The Top 100 Greatest Boxers Pound per Pound of All-Time

[Onetimeonly]

I bet you didn't know Elmer thinks he was the most complete fighter he's ever seen?

I had no idea. Has he ever mentioned it before?
He is the most complete, and the 95th best. elmer logic at its' best.

It's going to be great hearing about Pedroza's fights for the next two months.

I may be mistaken but he's the greatest road warrior champion of all time! Now this doesn't take into account that the wba is a Panamanian company and he got favorable decisions in opponents home yards. It's the road! Case closed.

[elmersalsa]

I had no idea. Has he ever mentioned it before?
He is the most complete, and the 95th best. elmer logic at its' best.

It's going to be great hearing about Pedroza's fights for the next two months.

I may be mistaken but he's the greatest road warrior champion of all time! Now this doesn't take into account that the wba is a Panamanian company and he got favorable decisions in opponents home yards. It's the road! Case closed.

Roberto Duran was also a WBA champion. Did the WBA also helped Duran?

[elmersalsa]

I bet you didn't know Elmer thinks he was the most complete fighter he's ever seen?

I had no idea. Has he ever mentioned it before?
He is the most complete, and the 95th best. elmer logic at its' best.

It's going to be great hearing about Pedroza's fights for the next two months.

I consider the great Henry Armstrong as the greatest fighter of all time, but he was not a complete fighter. You see the point, Ambling Alp?

Eusebio Pedroza was a great champion. Let's give credit where its due. He in MY VIEW, was the MOST COMPLETE FIGHTER that I have ever seen in my lifetime.

[Onetimeonly]

Man, this thread is full of new and insightful tidbits.

[oogiebe]

Man, this thread is full of new and insightful tidbits.

LMFAO! Can you say, "retreads?"

[elmersalsa]

Man, this thread is full of new and insightful tidbits.

Don't have to read nor participate if you don't want to.

[Onetimeonly]

Man, this thread is full of new and insightful tidbits.

Don't have to read nor participate if you don't want to.

Oh, I'm only reading others responses but thanks for the advice.

[elmersalsa]

Don't have to read nor participate if you don't want to.

Oh, I'm only reading others responses but thanks for the advice.

You're welcome

[zuru]

Jersey Joe Walcott and Joe Louis were born in the same year, 1914. Ironically, he was about 3 or 4 months older than the Brown Bomber. But, Louis rise to the top was way much faster than Jersey Joe. Interestingly, Jersey Joe started his career at WELTERWEIGHT. And he started pro boxing 4 years before Louis in 1930.

I don't know why it took Walcott so much time to even be in the top ten rankings. You may know the reason.

I can't remember which Boxibg magazine i read it in many many 35 yrs? Ago,that Jersey Joe and Joe Louis were brought along at the same time and Jersey Joe was every bit as good if not better than JL.But when it was time to start out Jersey Joe got pretty sick and stayed behind.JL went ahead and started gaining notoriety.A year or so later Jersey Joe had a wice and baby/family and needed to work delayibg his career.Thats just a rough outline but something similar.Has anyone else ever heard or read that?

[zuru]

*wife*

[margaret thatcher]

Gerry Cooney is up there surely?

[Onetimeonly]

Gerry Cooney is up there surely?

[elmersalsa]

Eusebio Pedroza showed his tremendous skills against the great Mexican and former bantamweight and Featherweight champion Ruben Olivares in Houston. Olivares was a past his best days, but we can't ignore the brilliant fight that Pedroza displayed. What a fighter. Olivares received too much punishment. The fight was stopped in the 12th round. It was Pedroza's defining moment. And from then, the boxing world was taking notice of his abilities.

[elmersalsa]

Eusebio Pedroza vs Rocky Lockridge fight #1. I don't see the outcry that people believe that Lockridge won this fight. Yes, he dominated the first half of the fight. But, Pedroza dominated the other half. After the 6th round, it was all Eusebio Pedroza!

Lockridge lacked steam and determination in the championship rounds, where Pedroza demonstrated that he was a great champion. And that's what great champions do. With all the adversity and crowd against him, he fought hard in the championship rounds and retained his crown. No doubt here.

Ironically, this year both champions died a month apart. Rest in peace to both champions!

