Best/favourite fighter who graced our sport?

[ElJefe]

3 favourites are Roy Jones, Roberto Duran and James Toney. Could watch them fight all day.

[Taki...]

Carl Thompson. If greatness was measured by entertainment value The Cat would be all time top 5.

[coneye]

Charlie zelenoff

LMAO -----Not many others would spot the weight to a Heavy weight ,

[Loftgroov]

Too many to name really, but I'd have to give Lloyd Honeyghan an honourable mention.

I think his fight with Marlon Starling in the late 80s was the first I ever saw (I would have been about 10 then) and, for whatever reason, it helped draw me into the sport. Then you had Marvin Hagler too....

Who was the best? Endless discussion.... so I will throw in Salvador Sanchez from the not too distant past.

Those from the early 1900s etc, frankly who knows. I'm sure the likes of Sam Langford and Jack Johnson were absolute killers, but you can't really compare people outside of their era in my opinion.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Naseem Hamed
Nigel Benn
Eubank
SRL
Carl Froch
Barrera
Morales
Duran
Hearns
Hagler
Lewis
Toney
Holyfield

[jamesmcdonnell]

Naseem Hamed
Nigel Benn
Eubank
SRL
Carl Froch
Barrera
Morales
Duran
Hearns
Hagler
Lewis
Toney
Holyfield

Whoops, forgot RJJ!!

[jamesmcdonnell]

Carl Thompson. If greatness was measured by entertainment value The Cat would be all time top 5.

true dat! His come from behind KO's over Rothmann and Haye were absolute pearlers! Was lucky enough to be at ringside for both.

[Syntax Error]

Carl Thompson. If greatness was measured by entertainment value The Cat would be all time top 5.

Good call.

Thompson is also one my my favourite fighters.

Being a Manc, I watched a lot of his fights live & he was always good value.

[Coco]

The CAT was great.

[jamesmcdonnell]

The CAT was great.

Don't use that word, you're going to open up a can of worms you'll live to regret.

[jamesmcdonnell]

3 favourites are Roy Jones, Roberto Duran and James Toney. Could watch them fight all day.

Toney's beatdown of Jirov is one of my favourite ever performances in a boxing ring, as is Duran's incredible triumph over the much bigger Barkley. Jones Jr in his pomp seemed almost godlike, he just seemed to be possessed of more time than everyone else.

[Stuarty]

3 favourites are Roy Jones, Roberto Duran and James Toney. Could watch them fight all day.

Toney's beatdown of Jirov is one of my favourite ever performances in a boxing ring, as is Duran's incredible triumph over the much bigger Barkley. Jones Jr in his pomp seemed almost godlike, he just seemed to be possessed of more time than everyone else.

Probably all the PEDs in his system He did used to seem pretty much untouchable. I used to watch him and I could barely comprehend what I was watching half the time.

[Stuarty]

The CAT was great.

Don't use that word, you're going to open up a can of worms you'll live to regret.

[ElJefe]

3 favourites are Roy Jones, Roberto Duran and James Toney. Could watch them fight all day.

Toney's beatdown of Jirov is one of my favourite ever performances in a boxing ring, as is Duran's incredible triumph over the much bigger Barkley. Jones Jr in his pomp seemed almost godlike, he just seemed to be possessed of more time than everyone else.

I could genuinely watch Toney for hours and hours. Don't think I've ever seen someone so relaxed no matter what was happening in the fight. Interesting that you mentioned the Barkley fight with Duran because Toney vs Barkley is actually my favourite Toney fight. Duran was a beast in every sense of the word, absolutely brutal yet so subtle and refined in his prime. Roy was just on a different level to everyone, think it was Kellerman who described him as a "matrix fighter" - the ease with which he out-boxed his opponents made it look like everything moved in slow motion to him, some of the stuff he could do was jaw-dropping.

[dalcumly]

I now know just how old I am in comparison to you lot!

Marciano,Charnley, Cooper,Patterson, Sibson, Wharton, Duran, - favourite current boxers Golovkin, Kovalev.

Does anyone notice anything. They could all punch!

