Greatest fighters with least fights? (retired fighters only)

[oogiebe]

Andre Ward: 32-0

[gilgamesh]

Looking through the Pioneers section of the International Boxing Hall of Fame there are some Hall of Famers who only have 3 or so fights on record. Several with less than 10.

This doesn't necessarily mean they actually fought so few, but that's all that there is recorded evidence of.

[wouter]

Looking through the Pioneers section of the International Boxing Hall of Fame there are some Hall of Famers who only have 3 or so fights on record. Several with less than 10.

This doesn't necessarily mean they actually fought so few, but that's all that there is recorded evidence of.

The reason for that is we are only recording bouts under Queensberry rules here.

[keithmoonhangover]

Connor McGregor?

[littlepug]

Paul Weir ? 2 weight world champ 14-6.

[IKSRTFO]

Andre Ward: 32-0

[oogiebe]

Andre Ward: 32-0

Gracias!

[gilgamesh]

Looking through the Pioneers section of the International Boxing Hall of Fame there are some Hall of Famers who only have 3 or so fights on record. Several with less than 10.

This doesn't necessarily mean they actually fought so few, but that's all that there is recorded evidence of.

The reason for that is we are only recording bouts under Queensberry rules here.

I wasn't even mentioning Boxrec's records, I was just mentioning ANY records. Even Ring Magazine only knows of 3 or 4 in some of these cases, usually written by contemporary authors of the time. I know a lot of the info from that era comes from Pierce Egan's "Boxiana" and other books of a similar nature from around the time.

[gilgamesh]

Connor McGregor?

He would definitely be the highest paid single fight boxer in history without question I'm sure. I can't imagine anyone else even comes close.

[HomicideHenry]

Connor McGregor?

He would definitely be the highest paid single fight boxer in history without question I'm sure. I can't imagine anyone else even comes close.

Who knows. That's why I love using the inflation calculator--- J.H. McLaughlin of the 19th century is probably the highest paid wrestler in history, as ONE of his fights made him the modern equivalent of $500,000 which is the yearly salary of most WWE performers today.

I'm sure if one did some research on the ancient Greeks and looked at the prizes, etc--- and tried to compare it to today--- the boxers, wrestlers, gladiators, etc certainly would be in the same league as major movie stars today or even the Forbes 100 list.

[APerno]

Connor McGregor?

He would definitely be the highest paid single fight boxer in history without question I'm sure. I can't imagine anyone else even comes close.

Who knows. That's why I love using the inflation calculator--- J.H. McLaughlin of the 19th century is probably the highest paid wrestler in history, as ONE of his fights made him the modern equivalent of $500,000 which is the yearly salary of most WWE performers today.

I'm sure if one did some research on the ancient Greeks and looked at the prizes, etc--- and tried to compare it to today--- the boxers, wrestlers, gladiators, etc certainly would be in the same league as major movie stars today or even the Forbes 100 list.

I wonder if that is the case. Wealth in antiquity was property based and while they (the athletes) were rewarded with gold plate and silver it is unlikely that they ever rose to the prominence of real 'wealth,' which was interlocked into an existing aristocracy. By the time they stopped competing they were probably depended on well wishers and benefactors to survive. Today athletes can use their compensations to buy into real wealth; I wonder if any of the athletes of antiquity would have been given the opportunity to become 'rich.'

[HomicideHenry]

Well, since so few boxers were truly famous even in those times--- I imagine because win streaks were unheard of for the most part--- we'd have to look at the most well known boxers of that era.

Most notable and well known even today was Theagenes who may have been the model for the statue "The Boxer at Rest", who apparently won 1300 crowns (awards) for wrestling, boxing and MMA.

But I don't see much written about him in terms of money, etc.

[Controversial]

Mark Breland 35-3-1

[oogiebe]

Ray Leanard: 36-3-1

[pound per pound]

Jeffries is the one for me, only 22 fights. That's a pretty impressive career/resume in so few fights.

A couple from the "what could have been" files - Lamar Parks and Superbad Mays both with 28 fights.

Chitalada 31

Yeah, he was moved quickly. But like Corbett, I think we are missing some of his fights too.

[tiny_acres]

How about Davey Moore; had five WBA title fights going 4-1?

18-5-0

He died, didn’t retire

Death is retirement.

And the only guarantee to not come out of retirement

[Ambling Alp II]

Jeffries is the one for me, only 22 fights. That's a pretty impressive career/resume in so few fights.

A couple from the "what could have been" files - Lamar Parks and Superbad Mays both with 28 fights.

Chitalada 31

Yeah, he was moved quickly. But like Corbett, I think we are missing some of his fights too.

According to Tommy Loughran, Corbett told him that he had 39 fights in his career. That sounds quite possible, though its' doubtful any not on his record were against significant opponents.

[pound per pound]

Jeffries is the one for me, only 22 fights. That's a pretty impressive career/resume in so few fights.

A couple from the "what could have been" files - Lamar Parks and Superbad Mays both with 28 fights.

Chitalada 31

Yeah, he was moved quickly. But like Corbett, I think we are missing some of his fights too.

According to Tommy Loughran, Corbett told him that he had 39 fights in his career. That sounds quite possible, though its' doubtful any not on his record were against significant opponents.

Good find.

[BoxBuzz]

The number 1 irony in all of boxing of course, is that the greatest boxer of all time, never actually had a single fight.

[oogiebe]

The number 1 irony in all of boxing of course, is that the greatest boxer of all time, never actually had a single fight.

Oh no! Don't go there!!!!

[APerno]

Golly who might that be? (Please don't answer.)

[oogiebe]

Golly who might that be? (Please don't answer.)

[BitPlayer]

Looking through the Pioneers section of the International Boxing Hall of Fame there are some Hall of Famers who only have 3 or so fights on record. Several with less than 10.

This doesn't necessarily mean they actually fought so few, but that's all that there is recorded evidence of.

The reason for that is we are only recording bouts under Queensberry rules here.

I wasn't even mentioning Boxrec's records, I was just mentioning ANY records. Even Ring Magazine only knows of 3 or 4 in some of these cases, usually written by contemporary authors of the time. I know a lot of the info from that era comes from Pierce Egan's "Boxiana" and other books of a similar nature from around the time.

I think some of the early ones gained a reputation from spars and/or street fights or rough and tumble fights.

I think John C Heenan's fight with Morrissey was explicitly his first LPR one, so he probably had no more than what is known.

[BitPlayer]

I think there were important bareknuckle fights, but I think by the 1880's, they were pretty rare.

Paddy Ryan stated multiple times that his fight with Goss was his fight time fighting in LPR. Jem Smith is the last I'm aware of who seems to have been a bareknuckle specialist, but even he seems to have had more MoQ fights.

[Jaywheel]

The number 1 irony in all of boxing of course, is that the greatest boxer of all time, never actually had a single fight.