TOP TEN GREATS OF BOXING

Migz · Post by **Migz** » 31 Mar 2006, 09:49

1. sugar ray robinson
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Joe Louise
4. Henry Armstrong
5. Sugar Ray Leonard
6. Roberto Duran
7. Willie pep
8. Carlos Monzon
9. Archie Moore
10? yet to be decided ( any suggestions?)

sockdolager · Post by **sockdolager** » 31 Mar 2006, 11:42

migz wrote:1. sugar ray robinson
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Joe Louise
4. Henry Armstrong
5. Sugar Ray Leonard
6. Roberto Duran
7. Willie pep
8. Carlos Monzon
9. Archie Moore
10? yet to be decided ( any suggestions?)

Ive never heard of this Louise, was she that good to be ranked 3rd amung men?

Arsenal · Post by **Arsenal** » 31 Mar 2006, 12:19

Use the search facility because this topic has been done to death!

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 31 Mar 2006, 12:47

migz wrote:1. sugar ray robinson
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Joe Louise
4. Henry Armstrong
5. Sugar Ray Leonard
6. Roberto Duran
7. Willie pep
8. Carlos Monzon
9. Archie Moore
10? yet to be decided ( any suggestions?)

I don't see any harm in doing this sort of poll again... very difficult to choose a top ten out of all the greats their have been, but this is a pretty good list... I think I'd include Harry Greb in it to be sure as he has a good claim to be one of the top 3 all timers of any weight....

Ezzard · Post by **Ezzard** » 31 Mar 2006, 13:22

Migz

I think you should check out Ezzard Charles' career. His record is a who's who of boxing. He beat your man Archie 3 times and though I don't want to stir up Buzz and Jaclem again I think he deserves to be on your list.

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 31 Mar 2006, 16:16

..i agree with silkov...too many great fighters from too many eras to reduce it to ten....and impossible to list them in order.

of course, i'd add ezzard..and harry greb....and ...well..it goes on and on.

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 31 Mar 2006, 16:18

...and mickey walker and sandy saddler..and ....see what i mean....and these are additions to the list...not replacements.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 31 Mar 2006, 16:33

Kid Gavilan, Benny Leonard, Joe Gans, Jack Johnson, Ad Wolgast, Jack Dempsey, Jimmy Wilde, Fighting harada, Ruben Olivares, Al Brown, Kid Chocolate, Stanley Ketchel, Joe Grim!.... well maybe not Joe Grim, but you know what I mean!...

surf-bat · Post by **surf-bat** » 31 Mar 2006, 17:11

migz wrote:1. sugar ray robinson
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Joe Louise
4. Henry Armstrong
5. Sugar Ray Leonard
6. Roberto Duran
7. Willie pep
8. Carlos Monzon
9. Archie Moore
10? yet to be decided ( any suggestions?)

(no order)
Sam Langford
Harry Greb
Ray Robinson
Ali
Benny Leonard
Roberto Duran
Ezzard Charles
Henry Armstrong
Jimmy McLarnin
Mickey Walker

Dempsey1238 · Post by **Dempsey1238** » 31 Mar 2006, 17:50

1Harry Greb
2Ray Robinson
3Joe Gans
4Benny L
5Herny Armstrong
6Geroge Dixion
7Jimmy McLarin
8 Toney Carzonia
9 Bob Fitzimsions
and ten Kid Galvin.

TheRiverCityHippy · Post by **TheRiverCityHippy** » 31 Mar 2006, 18:14

1. ray robinson
2. ali
3. henry armstrong
4. harry greb
5. joe louis
6. ray leonard
7. mickey walker
8. joe gans
9. ezzard charles
10. thomas hearns

generic screen name · Post by **generic screen name** » 31 Mar 2006, 22:09

Thomas Hearns? how about a man who dominated Hearns? Marvin Hagler!!!! And yeah this topic has been done to death.... How about something different like Top 10 southpaws or something?

surf-bat · Post by **surf-bat** » 01 Apr 2006, 00:53

generic screen name wrote:Thomas Hearns? how about a man who dominated Hearns? Marvin Hagler!!!! And yeah this topic has been done to death.... How about something different like Top 10 southpaws or something?