[elmersalsa]

I scored the fight 145-142, for Pedroza. Lockridge although he only had 16 professional fights, did very well. He just didn't had the experience necessary to overcome the last rounds, in which Pedroza was already experienced at that level of competition.

[elmersalsa]

Eusebio Pedroza dominated Patrick Ford from Guyana in a title defense in Panama City, This was probably Pedroza's best performance in American TV audience.

This is the fight that fans were in the intrigue of a Salvador Sanchez vs Eusebio Pedroza matchup. But, unfortunately, it didn't materialized. I would have bet on Pedroza. The man had plenty of skills. He beat Ford much better than Sanchez did. And some say that Ford did beat Sanchez by decision.

Pedroza knocked out Ford with a body shot in the 13th round. Ford took a lot of body shots. It drained him. Also the heat in the Panamanian arena was brutal.

I had Pedroza winning the fight after 12 rounds by the score of 118-113.

[Counter-puncher]

https://www.ringtv.com/402803-best-i-fa ... o-pedroza/

BEST JAB – Rocky Lockridge – He was a very fast boxer and had great movements.


BEST DEFENSE – Barry McGuigan – His youth and strong body made him a tough opponent.

BEST CHIN – Lockridge – Lockridge, as well as ├üngel Mayor, had a great chin. They endured much punishment.



FASTEST HANDS – Jorge “Mocho” Luj├ín – Besides his speed, he was calculating and clever boxer.



FASTEST FEET – Bernard Taylor – He was the only one that I think could match my speed.



SMARTEST – Luj├ín – I would call him the most complete boxer I faced. His movements and trickery made him a dangerous boxer. Besides he already knew my boxing.

STRONGEST – McGuigan – His body was very strong and very tough.

BEST PUNCHER – Orlando Amores – He was the only one who could knock me down three times.

BEST SKILLS – Jorge “Mocho” Luj├ín – Because of his method and style of combat. He could fight going in reverse and he also was a great counterpuncher. He never despaired. Because of that and many more, he was a controversial, technical and dangerous boxer.

BEST OVERALL – Lockridge – He has all the qualities together: speed, punch and good boxing. That’s why he was such a difficult opponent.

[Counter-puncher]

https://www.ringtv.com/505459-best-face ... -mcguigan/


BEST DEFENSE
Eusebio Pedroza: Lateral movement, spatial awareness, head movement, knew where you were, stepped back, stepped in, he could block. I think I caught him once with a good left hook to the body at the end of the fifth round. He was very hard to hit. He was brilliant on the inside, really good at riding a punch, blocking, slipping, rolling his head, pulling back, in and out. Very, very tasty on the inside, very sophisticated.

SMARTEST
Pedroza: Far better, just clever, smart, hold you, pull you back. I never stopped. I kept on coming. I put him under pressure. He was very smart, very clever, great spatial awareness. He was a master on the inside; he’d lean on you, shove you, just to create space. He was guilty of lots of misdemeanors. What he’d do is, he’d create enough space; he’d hook and hit you with his hook and forearm. He was clever and subtle. He’d put your head down and pull you into an uppercut. It’s a real skill. I’m not promoting it but his ability to fight on the inside was really tremendous. I couldn’t swallow properly for two or three days (after the fight). His boxing intelligence, that’s your DNA; it’s innate. He had that ability, miles better than anyone else I fought. Although I was young, I was a young hungry lion who put him under pressure. He didn’t start to fade until after the halfway stage. Taylor was more talented but not in the same league.

BEST SKILLS
Pedroza: Back to Pedroza, you can go around in circles and talk about how brilliant Bernard Taylor was but skill is about winning consistently, 19 successful title defenses, seven years as champion of the world, one of the longest reigning featherweights. He was a phenomenal fighter. I was privileged to fight someone that good.

BEST OVERALL
Pedroza: Without a doubt, he was one of the greatest fighters of all time. I pail compared to Eusebio Pedroza. He was one of the greatest featherweights of all time. I’m proud to share a ring with him

I like Mcguigan's analyis of Pedrosa's skills

[elmersalsa]

https://www.ringtv.com/505459-best-face ... -mcguigan/


BEST DEFENSE
Eusebio Pedroza: Lateral movement, spatial awareness, head movement, knew where you were, stepped back, stepped in, he could block. I think I caught him once with a good left hook to the body at the end of the fifth round. He was very hard to hit. He was brilliant on the inside, really good at riding a punch, blocking, slipping, rolling his head, pulling back, in and out. Very, very tasty on the inside, very sophisticated.

