BoxRec

1. Jones

easy choice. the best combination of footwork, speed, technic and power the boxing world has ever seen. made back than p4p king toney look like a b level boxer and easily won against a close to prime hopkins. sad that he was boxing in a era were there werent so many top guys like today with kovalev, stevenson, ward, bertebiev etc..

2. Robinson

at his best knocked anybody down either with right or left. accurate, tremendous record. like ones dougie fisher said:"had the speed of prime mosley, the athleticsm of prime jones and the power of prime trinidad"

3. Leonard

fought the best, beat the best. very hard to beat when he was moving a lot and boxing from outside.

4. Rigondeaux

the best footwork i have ever seen in boxing. combined with good power and speed. calm, relaxed and deathly at the same time. made p4p stars like donaire look like journeyman. sad that cuba didnt let boxer go pro, imagine all the big wins he would have had in his twentys.

5. Mayweather

best defensive boxer ever. amongs the best ever in mostly every important category of boxing: chin, speed, iq, footwork, accuracy.

and before bashing my top 5, make your own one and put on some sense, why these 5 are your best!

1. Sugar Ray Robinson
Widely regarded by boxing experts and historians as the greatest boxer of all-time. At welterweight, he was virtually unbeatable, and was only ever troubled by middleweights. He then had a long reign at middleweight, despite the fact that he was past his best and probably only a natrual 154lb fighter. Would have taken the light heavyweight title had weather conditions been different. He wasn't great defensively and had trouble with swarmers and pressure fighters, especially those who significantly outweighed him, but he made up for this with outstanding hand and footspeed, a full arsenal of punches, knockout power in both hands and a granite chin.

2. Harry Greb
Has probably the most impressive record of any boxer ever. The only reason I don't put him at #1 is because he wasn't as highly regarded by his contemporaries. A natural middleweight without great power who regularly fought and beat light heavyweights (and occasionally heavyweights), including a win over the great Gene Tunney. His strengths were outstanding stamina and durability and well as great handspeed.

3. Henry Armstrong
Simultaneously undisputed champion in three weight divisions (which by todays standards would span five weight divisions) - this is probably the greatest accomplishment in boxing history. Like Greb, he has unbelievably good stamina and durability, being stopped only twice in 181 fights. He also had a good KO percentage, indicating good punching power, considering he went up in weight.

4. Sam Langford
There's a trend here... another boxer who made a career of beating guys he was significantly lighter - and in Langford's case shorter - than. Started his career at welterweight and went all the way up to heavyweight, keeping his punch the whole way while regularly fighting a high standard of opposition.

5. Ezzard Charles
Probably the greatest and best light heavyweight of all time, fighting in the strongest era for the division ever and coming out on top of the heap. Then moved up to heavyweight and was champion for a while, beating a post-prime Joe Louis, a prime Jersey Joe Walcott and giving Rocky Marciano two of the toughest fights of his career, despite the fact that Charles was likely a bit past his best at the time. Great blend of athleticism and technique, his boxing ability allowed him to compete with bigger, stronger, skilled heavyweights.

No time to go into detail, but I will list now and detail later on.

1) Sugar Ray Robinson

2) Roy Jones Jr.

3) Muhammad Ali

4) Henry Armstrong

5) Sugar Ray Leonard

jezzamundo wrote:1. Sugar Ray Robinson
Widely regarded by boxing experts and historians as the greatest boxer of all-time. At welterweight, he was virtually unbeatable, and was only ever troubled by middleweights. He then had a long reign at middleweight, despite the fact that he was past his best and probably only a natrual 154lb fighter. Would have taken the light heavyweight title had weather conditions been different. He wasn't great defensively and had trouble with swarmers and pressure fighters, especially those who significantly outweighed him, but he made up for this with outstanding hand and footspeed, a full arsenal of punches, knockout power in both hands and a granite chin.

