Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Lots of knowledgeable guys on here so I was wondering who your favourite fighter of all time was/is? I know there's a difference between favourite and best so the question can be answered in two parts if need be. I've never really gave it much thought to be honest. Growing up I loved Benn and Eubank. Naz and DeLa Hoya also. Roy Jones at the time although I feel he's tarnished any legacy he created with the PED allegations and recent antics. Who is your favourite fighter and who do think is the best of all time?
Horses thread about Ray Robinson got me thinking of this btw. He has to be up there?
Horses thread about Ray Robinson got me thinking of this btw. He has to be up there?
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Boxerbeetle
- Light Heavyweight
- Posts: 32676
- Joined: 19 Sep 2011, 10:59
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Growing up in the 90s, there's no real surprises on my list tbh.
Favourite British fighter was Calzaghe, honourable mentions to Lennox and Naz.
Favourite international fighters were Morales and Barrerra, although Golovkin is getting up there now as well.
Best of all time has to be Robinson, he really could do everything.
Favourite British fighter was Calzaghe, honourable mentions to Lennox and Naz.
Favourite international fighters were Morales and Barrerra, although Golovkin is getting up there now as well.
Best of all time has to be Robinson, he really could do everything.
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reggaereggae
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 4723
- Joined: 21 Dec 2009, 17:01
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Generally when were younger, we are more emotional and fights mean more....
I was a teenager in late 80s and a couple of years in 90s.
So I was brought into the sport by Bruno and McGuigan. But the guys that held my attention were Eubank, Benn (a big favourite), Hamed. I also really liked Paul Hodkinson, an underrated fighter
I was a teenager in late 80s and a couple of years in 90s.
So I was brought into the sport by Bruno and McGuigan. But the guys that held my attention were Eubank, Benn (a big favourite), Hamed. I also really liked Paul Hodkinson, an underrated fighter
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Growing up reading old books and articles I became a huge fan of Jack Dempsey. Loved his savagery and the knock-down wars he was involved with and just everything about him which exuded violence. I have the print of an oil painting of when he went through the ropes against Firpo on a wall in my office. When I had a son, I wanted him to be named after Dempsey but ton of kids called Jack so followed one his real names and called my lad Harrison
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Boxerbeetle
- Light Heavyweight
- Posts: 32676
- Joined: 19 Sep 2011, 10:59
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
I wanted my son's 1st and 2nd names to be 'Joe Louis', but my missus vetoed ittobyh5 wrote:.When I had a son, I wanted him to be named after Dempsey but ton of kids called Jack so followed one his real names and called my lad Harrison
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Alexis Arguello for me, always appeared classy in and out of the ring.
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Boxerbeetle wrote:I wanted my son's 1st and 2nd names to be 'Joe Louis', but my missus vetoed ittobyh5 wrote:.When I had a son, I wanted him to be named after Dempsey but ton of kids called Jack so followed one his real names and called my lad Harrison
I mentioned Nigel Benjamin but she worked it out, surprisingly for such an idiot.
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Syntax Error
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 9007
- Joined: 22 Apr 2005, 08:00
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Favourite - Matthew Saad Muhammad.
My father got me into boxing & I used to watch a lot of John Conteh fights & I thought he was great, but then he fought MSM & when Saad beat him, I thought he was God!
I then followed Saad's career & as we all know, he was one of the most exciting fighters there has ever been.
My father got me into boxing & I used to watch a lot of John Conteh fights & I thought he was great, but then he fought MSM & when Saad beat him, I thought he was God!
I then followed Saad's career & as we all know, he was one of the most exciting fighters there has ever been.
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Barerra was a class act. I also love GGG. I was a schoolboy when Barerra beat Naz. Only thing that softened the blow was my love for Barrera! Still think Naz would've taken him if he was an Ingle fighter.Boxerbeetle wrote:Growing up in the 90s, there's no real surprises on my list tbh.
Favourite British fighter was Calzaghe, honourable mentions to Lennox and Naz.
Favourite international fighters were Morales and Barrerra, although Golovkin is getting up there now as well.
Best of all time has to be Robinson, he really could do everything.
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lillywhite14
- Heavyweight

Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Duran. He fought way above his best weight in the end, chasing money, big names and it took less commitment of course! At his best weight he beats everyone. Runs rings around Floyd prime for prime.
Real person too. No fake bollocks.
Real person too. No fake bollocks.
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Him and Mosely are the two best lightweights ever. Imagine them two going at it in their prime!lillywhite14 wrote:Duran. He fought way above his best weight in the end, chasing money, big names and it took less commitment of course! At his best weight he beats everyone. Runs rings around Floyd prime for prime.
Real person too. No fake bollocks.
Ken Buchanan was a cracking fighter too!
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lillywhite14
- Heavyweight

Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Naz might have taken him had he been an Ingle fighter and if he was 22/23. He was never lng for the pro game. Man child with a real lazy streak. Once succesful he was always vulnerable. Massive fat spoilt kid waiting to get out!Stuarty30 wrote:Barerra was a class act. I also love GGG. I was a schoolboy when Barerra beat Naz. Only thing that softened the blow was my love for Barrera! Still think Naz would've taken him if he was an Ingle fighter.Boxerbeetle wrote:Growing up in the 90s, there's no real surprises on my list tbh.
Favourite British fighter was Calzaghe, honourable mentions to Lennox and Naz.
Favourite international fighters were Morales and Barrerra, although Golovkin is getting up there now as well.
Best of all time has to be Robinson, he really could do everything.
Even having said that, Barrera was always giving him fits. Same with Morales. Both hard as eff 'proper' Mexican fighters. I loved them two. I actually met both on the same night in Vegas once.