SMARTEST
Pedroza: Far better, just clever, smart, hold you, pull you back. I never stopped. I kept on coming. I put him under pressure. He was very smart, very clever, great spatial awareness. He was a master on the inside; he’d lean on you, shove you, just to create space. He was guilty of lots of misdemeanors. What he’d do is, he’d create enough space; he’d hook and hit you with his hook and forearm. He was clever and subtle. He’d put your head down and pull you into an uppercut. It’s a real skill. I’m not promoting it but his ability to fight on the inside was really tremendous. I couldn’t swallow properly for two or three days (after the fight). His boxing intelligence, that’s your DNA; it’s innate. He had that ability, miles better than anyone else I fought. Although I was young, I was a young hungry lion who put him under pressure. He didn’t start to fade until after the halfway stage. Taylor was more talented but not in the same league.

BEST SKILLS
Pedroza: Back to Pedroza, you can go around in circles and talk about how brilliant Bernard Taylor was but skill is about winning consistently, 19 successful title defenses, seven years as champion of the world, one of the longest reigning featherweights. He was a phenomenal fighter. I was privileged to fight someone that good.

BEST OVERALL
Pedroza: Without a doubt, he was one of the greatest fighters of all time. I pail compared to Eusebio Pedroza. He was one of the greatest featherweights of all time. I’m proud to share a ring with him

I like Mcguigan's analyis of Pedrosa's skills

And I think Barry McGuigan is right, even though he caught Pedroza on the decline. But, still, a great win for McGuigan nevertheless.

[elmersalsa]

https://www.ringtv.com/402803-best-i-fa ... o-pedroza/

BEST JAB – Rocky Lockridge – He was a very fast boxer and had great movements.


BEST DEFENSE – Barry McGuigan – His youth and strong body made him a tough opponent.

BEST CHIN – Lockridge – Lockridge, as well as ├üngel Mayor, had a great chin. They endured much punishment.



FASTEST HANDS – Jorge “Mocho” Luj├ín – Besides his speed, he was calculating and clever boxer.



FASTEST FEET – Bernard Taylor – He was the only one that I think could match my speed.



SMARTEST – Luj├ín – I would call him the most complete boxer I faced. His movements and trickery made him a dangerous boxer. Besides he already knew my boxing.

STRONGEST – McGuigan – His body was very strong and very tough.

BEST PUNCHER – Orlando Amores – He was the only one who could knock me down three times.

BEST SKILLS – Jorge “Mocho” Luj├ín – Because of his method and style of combat. He could fight going in reverse and he also was a great counterpuncher. He never despaired. Because of that and many more, he was a controversial, technical and dangerous boxer.

BEST OVERALL – Lockridge – He has all the qualities together: speed, punch and good boxing. That’s why he was such a difficult opponent.

In the best puncher category, I thought that he was going to say Alfonso Zamora. But, when you look at the fight, the referee stopped the fight too soon. Pedroza was still on his feet and got up before the count of ten.

Still, great win for Zamora against a young and green and inexperienced Panamanian Scorpion.

Thanks for the tidbit Counter-puncher!

What do you think about Eusebio Pedroza?
What is his best performance in your view?
What do you think about a fight with the greats Salvador Sanchez, Azumah Nelson and Wilfredo Gomez?
Did those guys DUCKED HIM?

[Counter-puncher]

https://www.ringtv.com/402803-best-i-fa ... o-pedroza/

BEST JAB – Rocky Lockridge – He was a very fast boxer and had great movements.


BEST DEFENSE – Barry McGuigan – His youth and strong body made him a tough opponent.

BEST CHIN – Lockridge – Lockridge, as well as ├üngel Mayor, had a great chin. They endured much punishment.



FASTEST HANDS – Jorge “Mocho” Luj├ín – Besides his speed, he was calculating and clever boxer.



FASTEST FEET – Bernard Taylor – He was the only one that I think could match my speed.



SMARTEST – Luj├ín – I would call him the most complete boxer I faced. His movements and trickery made him a dangerous boxer. Besides he already knew my boxing.

STRONGEST – McGuigan – His body was very strong and very tough.

BEST PUNCHER – Orlando Amores – He was the only one who could knock me down three times.

