The 10 Best Fighters of the 1970s

[scartissue]

I love Ring mag, but over the years they were always so heavyweight-centric. Giving Foreman fighter of the year in '73 and Ali the same award in '78 was just going for the low-hanging fruit. Foreman stopped Joe Frazier and then stopped no-hoper Joe Roman for the award. Moreover, they called the Foreman-Frazier fight fight of the year. Now come on. Rout of the year, yes. I have no problem with Foreman-Lyle getting it in '76 because that was competitive, which is my criteria for the award. But for fighter of the year, this is how I had it from '73-'78 (and yes, it is weird that I remember my picks).

73 - Ring mag-George Foreman, Mine - Antonio Cervantes
74 - Ring mag-Ali, Mine - Ali
75 - Ring mag-Ali, Mine - Ali
76 - Ring mag-George Foreman, Mine - Victor Galindez
77 - Ring mag-Carlos Zarate, Mine - Shengsak Muangsurin
78 - Ring mag-Ali, Mine - Wilfredo Gomez

Seriously, they gave it to Ali in 78 for winning the title a third time. He beat a novice that he should never have lost to earlier in the year and they give him fighter of the year. Ring mag loved the heavies.

[King Carlos]

Since winning Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year is such a big deal, and Ali won Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year 4 Times in the 1970s and the great Carlos Monzon only won it once, and the great Roberto Duran not all, Ali should move up to the top spot.

Not to mention that Ali has wins over two Fighter who won the award twice in the 1970s, and the great Carlos Monzon and the great Roberto Duran have none against fighters who won the award in the 1970s.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I love Ring mag, but over the years they were always so heavyweight-centric. Giving Foreman fighter of the year in '73 and Ali the same award in '78 was just going for the low-hanging fruit. Foreman stopped Joe Frazier and then stopped no-hoper Joe Roman for the award. Moreover, they called the Foreman-Frazier fight fight of the year. Now come on. Rout of the year, yes. I have no problem with Foreman-Lyle getting it in '76 because that was competitive, which is my criteria for the award. But for fighter of the year, this is how I had it from '73-'78 (and yes, it is weird that I remember my picks).

73 - Ring mag-George Foreman, Mine - Antonio Cervantes
74 - Ring mag-Ali, Mine - Ali
75 - Ring mag-Ali, Mine - Ali
76 - Ring mag-George Foreman, Mine - Victor Galindez
77 - Ring mag-Carlos Zarate, Mine - Shengsak Muangsurin
78 - Ring mag-Ali, Mine - Wilfredo Gomez

Seriously, they gave it to Ali in 78 for winning the title a third time. He beat a novice that he should never have lost to earlier in the year and they give him fighter of the year. Ring mag loved the heavies.

One of the most ridiculous things was Holyfield/Tyson as fight of the year.

[elmersalsa]

Latin American boxers dominated the 1970s decade like never before. It was The Latin Invasion. The Golden Era of Latin American boxing. Ironically, only 3 fighters of the best ten fighters of the decade were Americans: Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Bob Foster.

By the year 1976, only two world champions were Americans: Muhammad Ali at heavyweight and Danny Lopez at featherweight.

[Scypion]

I thought that Rodrigo Valdez was pretty good. Don't know if he belongs on any list here or honorable mention, but I thought that he was tough. If not for King Carlos, then he probably would have dominated the middleweight division during the 1970's. Very underrated, IMO.

[Ambling Alp II]

I love Ring mag, but over the years they were always so heavyweight-centric. Giving Foreman fighter of the year in '73 and Ali the same award in '78 was just going for the low-hanging fruit. Foreman stopped Joe Frazier and then stopped no-hoper Joe Roman for the award. Moreover, they called the Foreman-Frazier fight fight of the year. Now come on. Rout of the year, yes. I have no problem with Foreman-Lyle getting it in '76 because that was competitive, which is my criteria for the award. But for fighter of the year, this is how I had it from '73-'78 (and yes, it is weird that I remember my picks).

