Top 25 Middleweights of All-Time

[elmersalsa]

It was a drag, but, I finished it. These in my view are the top 25 greatest middleweight boxers of all time!

The history of the middleweight division is one of the most important classes clouded with tons of talent. It's also the springboard to the heavier classes and after the heavyweights, it's the most glamorous division in history. Plenty of all time greats pound per pound come from this weight division: the middleweights. Were you have the speed and the skills plus the KO punch close to the heavyweights. The middleweights. The last division stop of the lighter weight classifications.

Here are the very best middleweight boxers in 25 slots. Lots of debating I see in this one. Let's debate with class with no derogatory remarks, please. Not everyone has the same view

And the top 25 greatest middleweight boxers of all time are:

1. Carlos Monzon
2. Sugar Ray Robinson
3. Marvelous Marvin Hagler
4. Harry Greb
5. Stanley Ketchel
6. Bernard Hopkins
7. Mickey Walker
8. Dick Tiger
9. Jake LaMotta
10. Bob Fitzsimmons
11. Tommy Ryan
12. Gene Fullmer
13. Tiger Flowers
14. Charley Burley
15. Freddie Steele
16. Marcel Thil
17. Ken Overlin
18. Tony Zale
19. Fred Apostoli
20. Holman Williams
21. Gennady "GGG" Golovkin
22. Emile Griffith
23. Marcel Cerdan
24. Charles "Kid" McCoy
25. Georgie Abrams

Let the debate begin.

[cfang]

I'll start then :-)

first off where's Sam Langford? I have no clue why he gets left out of middleweight discussions. He was a middleweight for years and fought guys at his weight, lower (in the case of the likes of gans and Walcott). There was a clamour for a fight between him and Ketchel for ages and that was because Langford for a long time was middleweight sized. He should be in the list and ahead of Ketchel in my view.

I've got Greb at number one and I think he's greater than Monzon and Hagler (my boyhood hero). Robinson is ofc the greatest welter and Id put him 4/5 on this list I think.

Golovkin is not greater than Emile Griffith or Marcel Cerdan at Middleweight, he's beaten nobody thus far to warrant inclusion in this list despite how good he looks.

Also what about Roy Jones? He beat Hopkins at middle and won the middle title by beating Tony. He should be included too. I really think that excluding middleweights who were either forced into fighting bigger men to get fights (in langfords case) or those that moved onto better things at higher weights (like jones) should be included. It could be argued Griffith was a better welter but hes in the list.

I think id have burley and steele a little higher up too.

It is a good list though lol ofc. What great fighers we've had in this division. I do think its interesting that in my view, the 3 greatest fighters of all time - greb, robinson, langford were all pretty much middles :-)

[cfang]

I'll start then :-)

first off where's Sam Langford? I have no clue why he gets left out of middleweight discussions. He was a middleweight for years and fought guys at his weight, lower (in the case of the likes of gans and Walcott). There was a clamour for a fight between him and Ketchel for ages and that was because Langford for a long time was middleweight sized. He should be in the list and ahead of Ketchel in my view.

I've got Greb at number one and I think he's greater than Monzon and Hagler (my boyhood hero). Robinson is ofc the greatest welter and Id put him 4/5 on this list I think.

Golovkin is not greater than Emile Griffith or Marcel Cerdan at Middleweight, he's beaten nobody thus far to warrant inclusion in this list despite how good he looks.

Also what about Roy Jones? He beat Hopkins at middle and won the middle title by beating Tony. He should be included too. I really think that excluding middleweights who were either forced into fighting bigger men to get fights (in langfords case) or those that moved onto better things at higher weights (like jones) should be included. It could be argued Griffith was a better welter but hes in the list.

I think id have burley and steele a little higher up too.

It is a good list though lol ofc. What great fighers we've had in this division. I do think its interesting that in my view, the 3 greatest fighters of all time - greb, robinson, langford were all pretty much middles :-)

Correction jones bt tony at super middle. he still be hopkins at middle tho :-)

[Scypion]

I think that Burley and Cerdan probably should be higher. Otherwise, very good list.

[gilgamesh]

1. Harry Greb
2. Carlos Monzon
3. Bernard Hopkins
4. Sugar Ray Robinson
5. Marvin Hagler
6. Stanley Ketchel
7. Bob Fitzsimmons
8. Charley Burley
9. Tony Zale
10. Jake Lamotta
11. Mickey Walker
12. Tiger Flowers
13. Freddie Steele
14. Ezzard Charles
15. Dick Tiger
16. Holman Williams
17. James Toney
18. Gene Fullmer
19. Marcel Cerdan
20. Thomas Hearns
21. Tommy Ryan
22. Sam Langford
23. Roy Jones Jr.
24. Julian Jackson
25. Sergio Martinez

[Ezzard]

I like Greb, Monzon, Ketchel, Hagler and Robinson... In some order...