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
I think Naz was one of our best. He gets overlooked on here IMO.lillywhite14 wrote:Naz might have taken him had he been an Ingle fighter and if he was 22/23. He was never lng for the pro game. Man child with a real lazy streak. Once succesful he was always vulnerable. Massive fat spoilt kid waiting to get out!Stuarty30 wrote:Barerra was a class act. I also love GGG. I was a schoolboy when Barerra beat Naz. Only thing that softened the blow was my love for Barrera! Still think Naz would've taken him if he was an Ingle fighter.Boxerbeetle wrote:Growing up in the 90s, there's no real surprises on my list tbh.
Favourite British fighter was Calzaghe, honourable mentions to Lennox and Naz.
Favourite international fighters were Morales and Barrerra, although Golovkin is getting up there now as well.
Best of all time has to be Robinson, he really could do everything.
Even having said that, Barrera was always giving him fits. Same with Morales. Both hard as eff 'proper' Mexican fighters. I loved them two. I actually met both on the same night in Vegas once.
Lucky you didn't meet them at the same time! I think I'd be too star struck to talk if I ever met any of them!
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Of the past 40 years perhapsStuarty30 wrote:Him and Mosely are the two best lightweights ever.lillywhite14 wrote:Duran. He fought way above his best weight in the end, chasing money, big names and it took less commitment of course! At his best weight he beats everyone. Runs rings around Floyd prime for prime.
Real person too. No fake bollocks.
There's a line of guys who would rank agead of Mosely as ATG lightweight
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=196749
Plenty discussion on it here. He is ranked 12th in the OP.
An opinion I don't see being too quickly challenged.
I'd say it's not far off.
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
You're maybe correct Davie but I am only going by my limited knowledge. It would've been fun to see a lightweight Shane in with some of the other guys mentioned. He was a cracking fighter and no doubt up there though no?davie wrote:Of the past 40 years perhapsStuarty30 wrote:Him and Mosely are the two best lightweights ever.lillywhite14 wrote:Duran. He fought way above his best weight in the end, chasing money, big names and it took less commitment of course! At his best weight he beats everyone. Runs rings around Floyd prime for prime.
Real person too. No fake bollocks.
There's a line of guys who would rank agead of Mosely as ATG lightweight
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=196749
Plenty discussion on it here. He is ranked 12th in the OP.
An opinion I don't see being too quickly challenged.
I'd say it's not far off.
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Hoko was one of my faves along with Benn, ray Leonard, Tyson and holyfield, what the heck throw Tommy Morrison in there too !reggaereggae wrote:Generally when were younger, we are more emotional and fights mean more....
I was a teenager in late 80s and a couple of years in 90s.
So I was brought into the sport by Bruno and McGuigan. But the guys that held my attention were Eubank, Benn (a big favourite), Hamed. I also really liked Paul Hodkinson, an underrated fighter
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jaymitch81
- Cruiserweight
- Posts: 290
- Joined: 27 Sep 2010, 16:56
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Favourite Charlie Magri
Best Nigel Benn
Best Nigel Benn
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
I have two. Arguello is one, Monzon is the other.crl333 wrote:Alexis Arguello for me, always appeared classy in and out of the ring.
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Indeed, arguably as good as i've seen.Stuarty30 wrote:You're maybe correct Davie but I am only going by my limited knowledge. It would've been fun to see a lightweight Shane in with some of the other guys mentioned. He was a cracking fighter and no doubt up there though no?davie wrote:Of the past 40 years perhapsStuarty30 wrote:
Him and Mosely are the two best lightweights ever.
There's a line of guys who would rank agead of Mosely as ATG lightweight
http://boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=196749
Plenty discussion on it here. He is ranked 12th in the OP.
An opinion I don't see being too quickly challenged.
I'd say it's not far off.
I can only go on reading records and what was written and the odd bit of grainy footage, but I could still say with some confidence that guys like Gans, Leonard, Canzoneri and Ortiz have to rank higher
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eoghanmachin
- Welterweight
- Posts: 15
- Joined: 01 Mar 2016, 17:39
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Charlie zelenoff
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Outside of personal acquaintences I’ve got to go Ali Leonard Watson Eubank Calzaghe.
I’ve forgotten someone but if I don’t stop there it’s basically a free for all.
Honourable mention Tom Cribb.
I’ve forgotten someone but if I don’t stop there it’s basically a free for all.
Honourable mention Tom Cribb.
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Grilling Machine
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 3152
- Joined: 16 Sep 2005, 02:28
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Favourite: Floyd Patterson
Favourite to watch: Naz (prime)
Favourite to watch: Naz (prime)
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keithmoonhangover
- Cruiserweight
- Posts: 16761
- Joined: 16 Sep 2010, 10:42
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
My Era
British - Mark Prince
International - Larry Holmes
All Time
British - Ted Kid Lewis
International - Stanley Ketchel
Now
British - Mitchell Smith
International - GGG
British - Mark Prince
International - Larry Holmes
All Time
British - Ted Kid Lewis
International - Stanley Ketchel
Now
British - Mitchell Smith
International - GGG
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Manchester Massive
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 371
- Joined: 29 May 2008, 18:34
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
Best: Sugar Ray Leonard - look at his wins Hagler, Hearns, Duran, Benitez
Favourite: Marvin Hagler - genuine air of menace
Favourite: Marvin Hagler - genuine air of menace
Re: Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?
keithmoonhangover wrote:My Era
British - Mark Prince
International - Larry Holmes
All Time
British - Ted Kid Lewis
International - Stanley Ketchel
Now
British - Mitchell Smith
International - GGG