Who had the toughest competition in the last 60 years?

[Idisagree]

Who had the toughest competition in the last 60 years? List your top 5, or feel free to post your own.

M. Hagler: V.Antuofermo (2x), A. Minter, M. Hamsho (2x), R. Duran, JD. Roldan, T. Hearns, J.Mugabi, and SRL.

M. Ali: A.Moore, S.Liston (2x), F. Patterson (2x), C. Williams, J. Frazier (3x), B. Foster, K. Norton (3x), G. Foreman, R, Lyle, E. shavers, L. Spinks (2x), and L.Holmes.

R. Duran: De Jesus (3x), K. Buchanan, C. Palomino, SRL (2x), W. Benitez, P. Cuevas, M. Hagler, T. Hearns, and H. Camacho.

Carlos Ortiz: K. Lane (3x), D. Loi (3x), J. Brown, F. Elorde (2x), I. Laguna(3x), N. Locche, S. Ramos, and K. Buchanan.

Sugar Ray Leonard: W. Benitez, R. Duran(3x), T. Hearns(3x), M. Hagler, T. Norris, and H. Camacho.

T. Hearns: P. Cuevas, SRL (3x), W. Benitez, R. Duran, M. Hagler, JD. Roldan, and V. Hill.

E. Griffith: LM. Rodriguez (4x), B. Paret (2x), D. Tiger(2x), N. Benvenuti (3x), J. Napoles, C. Monzon (2x), V. Antuofermo, and B. Briscoe (2x).

E. Holyfield: DM. Qawi, C. De Leon, G. Foreman, L. Holmes, R. Bowe (3x), M. Moore, M. Tyson (2x), L. Lewis (2x), C. Byrd, and J. Toney

M. Pacquiao: MA. Barrera (2x), JM, Marquez (2x), E. Morales (3x),O. De La Hoya, R. Hatton, and M. Cotto.

JC. Chavez: JL. Ramirez, E. Rosario, M. Taylor (2x), H. Camacho, G. Haugen, P. Whitaker, O. De La Hoya, and K. Txzyu.

For me:
1. M. Ali
2. E. Griffith
3.R. Duran
4. C. Ortiz
5. E. Holyfield

[thunderfromdownunder]

you could probably throw de la hoya on that list, Chavez x2, trinidad, mosley x2, vargas, quaratey, mayweather, pacquiao, hopkins ect

[tanibanana]

you could probably throw de la hoya on that list, Chavez x2, trinidad, mosley x2, vargas, quaratey, mayweather, pacquiao, hopkins ect

O. DeLa Hoya -- P. Whittaker, JC Chavez (x2), F. Trinidad, S. Mosley (x2), B. Hopkins, F. Mayweather, M. Pacquiao

[zojo]

What about some of the journeymen out there that have been used as stepping stones for future contenders?

[Ezzard]

I'd go with Griffith

[Goodnight, Irene]

I'd go with Griffith

It's very nice to see the always-forgotten Ortiz get a deserved mention, but I agree with you, Ezz. Griffith has my vote, but it's a competitive field.

[Ezzard]

I'd go with Griffith

It's very nice to see the always-forgotten Ortiz get a deserved mention, but I agree with you, Ezz. Griffith has my vote, but it's a competitive field.

there's not much in it between those 2.

[Bricks]

Who had the toughest competition in the last 60 years? List your top 5, or feel free to post your own.

M. Hagler: V.Antuofermo (2x), A. Minter, M. Hamsho (2x), R. Duran, JD. Roldan, T. Hearns, J.Mugabi, and SRL.

M. Ali: A.Moore, S.Liston (2x), F. Patterson (2x), C. Williams, J. Frazier (3x), B. Foster, K. Norton (3x), G. Foreman, R, Lyle, E. shavers, L. Spinks (2x), and L.Holmes.

R. Duran: De Jesus (3x), K. Buchanan, C. Palomino, SRL (2x), W. Benitez, P. Cuevas, M. Hagler, T. Hearns, and H. Camacho.

Carlos Ortiz: K. Lane (3x), D. Loi (3x), J. Brown, F. Elorde (2x), I. Laguna(3x), N. Locche, S. Ramos, and K. Buchanan.

Sugar Ray Leonard: W. Benitez, R. Duran(3x), T. Hearns(3x), M. Hagler, T. Norris, and H. Camacho.

T. Hearns: P. Cuevas, SRL (3x), W. Benitez, R. Duran, M. Hagler, JD. Roldan, and V. Hill.

E. Griffith: LM. Rodriguez (4x), B. Paret (2x), D. Tiger(2x), N. Benvenuti (3x), J. Napoles, C. Monzon (2x), V. Antuofermo, and B. Briscoe (2x).

E. Holyfield: DM. Qawi, C. De Leon, G. Foreman, L. Holmes, R. Bowe (3x), M. Moore, M. Tyson (2x), L. Lewis (2x), C. Byrd, and J. Toney

M. Pacquiao: MA. Barrera (2x), JM, Marquez (2x), E. Morales (3x),O. De La Hoya, R. Hatton, and M. Cotto.

JC. Chavez: JL. Ramirez, E. Rosario, M. Taylor (2x), H. Camacho, G. Haugen, P. Whitaker, O. De La Hoya, and K. Txzyu.

