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

[elmersalsa]

At position #66, we got The Whitechapel Whirlwind, the great Jack "Kid" Berg of England.

[elmersalsa]

Now, this is the countdown so far:
100. Jersey Joe Walcott
99. Sonny Liston
98. Vicente Saldivar
97. Gene Fullmer
96. Mike Tyson
95. Eusebio Pedroza
94. Benny Lynch
93. Jack Britton
92. Tommy Ryan
91. Mike McCallum
90. James Toney
89. Tiger Flowers
88. Joe Brown
87. Ted "Kid" Lewis
86. Peter Jackson
85. Beau Jack
84. Lennox Lewis
83. Abe Attell
82. Holman Williams
81. Azumah Nelson
80. Erik "El Terrible" Morales
79. Luis Manuel Rodriguez
78. George Dixon
77. Ricardo "Finito" Lopez
76. Manuel Ortiz
75. Marco Antonio Barrera
74. Bob Foster
73. Pancho Villa
72. Jimmy Barry
71. Packey McFarland
70. Miguel Canto
69. Carlos Zarate
68. Wilfred Benitez
67. Carlos Ortiz

And now, at #66, we got The Whitechapel Whirlwind, Jack "Kid" Berg from England. A very underrated great boxer!

[elmersalsa]

#66. Jack "Kid" Berg
Record: 157-26-9, 61KOs
KO Pct is 39%
Career: 1924-45
World Titles Held: NBA World Jr. Welterweight Champion (1930-31)

Highlights:. NBA World Jr Welterweight Champion that made 11 title defenses. Unbeaten in his first 20 bouts. (Record 18-0-2, 11KOs). In his first 7 years as a professional, only had 5 losses in 104 fights. From March 1926 to July 1928, had an unbeaten streak of 26 bouts, winning 23 bouts in a row. From Oct 1928 to April 1931, was unbeaten in 32 contests, winning the Jr welterweight crown along the way and won 26 fights in a row from July 1929 to April 1931. Beat 4 out of 6 world champions. (Record vs world champions is 7-4-1, 0KOs).
Beat 3 out of 5 hall of famers. (Record vs hall of famers is 5-4-1, with 0KOs). Was also British Lightweight Champion.

Historical Impact: First man in boxing history to beat the great Kid Chocolate of Cuba. Pound per pound, was one of the 1930s decade's best. One of the greatest Jr Welterweight boxers that ever stepped into the ring.

Defining Fight: W10 Kid Chocolate.... August 7, 1930..."First man ever to beat the Cuban Bon Bon"

Other Defining Fights: W15 Andre Routis, W10, Billy Petrolle (III) , L15 Tony Canzoneri (II) , W15 Kid Chocolate (II), W10 Mushy Callahan , and [color=#00800]W10 Tippy Larkin [/color]

Your thoughts on this great champion.

[elmersalsa]

Just by looking that the great Jack "Kid" Berg lost only 5 times in his first 104 contests is a lock for greatness.

[elmersalsa]

#66. Jack "Kid" Berg
Record: 157-26-9, 61KOs
KO Pct is 39%
Career: 1924-45
World Titles Held: NBA World Jr. Welterweight Champion (1930-31)

Highlights:. NBA World Jr Welterweight Champion that made 11 title defenses. Unbeaten in his first 20 bouts. (Record 18-0-2, 11KOs). In his first 7 years as a professional, only had 5 losses in 104 fights. From March 1926 to July 1928, had an unbeaten streak of 26 bouts, winning 23 bouts in a row. From Oct 1928 to April 1931, was unbeaten in 32 contests, winning the Jr welterweight crown along the way and won 26 fights in a row from July 1929 to April 1931. Beat 5 out of 6 world champions. (Record vs world champions is 8-4-1, 0KOs).
Beat 4 out of 5 hall of famers. (Record vs hall of famers is 6-4-1, with 0KOs). Was also British Lightweight Champion.

Historical Impact: First man in boxing history to beat the great Kid Chocolate of Cuba. Pound per pound, was one of the 1930s decade's best. One of the greatest Jr Welterweight boxers that ever stepped into the ring.

Defining Fight: W10 Kid Chocolate.... August 7, 1930..."First man ever to beat the Cuban Bon Bon"

Other Defining Fights: W15 Andre Routis, W10, Billy Petrolle (III), W10 Tony Canzoneri , L15 Tony Canzoneri (III) , W10 Mushy Callahan, and W10 Tippy Larkin

Your thoughts on this great champion.
[/quote]

[elmersalsa]

It's amazing to think that by the time that the great Jack "Kid" Berg was 22 years old, he already had 104 fights! And only lost 5.

Among the best, he beat:
Kid Chocolate
Tony Canzoneri
Billy Petrolle
Andre Routis
Mushy Callahan
Tippy Larkin
Alf Mancini
Joe Glick
Len Wickwar

Man, he beat a lot of boxers!

