Greatest Undefeated Fighter Of All-Time?

[allworld80]

Indeed. In 1941, an eighteen-year-old Marciano six years short of his pro debut would've been no match for a Louis at the peak of his powers

You know what I mean.

[bollox]

I do think Laszlo Papp deserves some consideration here. Arguably the greatest amateur fighter who ever lived (three-time Olympic Champion & two-time European Champion), Papp was a citizen of Communist Hungary. Turning pro in 1957, he defeated some of the best Europe had to offer before winning the EBU middleweight title in 1962. Then, the Hungarian Communist government refused to grant him an exit visa to fight for the world title in 1965, and that ended his career. A great, great fighter now, sadly, forgotten by many.

I've often wondered what he could have become had he started his pro career at 22 instead of 32? I'd say he'd be spoken abput today as one of the very best

[I Feel Fine]

- Therein is your problem, the legacy of Rocky infringing on the legacy of Joe.

Most cannot see the larger picture, that Joe well past prime but still highly ranked, took on one of the finest champs to be in history and put him through his paces. Joe made himself tough and went out on his shield in a passing of the guard.

Now compare the gravely shot, sickened and weezened Ali that Mr. Larry was so embarrassed to be fighting that he was pulling his punches and begging the ref to stop the fight. Give Mr. Larry all humanitarian credit for his actions, however the hysterical historical boxing wisenheims have used that victory to tout Mr. Larry's lineal heritage as though he had previously been the uncrowned King of England when all he was, was the greatest ununified champ of all time!

Considering that Rocky was nobody anyone but his mother and a few regional boxing fans knew and became the 3rd and last fighter to ever beat Joe Louis, it was a tremendous accomplishment.

I don't have a problem. Regardless of what the perception was at the time, with hindsight it is not that great a win. A good win, sure, but only the uninformed consider it anything more than a win over a top rated contender. It was not a great win, or a tremendous accomplishment.

[Rossman]

The Rock