Boxing's Top-10 Most Influential Figures?

[Goodnight, Irene]

Talk of Nat Fleischer in another thread sparked this topic.

Say a non-Boxing fan asked you to compile a list of its ten most significant figures through history? Boxers, promoters, officials, using any criteria you please.

I have never compiled such a list, but at a moments thought, names running through my head are Nat Fleischer, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Ray Robinson, Jack Broughton, John Douglas, Muhammad Ali, Tex Rickard, John L. Sullivan, Ray Leonard, Don King...

Thoughts?

[Crease]

I wouldn't be surprised if Burt Sugar was named in there. He brought boxing to the masses... Particularly the younger generation, telling them about the history of boxing.

[Syntax Error]

Good question.

I'd go with (in no particular order):-

1 Muhammad Ali
2 John L Sullivan
3 Mike Tyson
4 Jack Johnson
5 Bert Sugar
6 John Douglas
7 Don King
8 Nat Fleischer
9 Sugar Ray Robinson
10 Howard Cosell

[Tomasino]

Jack Broughton
John Douglas
John L Sullivan
Tex Rickard
Muhammed Ali
Jack Dempsey
Mike Tyson
Don King
Benny Leonard
Blinky Palermo

[scallum]

Jack Johnson does not get the proper credit he deserves. He had an enormous impact on a severely oppressed people. Without his success there may have never been Louis,Jim Brown ,Jackie Robinson, Ali,Wilt Chamberlin , Jordan...If Johnsons Fails it would have no doubt negatively impacted the spirit of a whole peoples

[Goodnight, Irene]

There is no way in hell Bert Sugar makes the top-10 here.

Syntax, you have him, but not someone like Jack Broughton!?

[Giancarlo]

No mention of James D. Norris?

Not that I am surprised...

[Tomasino]

No mention of James D. Norris?

Not that I am surprised...

would be on my list if I didn't feel the need to grudgingly give Dempsey his due. ;;-)

[JDC]

Sly must be up there

[IRLangmaid25]

For me in no order it would be

(All time).
Jack Johnson
Muhammed Ali
Joe Louis
Bob Arum
Angelo Dundee
Howard Cosell

(Current)
Richard Schaffer
Oscar De La Hoya
Arum
Bernd Boente
Jose Sulliaman
Ken Hershman (formerly Showtime now HBO)

I have gone split past and present.

[elmersalsa]

I pick:
1. Muhammad Ali
2. Jack Johnson
3. The Ring Magazine
4. Tex Rickard
5. Jack Dempsey
6. Sugar Ray Robinson
7. Henry Armstrong
8. Mike Tyson
9. John L. Sullivan
10. Don King

[Goodnight, Irene]

A magazine is not a figure.

[elmersalsa]

A magazine is not a figure.

I am saying all the contributors of the magazine that made the sport famous, sir. For example: Nat Fleischer and Bert Sugar and other editors that made the magazine what is today: The Bible of Boxing

[Goodnight, Irene]

Multiple individuals are not a figure, either.

Figure = One man.

[Tomasino]

Can I claim the entire boxing staff of HBO, past and present, as a figure?

[Goodnight, Irene]

LOL.

It depends if they can all morph into one amalgamated biomass to produce one figure, ala the good folkes at Ring Magazine.

[Tomasino]

I'm sure if the financial inducements were satisfactory they would do it.


I wonder where elmer has ran off too. Must be the mention of "the rematch"

[Syntax Error]

There is no way in hell Bert Sugar makes the top-10 here.

Syntax, you have him, but not someone like Jack Broughton!?

I never realised this was an exam; I thought it was about opinions.

Yes, Jack Broughton is an obvious choice for obvious reasons & I would not argue against his inclusion by anyone else, but although he is effectively the pioneer to the sport of boxing, he was around too long ago IMO.

I believe that the more recent figures in boxing history who have moulded & impacted the sport are more relevant & influential nowadays; but that's just my opinion.

[The Insider]

No order...

Tex Rickard
Ali
Michael Watson
Jack Johnson
Don King
Sugar Ray Robinson
Marquis of Queensbury
John Sullivan
Nat Fleischer
Rocky Balboa

[JDC]

No order...

Tex Rickard
Ali
Michael Watson
Jack Johnson
Don King
Sugar Ray Robinson
Marquis of Queensbury
John Sullivan
Nat Fleischer
Rocky Balboa

SS's character will do, but the man is surely bigger than the film role regards boxing.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Jack Johnson does not get the proper credit he deserves. He had an enormous impact on a severely oppressed people. Without his success there may have never been Louis,Jim Brown ,Jackie Robinson, Ali,Wilt Chamberlin , Jordan...If Johnsons Fails it would have no doubt negatively impacted the spirit of a whole peoples

You're out of your mind.

Johnson made it harder for Louis, not easier.