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

[elmersalsa]

94. Benny Lynch

Record: 88-14-17, 34KOs

KO pct is 39%

Career: 1931-38

Titles held: NBA World Flyweight Champion (1935-38)

Highlights: World Flyweight Champion. Fought 119 bouts in 7 years as a pro. That's an average of 15 fights a year. Went undefeated in 39 fights from March 1933 to December 1935, in which he won 18 fights in a row in that time frame from January 1934 to January 1935. Made 4 title defenses of his crown. Did not lose his crown in the ring and cleaned up the division beating top men. Beat 4 world champions. Record versus world champions is 4-0-2, 2KOs. Only stopped once in 119 professional fights. Was also Scottish, British and European Flyweight Champion.

Historical Impact: Considered one of the greatest flyweight fighters in history. He is regarded as the best fighter that ever come out of Scotland.

Defining Fight: WTKO2 Jackie Brown (II).....September 9, 1935....."Became NBA World Flyweight Champion"

Other Defining Fights: W12 Valentin Angelmann, W15 Jim Campbell, W15 Small Montana, WKO13 Peter Kane, W12 Fortunato Ortega, and WKO12 Jackie Jurich

[margaret thatcher]

This thread been going on 6 months and you're all the way to number #94. Love the posts but don't go too fast!!

[elmersalsa]

This thread been going on 6 months and you're all the way to number #94. Love the posts but don't go too fast!!

What do you think about the great Benny Lynch, margareth thatcher?

There are no footage of him but only highlights. It seems to me that he was a very busy fighter with a great left hook. He could really overwhelm his opponents.

What are your thoughts of him?

[Onetimeonly]

This thread been going on 6 months and you're all the way to number #94. Love the posts but don't go too fast!!

There's a condensed version somewhere.

[elmersalsa]

This thread been going on 6 months and you're all the way to number #94. Love the posts but don't go too fast!!

There's a condensed version somewhere.

What's your thoughts on Benny Lynch, Onetimeonly?

[chrisjs1985]

Lynch could and should have been so much more but he was too nice to hangers on and couldn't resist hanging with the boys and having drinks and unfortunately that cut his career and life far too short. His style is excellent. All action, coming forward and with skill. I've not done an all-time flyweight list but I'd imagine he's right around the top five and is a certain all-time top 10 British boxer. Is he Scotland's best? I think most would say so, but I go back and forth on that but last time I put serious thought into it I had Buchanan just about ahead because he fulfilled his talent whereas Lynch scratched the surface of his. You know he's tough as nails because he walked through Peter Kane's shots and Kane hit about as hard as any flyweight in history not named Jimmy Wilde.

[elmersalsa]

Lynch could and should have been so much more but he was too nice to hangers on and couldn't resist hanging with the boys and having drinks and unfortunately that cut his career and life far too short. His style is excellent. All action, coming forward and with skill. I've not done an all-time flyweight list but I'd imagine he's right around the top five and is a certain all-time top 10 British boxer. Is he Scotland's best? I think most would say so, but I go back and forth on that but last time I put serious thought into it I had Buchanan just about ahead because he fulfilled his talent whereas Lynch scratched the surface of his. You know he's tough as nails because he walked through Peter Kane's shots and Kane hit about as hard as any flyweight in history not named Jimmy Wilde.

Nice view and I appreciate your thoughts and comments on the great Benny Lynch.

I truly believe that he is Scotland's greatest fighter. I love Ken Buchanan, probably my all-time favorite British boxer, but Lynch accomplished much more.

Thanks, chrisjs1985!

[oogiebe]

I fear that I will old and feable if not dead by the time we get to number one.

[elmersalsa]

The great Benny Lynch, as what I have seen, was a great fighter, indeed. About 15 fights he had per year got a flyweight. I ask myself, who in the world today fights 15 bouts a year? Who does that nowadays? Remarkable.

Too bad that there are not too many films nor footage of this great boxer from Scotland. He was indeed Scotland's greatest fighter.


At #93, we will cross the pond to America. His last name would make you think that he was indeed a guy from Britain. But he fought a British legend about more than 10 times. He was the two-time World Welterweight Boxing Champion, Jack Britton!