BEST SKILLS – Jorge “Mocho” Luj├ín – Because of his method and style of combat. He could fight going in reverse and he also was a great counterpuncher. He never despaired. Because of that and many more, he was a controversial, technical and dangerous boxer.

BEST OVERALL – Lockridge – He has all the qualities together: speed, punch and good boxing. That’s why he was such a difficult opponent.

In the best puncher category, I thought that he was going to say Alfonso Zamora. But, when you look at the fight, the referee stopped the fight too soon. Pedroza was still on his feet and got up before the count of ten.

Still, great win for Zamora against a young and green and inexperienced Panamanian Scorpion.

Thanks for the tidbit Counter-puncher!

What do you think about Eusebio Pedroza?
What is his best performance in your view?
What do you think about a fight with Wilfredo Gomez?

i think Pedrosa was superb and a top 5 feather for me. I think matchup-wise he matches well against any featherweight in history.

What do you think about a fight with Wilfredo Gomez?
It would be almost as action-packed as it would be foul-packed. Gomez liked the low blows and elbows but Pedrosa would expose him as an amateur at the dark arts, and his greater size and versatility would give him the edge.

What do you think about a fight with Salvador Sanchez?
i think Sanchez would win a close one but wouldn't be surprised if Pedrosa did win

What do you think about a fight with Azumah Nelson?
the Nelson who fought Sanchez would give Pedrosa hell, I think he'd give any featherweight hell with that work rate and power. i think he outpoints Pedrosa if he stays on his feet. a slightly less aggressive Nelson I actually think suits Pedrosa, and Pedrosa outpoints him- I don' t think the slightly younger less experienced Nelson at 126lbs had the skills to box with Perdosa but in an almighty forward-marching effort like he put forth against Sanchez I would see him winning if he didn't get worn down by the bodyshots like Ford did.

[elmersalsa]

Eusebio Pedroza vs Juan LaPorte. It was a foul-fest affair, mainly by the champion Pedroza. This is the fight that Pedroza showed his dark side. And he didn't apologized for it. He hit LaPorte of Puerto Rico with so many fouls behind the back and using elbows. Pedroza was COMPLETE DIRTY, here. The question is, why he was dirty on this fight? What triggered him to do so? Nobody had an answer. Nobody knows. But, he lost popularity, especially in this fight.

Although he got penalized 3 times for low blows, elbows and even hitting after the bell, the champion Pedroza kept his composure. He kept using ILLEGAL TACTICS still. Even though he had numerous warnings. Some people in the crowd were crying for a disqualification on the champion. Maybe the referee, Guy Juthras of Canada was an inexperienced referee. Pedroza fouled LaPorte in front of Guthras' eyes and Pedroza still got away with murder. Another referee probably would have disqualified him. But, I don't think that Pedroza would have kept doing those sins with another experienced and unbiased referee. His dirty act would have been kept down.

But, if those fragrant fouls took LaPorte out of his game, then that was his problem. Again, the Panamanian Pedroza used his vast 16-fight world championship experience, and was poised and collected for the later rounds, especially after the 8th. He was the busier and much more conditioned fighter at the end. And with that rally, he kept his crown in his 14th title defense.

American boxing press hated Pedroza. The first reason was because he defeated American young prospects in the later rounds like Rocky Lockridge and likeable boxers like Patrick Ford of Guyana after being behind on points. The other reason was because of the use of dirty tactics in this fight. My question is, does one fight gives a fighter the reputation of being a dirty fighter?

Anyway, I scored the fight 142-140 for Pedroza. He was doing all the work since round 7. He might well won this fight, but he lost a lot of fans and drew more hate from the American boxing press. Was there ever a boxer or champion that the American boxing press hated more than this guy?

[elmersalsa]

Eusebio Pedroza vs Bernard Taylor

Taylor used his lateral movement across the ring and in somewhat nullified Pedroza's charge and body attack. The fight was in Charlotte, NC at the Charlotte Coliseum. This lateral movement from side to side would make the great Sugar Ray Leonard proud. THE PROBLEM was that Taylor wasn't busy enough and that cost him. You can't win a championship fight by running all over the ring and expect to get the decision. No way! You got to overwhelm the champion by throwing a lot of punches. Pedroza was the busiest of the two. He deserved to keep his title, no doubt. I voted 147-145 for Pedroza. Lots of even rounds because there was no action from the American challenger. At one time, the referee, Stanley Christodoulou from South Africa had to beg the fighters twice for action in the first 4 rounds. The crowd was expecting a Taylor's victory. They were wrong altogether. It was a justifiable decision in favor of Pedroza to keep his title. The next time, Bernard, you got to be busier than this.

