The Ring Fights of the decade

[Ezzard]

This month's The Ring has a special feature on top ten p4p of the decades. The top guys are listed below.

1920s - Harry Greb
1930s - Henry Armstrong
1940s - Ray Robinson
1950s - Ray Robinson
1960s - Eder Jofre
1970s - Roberto Duran
1980s - Ray Leonard
1990s - Pernell Whittaker
2000-2011 - Manny Pacquaio

Hard to argue

[Goodnight, Irene]

Its a sound list, sure, but theres plenty of room for debate.

None of their calls are outlandish, though Id change two of them.

Also, "2000-2011," is not a decade --- that should be 2000-2009 (Pacquiao still wins).

[Ezzard]

Apologies, the title should read "The Ring Fighters"

[Ezzard]

Its a sound list, sure, but theres plenty of room for debate.

None of their calls are outlandish, though Id change two of them.

Also, "2000-2011," is not a decade --- that should be 2000-2009 (Pacquiao still wins).

Okay, let me try and guess your two changes...

1960s you go for Ali or Griffith?

1980s you go for Hagler?

just guessing.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I might take Charles in the 40's, I'd have to look closer though. Jofre would be one I think I would differ on, but I'd have to look closer.

I would guess Irene would find a replacement for Duran.

Cliff knows his shit, I've talked Boxing with him for many years.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Charles in the 40's and Chavez in the 80's were my changes.

I did also think there would be strong cases for Louis (40's), Griffith (60's), Ali & Monzon (70's), Hagler (80's), and Hopkins (00's). If you wanted to go more on ability than achievements, you could also argue Jones or Lopez (90's), and Mayweather (00's).

There isnt one BAD call in his list, however.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I might take Charles in the 40's, I'd have to look closer though. Jofre would be one I think I would differ on, but I'd have to look closer.

I would guess Irene would find a replacement for Duran.

Cliff knows his shit, I've talked Boxing with him for many years.

Pardon my ignorance, but who is Cliff?

[dempseyfire]

I'd also put Charles in for the 1940s and Griffith in for the 1960s.

For the 90s, I think Jones Jr and Whitaker are neck and neck.

[elmersalsa]

This month's The Ring has a special feature on top ten p4p of the decades. The top guys are listed below.

1920s - Harry Greb
1930s - Henry Armstrong
1940s - Ray Robinson
1950s - Ray Robinson
1960s - Eder Jofre
1970s - Roberto Duran
1980s - Ray Leonard
1990s - Pernell Whittaker
2000-2011 - Manny Pacquaio

Hard to argue

It is a great list. I would only differ in the best of the 1940s though. I think the great Willie Pep should be the very best fighter of that 40s decade. His achievements in that decade were spectacular. But to choose Robinson as the best of the 40s, wouldn't be bad either. I just don't think that a fighter should be the best in two different decades. Also in the 60s putting the great Eder Jofre as the best is a great choice. He was very underrated. Maybe because he did not fight in Europe and did not had enough fights in America, especially in NYC hurt him...I got the great Muhammad Ali as the best of the 60s.

Who you guys got for the decade of the 1910s and 1900s?

I got it like this since 1880:
1880s Peter Jackson
1890s Bob Fitszimmons
1900s Sam Langford
1910s Jimmy Wilde

[Goodnight, Irene]

Pretty solid in the missing decades.

I would not go with Pep over Charles because, while at a similar talent level, Charles' opposition is leaps and bounds greater --- but I can still understand Pep as your choice. Stunning boxer. I just think Charles' CV is undeniable.

Ali may have been the most talented guy of the 60's, but his CV isnt good enough to challenge Jofre, or especially Griffith. Ali has a better claim to the 70's, IMO.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I might take Charles in the 40's, I'd have to look closer though. Jofre would be one I think I would differ on, but I'd have to look closer.

I would guess Irene would find a replacement for Duran.

Cliff knows his shit, I've talked Boxing with him for many years.

Pardon my ignorance, but who is Cliff?

Cliff Rold, the guy who did the list.

[Ezzard]

I might take Charles in the 40's, I'd have to look closer though. Jofre would be one I think I would differ on, but I'd have to look closer.

I would guess Irene would find a replacement for Duran.

Cliff knows his shit, I've talked Boxing with him for many years.

Pardon my ignorance, but who is Cliff?