[campfire]

It was a drag, but, I finished it. These in my view are the top 25 greatest middleweight boxers of all time!

The history of the middleweight division is one of the most important classes clouded with tons of talent. It's also the springboard to the heavier classes and after the heavyweights, it's the most glamorous division in history. Plenty of all time greats pound per pound come from this weight division: the middleweights. Were you have the speed and the skills plus the KO punch close to the heavyweights. The middleweights. The last division stop of the lighter weight classifications.

Here are the very best middleweight boxers in 25 slots. Lots of debating I see in this one. Let's debate with class with no derogatory remarks, please. Not everyone has the same view

And the top 25 greatest middleweight boxers of all time are:

1. Carlos Monzon
2. Sugar Ray Robinson
3. Marvelous Marvin Hagler
4. Harry Greb
5. Stanley Ketchel
6. Bernard Hopkins
7. Mickey Walker
8. Dick Tiger
9. Jake LaMotta
10. Bob Fitzsimmons
11. Tommy Ryan
12. Gene Fullmer
13. Tiger Flowers
14. Charley Burley
15. Freddie Steele
16. Marcel Thil
17. Ken Overlin
18. Tony Zale
19. Fred Apostoli
20. Holman Williams
21. Gennady "GGG" Golovkin
22. Emile Griffith
23. Marcel Cerdan
24. Charles "Kid" McCoy
25. Georgie Abrams

Let the debate begin.

No way is Monzon in front of Ray Robinson ..........1. Sugar Ray Robinson..2.Harry Greb..3.Marvin Hagler..4.Carlos Monzon..5.Stanley Ketchel

[elmersalsa]

That's in your view, campfire. The Shotgun only loss 3 fights at middleweight, and he avenged them all. Long Live King Carlos as #1 middleweight ever!

[klompton]

That's in your view, campfire. The Shotgun only loss 3 fights at middleweight, and he avenged them all. Long Live King Carlos as #1 middleweight ever!

Itd be hard to lose with those argentine refs officiating... Then again his lvl of comp usnt the highest either.

[elmersalsa]

King Carlos Monzon may not had the best opposition, but his opposition back in the 70s was very good. I can't see no middleweight in history beating him. He was awesome.

[pound per pound]

King Carlos Monzon may not had the best opposition, but his opposition back in the 70s was very good. I can't see no middleweight in history beating him. He was awesome.

If Monzon never beat great opponents, it's not proven he was the best. Hagler vs Monzon in 1977 would have been a great fight, and I'd pick Hagler who beat better opposition.

[klompton]

King Carlos Monzon may not had the best opposition, but his opposition back in the 70s was very good. I can't see no middleweight in history beating him. He was awesome.

If he didn't make his career facing faded ex welterweights and mediocre middleweights while his own handpicked referee (who carried Monzon's luggage to fights for him) officiated you might be able to envision a middleweight beating him. As it stands Monzon was lucky to be fighting in an in-between era that was populated by smaller aging fighters on their down and even then he ducked his only legit challenger for 3 years. Im always amazed at the disconnect between reality and hero worship when it comes to Monzon. His fans pretend he was this stone cold power punching killer with ice in his veins and that's only really true as it pertains to women. When he actually had a man in front of him he was an awkward counterpuncher who was more comfortable minimizing the action and breaking someone down than taking part in shootouts to force a KO. Not a bad fighter at all and given his height and awkward defense he would have been a tough fight for a lot of guys but hes ridiculously overrated.

[Ambling Alp II]

I have gone back and forth several times over the years with Robinson, Greb, Hagler, and Monzon.

Where I am right now is I have a hard time believing the #1 middleweight of all time could have so much trouble with an ancient Emile Griffith. Benny Briscoe got a draw against him in Argentina.

Hagler had way too much trouble with a past it Duran, Vito Antuefermo, an old Briscoe and lost to Leonard.

It has to be Robinson and Greb.

[elmersalsa]

That comes to show that Emile Griffith was a terrific great boxer. He gave King Carlos fits...twice

[King Carlos]

I have gone back and forth several times over the years with Robinson, Greb, Hagler, and Monzon.

Where I am right now is I have a hard time believing the #1 middleweight of all time could have so much trouble with an ancient Emile Griffith. Benny Briscoe got a draw against him in Argentina.

Hagler had way too much trouble with a past it Duran, Vito Antuefermo, an old Briscoe and lost to Leonard.

It has to be Robinson and Greb.

Robinson lost quite a bit, too.

Monzon took care of Griffith pretty handily in their first fight. The rematch took place right after he'd been shot twice in the leg by his wife and underwent surgery (in addition to his weight making struggles the day of the fight). Wouldn't count it against him too much.

[elmersalsa]

King Carlos Monzon may not had the best opposition, but his opposition back in the 70s was very good. I can't see no middleweight in history beating him. He was awesome.