[elmersalsa]

93. Jack Britton

Record: 104-29-30, 30KOs with 190NDs

KO pct is 29%

Career: 1904-30 D

Titles Held: World Welterweight Champion (1916-17, 1919-22)

Highlights: Two-time World Welterweight Champion. Fought 26 years as a professional, recording a total of 358 contests. Fought in 24 title bouts of the welter crown, but only win 6 of them. Made 19 defenses in two reigns. Fought a total of 5 hall of famers, beating 3 of them. Record versus hall of fame boxers is 6-4-1, 1KO with 18NDs. Beat 4 out of 6 world champions he faced. Record versus world champions is 7-4-1, 1KO with 19NDs. Was also American Welterweight Champion.

Historical Impact: Nicknamed "The Boxing Marvel", is most known in boxing history for his 20-fight rivalry series with legendary champion Ted "Kid" Lewis of England. Won the rivalry against the Brit with a record of 4-3-1, 1KO with 12NDs. The rivalry is one of boxing's all-time best.

Defining Fight: WKO9 Ted "Kid" Lewis (XVII).....March 17, 1919....."In the only time in the rivalry that a fight didn't go the distance, Britton is welter king for the second time"

Other Defining Fights: WTKO18 Charley White, W12 Mike Glover, W12 Mike O'Dowd, L20 Ted "Kid" Lewis (XIII), WDQ13 Benny Leonard (III), and L15 Mickey Walker (II).

Your thoughts on this great fighter?

[elmersalsa]

I forgot to mention that Jack Britton was only stopped once in his whole entire career of 358 fights!

Wow! That's a lot of fights without getting stopped.

[elmersalsa]

Well, there's no fight footage of the great Jack Britton on YouTube. All I can say that at position #93 is fair to him in the all-time pound per pound greats rankings.

He won a fight by DQ against the great Benny Leonard. Historians say that Leonard didn't want to win a second crown, that is why he hit Britton when Britton was down? Unbelievable to hear that story. I wonder why.

Was he the better guy in the rivalry against the great Ted "Kid" Lewis?

[Senya13]

Britton's series with Lewis was split even, if you consider both official and newspaper decisions. Unfortunately, I don't have my notes of the series at hand, and can't link to a thread with short summaries and retyped reports, that I posted at another forum a while ago, and which ended at their 12th fight due to lack of free time. But last I remember, taking the whole series, both had won or had the better of equal number of fights, with some fights draws/even.

[elmersalsa]

Britton's series with Lewis was split even, if you consider both official and newspaper decisions. Unfortunately, I don't have my notes of the series at hand, and can't link to a thread with short summaries and retyped reports, that I posted at another forum a while ago, and which ended at their 12th fight due to lack of free time. But last I remember, taking the whole series, both had won or had the better of equal number of fights, with some fights draws/even.

Thanks, Senya13! What about his bout with the great Benny Leonard? What really happened in your view, or of what have you read about.

[elmersalsa]

Like I have tried earlier, I have not found footage of the great Jack Britton of New York.

A guy that fought over 358 fights gotta be a great fighter if he won most of them, including being world champion twice. A true great champion.

At #92, we have a better one. He is here for his longevity and accomplishments. One of boxing's greatest punchers and all-time greatest middleweights, Tommy Ryan!

[DavidPayne]

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?

Hi mate, yes this is correct, Joe contracted TB(?) and was laid up for a while, unable to work, had to move house due to rent arrears etc, barely scraped by, dropped 30-40 pounds in weight over the period. Had to comeback slowly. He lost 12-18 months to this I believe. I've just been reading his Biog, and yes, a fight figure wanted to take him on the path Joe Louis took in his stead, Jersey hesitated, then became ill, and Louis took his place, nor duirectly as such, but the fight figure then discovered Joe Louis. I think that's chronology.

[elmersalsa]

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?

Hi mate, yes this is correct, Joe contracted TB(?) and was laid up for a while, unable to work, had to move house due to rent arrears etc, barely scraped by, dropped 30-40 pounds in weight over the period. Had to comeback slowly. He lost 12-18 months to this I believe. I've just been reading his Biog, and yes, a fight figure wanted to take him on the path Joe Louis took in his stead, Jersey hesitated, then became ill, and Louis took his place, nor duirectly as such, but the fight figure then discovered Joe Louis. I think that's chronology.

Thanks for the information. I never knew that about the great Jersey Joe Walcott. A terrific fighter, indeed!

Thank you very much, DavidPayne!