[elmersalsa]

I am surprised that the British contigent in this forum has not come and talk about this great champion, Jack "Kid" Berg of England

He is the greatest boxer pound per pound of all time of that British nation since the great Bob Fitzsimmons.

Too bad that there's not a great amount of film footage of him. But, what a fighter!

[elmersalsa]

Jack "Kid" Berg most famous win was against the great Kid Chocolate of Cuba on August 7, 1930 in New York City. Chocolate have not lost a fight in 160 contests wether was amateur or professional.

He beat Chocolate again in the rematch on a 15-rounder.

[elmersalsa]

Since that there's not enough video footage of the great Jack "Kid" Berg, we proceed to the next great boxer. From Cincinnati, Ohio, the great Freddie Miller! .

[elmersalsa]

Now, this is the countdown so far:
100. Jersey Joe Walcott
99. Sonny Liston
98. Vicente Saldivar
97. Gene Fullmer
96. Mike Tyson
95. Eusebio Pedroza
94. Benny Lynch
93. Jack Britton
92. Tommy Ryan
91. Mike McCallum
90. James Toney
89. Tiger Flowers
88. Joe Brown
87. Ted "Kid" Lewis
86. Peter Jackson
85. Beau Jack
84. Lennox Lewis
83. Abe Attell
82. Holman Williams
81. Azumah Nelson
80. Erik "El Terrible" Morales
79. Luis Manuel Rodriguez
78. George Dixon
77. Ricardo "Finito" Lopez
76. Manuel Ortiz
75. Marco Antonio Barrera
74. Bob Foster
73. Pancho Villa
72. Jimmy Barry
71. Packey McFarland
70. Miguel Canto
69. Carlos Zarate
68. Wilfred Benitez
67. Carlos Ortiz
66. Jack "Kid" Berg

And now, at #65, and from Cincinnati, Ohio, the great Freddie Miller!

[elmersalsa]

#65. Freddie Miller
Record: 185-29-5, 45KOs
KO Pct is 24.3%
Career: 1927-40
World Titles Held: NBA World Featherweight Champion (1933-36)

Highlights:. NBA World Featherweight Champion that made 11 title defenses. Unbeaten in 78 bouts from May 1927 to October 1930. (Record 40-0-1, (37NDs) 16KOs). Won 39 fights in a row from April 1928 to January 1930. Won 15 fights in a row from October 1933 to June 1934. Made 35 fights in one year in which he won 26 straight from February to November 1935....Beat 5 out of 8 world champions. (Record versus world champions is 9-8-1, 1NC, 0KOs).....Beat 4 out of 6 hall of famers. (Record versus Hall of Fame boxers is 7-5, 1NC, 0KOs)...... Stopped once in 250 straight contests. Lost only 2 fights by knockout in 252 bouts.

Historical Impact: One of the greatest featherweight boxers of all-time. Was one of the best featherweights of the 1930s if not the best.

Defining Fight: W15 Neal Tarleton.... September 20, 1934..."Got world-wide recognition as world champion"

Other Defining Fights: W10 Tommy Paul, W10 Petey Sarron, W10 Panama Al Brown , L10 Battling Battalino , W10 Baby Arizmendi, and W8 Chalky Wright

Your thoughts on this great champion.

[elmersalsa]

Freddie Miller had to travel to Liverpool, England to win the world wide recognition as world champion in the featherweight division by beating in 15 rounds British and European Featherweight Champion Neal Tarleton of England.

[elmersalsa]

Among other great wins by Freddie Miller
W10 Harry Forbes
W10 Eddie Shea
W8 Lew Feldman (he beat Feldman three times! Feldman, like Tommy Paul, should be in the Hall of Fame)
W10 Rodolfo "Baby" Casanova
W10 Speedy Dado
W10 Len Wickwar

Miller was a great champion but didn't had a great punch. Si, he relied on speed and stamina. He was one of the top greatest southpaws of all-time.

[elmersalsa]

Since that there's no footage of film available on the great Freddie Miller, we move on to position #64. And the position is for the great Battling Battalino of Hartford, Connecticut.

[elmersalsa]

Now, this is the countdown so far:
100. Jersey Joe Walcott
99. Sonny Liston
98. Vicente Saldivar
97. Gene Fullmer
96. Mike Tyson
95. Eusebio Pedroza
94. Benny Lynch
93. Jack Britton
92. Tommy Ryan
91. Mike McCallum
90. James Toney
89. Tiger Flowers
88. Joe Brown
87. Ted "Kid" Lewis
86. Peter Jackson
85. Beau Jack
84. Lennox Lewis
83. Abe Attell
82. Holman Williams
81. Azumah Nelson
80. Erik "El Terrible" Morales
79. Luis Manuel Rodriguez
78. George Dixon
77. Ricardo "Finito" Lopez
76. Manuel Ortiz
75. Marco Antonio Barrera
74. Bob Foster
73. Pancho Villa
72. Jimmy Barry
71. Packey McFarland
70. Miguel Canto
69. Carlos Zarate
68. Wilfred Benitez
67. Carlos Ortiz
66. Jack "Kid" Berg
65. Freddie Miller

And now, at #64, from Hartford, Connecticut, the great Battling Battalino!