If Monzon never beat great opponents, it's not proven he was the best. Hagler vs Monzon in 1977 would have been a great fight, and I'd pick Hagler who beat better opposition.

He beat great opponents like Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles

[King Carlos]

King Carlos Monzon may not had the best opposition, but his opposition back in the 70s was very good. I can't see no middleweight in history beating him. He was awesome.

If Monzon never beat great opponents, it's not proven he was the best. Hagler vs Monzon in 1977 would have been a great fight, and I'd pick Hagler who beat better opposition.

By that stage Hagler held a win over Cyclone Hart, a win and a draw against Sugar Ray Seales, a win and a loss to Willie Monroe, and a loss to Bobby Watts. Both of those losses coming in 1976.

He had a couple more years of fine tuning.

[klompton]

King Carlos Monzon may not had the best opposition, but his opposition back in the 70s was very good. I can't see no middleweight in history beating him. He was awesome.

If Monzon never beat great opponents, it's not proven he was the best. Hagler vs Monzon in 1977 would have been a great fight, and I'd pick Hagler who beat better opposition.

He beat great opponents like Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles

Would that be the same Napoles who was a natural lw and only moved up to ww when he was just shy of 30 because he couldnt get a shot at lw or ww? Or do you mean the ex lw napoles who was fighting his first and only fight at mw giving up five inches in height and four inches in reach at the age of 34? Hardly something to brag about for a large mw to beat a small fading ww.

[klompton]

That comes to show that Emile Griffith was a terrific great boxer. He gave King Carlos fits...twice

That same great terrific boxer lost 50% of his fights at this time. It didnt take the greatest mw of all time to beat him which just goes to show that monzon wasnt.

[elmersalsa]

If Monzon never beat great opponents, it's not proven he was the best. Hagler vs Monzon in 1977 would have been a great fight, and I'd pick Hagler who beat better opposition.

He beat great opponents like Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles

Would that be the same Napoles who was a natural lw and only moved up to ww when he was just shy of 30 because he couldnt get a shot at lw or ww? Or do you mean the ex lw napoles who was fighting his first and only fight at mw giving up five inches in height and four inches in reach at the age of 34? Hardly something to brag about for a large mw to beat a small fading ww.

It was a great performance by the great Carlos Monzon. One of the best performances in boxing in the last 50 years

[Ambling Alp II]

I have gone back and forth several times over the years with Robinson, Greb, Hagler, and Monzon.

Where I am right now is I have a hard time believing the #1 middleweight of all time could have so much trouble with an ancient Emile Griffith. Benny Briscoe got a draw against him in Argentina.

Hagler had way too much trouble with a past it Duran, Vito Antuefermo, an old Briscoe and lost to Leonard.

It has to be Robinson and Greb.

Robinson lost quite a bit, too.

Monzon took care of Griffith pretty handily in their first fight. The rematch took place right after he'd been shot twice in the leg by his wife and underwent surgery (in addition to his weight making struggles the day of the fight). Wouldn't count it against him too much.

The only fight that Robinson in his prime lost when he was a middleweight was against Turpin. Even then this was after a previous fight 9 days earlier.

That is the problem with Robinson. People keep remembering his fights in his late 30s when he was going to to toe against people like Fullmer.

Griffith was 35 years old by then and Monzon barely beat him.

[BoxBuzz]

What you describe as trouble, and what I see as someone willing to engage at a level at or near that of the opponent while retaining clear control seem to be the same thing. I always thought Monzon enjoyed the ride. There's only been a few fighters I can say that about. Duran perhaps another one but not to Monzon's level. I think Monzon would have loved to compete when fights were 20 plus rounds.

So...in order to see Monzon do even better, you'd need to stick someone better in there with him. But ....there was no one better available......I'm thinking he would have been up to the task.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

You never see o'dowd on these lists. He belongs.

[Ambling Alp II]

What you describe as trouble, and what I see as someone willing to engage at a level at or near that of the opponent while retaining clear control seem to be the same thing. I always thought Monzon enjoyed the ride. There's only been a few fighters I can say that about. Duran perhaps another one but not to Monzon's level. I think Monzon would have loved to compete when fights were 20 plus rounds.

So...in order to see Monzon do even better, you'd need to stick someone better in there with him. But ....there was no one better available......I'm thinking he would have been up to the task.

But he wasn't in clear control against Griffith, the 2nd time.
He also wasn't in control against Briscoe the first time.

It just doesn't make much sense for Monzon to be #1 and Griffith to be #22. There clearly wasn't that much difference between the two. Monzon probably should be behind Robinson and Greb. Griffith should be up several spots. Griffith was as underrated as a middleweight as he is overrated as a welterweight.

If Griffith really was only the #22 middleweight and Nino Benvenuti really is not a top 25 middleweight, then there really isn't much of a case all for Monzon to be #1.

Joey Giardello and Benvenuti clearly should be in the top 25.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I don't see tommy ryan this high at Middleweight.