi (2), Henry Tillman, Ossie Ocasio, James Tillman, Pinklon Thomas, George Foreman, John Ruiz, Larry Holmes, Riddick Bowe, Ray Mercer and Bobby Czyz.

The Dec. 11-13 weekend of events at the Paris Las Vegas include a USA vs. The World pro-boxing show on Saturday (Dec 12). Final results of the global on-line vote at www.GreatestEver.com will be announced Sunday (Dec. 13) at “The World’s Greatest Ever Boxer” black-tie awards dinner. Tickets to the dinner are available at www.greatestever.com or via MMG in Las Vegas (702 617 9730). The Retired Boxers Foundation (RBF) is the official charity.

Tickets for the US vs. World pro boxing show are priced at $150 (Super VIP), $100 (Platinum), $80 (VIP), $65 (Gold) and (newly added) $40. The fight card plus hospitality packages are priced at $500 (Super VIP), $400 (Platinum) $250 (VIP) and $150 (Gold), as well as for the Greatest Ever Dinner Awards Ceremony and Entertainment at $1000 (Super VIP), $800 (Platinum), $450 (VIP) and $250 (Gold).

For all USA ticket sales for the World’s Greatest Ever Boxer event please contact: MMG Marketing & Consulting, 702 617 9730, 1771 Flamingo Road, Suite 216A Las Vegas, NV. 89119 Email: WGEB@marketingbymmg.com

-30-

Comments