Hmmm....I'll take a stab at Southpaws(no order):

Marvin Hagler
Pernell Whitaker
Tiger Flowers
Lew Tendler
Melio Bettina
Bert Lytell
Hector Camacho
Michael Moorer
Johnny Wilson

That's just off the top of my head. I'm sure I'm missing some important guys

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 01 Apr 2006, 04:10

..nero...nice to see bert lytell in there. he was much underrated in his own time....unknown to even much of the boxing public...and almost forgotten today. a middleweight , he fought light heavies as well. i wrote a piece on him years ago...when he was active...and the editor of the boxing magazine had to ask me who he was before in convinced him to print it.

surf-bat · Post by **surf-bat** » 01 Apr 2006, 06:36

Jaclem wrote:..nero...nice to see bert lytell in there. he was much underrated in his own time....unknown to even much of the boxing public...and almost forgotten today. a middleweight , he fought light heavies as well. i wrote a piece on him years ago...when he was active...and the editor of the boxing magazine had to ask me who he was before in convinced him to print it.

Really?? Pretty depressing. Could you post that piece here? I'd love to read it. Is it true that he was robbed vs. Lamotta?

Just out of curiosity, is Bert still alive? I've never reard any death notice. He'd be someone I'd love to interview.

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 01 Apr 2006, 16:58

my top 10

1. sugar ray robinson
2. Henry Armstrong
3. Willie Pep
4. Sam Langford
5. Harry Greb
6. Roberto Duran
7. Joe Louis
8. Ezzard Charles
9. Joe Gans
10. Muhammad Ali

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 01 Apr 2006, 22:03

Brockton it looks like you picked up the wrong list. Maybe you didn't get the updated Memo....

Turns out this is the official Top Ten List. Endorsed by ....you guessed it.

God Almighty himself.

1. Ray Robinson
2. Henry Armstrong
3. Muhammad Ali
4. Joe Louis
5. Harry Greb
6. Archie Moore
7. Roberto Duran
8. Ezzard Charles
9. Willie Pep
10.Carlos Monzon

No kidding, this was found in a back room of the Vatican on a scrap of parchment that the pope was doodling on over three years ago. Smuggled out by Cardinals who entrusted it to Monks in the Pyrenees mountains. It was then memorized by students of the Papal order and then written out in Italian, passed over to jesuit priests in spain, then faxed to Cardinal Law just before he resigned. He just passed it over to Mayor Tom Menino of Boston and Tom sent it to me. However Tom thought it was nothing more than words to a traditional Gregorian Chant due to it's encoding.

However here it is in it's indisputable and defining order of which no man can dispute. It is inappropriate for one to offer up arguement, or for it to be questioned in any way shape or form. Lest you risk the foul smelling burning and gnashing of teeth that goes along with the loss of your soul and eternal never ending and perpetually painful damnation to hells fiery infinite pit.

Imagine my surprise when I read that Gans and Langford didn't make the cut!

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 01 Apr 2006, 23:36

dont worry, archies in my top 15. my father rates archie # 5 greatest fighter of all time. he uses a weird but effective criteria.

iceman21287 · Post by **iceman21287** » 02 Apr 2006, 02:30

Gotta throw in my favorite underrated all-time great:

Jack Britton

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 04 Apr 2006, 02:41

nero...alas i no longer have the article i wrote on lytell. at the time it was published there were several boxing magazines that came along to cash in on the popularity of boxing on tv.....three or four nights a week...and it was for one of them and i don't even recall the title. damn...i do wish i had it...but i there is a lot of my writing that got lost through various moves.

boxrec doesn't show a date of death for lytell....and i've never read an obit....but he may have been so forgotten that wire services never picked up a local death notice. of course, maybe he is still living and someone here might know.

boxrec lists him as a light heavy but if you'll do a rundown of the weights he was really a middleweight. very difficult style. he had oakland billy smith... a hard punching but erratic light heavyweight so frustrated that smith got angry and started spitting in his ear!!! this was held in cincinnati.

i don't know anything about the fairness or unfairness about the decision lost to lamotta.

dr_devious · Post by **dr_devious** » 04 Apr 2006, 05:33

1. Ray Robinson
2. Sam Langford
3. Mohammed Ali
4. Henry Armstrong
5. Willie Pep
6. Ray Leonard
7. Roberto Duran
8. Marvin Hagler
9. Jimmy Wilde
10. Carlos Monzon

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 04 Apr 2006, 18:16

just cuz you aint in the top 10 don't mean you aint loved...

elmersalsa · Post by **elmersalsa** » 06 Apr 2006, 18:02

My top 10:

1. Sugar Ray Robinson: Nickname: “Sugar”…The man was so sweet in the ring that you had to call him “Sugar”. He is considered as the greatest welterweight fighter of all time. He is the standard in which all fighters are measured… Won his first 40 bouts. After losing his first bout, went undefeated in 91 bouts from 1943 to 1951…The best fighter of the 1950s…Beat 14 world champions and 11 Hall of Famers…Won the middleweight crown - a record 5 times- … The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1942 and 1951
Titles held: World Welterweight 1946-51. World Middleweight 1951, 1951-52, 1955-57, 1957-58, 1958-59.
Record: 175-19-6, 108 KOs. Years Active: 1940-65
Defining Fight: February 14, 1951… TKO13 Jake LaMotta…In their 6th and final encounter, the most brutal fight of their rivalry known as “The St Valentine’s Massacre”
Other Great Fights: LaMotta I (W10), LaMotta II (L10), Sammy Angott (W10), Henry Armstrong (W10), Tommy Bell (W15), George Costner (KO1), Marty Servo (W10), Kid Gavilan II (W15), Randy Turpin (L15), Turpin II (TKO10), Bobo Olson II (TKO2), Rocky Graziano (TKO3), Joey Maxim (L15), Gene Fullmer (L15), Fullmer II (KO5), Carmen Basilio (L15), Basilio II (W15)

2. Henry Armstrong: Nickname: “Homicide Hank”…First boxer in history to hold 3 world titles of 3 weight classes simultaneously…The best fighter of the 1930s…Beat a total of 15 world champions and 8 Hall of Famers…The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1937…From January 1937 to May 1939, won 57 fights in a row, stopping 27 straight from May 1937 to February 1938. Made 19 title defenses of the welter crown…11 of them in 1939… Beat 15 world champions and 12 Hall of Famers.
Titles held: World Featherweight 1937-38, World Lightweight 1938-39 and World Welterweight 1938-40.
Record: 151-21-10, 100KOs Years Active: 1931-45
Defining Fight: May 31, 1938…W15 Barney Ross…Wins his second world crown vs. fellow Hall of Famer
Other Great Fights: Petey Sarron (KO6), Lou Ambers (W15), Ambers II (L15), Chalky Wright (KO3), Lew Feldman (KO4), Pedro Montanez (TKO9), Ceferino Garcia II (D10), Lew Jenkins (TKO6), Baby Arizmendi (L10), Arizmendi V (W10), Fritzie Zivic (L15), Zivic II (LTKO12), and Sammy Angott (W10)

3. Muhammad Ali: Nickname: “The Greatest”…Love him or hate him, you must come to see him fight…The most recognizable and charismatic athlete in the world of all time…The greatest heavyweight fighter of all time…The best fighter and symbol of the 1960s…Beat a total of 10 world champions and 8 Hall of Famers…First heavyweight in history to win the crown 3 times…The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1963, 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1978…Made 20 title defenses of the heavy crown, 11 of them in his second reign.
Titles held: World Heavyweight 1964-67, 1974-78 and 1978.
Record: 56-5, 37KOs. Years Active: 1960-81
Defining Fight: October 30, 1974…KO8 George Foreman…At 32, does the unthinkable by beating an undefeated and invincible young champion with a strategy called “The Rope-a-Dope”
Other Great Fights: Sonny Liston (TKO7), Liston II (KO1), Henry Cooper (TKO5), Archie Moore (KO4), Floyd Patterson (TKO12), Jerry Quarry (TKO3), Joe Frazier (L15), Frazier II (W12), Frazier III (TKO14), Ken Norton (L12), Bob Foster (TKO8), Ernie Terrell (W15), Cleveland Williams (TKO3), Leon Spinks (L15), Spinks II (W15), and Larry Holmes (LTKO10)

4. Joe Louis: Nickname: “The Brown Bomber”…Considered by many, as the Greatest Knockout Artist of All Time…Holds records of most world title defenses (25), regardless of any weight class…Has more consecutive KOs in the first round in world title fights (3)…Held the Heavyweight Crown for almost 12 years (world record)…The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1936, 1938, 1939 and 1941… Introduced with his fists “The Bum of the Month Club”…The best fighter of the 1940s. Beat 8 world champions and 8 Hall of Famers
Titles held: World Heavyweight 1937-49.
Record: 68-3, 54KOs. Years Active: 1934-51
Defining Fight: June 22, 1938…KO1 Max Schmeling…In one of the most important and anticipated fights in history, the German surrenders in the rematch at the bombs of the American Hero
Other Great Fights: James J. Braddock (KO8), Billy Conn (KO13), Conn II (KO8), Max Baer (KO4), Schmeling I (LKO12), Primo Carnera (TKO6), Jersey Joe Walcott (W15), Walcott II (KO11), Jack Sharkey (KO3), Ezzard Charles (L15), and Rocky Marciano (LKO8)