[elmersalsa]

#64. Battling Battalino
Record: 57-26-3, 2NC, with 23KOs
KO Pct is 40%
Career: 1927-40
World Titles Held: NBA World Featherweight Champion (1929-32)

Highlights:. NBA World Featherweight Champion that made 5 title defenses and never lost his crown in the ring but relinquished it to the boxing ruling bodies because of a bizarre and suspicious title defense against the great Freddie Miller.....Lost one fight in his first 24 bouts. (Record was 20-1-2 with 1 No-contest, with 9 knockouts)......Beat 8 out of 11 world champions. (Record versus world champions is 9-4, 2KOs)......Beat 7 out of 10 hall of famers. (Record versus Hall of Fame boxers is 7-5, 1KO)....... Stopped only once in 88 bouts.

Historical Impact: One of the greatest featherweight boxers of all-time. Was one of the best featherweights of the 1930s. Took on the very best fighters of his era and was one of the 1930s decade's most entertaining fighters.

Defining Fight: W15 Andre Routis.... September 23, 1929..."Became NBA Featherweight Champion of the World!"

Other Defining Fights: W10 Panama Al Brown, W10 Freddie Miller, W15 Kid Chocolate, W15 Fidel La Barba, , LTKO12 Billy Petrolle and L10 Barney Ross

Your thoughts on this great champion.

[elmersalsa]

I have seen the great Battling Battalino short clip video footage fight with the great Kid Chocolate. It seems to me that it was a great great fight. One of the very best fights of the 1930s decade.

The problem is that the footage is not complete. Some rounds are missing. But, of what I have seen from the small footage, I saw the example fight of a boxer vs a slugger/brawler.

Chocolate boxing style and skills were smooth. Oh my goodness! What a fighter! Battalino just came forward and forward. He was a whirlwind. What a great fighter he was.

Of the short film of what I have seen of that fight, I think that Chocolate got robbed. It was a title fight for Battalino's NBA World Featherweight Title. It was December 20, 1930.

There's no more videos about Battalino. He was a great champion.

Next, we go to a true all-time pound per pound great that was a great champ. The best of his weight class of all-time. His name? Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez of Puerto Rico!

[elmersalsa]

Now, this is the countdown so far:
100. Jersey Joe Walcott
99. Sonny Liston
98. Vicente Saldivar
97. Gene Fullmer
96. Mike Tyson
95. Eusebio Pedroza
94. Benny Lynch
93. Jack Britton
92. Tommy Ryan
91. Mike McCallum
90. James Toney
89. Tiger Flowers
88. Joe Brown
87. Ted "Kid" Lewis
86. Peter Jackson
85. Beau Jack
84. Lennox Lewis
83. Abe Attell
82. Holman Williams
81. Azumah Nelson
80. Erik "El Terrible" Morales
79. Luis Manuel Rodriguez
78. George Dixon
77. Ricardo "Finito" Lopez
76. Manuel Ortiz
75. Marco Antonio Barrera
74. Bob Foster
73. Pancho Villa
72. Jimmy Barry
71. Packey McFarland
70. Miguel Canto
69. Carlos Zarate
68. Wilfred Benitez
67. Carlos Ortiz
66. Jack "Kid" Berg
65. Freddie Miller
64. Battling Battalino

And now, at #63, from Las Monjas, Santurce, Puerto Rico, the great Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez!

[elmersalsa]

#63. Wilfredo Gomez
Record: 44-3-1, with 42KOs
KO Pct is 95.4%
Career: 1974-89
World Titles Held: WBC World Super Bantamweight Champion (1977-83), WBC World Featherweight Champion (1984) and WBA World Jr Lightweight Champion (1985-86)

Highlights:. Triple crown division champion, prolific KO puncher and complete boxer that reigned with Bazooka's fists for six years the WBC World Super Bantamweight Crown, making 17 successful title defenses, winning all of them by knockout!....His 17 title defenses by knockout is a division record of the Jr featherweight division (122lbs).....After drawing in his first professional fight, won 32 straight fights after that. All by knockout! Also won the WBC World Featherweight and WBA World Jr Lightweight Crowns, becoming triple crown division champion......Beat 9 out of 12 world champions. (Record versus world champions is 9-3, 7KOs)......Beat 2 out of 4 hall of famers. (Record versus Hall of Fame boxers is 2-2, 2KOs).

