Great Britain has produced some truly great heavyweights over the last century, each providing entertainment and thrills throughout a different period of history. It’s tough to compare such unique athletes competing in entirely different boxing eras, but here at NetBet, we’ve compiled a list of our top five British heavyweights of all time.
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Henry Cooper – 40-14-1
Our ‘Enry was one of the smallest heavyweights you’re likely to see, but even size couldn’t stop him from knocking down a young Muhammad Ali in 1963. He ultimately lost both times he fought Ali, but the fact he was in the ring holding his own against arguably the greatest boxer of all time is a testament to Cooper’s skill.
A British and Commonwealth champion, Cooper was adored by the British public, and he remains the only boxer in the UK to have been knighted. He wasn’t the biggest, and he wasn’t the most powerful, but Cooper had an unerring ability to finish opponents with the iconic ‘Enry’s ‘Ammer.
Frank Bruno – 40-5
Frank Bruno is one of the biggest and best power punchers the heavyweight division has seen – of his 40 career victories, 38 came by KO. Nicknamed the True Brit, Bruno made a name for himself when he embarked upon a journey of 21 consecutive knockouts, launching him into contention for a world title.
When Bruno challenged Mike Tyson for the undisputed heavyweight title in 1989, the country held its breath. At the end of the third round, after taking some punishment of his own, Bruno rocked Tyson with a clean left hook. It was the first time in Tyson’s career he had been in trouble, and although the American went on to win by stoppage, that single moment sent the country into frenzy. In the penultimate fight of a devastating career, Bruno finally got his world title on a fourth attempt in front of a home crowd.
Anthony Joshua – 24-2
Don’t let recent defeats against Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk fool you, Anthony Joshua is one of the best British boxers to ever step foot in the ring. On his way to a 22-0 record after being crowned Olympic champion, he dispatched of top talents like Dillian Whyte, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin, not to mention the all-time classic against a legendary Wladimir Klitschko.
One of the heaviest punchers in the sport, only three fighters have avoided his wrath to see the end of the 12th round. At just 32-years-old, sky is the limit for Watford-born AJ. Not only is he one of the most loved athletes in Great Britain, but his brutal honesty about a troubled childhood also serves as an inspiring story for the next generation of elite boxers. He is already an icon, but he’s far from finished yet.
Lennox Lewis – 41-2-1
Three-time world heavyweight champion and the last in the division to hold the undisputed championship, Lennox Lewis is a tad unlucky not claim our crown. His resume is simply astonishing, featuring wins over incredible fighters such as Frank Bruno, Tommy Morrison, Henry Akinwande, Shannon Briggs, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitschko – the list goes on.
The 6ft 5 Lion came up in arguably the most competitive era of boxing, and he rose to the very top. When Lewis unified the belts in a unanimous decision victory over Holyfield in 1999, he was undoubtedly one of the most famous superstars on the planet. Unlike many others, Lewis went out on a high as world heavyweight champion, finishing Tyson and Klitschko to put an emphatic end to an illustrious career.
Tyson Fury – 33-0-1
Although his resume features wins over Derek Chisora (x2), Wladimir Klitschko, Deontay Wilder (x2) and Dillian Whyte, you could argue he has not fought the same talent that Lennox Lewis did. However, in a sport that is solely about hitting and not getting hit, nobody has done it quite like Tyson Fury in the heavyweight division. A 6ft 9 giant that moves like a lightweight, the Gypsy King is a nightmare match-up for any heavyweight in history, and his undefeated record is testament to his supreme boxing IQ and expertise.
Fury’s trilogy with Wilder perhaps best sums up his ability as a boxer. When the Mancunian was knocked down in round 12 of their first bout, the whole world thought it was over. Fury had other ideas. Not only did he rise from the ashes to survive the count, he went on to outbox Wilder for the remainder of the round. After the all-time classic was scored as a draw, Fury went on to dominate in the second and third fights, utilising his nonpareil technique to bury the rivalry once and for all.
Whilst Tyson Fury claims to have retired, we can’t help but think a massive all-British match-up with Anthony Joshua would be enough to draw him off the couch. A win over another British great would surely secure his status as not only the best British heavyweight of all time, but simply the best heavyweight of all time.
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