5. Roberto Duran: Nickname: “The Hands of Stone”…Held the Lightweight Crown for 6 years and made 12 title defenses; 10 of them in a row by KO… His ferocity and machismo persona captivated millions, making his mark as the greatest lightweight fighter of all time. Won 4 titles in 4 different weight classes; the last two of those titles were won when he was considered washed up… Has 21 KOs in the first round…The best fighter of his generation (the 1970s)…Arguably, The Greatest Latin Fighter in History…In the modern era, is the only fighter in history to register knockouts in every round (1 to 15) and is three of the only men to fight in 5 different decades. Beat 12 world champions and 7 Hall of Famers…Only Lightweight king to win a piece of the middle crown…Also fought in 22 world title bouts.
Titles held: World Lightweight 1972-79, WBC Welterweight 1980, WBA Jr. Middleweight 1983-84 and WBC Middleweight 1989-90.
Record: 105-16, 69KOs. Years Active: 1967-2001
Defining Fight: June 20, 1980…W15 Sugar Ray Leonard…In his most satisfying victory, “Hands of Stone” takes the crown from the Sugar Man in a grueling historical battle called “The Brawl in Montreal”
Other Great Fights: Ken Buchanan (TKO13), Ernesto Marcel (TKO9), Hiroshi Kobayashi (KO7), Ishimatsu Suzuki (TKO10), Esteban DeJesus (L10), Ray Lampkin (KO14), DeJesus II (KO11), DeJesus III (TKO12), Carlos Palomino (W10), Leonard II (LTKO8), Wilfred Benitez (L15), Pipino Cuevas (TKO4), Davey Moore (TKO8), Marvin Hagler (L15), Thomas Hearns (LKO2) and Iran Barkley (W12)

6. Joe Gans: Nickname: “The Old Master”…First Black American fighter in history to win a world title…Sensational master with electrifying punching power…Considered by many, as the best fighter of his time (the 1900s)… Held Lightweight Crown for 6 years and made 8 title defenses…Unbeaten in first 32 fights…Repeated another unbeaten streak of 31 bouts from Feb 1901 to July 1903. Beat 6 world champions and 2 Hall of Famers. Many of his defeats and draws were questionable.
Titles held: World Lightweight 1902-08
Record: 120-8-10, 87KOs. Years Active: 1891-1909
Defining Fight: May 12, 1902…KO1 Frank Erne… Avenges his previous defeat against the Canadian and starts a reign of 6 years of mastery
Other Great Fights: Mike “Twin” Sullivan II (KO15), Eddie Connolly (TKO5), Young Griffo III (TKO8), Dal Hawkins (L15), Hawkins II (KO2), Sam Langford (L15), Gus Gardner (KO5), Jimmy Britt II (TKO6), George “Elbows” McFadden (LKO23), McFadden II (TKO3), Jack Blackburn (W15), Battling Nelson (WDQ42), Nelson II (LKO17), Nelson III (LKO21), and Joe Walcott (D15)

7. Willie Pep: Nickname: “Will O’ the Wisp”… Defensive genius considered as the greatest defensive fighter of all time…One time won a single round making his opponent miss and without throwing back at his foe, a single punch…Considered by many, as the greatest featherweight fighter of all time…Has the record of most wins than any fighter in history with 230…Made 6 successful title defenses of feather crown…Undefeated in first 62 bouts…From Mar 1943 to Oct 1948, went in 73 bouts without a loss. The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1945…Fought 5 Hall of Famers, beating 3 of them…Also, beat a total of 9 world champions.
Titles Held: World Featherweight 1942-48, 1949-50.
Record: 230-11-1, 65KOs. Years Active: 1940-59; 1965-66
Defining Fight: February 11, 1949…W15 Sandy Saddler…In their second time around and best fight of their rivalry, Pep recaptures the crown and his legendary status by an extraordinary performance
Other Great Fights: Manuel Ortiz (W10), Chalky Wright I (W15), Sal Bartolo II (W15), Sammy Angott (L10), Phil Terranova (W15), Paddy DeMarco (W10), Humberto Sierra II (W15), Saddler I (LTKO4), Saddler III (LTKO8), Teddy “Red Top” Davis (W10), Willie Joyce (W10) and Saddler IV (LTKO9)