Historical Impact: Considered by many boxing historians as the greatest super bantamweight boxer of all-time....... Without a doubt, the best 122-pounder of the 1970s and early 80s decade.....One of the 1970s decade top ten boxers. Selected by The Ring Magazine as one of the top 100 greatest punchers of all-time list......His anticipated 1981 classic fight with the great Salvador Sanchez, was called "The Fight of the Little Giants".

Defining Fight: WTKO5 Carlos Zarate.... October 28, 1978..."Easily dispatched one of boxing's all time greatest punchers"

Other Defining Fights: WKO12 Dong Kyun Yum, LTKO8 Salvador Sanchez , WTKO14 Lupe Pintor, W12 Juan La Porte , LKO11 Azumah Nelson , and W15 Rocky Lockridge

Your thoughts on this great champion.

[Seamus]

In his prime, Wilfredo Gomez was one of the best combination punchers I've ever seen. Ironically, one of my favorite Bazooka performances is one where he doesn't even score a knockdown. It's the one where he dominates iron chinned Juan LaPorte by smothering him with his repertoire of punches round after round.

[elmersalsa]

In his prime, Wilfredo Gomez was one of the best combination punchers I've ever seen. Ironically, one of my favorite Bazooka performances is one where he doesn't even score a knockdown. It's the one where he dominates iron chinned Juan LaPorte by smothering him with his repertoire of punches round after round.

That was a great performance. Probably, his last. Bazooka is more known by most people as a brawler much more than his complete boxing skills. His skills were very underrated.

[Monzon83]

Mike Tyson at 96 feels far too low. Forget his career after the Spinks fight, what he did before the age of 22 is pretty much unprecedented.

I don’t expect to see a 21 year old undisputed HW champ again in my lifetime.

[Ambling Alp II]

How about a 17 another year old Jr welterweight champ?

[elmersalsa]

Mike Tyson at 96 feels far too low. Forget his career after the Spinks fight, what he did before the age of 22 is pretty much unprecedented.

I don’t expect to see a 21 year old undisputed HW champ again in my lifetime.

I feel you on that one. But, after coming back from jail, the great Mike Tyson's career was kind of a joke. No consistency and he started to lose badly, starting with the great Evander Holyfield.

Every fight after Holyfield, was way below standard ls and very controversial and bluntly bizarre.

But, like you said, we are not going to see a 20-year old ever again like him. Twenty is too young to win a heavyweight crown.

[elmersalsa]

Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gomez, the great Puerto Rican boxer from Las Monjas drew in his first professional fight in 1974 in Panama City, Panama.

Gomez started his professional boxing career in Panama. He stayed there for about a year before returning to the island of Puerto Rico for good.

His opponent in that draw was the local Jacinto Fuentes. In the rematch a year later, Gomez erased the doubt by knocking Fuentes in the second round.

The tape of his fight with top ranked Bantamweight contender, and future world champion, Alberto Davila, of Pomona, CA was a masterpiece display at a such young and early age of 20 that Gomez was seen as something special.

The crowd in that night at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico were witnessing a future world champion that at least could be a good solid contender. It was Monday, July 19, 1976.

Davila, 20, at the time had a record of 19-3, with 6 knockouts. It was clearly shown in his record that he was not a big puncher. But, Davila was a guy that could give anyone a great fight. He already had a win against future world champion and hall of famer Lupe Pintor of Mexico and beat some other outstanding boxers like Frankie Duarte.

But, on this night, Davila was not a match for the upcoming Puerto Rican star. He was truly outclassed. And in this observer's view, he lost every single round. Gomez was the aggressor and was also too strong for the young Californian.

Two left uppercuts in round nine by Gomez and Davila went down for the count. Gomez won by a 9th round TKO.

But, I saw something in Gomez that would later in his career was very known for. Even though he had Davila out and the referee stopping it, Gomez still in a rage wanted to hit the defenseless Davila at will, even though the referee said that it was enough. His seconds had to pulled him off from the beating that he was going to unnecessarily give to the young aspiring prospect.

Were there personal insults before the bout? I don't know. But, it was a very bizarre behavior from Bazooka.

Gomez gave his countrymen a show. He was for real and not a hype. He improves with a record of 12-0-1, with 12 knockouts.

Davila would challenge 3 times for the Bantamweight Crown to no avail, losing to champions like Carlos Zarate (LKO8) of Mexico, Jorge Lujan (L15) of Panama and Pintor (L15) in a rematch.

But, perseverance, will and determination paid off. In the night that it was supposed to be the greatest night of his career was also his most lowest point. Davila, being behind on points in two scorecards and even in the other one, stops Kiko Bejines of Mexico in a vacant world title match for the WBC Bantamweight crown in 1983. He stopped Bejines in round 12 and final round to achieve his long awaited dream of being world champion. But, Bejines died 3 days later of his injuries of that brutal contest.