Fighter of the Year

[Ambling Alp II]

Thought this would be interesting. Going back through history, who was the best Fighter for each year? I made a list from 1890-1999. Some years were pretty easy. Some I leaned towards one guy but have some doubt. Other years I left blank because I just could not decide. The late 1950s and early 1960s were particularly hard. Of course I may have just overlooked somebody.

Let me know what you think about any of these years:

1890 George Dixon
1891 Bob Fitzsimmons
1892 James J. Corbett
1893 Bob Fitzsimmons
1894 Tommy Ryan
1895 Tommy Ryan
1896 Kid McCoy
1897 Bob Fitzsimmons
1898 Kid McCoy
1899 George Dixon

1900 Terry McGovern
1901 James J. Jeffries
1902 Philadelphia Jack O’Brien
1903 Jim Driscoll
1904 Joe Gans
1905
1906 Joe Gans
1907 Jack Johnson
1908 Jack Johnson
1909

1910 Sam Langford
1911 Sam Langford
1912 Sam Langford
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917 Benny Leonard
1918 Harry Greb
1919 Jack Dempsey

1920 Harry Greb
1921 Harry Greb
1922 Harry Greb
1923 Gene Tunney
1924 Gene Tunney
1925 Gene Tunney
1926 Gene Tunney
1927 Tommy Loughran
1928 Tommy Loughran
1929 Tommy Loughran

1930
1931 Tony Canzoneri
1932 Kid Chocolate
1933 Barney Ross
1934
1935 Barney Ross
1936 Jimmy McLarnin
1937 Henry Armstrong
1938 Henry Armstrong
1939 Lou Ambers

1940 Joe Louis
1941 Willie Pep
1942 Ray Robinson
1943
1944 Ray Robinson
1945 Ray Robinson
1946 Ezzard Charles
1947 Ray Robinson
1948 Ezzard Charles
1949 Ray Robinson

1950 Ray Robinson
1951 Archie Moore
1952 Kid Gavilan
1953 Archie Moore
1954 Archie Moore
1955
1956 Floyd Patterson
1957 Carmen Basilio
1958
1959

1960
1961
1962
1963
1964 Muhammad Ali
1965 Muhammad Ali
1966 Muhammad Ali
1967 Muhammad Ali
1968
1969

1970 Carlos Monzon
1971 Joe Frazier
1972 Carlos Monzon
1973 George Foreman
1974 Muhammad Ali
1975 Muhammad Ali
1976 Roberto Duran
1977 Carlos Zarate
1978 Wilfredo Gomez
1979 Ray Leonard

1980
1981 Ray Leonard
1982 Aaron Pryor
1983 Michael Spinks
1984 Thomas Hearns
1985 Marvin Hagler
1986
1987 Evander Holyfield
1988 Mike Tyson
1989 Pernell Whitaker

1990 Pernell Whitaker
1991 Julio Cesar Chavez
1992 Julio Cesar Chavez
1993 Pernell Whitaker
1994 Roy Jones
1995 Pernell Whitaker
1996 Roy Jones
1997 Oscar De La Hoya
1998 Oscar De La Hoya
1999 Roy Jones

[Tomasino]

Great idea. I will try and fill in some gaps but it’s one that, for me, requires a wee bit thought.

[elmersalsa]

The great Thomas Hearns was 1980 best fighter outright. He had 6 wins in 1980, all by knockout.

[Ambling Alp II]

bump

[dr_devious]

Mike Tyson would be my choice for 1986

[klompton]

Jack Dempsey had one fight in 1919 against an overweight, undertrained, 37 year old fighter who hadnt fought in over 3 years.

Harry Greb had 45 fights. 11 of those fights came against Hall of Famers or future/former champions. Four more of those fights came against men considered top contenders for Dempsey's HW championship. One of those fights avenged the only 10 count Greb ever suffered. Most of the rest of those fights came against men who were considered contenders in two or three divisions. He did this despite getting married that year, seeing the birth of his child, and suffering two serious illnesses and a broken hand.

Who was the fighter of the year for 1919 now?