73 - Ring mag-George Foreman, Mine - Antonio Cervantes
74 - Ring mag-Ali, Mine - Ali
75 - Ring mag-Ali, Mine - Ali
76 - Ring mag-George Foreman, Mine - Victor Galindez
77 - Ring mag-Carlos Zarate, Mine - Shengsak Muangsurin
78 - Ring mag-Ali, Mine - Wilfredo Gomez

Seriously, they gave it to Ali in 78 for winning the title a third time. He beat a novice that he should never have lost to earlier in the year and they give him fighter of the year. Ring mag loved the heavies.

It's understandable that they went with Foreman for 1973. He did crush Frazier that year. Agree that no way he should had got it for 1976.
Obviously Ali should have not won it for 1978. Must have been a makeup call for 1966.

[elmersalsa]

Roberto Duran or Wilfredo Gomez should have been the Ring Fighter of the Year for 1978

[Syntax Error]

I love Ring mag, but over the years they were always so heavyweight-centric. Giving Foreman fighter of the year in '73 and Ali the same award in '78 was just going for the low-hanging fruit. Foreman stopped Joe Frazier and then stopped no-hoper Joe Roman for the award. Moreover, they called the Foreman-Frazier fight fight of the year. Now come on. Rout of the year, yes. I have no problem with Foreman-Lyle getting it in '76 because that was competitive, which is my criteria for the award. But for fighter of the year, this is how I had it from '73-'78 (and yes, it is weird that I remember my picks).

73 - Ring mag-George Foreman, Mine - Antonio Cervantes
74 - Ring mag-Ali, Mine - Ali
75 - Ring mag-Ali, Mine - Ali
76 - Ring mag-George Foreman, Mine - Victor Galindez
77 - Ring mag-Carlos Zarate, Mine - Shengsak Muangsurin
78 - Ring mag-Ali, Mine - Wilfredo Gomez

Seriously, they gave it to Ali in 78 for winning the title a third time. He beat a novice that he should never have lost to earlier in the year and they give him fighter of the year. Ring mag loved the heavies.

One of the most ridiculous things was Holyfield/Tyson as fight of the year.

I'm not sure if I'm correct, but did they also name Leonard v Hagler as fight of the year '87?

If I am right that is just bonkers because Leonard v Hagler was never fight of the year in any year; it wasn't a good enough fight to warrant such an accolade.

Fantastic event & stunning result, but not necessarily a truly great fight.

[scartissue]

Ring mag always pulled something strange out of their hat. Leonard-Hagler should have been event of the year, but to say fight of the year is sometyhing else, although I would really have to delve to see what else was out there that year. I did look up some of their 'rounds of the year' which had me scratching my head. Johannson-Machen 1st round, Johannson-Patterson 3rd round (1st fight) and Foreman Frazier 2nd round (1st fight) all made round of the year. Slaughter of the year maybe. I consider round of the year like fight of the year. You know, competitive. I agree with Johannson-Patterson 1st round (3rd fight) and Corrales-Castillo 10th round (1st fight), but let's say 1969 which I thought would be a shoo-in for Frazier-Quarry 1st round. But they went with Nino Benvenuti-Luis Rodriguez 11th round. It seems they were more in awe of the one-punch KO that Nino produced than the highly competitive Frazier-Quarry 1st round.

[elmersalsa]

Last topic was about the best ten boxers of the 1940s decade. Many differ in the opinions about the great Willie Pep, as the best of that decade.

Let's talk about another decade that had superstars just like the 1980s. It wasn't quite close like the 80s in terms of superstardom power in almost all the weight classes. Mainly because the heavyweight division was so loaded with talent, that the rest of the other weight classes didn't get all the equal attention. But, the decade produced some fine all time greats who many considered in four or five weight classes, the best ever of their respective divisions. You will see what I am talking about below. These to me, were the ten best pound per pound boxers of the 1970s decade:

1. Roberto Duran
2. Carlos Monzon
3. Muhammad Ali
4. Alexis Arguello
5. George Foreman
6. Wilfredo Gomez
7. Carlos Zarate
8. Miguel Canto
9. Ruben Olivares
10. Bob Foster

Honorary mention:
Joe Frazier: There is a saying that there is no best of the 70s decade, especially in the heavyweight division without Smokin' Joe. That is somewhat true. The other truth of the matter is that this is a pound per pound ranking and not a political popular choice. Yes, Frazier won the biggest and most anticipated fight in the history of the heavyweight division, putting the great Muhammad Ali flat on his back in the last round of that extraordinary and fantastic night at The Garden. Yes, he was twice The Ring Fighter of the Year in 1970 and 1971. But, in the decade, Frazier didn't fight enough. He only had 12 bouts in the whole entire decade. Yes, he decapitated the great Bob Foster in two with a left hook and also bludgeoned Jimmy Ellis for the undisputed title, but, he had his most horrendous and humiliating defeat in Jamaica at the hands of the great George Foreman in only two rounds and only won 8 fights. Not enough wins, but lots of noise. The others above, had more to offer. It was the 1960s that he was truly as one of the best.