8. Jack Johnson: Nickname: “The Galveston Giant”…He is the first Black American boxer ever to win the World Heavyweight Crown…Fought in 5 different decades; first man ever to do so…Dominated the heavyweight division with 9 title defenses in 7 years…Between Dec 1901 to January 1915, lost only 2 fights in 65 contests…Fought 10 Hall of Famers, beating 7 of them. Beat a total of 4 out of 6 world champions he faced.
Titles Held: World Heavyweight 1908-15
Record: 91-14-12, 52KOs Years Active: 1894-1938
Defining Fight: July 4, 1910…TKO15 Jim J. Jeffries…In the turn of the century most anticipated fight and one of the most significant fights in history, Johnson humiliates “The Great White Hope”
Other Great Fights: Sam Langford (W15), Tommy Burns (WTKO14), Stanley Ketchel (KO12), Jess Willard (LKO26), Joe Jeannette VI (W15), Sam McVeay III (KO20), McVeay I (W20), McVeay II (W20), Marvin Hart (L20), and Bob Fitzsimmons (KO2).

9. Sam Langford: Nickname: “The Boston Tar Baby”… Phenomenal Black knockout artist who is considered as the greatest fighter that never won or received a title shot…A natural welterweight warrior that fought middleweights, light heavyweights and even heavyweights…Fought the greatest Black American fighters of his time, beating 4 world champions and 9 Hall of Famers…Had an unbeaten streak of 42 bouts from Nov 1906 to Oct 1911. Had 13 straight KO wins from Dec 1922 to June 1923…16 of his 135 KO victims were in the first round…Fought over 319 bouts in a 24-year ring career.
Titles Held: None
Record: 184-34-33 (68 NDs), 135KOs Years Active: 1902-26
Defining Fight: December 8, 1903…W15 Joe Gans…Langford beats “The Old Master”, the greatest fighter of his generation
Other Great Fights: Joe Walcott (W15), “Fireman” Jim Flynn (KO1), Jack Johnson (L15), Dixie Kid (TKO5), Joe Jeannette (LTKO8), Jeannette II (W15), Jeannette VI (W20), Philadelphia Jack O’Brien (KO5), Harry Wills (KO14), Wills II (L20), Wills III (KO9), Sam McVeay (L20), McVeay III (W20), McVeay V (TKO11), Wills IV (LKO6), Wills V (LTKO7) and Tiger Flowers (KO2)

10. Harry Greb: Nickname: “The Human Windmill”…Phenomenal all out in-your-face middleweight that fought welterweights, light heavyweights and even heavyweights. Fought over 300 bouts in a 13-year ring career ended by death, losing only 8 times… Made 6 title defenses of the World Middleweight Crown…Also won the American Light Heavyweight Crown…Beat 5 Hall of Famers and 5 world champions…Had an unbeaten streak of 34 bouts from May 1924 to February 1926…He was the best fighter of the 1920s…The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1922 and 1924.
Titles Held: World Middleweight 1923-26
Record: 106-8-3 (183 NDs), 69KOs
Years Active: 1913-26
Defining Fight: May 23, 1925…W15 Gene Tunney…Handed the great Tunney his first and only pro loss
Other Great Fights: Johnny Wilson (W15), Mickey Walker (W15), Tommy Loughran (W10), Tommy Gibbons (W15), Tunney II (L15), Tunney III (L15), Ed “Gunboat” Smith (KO1), Tiger Flowers (L15), and Flowers II (L15)

Migz · Post by **Migz** » 06 Apr 2006, 18:25

elmersalsa wrote:My top 10:

1. Sugar Ray Robinson: Nickname: “Sugar”…The man was so sweet in the ring that you had to call him “Sugar”. He is considered as the greatest welterweight fighter of all time. He is the standard in which all fighters are measured… Won his first 40 bouts. After losing his first bout, went undefeated in 91 bouts from 1943 to 1951…The best fighter of the 1950s…Beat 14 world champions and 11 Hall of Famers…Won the middleweight crown - a record 5 times- … The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1942 and 1951
Titles held: World Welterweight 1946-51. World Middleweight 1951, 1951-52, 1955-57, 1957-58, 1958-59.
Record: 175-19-6, 108 KOs. Years Active: 1940-65
Defining Fight: February 14, 1951… TKO13 Jake LaMotta…In their 6th and final encounter, the most brutal fight of their rivalry known as “The St Valentine’s Massacre”
Other Great Fights: LaMotta I (W10), LaMotta II (L10), Sammy Angott (W10), Henry Armstrong (W10), Tommy Bell (W15), George Costner (KO1), Marty Servo (W10), Kid Gavilan II (W15), Randy Turpin (L15), Turpin II (TKO10), Bobo Olson II (TKO2), Rocky Graziano (TKO3), Joey Maxim (L15), Gene Fullmer (L15), Fullmer II (KO5), Carmen Basilio (L15), Basilio II (W15)

2. Henry Armstrong: Nickname: “Homicide Hank”…First boxer in history to hold 3 world titles of 3 weight classes simultaneously…The best fighter of the 1930s…Beat a total of 15 world champions and 8 Hall of Famers…The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1937…From January 1937 to May 1939, won 57 fights in a row, stopping 27 straight from May 1937 to February 1938. Made 19 title defenses of the welter crown…11 of them in 1939… Beat 15 world champions and 12 Hall of Famers.
Titles held: World Featherweight 1937-38, World Lightweight 1938-39 and World Welterweight 1938-40.
Record: 151-21-10, 100KOs Years Active: 1931-45
Defining Fight: May 31, 1938…W15 Barney Ross…Wins his second world crown vs. fellow Hall of Famer
Other Great Fights: Petey Sarron (KO6), Lou Ambers (W15), Ambers II (L15), Chalky Wright (KO3), Lew Feldman (KO4), Pedro Montanez (TKO9), Ceferino Garcia II (D10), Lew Jenkins (TKO6), Baby Arizmendi (L10), Arizmendi V (W10), Fritzie Zivic (L15), Zivic II (LTKO12), and Sammy Angott (W10)

3. Muhammad Ali: Nickname: “The Greatest”…Love him or hate him, you must come to see him fight…The most recognizable and charismatic athlete in the world of all time…The greatest heavyweight fighter of all time…The best fighter and symbol of the 1960s…Beat a total of 10 world champions and 8 Hall of Famers…First heavyweight in history to win the crown 3 times…The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1963, 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1978…Made 20 title defenses of the heavy crown, 11 of them in his second reign.
Titles held: World Heavyweight 1964-67, 1974-78 and 1978.
Record: 56-5, 37KOs. Years Active: 1960-81
Defining Fight: October 30, 1974…KO8 George Foreman…At 32, does the unthinkable by beating an undefeated and invincible young champion with a strategy called “The Rope-a-Dope”
Other Great Fights: Sonny Liston (TKO7), Liston II (KO1), Henry Cooper (TKO5), Archie Moore (KO4), Floyd Patterson (TKO12), Jerry Quarry (TKO3), Joe Frazier (L15), Frazier II (W12), Frazier III (TKO14), Ken Norton (L12), Bob Foster (TKO8), Ernie Terrell (W15), Cleveland Williams (TKO3), Leon Spinks (L15), Spinks II (W15), and Larry Holmes (LTKO10)

4. Joe Louis: Nickname: “The Brown Bomber”…Considered by many, as the Greatest Knockout Artist of All Time…Holds records of most world title defenses (25), regardless of any weight class…Has more consecutive KOs in the first round in world title fights (3)…Held the Heavyweight Crown for almost 12 years (world record)…The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1936, 1938, 1939 and 1941… Introduced with his fists “The Bum of the Month Club”…The best fighter of the 1940s. Beat 8 world champions and 8 Hall of Famers
Titles held: World Heavyweight 1937-49.
Record: 68-3, 54KOs. Years Active: 1934-51
Defining Fight: June 22, 1938…KO1 Max Schmeling…In one of the most important and anticipated fights in history, the German surrenders in the rematch at the bombs of the American Hero
Other Great Fights: James J. Braddock (KO8), Billy Conn (KO13), Conn II (KO8), Max Baer (KO4), Schmeling I (LKO12), Primo Carnera (TKO6), Jersey Joe Walcott (W15), Walcott II (KO11), Jack Sharkey (KO3), Ezzard Charles (L15), and Rocky Marciano (LKO8)