[Deserter]

McGuigan pulled me into boxing - remember as a kid being transfixed by the atmosphere in the King's Hall, his father singing Danny Boy at Loftus Road and then being utterly distraught when he lost in the Vegas heat.
Honeyghan was another I loved and can still remember hearing he'd beaten Curry and being blown away - also thought his burgundy sequined shorts were the coolest thing ever
Uni years saw me enjoying the fantastic Brit middleweight/super middleweight scene, and I was a Benn man through and through. Can still remember watching the McClellan fight, which despite the terrible outcome remains probably the best fight I've ever seen.
Then came Naz, and for me those were truly special, special times - he was the full package at his peak and the entrances were pure theatre. The Kevin Kelley fight was just mental on every level.
After that it's really only been Calzaghe and then Froch that reached 'favourite fighter' status - loved the attitude of the latter and his 'road warrior' mentality. Hatton deserves a mention as well and if I had a time machine what I would give to have been in Manchester the night he beat KT, as it was clearly a truly epic occasion.
Would also give a special shout-out to the Jamie Moore vs Matthew Macklin fight, which I still regard as an absolute classic from two fighters who I'd say were fan favourites.

All-time favourite international fighter has to be Duran, with honorable mentions for JC Superstar and Hagler. Of the contemporary bunch it's GGG by a big margin - think he'd destroy Canelo if they fought.

[jamesmcdonnell]

3 favourites are Roy Jones, Roberto Duran and James Toney. Could watch them fight all day.

Toney's beatdown of Jirov is one of my favourite ever performances in a boxing ring, as is Duran's incredible triumph over the much bigger Barkley. Jones Jr in his pomp seemed almost godlike, he just seemed to be possessed of more time than everyone else.

I could genuinely watch Toney for hours and hours. Don't think I've ever seen someone so relaxed no matter what was happening in the fight. Interesting that you mentioned the Barkley fight with Duran because Toney vs Barkley is actually my favourite Toney fight. Duran was a beast in every sense of the word, absolutely brutal yet so subtle and refined in his prime. Roy was just on a different level to everyone, think it was Kellerman who described him as a "matrix fighter" - the ease with which he out-boxed his opponents made it look like everything moved in slow motion to him, some of the stuff he could do was jaw-dropping.

It would have been interesting had they done some testing on Roy's reflexes, because they literally looked superhuman in his prime. People could barely land a glove on him, all the whilst getting hit with flush shots. Either that or he had spatial awareness - a radar if you like - that allowed him to always be in position to deliver shots, and out of position for a counter.

I don't think I've seen the Toney v Barkley fight.

As you say, Toney's ease and relaxation in the ring allowed him to just roll with the punches and never panic, it's a shame he didn't take better care of himself, he was an incredible fighter.

[ElJefe]

Toney's beatdown of Jirov is one of my favourite ever performances in a boxing ring, as is Duran's incredible triumph over the much bigger Barkley. Jones Jr in his pomp seemed almost godlike, he just seemed to be possessed of more time than everyone else.

I could genuinely watch Toney for hours and hours. Don't think I've ever seen someone so relaxed no matter what was happening in the fight. Interesting that you mentioned the Barkley fight with Duran because Toney vs Barkley is actually my favourite Toney fight. Duran was a beast in every sense of the word, absolutely brutal yet so subtle and refined in his prime. Roy was just on a different level to everyone, think it was Kellerman who described him as a "matrix fighter" - the ease with which he out-boxed his opponents made it look like everything moved in slow motion to him, some of the stuff he could do was jaw-dropping.

It would have been interesting had they done some testing on Roy's reflexes, because they literally looked superhuman in his prime. People could barely land a glove on him, all the whilst getting hit with flush shots. Either that or he had spatial awareness - a radar if you like - that allowed him to always be in position to deliver shots, and out of position for a counter.

I don't think I've seen the Toney v Barkley fight.

As you say, Toney's ease and relaxation in the ring allowed him to just roll with the punches and never panic, it's a shame he didn't take better care of himself, he was an incredible fighter.

Would definitely recommend watching it. Toney's career best performance imo, he was absolutely sensational.