Sugar Ray Leonard: Came a little late for the party. He won the Olympic gold in Montreal and jumped off to superstardom in perhaps the greatest US Olympic boxing team ever in '76. By the end of the decade, he won the welterweight title by stopping the great Wilfred Benitez in 15 masterful rounds. He went 26-0 as a pro in the decade, which was the precursor of the next decade, which he was clearly the best.

Wilfred Benitez: Became making headlines when he was the youngest boxer, at 17 years of age, to win a world title. This feat probably will never be duplicated. And he just didn't beat just any champion. He beat a grown man in his prime in Antonio Cervantes in March '76. But, the Teenager did not stopped there. Three years later, he took the crown from champion Carlos Palomino for his second division title. Was unbeaten in first 39 fights until he met, we all know who.

Antonio Cervantes: Was a two-time fantastic world jr. welterweight champion that made 15 title defenses in two reigns. But, we all forgot that before that, Nicolino Locche whupped him and gave him a boxing lesson in Argentina for his first title try in '71. And a teenager that should've been in school worrying about homework gave him another lesson 5 years after that. But, between that, he won 39 fights in the decade. He made history by becoming the first world champion ever from his native Colombia.... He beat Esteban Dejesus, Alfonso "Peppermint" Frazer (twice), Rodolfo "Gato" Gonzalez, Hector Thompson, Saoul Mamby and avenged his loss to Locche in Venezuela. With all that, a fight with the great Roberto Duran did not materialized.

Larry Holmes: Undefeated in the decade winning 32 fights and also the WBC world heavyweight crown in a spectacular 15-round slugsfest with the champion Ken Norton in June '78. He came a little late for the party of the heavyweight elite of Ali, Foreman and Frazier. Beat dangerous puncher Earnie Shavers twice, and also Mike Weaver, Ossie Ocasio and Alfredo Evangelista in title defenses. But, in the 80s is when he got his props by being recognized first as the true lineal champion and all time great heavyweight status.

Good list, my only points would be;

Foster, whilst a great LH champion only really fought til 74 and his opposition, whilst decent (excellent wins over Finnegan and Rondon), wasn't out of this world. The fact that he was also so convincingly dismantled by Frazier and Ali IMO should have a bearing on his position within a 70's P4P list. Cervantes should be above him.

I also would have Ken Buchanan as an honourable mention, considered by many to be Britain's greatest post war fighter. At his peak in early 70's only the brilliant Duran was better than him in the lightweight division, he was a wonderful all round boxer.

You're right about Ken Buchanan from Scotland. He was a bad mother! I hope I get to meet him someday.

[yancey]

Ring mag always pulled something strange out of their hat. Leonard-Hagler should have been event of the year, but to say fight of the year is sometyhing else, although I would really have to delve to see what else was out there that year. I did look up some of their 'rounds of the year' which had me scratching my head. Johannson-Machen 1st round, Johannson-Patterson 3rd round (1st fight) and Foreman Frazier 2nd round (1st fight) all made round of the year. Slaughter of the year maybe. I consider round of the year like fight of the year. You know, competitive. I agree with Johannson-Patterson 1st round (3rd fight) and Corrales-Castillo 10th round (1st fight), but let's say 1969 which I thought would be a shoo-in for Frazier-Quarry 1st round. But they went with Nino Benvenuti-Luis Rodriguez 11th round. It seems they were more in awe of the one-punch KO that Nino produced than the highly competitive Frazier-Quarry 1st round.

Ring Mag were idiots for not choosing Frazier-Quarry RD 1 in '69 as the Round of the Year.

It was one of the greatest rounds in heavyweight history as far as I'm concerned.

[yancey]

delete, duplicate post.