In the rematch 2 and a half years later in 1983, this time in San Remo, Italy, Pedroza beat again former nemesis Rocky Lockridge by decision in 15. No doubt about the decision again. Pedroza made his 16th defense successfully of the crown.

[elmersalsa]

By the time 1984 came around, it seems like the old champion is losing steam. Eusebio Pedroza must be slipping a bit. But, his experience and guile were holding him against title defenses versus Jose Caba of Dominican Republic, Angel Levy Mayor of Venezuela and former bantamweight champion Jorge Lujan of Panama.

Interestingly, Pedroza has not produced a knockout win since December 1981 when he stopped Bashew Sibacca of South Africa. Since then, Pedroza only scored a knockout in a non-title fight in Panama City against Gerald Hayes. Hayes dropped the champion earlier in the fight. The signs of declining were there.

It's amazing how this great champion became great after losing a knockout loss to Alfonso Zamora in two rounds in a title match. Then, he lost again by knockout against Oscar Arnal of Venezuela. Then, al of the sudden he took things seriously by winning 19 in a row, including his title effort win against Cecilio Lastra of Spain. He racked up title defenses against anybody, anywhere, and anytime. Especially, when he used to go to your hometown and give you a good ass old whupping. Pedroza was business inside that ring. He was a very dedicated professional with a strict discipline. Inside the ring, he had tremendous concentration and confidence. Nothing rattled him despite the hostility of the crowd.

But something happened to him on his last and 20th title defense in London, England. At the Loftus Road Football Stadium of all places! Pedroza was offered $1 million dollars, the biggest payday of his professional career. It seemed to him for another day in the office. But his days as long-term reigning champion came to an end. Barry McGuigan of Ireland, a 24 year old and upcoming boxing superstar in England took Pedroza's crown in an spirited 15 round decision. It was one of the greatest nights in British boxing history. There was a record crowd of 26,000 souls screaming for Barry, The Clones Cycle.

Pedroza an experienced and confident champion looked like he was overwhelmed by the crowd at Loftus Road. An expressionless fighter most of the time that we saw him fight no matter where, this time he looked bewildered, confused and worried. He was distraught by the situation. The roar of the crowd screamed for every punch that McGuigan threw. The fight was even by the 6th round. But, in the 7th round, McGuigan dropped the cagey champion with a wicked right hand. Pedroza got up, but it wasn't the same fighter after that knockdown. He was fighting the rest of the way on instinct and experience. He got rocked again by a McGuigan left hook in round 9. Only his pride, will, experience and determination of a champion kept him up. He knew he had the fight lost by the 14th round. His 7-year reign as WBA World Featherweight Champion was over.

I enjoyed watching the fights of this great and fantastic champion. McGuigan praised him. Sometimes, you don't get recognized as a great champion until you lose it, or die afterwards. But, of all the things that this Panamanian warrior inside the ring, can't be discounted. He had the world record of most title defenses in opposition backyards with 10. Had more title defenses than any featherweight champ in history with 20, and defended the crown in 6 continents all over the world. That's the meaning of a world champion! A true world champion!

Unlucky for Pedroza, he came around when his countryman, the great Roberto Duran was stealing the headlines. And at Featherweight, another champion, the great Salvador Sanchez, was taking away all his attention from him for million dollar paydays. But with all that, Pedroza was a great champion.

[elmersalsa]

Eusebio Pedroza never again fought for a world championship. He lost the crown at Featherweight at age 32. Some say that he was 29. But, the way he worked and trained for his fights, full force, probably took a toll on him. He tried to move to the jr lightweight division, but, he wasn't the same. His glory days were gone. He retired in 1986, but came back in 1991 at age 38. Mauro Gutierrez beat him in a ten rounder in Detroit and Pedroza hung up the gloves, this time for good.

At #94 in my all-time pound per pound rankings, I got this special little fighter from Scotland named Benny Lynch. A terrific fighter, indeed. One of the all-time greatest flyweight boxers ever.