Roy also played basketball to a high level didn't he? Or at least could have done if he'd pursued it instead of boxing. Definitely seemed to be one of those rarely unbelievably naturally gifted people that would have excelled at any sport they chose. Co-ordination and athleticism was just in another world to anyone else. Crazy.

[forcefraser]

Favourite has to be Hagler. Hardest man in history.

Best? As much as it pains me, Mayweather. At least in my Lifetime.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Favourite has to be Hagler. Hardest man in history.

Best? As much as it pains me, Mayweather. At least in my Lifetime.

As a kid I was obsessed with Hagler, to me he was everything a fighter should be. Hard, mean, and absolutely titanium tough.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Favourite has to be Hagler. Hardest man in history.

Best? As much as it pains me, Mayweather. At least in my Lifetime.

I'd go with SRL - best I've ever witnessed during his era - superlative. Had the skills of Mayweather, but enjoyed fighting more. Mayweather enjoys winning, but not the fight or the struggle.

[forcefraser]

Favourite has to be Hagler. Hardest man in history.

Best? As much as it pains me, Mayweather. At least in my Lifetime.

I'd go with SRL - best I've ever witnessed during his era - superlative. Had the skills of Mayweather, but enjoyed fighting more. Mayweather enjoys winning, but not the fight or the struggle.

It would be some fight if they went prime for prime. Mayweather's boxing clinic over canelo was top draw for me.

I like the way after Hagler got jobbed against Leonard he just quit the game in disgust. Love to have him around now to take on GGG.

[ClivePatrickLyons]

Aussie fighter's that I loved to watch were Lionel Rose,Tony Mundine,Jeff Malcolm,Barry Michael,Hector Thompson,Anthony Mundine ,Jeff Fenech.
just to name afew

[jamesmcdonnell]

Favourite has to be Hagler. Hardest man in history.

Best? As much as it pains me, Mayweather. At least in my Lifetime.

I'd go with SRL - best I've ever witnessed during his era - superlative. Had the skills of Mayweather, but enjoyed fighting more. Mayweather enjoys winning, but not the fight or the struggle.

It would be some fight if they went prime for prime. Mayweather's boxing clinic over canelo was top draw for me.

I like the way after Hagler got jobbed against Leonard he just quit the game in disgust. Love to have him around now to take on GGG.

I think the big difference would be that Leonard was a fast, powerful 147 lber, with superlative movement, whereas Mayweather was really at the edge of his operating range. Leonard in his losing effort with Duran went toe-to-toe foolishly in the pocket, and almost pulled it off. He outsmarted Hagler in a fight that is chronically misjudged to be a travesty - Leonard bossed and controlled the fight for most of the rounds, and outlanded Hagler - sure, Hagler was getting on, but he was by far the bigger stronger man, and still an absolute beast. Leonard never allowed Hagler to get set and grind him down.

Leonard would absolutely no way allow Mayweather the time or luxury of throwing 20 shots a round, he'd do whatever it took.

Mayweather would survive, spoiling and picking off the odd shot, but he'd lose by a wide margin. Mayweather is an ATG, but he was at his best at 130-140.

Canelo is not anything approaching Leonard's skill- as impressive as the win was.

For me Leonard is a top 10 all time WW, a fairly brief resume, but what a series of opponents. Had he not beaten Hearns at WW, I don't see anybody else managing the job. Leonard showed he had balls like space hoppers that night, going toe to toe with probably the most murderous puncher the division has ever seen, and smashing him.

[TheGman]

In about 1988 i was 9 i liked mike tyson and i remember having a bet with my auntie (no money just an i bet u) that mike tyson would beat frank bruno,she thought vice versa,it was scheduled for my birthday 8th october but tyson crashed into a tree and the fight got rescheduled,so anyway he was my favourite from then till 1997 when he bit holyfield. In between all that i realised ther was more than heavyweights and began to watch robbie reagan steve robinson nigel benn chris eubank dennis andreas baby jake matlala pocket rocket naz and so on and so on,my favourite after tyson was oscar de la hoya but my fav of all time was sugar ray robinson (only from video footage cause i never seen him lol). I watch more domestic fights now over world title fights wer as wen i was younger i just watched the main world titles. Iv become abit more knowledge able about domestic level fighters. Its a great sport boxing and its 2nd to none