[elmersalsa]

#92. Tommy Ryan

Record: 84-2-11, 70KOs

KO pct is 83%

Career: 1887-1907

Titles Held:
World Welterweight Champion (1891-1897)
World Middleweight Champion (1897-1902)

Highlights: Was World Welterweight and Middleweight Champion. Made 6 title defenses of welterweight crown and relinquished it after six years. Became Middleweight king and made 10 title defenses. Neither did he lost the Middleweight title inside the ring. His record in world championship fights is 18-1-1 with 13 knockouts.
Fought for 20 years as a pro. Was undefeated in first 38 contests (31-0-7, 25KOs with 4NDs). Lost only 1 fight in his last 64 bouts. Record of his last 64 bouts is 54-1-1, 45KOs with 5NDs. Beat 2 out of 4 hall of fame boxers. Record vs Hall of fame boxers is 4-1-6, 2KOs and 1ND. The same is his record with world champions. He was only stopped once in 108 bouts.

Historical Impact: One of the all-time greatest boxers of the 1890s decade, was also one of the greatest all-time middleweights. Was named by The Ring Magazine's Top 100 All-time Pound per Pound Greatest Punchers.

Defining Fight: W20 Mysterious Billy Smith (III).......July 26, 1894.....In fight #3, Ryan proved to be superior.

Other Defining Fights: WTKO76 Danny Needham, WTKO3 Nonpareil Jack Dempsey,
LKO15 Charles "Kid" McCoy, D6 Jack Root, WKO18 George Green, and WKO4 Mysterious Billy Smith (VI).

[elmersalsa]

Unfortunately, no boxing footage nor clips of this all-time pound per pound great boxer named Tommy Ryan of Redwood, NY.

[elmersalsa]

At #91, we have a true all-time pound per pound great by anybody's standards. The Jamaican Body Snatcher, Mike McCallum!

A guy that in my view could have beaten any member of the Fab 4 or 4 Kings of Duran, Hagler, Hearns and Leonard.

[elmersalsa]

#91. Mike McCallum

Record: 49-5-1, 36KOs

Career: 1981-97

Titles Held:
WBA World Jr. Middleweight Champion (1984-87)
WBA World Middleweight Champion (1990-91)
WBC World Light-heavyweight Champion (1994-95)

Highlights: Triple crown world boxing champion. Made 6 successful title defenses of the WBA World Jr. Middleweight Title. All successfully by knockout!
Won his first 32 professional bouts. At one point in his career, he was 43-1-1 in his first 10 years as a pro. Beat 7 out of 10 world champions. Record versus world champions is 7-5-1 with 4KOs. Beat 1 out of 3 hall of fame boxers. Record versus hall of fame boxers is 1-3-1 with 1KO.

Historical Impact: First ever world boxing champion from Jamaica. A complete fighter, is considered by some as the greatest jr. middleweight boxer of all-time. One of The Ring Magazine's top 100 all-time pound per pound punchers.

Defining Fight: WKO5 Donald.....July 18, 1987.......Stops one of the 1980s decade top superstars with a terrific left hook!

Other Defining Fights: W15 Sean Mannion, WTKO2 Julian Jackson, W12 Herol Graham, W12 Sumbu Kalambay (II), D12 James Toney, and W12 Jeff Harding.

[chrisjs1985]

I'm a big fan of McCallum. He's one of those guys who was so good, very technical, a complete boxer and so professional that he was able to maintain his excellence into his mid/late 30's at a time when that was very rare. I re-watched a few of his fights a few weeks back and never tire of watching him. Though he was past his best his fights with James Toney really stand out for me as textbook boxing at it's best.

[elmersalsa]

I'm a big fan of McCallum. He's one of those guys who was so good, very technical, a complete boxer and so professional that he was able to maintain his excellence into his mid/late 30's at a time when that was very rare. I re-watched a few of his fights a few weeks back and never tire of watching him. Though he was past his best his fights with James Toney really stand out for me as textbook boxing at it's best.

He could have been the 5th king if he would have fought the Fab 4 of boxing.

[chrisjs1985]

I'm a big fan of McCallum. He's one of those guys who was so good, very technical, a complete boxer and so professional that he was able to maintain his excellence into his mid/late 30's at a time when that was very rare. I re-watched a few of his fights a few weeks back and never tire of watching him. Though he was past his best his fights with James Toney really stand out for me as textbook boxing at it's best.

He could have been the 5th king if he would have fought the Fab 4 of boxing.

I'm not sure he could pin a loss on any of them. Maybe an unmotivated Duran around that time but not the others.

[Onetimeonly]

He could have been the 5th king if he would have fought the Fab 4 of boxing.

I'm not sure he could pin a loss on any of them. Maybe an unmotivated Duran around that time but not the others.

He would have lost to benitez too.