Cliff Rold, the guy who did the list.

Any chance you can get him to post here? A guest poster or something?

[Ezzard]

Here are all the decades....

1920s
Greb
Leonard
Tunney
Walker
Villa
Loughran
Dempsey
Taylor
Canzoneri
Flowers

1930s
Armstrong
Louis
Ross
Canzoneri
McLarnin
Steele
Al Brown
Lynch
Berg
Chocolate

1940s

Robinson
Charles
Pep
Louis
Williams
Ortiz
Saddler
Conn
LaMotta
Cerdan

1950s

Robinson
Moore
Gavilan
Marciano
Perez
Saddler
Fullmer
Basilio
Brown
Johnson

1960s

Jofre
Ali
Ortiz
Griffith
Harada
Benvenuti
Saldivar
Olivares
Tiger
Elorde

1970s

Duran
Monzon
Napoles
Arguello
Canto
Gomez
Zarate
Ali
Foster
Gushiken

1980s

Leonard
Hagler
Sanchez
Spinks
Hearns
Chavez
Tyson
Pryor
Holmes
Chandler

1990s

Whitaker
Jones Jr
Toney
Holyfield
Chavez
Hopkins
Trinidad
Lopez
De La Hoya
Norris

2000-2011
Pacquiao
Mayweather Jr
Hopkins
Morales
Calzaghe
Marquez
Jones Jr
Barrera
Marquez
Wonjongkam

[Ambling Alp]

I would go with:
1920s Leonard
1930s Armstrong
1940s Robinson
1950s- ?
1960s Ali
1970s Monzon
1980s Leonard
1990s Whitaker
2000s Pacquiao

I think Robinson is clearly the best fighter of the 1940s. You could make a good case for ranking Robinson in the 1940s as as having the best decade of anyone ever. The 1950s is a different story. He wasn't the same fighter, but still great. No one stands out in that decade. Moore might have the best case for the 1950s.
The 1990s is close, but I would lean toward Whitaker.

[crold1]

Pardon my ignorance, but who is Cliff?

Cliff Rold, the guy who did the list.

Any chance you can get him to post here? A guest poster or something?

Happy to chime in having happened across this. Thanks for any kind words. These lists were a blast to do and I was honored to be asked. Of course, there are a couple I already wish I could have back (Ali is a little low in the 70s; Napoles too high; Norris was questionable for the 90s). Hopefully, I can get another crack at it if they get to a 100th issue.

As a point to, I wrote them thinking of specific decades (20s etc.; wasn't including 2011-12) so the years of the mag and the lists aren't 100% copacetic but hard to start a decade at 22.

:)

[Ezzard]

Must have missed this.

Thanks for posting Cliff. Much appreciated.

I knew boxing best in the 80s as it was my formative years as a boxing fan. Nothing can ever compare to that era when you truly first discover the sport. Buy all the magazines, books, etc…

So here’s my critique, for what it’s worth…

I think Fenech, Pedroza and Nelson all deserve a shout in the 80s decade. I’d certainly have them above Pryor and Chandler (fine boxers in their own right).

[yancey]

Let's see, the 50's has Marciano as top 4 pfp, but omits Frazier entirely in the '60s and '70s.

Yeah, right.

[BoxBuzz]

Let's see, the 50's has Marciano as top 4 pfp, but omits Frazier entirely in the '60s and '70s.

Yeah, right.

Can't disagree with this, he beat the #2 guy....and would have obliterated the #1 guy.

[yancey]

Let's see, the 50's has Marciano as top 4 pfp, but omits Frazier entirely in the '60s and '70s.

Yeah, right.

Can't disagree with this, he beat the #2 guy....and would have obliterated the #1 guy.

What is a suitable definition for "best pound for pound" fighter?

Is getting as much as possible out of the package granted you a component of "best pound for pound"?

I would think so.

btw, by bringing up Marciano in my initial post on this thread, I was by no means attempting to say he does not belong on the '50s pfp list.

Rocky in fact does belong on the list.

My point is that Frazier can be compared to Rocky in that they both got a great deal out of what their talents allowed them.

If you took what Frazier got out of his 205 pound talent and transposed that into a 160 pound package, imo he would stand a very good chance of beating all three of the middleweight champs on the '60s list, and probably would have put one of them into a freaking coma.