5. Roberto Duran: Nickname: “The Hands of Stone”…Held the Lightweight Crown for 6 years and made 12 title defenses; 10 of them in a row by KO… His ferocity and machismo persona captivated millions, making his mark as the greatest lightweight fighter of all time. Won 4 titles in 4 different weight classes; the last two of those titles were won when he was considered washed up… Has 21 KOs in the first round…The best fighter of his generation (the 1970s)…Arguably, The Greatest Latin Fighter in History…In the modern era, is the only fighter in history to register knockouts in every round (1 to 15) and is three of the only men to fight in 5 different decades. Beat 12 world champions and 7 Hall of Famers…Only Lightweight king to win a piece of the middle crown…Also fought in 22 world title bouts.
Titles held: World Lightweight 1972-79, WBC Welterweight 1980, WBA Jr. Middleweight 1983-84 and WBC Middleweight 1989-90.
Record: 105-16, 69KOs. Years Active: 1967-2001
Defining Fight: June 20, 1980…W15 Sugar Ray Leonard…In his most satisfying victory, “Hands of Stone” takes the crown from the Sugar Man in a grueling historical battle called “The Brawl in Montreal”
Other Great Fights: Ken Buchanan (TKO13), Ernesto Marcel (TKO9), Hiroshi Kobayashi (KO7), Ishimatsu Suzuki (TKO10), Esteban DeJesus (L10), Ray Lampkin (KO14), DeJesus II (KO11), DeJesus III (TKO12), Carlos Palomino (W10), Leonard II (LTKO8), Wilfred Benitez (L15), Pipino Cuevas (TKO4), Davey Moore (TKO8), Marvin Hagler (L15), Thomas Hearns (LKO2) and Iran Barkley (W12)

6. Joe Gans: Nickname: “The Old Master”…First Black American fighter in history to win a world title…Sensational master with electrifying punching power…Considered by many, as the best fighter of his time (the 1900s)… Held Lightweight Crown for 6 years and made 8 title defenses…Unbeaten in first 32 fights…Repeated another unbeaten streak of 31 bouts from Feb 1901 to July 1903. Beat 6 world champions and 2 Hall of Famers. Many of his defeats and draws were questionable.
Titles held: World Lightweight 1902-08
Record: 120-8-10, 87KOs. Years Active: 1891-1909
Defining Fight: May 12, 1902…KO1 Frank Erne… Avenges his previous defeat against the Canadian and starts a reign of 6 years of mastery
Other Great Fights: Mike “Twin” Sullivan II (KO15), Eddie Connolly (TKO5), Young Griffo III (TKO8), Dal Hawkins (L15), Hawkins II (KO2), Sam Langford (L15), Gus Gardner (KO5), Jimmy Britt II (TKO6), George “Elbows” McFadden (LKO23), McFadden II (TKO3), Jack Blackburn (W15), Battling Nelson (WDQ42), Nelson II (LKO17), Nelson III (LKO21), and Joe Walcott (D15)

7. Willie Pep: Nickname: “Will O’ the Wisp”… Defensive genius considered as the greatest defensive fighter of all time…One time won a single round making his opponent miss and without throwing back at his foe, a single punch…Considered by many, as the greatest featherweight fighter of all time…Has the record of most wins than any fighter in history with 230…Made 6 successful title defenses of feather crown…Undefeated in first 62 bouts…From Mar 1943 to Oct 1948, went in 73 bouts without a loss. The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1945…Fought 5 Hall of Famers, beating 3 of them…Also, beat a total of 9 world champions.
Titles Held: World Featherweight 1942-48, 1949-50.
Record: 230-11-1, 65KOs. Years Active: 1940-59; 1965-66
Defining Fight: February 11, 1949…W15 Sandy Saddler…In their second time around and best fight of their rivalry, Pep recaptures the crown and his legendary status by an extraordinary performance
Other Great Fights: Manuel Ortiz (W10), Chalky Wright I (W15), Sal Bartolo II (W15), Sammy Angott (L10), Phil Terranova (W15), Paddy DeMarco (W10), Humberto Sierra II (W15), Saddler I (LTKO4), Saddler III (LTKO8), Teddy “Red Top” Davis (W10), Willie Joyce (W10) and Saddler IV (LTKO9)