For me:
1. M. Ali
2. E. Griffith
3.R. Duran
4. C. Ortiz
5. E. Holyfield

I say Ali, than Hagler (including his philly wars not mentioned in list above) and Holyfield who has more or less fought the best in the HW division in the last 25 years!

[hitman09]

Duran, Griffith and Ali IMO.

[Adamj1987]

holyfield esspecially now hes fought botha as i think he has now fought every major title holder from the 90s

WBO wasnt major in the 90s

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Griffith would be my choice of those listed. I think Archie Moore is being overlooked here. Just in his fights from 1950 and forward

Harold Johnson X4
Joey Maxim x3
Nino Valdes x2
Yvonne Durelle x2
Bert Lytell
Jimmy Bivins
Bob baker
Bobo Olson
Rocky Marciano
Floyd Patterson
Willie Pastrano
Muhammad Ali
Eddie Cotton

That's not even listing solid fighters like Besmanoff, Whitehurst and others. Arch might not get the nod, but he has to be in the top5

[Ezzard]

Griffith would be my choice of those listed. I think Archie Moore is being overlooked here. Just in his fights from 1950 and forward

Harold Johnson X4
Joey Maxim x3
Nino Valdes x2
Yvonne Durelle x2
Bert Lytell
Jimmy Bivins
Bob baker
Bobo Olson
Rocky Marciano
Floyd Patterson
Willie Pastrano
Muhammad Ali
Eddie Cotton

That's not even listing solid fighters like Besmanoff, Whitehurst and others. Arch might not get the nod, but he has to be in the top5

If you counted his whole career he'd probably take it.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Griffith would be my choice of those listed. I think Archie Moore is being overlooked here. Just in his fights from 1950 and forward

Harold Johnson X4
Joey Maxim x3
Nino Valdes x2
Yvonne Durelle x2
Bert Lytell
Jimmy Bivins
Bob baker
Bobo Olson
Rocky Marciano
Floyd Patterson
Willie Pastrano
Muhammad Ali
Eddie Cotton

That's not even listing solid fighters like Besmanoff, Whitehurst and others. Arch might not get the nod, but he has to be in the top5

If you counted his whole career he'd probably take it.

Easily, he still fought better competition than most of those listed in the time frame of the thread.

[Idisagree]

I agree with SaadOffTheDeck and Ezzard, thank you.

After careful consideration I’m revising my list:
1. A. Moore
2. E . Griffith
3. M. Ali
4. R. Duran
5. C. Ortiz

[Ambling Alp]

I think you could make a really good case for Ray Robinson. From 1950 onward:

LaMotta
Fullmer 4X
Basilio 4X
Turpin 2X
Olson 4X
Graziano
Giardello
Maxim
Villemain 2x,
Moyer 2
Dupas
Downes
Pender 2X

Also, take a look at Gene Fullmer and Dick Tiger:


Fullmer- Robinson 4X,Basilio 2x,Tiger 3X,Giardello, Paret, Webb 2x.

Tiger-Giardello 3X,Fullmer 3X,Griffith 2x, Benvenuti, Foster, Torres 2x, Webb 2x.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

No doubt, Basilio as well.

SRR x2
Fullmer x2
Gavilan
Graham x3
Ike Williams
Pender
Ortega
Saxton x3
DeMarco x3

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Wrong thread

[Syntax Error]

Good thread.

There's some great choices, but having given it some real thought, I'd say Emile Griffith just nicks it.

I'ts so hard to pick, because Ali fought some monsters & a lot of them were when he was way past his best too.

Evander Holyfield stands out too as he seems to be the de-facto HW of the last 25 years, as he has fought virtually every major contender it has been possible for him to fight.

[Shazam!]

Muhammad Ali.

It's not even close.

[elmersalsa]

I would say the greats Carmen Basilio and Emile Griffith had the greatest competition since 1950. They fought all kind of opponents.

[I Feel Fine]

Joey Maxim also had a great list in that time; Mills, Charles (x2), Robinson, Moore (x3), Patterson, Pastrano, Olson (x2), Machen (x2).
The one argument that I want to make for Ali is that he was a Heavyweight, so he couldn't move up one, two, three divisions like these other guys could to find new opposition and new champions to beat. All he could do was fight Heavyweights and an occasional Light Heavyweight. He fought every linear champion from 1960 (counting from Patterson's second reign) to 1985 (Holmes.) Only he and Louis have covered that much territory at Heavyweight. I think every champion that he fights counts for more, because there are going to be less champions available for him to fight than there are for guys in the lower weights.
The one argument I will make for Pacquiao is that he is still active, so he still could have many more years of taking on top guys, win or lose.
That said, it is difficult. I'm inclined to call it a toss up for Ali and Moore. Its tough to leave out Griffith though.

[hitman09]

Muhammad Ali.

It's not even close.

Because, obviously, your knowledge of boxing is peerless, and know beyond all doubt that facing great, famous HWs is much, much better than facing great(er, in many cases), but not as famous, MWs or WWs.

By all means put Ali first, it's not ridiculous to say so, but it is ridiculous to say that it's not even close when there is almost nothing to choose between them.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Muhammad Ali.

It's not even close.

Ridiculous.

[Syntax Error]

Muhammad Ali.

It's not even close.

It is close; so close in fact that I am even beginning to doubt my choice of Emile Griffith now.

[Shazam!]

The heavyweight era(s) and fighters that Ali crossed amount to what I believe to be the most challenging. And he conquered all. His greatness is proven in the many ways that he adapted.