[Ambling Alp II]

One might say Greb. Or one might point out that most of Greb's fights were No-Decisions, and that the best official wins were over decisions against Leo Houck and Bill Brennan. In that case one might favor Dempsey's stopping Willard.

[elmersalsa]

The great Muhammad Ali had only 2 fights in 1967.

Smokin'Joe won the award that year and I think The Ring Magazine got it right.

[elmersalsa]

The great Joe Louis definitely should be the best fighter for the year 1938. The big win over Max Schmeling was monumental.

[elmersalsa]

The great Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles is definitely the best fighter of 1969.

[elmersalsa]

The great Eder Jofre would be my pick as the best fighter of 1960.

[Ambling Alp II]

In a normal year. Louis would be the choice for 1938. However, that year Armstrong beat Ross, Ambers, as well as Arizmendi among others.
Frazier was not anywhere near the level of Ali in 1967. Ali is the clear pick for that year. Doesn't matter that he had only two fights. There are other winners with two or even one.
I could go with Jofre for 1960. Nobody really stands out.
Napoles is a good choice for 1969.

Dr.Devious' pick of Tyson for 1986 is interesting. He had not quite reach his prime but was still very impressive. You could also go with Hector Camacho.
The late 1950s and early 1960s are really tough to pick.

[elmersalsa]

In a normal year. Louis would be the choice for 1938. However, that year Armstrong beat Ross, Ambers, as well as Arizmendi twice among others.
Frazier was not anywhere near the level of Ali in 1967. Ali is the clear pick for that year. Doesn't matter that he had only two fights. There are other winners with two or even one.
I could go with Jofre for 1960. Nobody really stands out.
Napoles is a good choice for 1969.

Dr.Devious' pick of Tyson for 1986 is interesting. He had not quite reach his prime but was still very impressive. You could also go with Hector Camacho.
The late 1950s and early 1960s are really tough to pick.

How many fights Smokin Joe win in 1967?

[Ambling Alp II]

He won 6. One was against a ranked contender (Chuvalo).
Ali won two; they were against the two top contenders.
Quality trumps quantity.

You said Louis should get it over Armstrong in 1938. Louis won three fights that year. Armstrong won 14.

[elmersalsa]

He won 6. One was against a ranked contender (Chuvalo).
Ali won two; they were against the two top contenders.
Quality trumps quantity.

You said Louis should get it over Armstrong in 1938. Louis won three fights that year. Armstrong won 14.

The great Joe Louis won one of the most important and anticipated fights of all time. The whole world stopped when he defeated Max Schmeling. Did the great Henry Armstrong lost against Lou Amber's in 1938 rematch? Or was it 1939?

Smokin'Joe win 6 fights. You are saying that he only beat one ranked contender. How about Doug Jones? Frazier smoked him in '67.

[elmersalsa]

Smokin'Joe Frazier deservedly so should win 1968 Fighter of the Year, too.

[klompton]

One might say Greb. Or one might point out that most of Greb's fights were No-Decisions, and that the best official wins were over decisions against Leo Houck and Bill Brennan. In that case one might favor Dempsey's stopping Willard.

In the context of the times in that era ND fights held the same weight as decision bouts so your point is moot.

[Ambling Alp II]

I don't think they were.

[Ambling Alp II]

He won 6. One was against a ranked contender (Chuvalo).
Ali won two; they were against the two top contenders.
Quality trumps quantity.

You said Louis should get it over Armstrong in 1938. Louis won three fights that year. Armstrong won 14.

The great Joe Louis won one of the most important and anticipated fights of all time. The whole world stopped when he defeated Max Schmeling. Did the great Henry Armstrong lost against Lou Amber's in 1938 rematch? Or was it 1939?

Smokin'Joe win 6 fights. You are saying that he only beat one ranked contender. How about Doug Jones? Frazier smoked him in '67.

Armstrong lost to Ambers in 1939. Beating Ambers, Arizmendi, and Ross trumps beating Schmeling.
No, Jones was not ranked when Frazier beat him. (Probably because he lost his previous two fights. )
I guess you could make an argument for Frazier in 1968. There are a few guys you could go with.

[bollocks]

It all went a bit mental in the 80's. Hagler won it in 1985 but he had the sum total of 1 solitary fight that year