8. Jack Johnson: Nickname: “The Galveston Giant”…He is the first Black American boxer ever to win the World Heavyweight Crown…Fought in 5 different decades; first man ever to do so…Dominated the heavyweight division with 9 title defenses in 7 years…Between Dec 1901 to January 1915, lost only 2 fights in 65 contests…Fought 10 Hall of Famers, beating 7 of them. Beat a total of 4 out of 6 world champions he faced.
Titles Held: World Heavyweight 1908-15
Record: 91-14-12, 52KOs Years Active: 1894-1938
Defining Fight: July 4, 1910…TKO15 Jim J. Jeffries…In the turn of the century most anticipated fight and one of the most significant fights in history, Johnson humiliates “The Great White Hope”
Other Great Fights: Sam Langford (W15), Tommy Burns (WTKO14), Stanley Ketchel (KO12), Jess Willard (LKO26), Joe Jeannette VI (W15), Sam McVeay III (KO20), McVeay I (W20), McVeay II (W20), Marvin Hart (L20), and Bob Fitzsimmons (KO2).

9. Sam Langford: Nickname: “The Boston Tar Baby”… Phenomenal Black knockout artist who is considered as the greatest fighter that never won or received a title shot…A natural welterweight warrior that fought middleweights, light heavyweights and even heavyweights…Fought the greatest Black American fighters of his time, beating 4 world champions and 9 Hall of Famers…Had an unbeaten streak of 42 bouts from Nov 1906 to Oct 1911. Had 13 straight KO wins from Dec 1922 to June 1923…16 of his 135 KO victims were in the first round…Fought over 319 bouts in a 24-year ring career.
Titles Held: None
Record: 184-34-33 (68 NDs), 135KOs Years Active: 1902-26
Defining Fight: December 8, 1903…W15 Joe Gans…Langford beats “The Old Master”, the greatest fighter of his generation
Other Great Fights: Joe Walcott (W15), “Fireman” Jim Flynn (KO1), Jack Johnson (L15), Dixie Kid (TKO5), Joe Jeannette (LTKO8), Jeannette II (W15), Jeannette VI (W20), Philadelphia Jack O’Brien (KO5), Harry Wills (KO14), Wills II (L20), Wills III (KO9), Sam McVeay (L20), McVeay III (W20), McVeay V (TKO11), Wills IV (LKO6), Wills V (LTKO7) and Tiger Flowers (KO2)

10. Harry Greb: Nickname: “The Human Windmill”…Phenomenal all out in-your-face middleweight that fought welterweights, light heavyweights and even heavyweights. Fought over 300 bouts in a 13-year ring career ended by death, losing only 8 times… Made 6 title defenses of the World Middleweight Crown…Also won the American Light Heavyweight Crown…Beat 5 Hall of Famers and 5 world champions…Had an unbeaten streak of 34 bouts from May 1924 to February 1926…He was the best fighter of the 1920s…The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1922 and 1924.
Titles Held: World Middleweight 1923-26
Record: 106-8-3 (183 NDs), 69KOs
Years Active: 1913-26
Defining Fight: May 23, 1925…W15 Gene Tunney…Handed the great Tunney his first and only pro loss
Other Great Fights: Johnny Wilson (W15), Mickey Walker (W15), Tommy Loughran (W10), Tommy Gibbons (W15), Tunney II (L15), Tunney III (L15), Ed “Gunboat” Smith (KO1), Tiger Flowers (L15), and Flowers II (L15)

very nice list and well researched, although it is missing a lot of greats like (charles, leonard and so on and son) but it doesnt make it a mad list. WELL DONE but i have a question and i agree without your inclusion of him why is ezzard charles rated in a lot of people top ten? sure he was a top light heavy who never was given a chance at the title but it about what they have done not what they could of done!!! my list so far consits of SR ROBINSON
Muhammad Ali
joe louis
henry armstrong
sr leonard
roberto duran
willie pep
carlos monzon
harry greb
and so far my 10 is ezzard charles but i would like to know who would be a better position!!

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 07 Apr 2006, 01:50

ezzard charles should be on everyones top 10 p4p list

good work elmeralsa

TOP TEN GREATS OF BOXING

TOP TEN GREATS OF BOXING

Re: TOP TEN GREATS OF BOXING

Re: TOP TEN GREATS OF BOXING

Re: TOP TEN GREATS OF BOXING