2. Harry Greb
Has probably the most impressive record of any boxer ever. The only reason I don't put him at #1 is because he wasn't as highly regarded by his contemporaries. A natural middleweight without great power who regularly fought and beat light heavyweights (and occasionally heavyweights), including a win over the great Gene Tunney. His strengths were outstanding stamina and durability and well as great handspeed.

3. Henry Armstrong
Simultaneously undisputed champion in three weight divisions (which by todays standards would span five weight divisions) - this is probably the greatest accomplishment in boxing history. Like Greb, he has unbelievably good stamina and durability, being stopped only twice in 181 fights. He also had a good KO percentage, indicating good punching power, considering he went up in weight.

4. Sam Langford
There's a trend here... another boxer who made a career of beating guys he was significantly lighter - and in Langford's case shorter - than. Started his career at welterweight and went all the way up to heavyweight, keeping his punch the whole way while regularly fighting a high standard of opposition.

5. Ezzard Charles
Probably the greatest and best light heavyweight of all time, fighting in the strongest era for the division ever and coming out on top of the heap. Then moved up to heavyweight and was champion for a while, beating a post-prime Joe Louis, a prime Jersey Joe Walcott and giving Rocky Marciano two of the toughest fights of his career, despite the fact that Charles was likely a bit past his best at the time. Great blend of athleticism and technique, his boxing ability allowed him to compete with bigger, stronger, skilled heavyweights.

It's these guys and only these guys. You can change the order but these 5 are your answer.

Ezzard wrote:

jezzamundo wrote:1. Sugar Ray Robinson
Widely regarded by boxing experts and historians as the greatest boxer of all-time. At welterweight, he was virtually unbeatable, and was only ever troubled by middleweights. He then had a long reign at middleweight, despite the fact that he was past his best and probably only a natrual 154lb fighter. Would have taken the light heavyweight title had weather conditions been different. He wasn't great defensively and had trouble with swarmers and pressure fighters, especially those who significantly outweighed him, but he made up for this with outstanding hand and footspeed, a full arsenal of punches, knockout power in both hands and a granite chin.

2. Harry Greb
Has probably the most impressive record of any boxer ever. The only reason I don't put him at #1 is because he wasn't as highly regarded by his contemporaries. A natural middleweight without great power who regularly fought and beat light heavyweights (and occasionally heavyweights), including a win over the great Gene Tunney. His strengths were outstanding stamina and durability and well as great handspeed.

3. Henry Armstrong
Simultaneously undisputed champion in three weight divisions (which by todays standards would span five weight divisions) - this is probably the greatest accomplishment in boxing history. Like Greb, he has unbelievably good stamina and durability, being stopped only twice in 181 fights. He also had a good KO percentage, indicating good punching power, considering he went up in weight.

4. Sam Langford
There's a trend here... another boxer who made a career of beating guys he was significantly lighter - and in Langford's case shorter - than. Started his career at welterweight and went all the way up to heavyweight, keeping his punch the whole way while regularly fighting a high standard of opposition.

5. Ezzard Charles
Probably the greatest and best light heavyweight of all time, fighting in the strongest era for the division ever and coming out on top of the heap. Then moved up to heavyweight and was champion for a while, beating a post-prime Joe Louis, a prime Jersey Joe Walcott and giving Rocky Marciano two of the toughest fights of his career, despite the fact that Charles was likely a bit past his best at the time. Great blend of athleticism and technique, his boxing ability allowed him to compete with bigger, stronger, skilled heavyweights.

It's these guys and only these guys. You can change the order but these 5 are your answer.

Ali is in contention imo from 2-5, and as for the order... no. 1 is undisputable.

1.......SUGAR RAY ROBINSON.......fought them all dodged no one and some future great's even stole his nickname NO HAND PICKED OPPONENT'S
2.......MUHAMMAD [THE GREATEST] ALI......Like SRR fought them all and dodged no one even lasted 10 round's with the great Holmes while it was clear he was suffering from PARKINSON SYNDROME i'd like to see Floyd try that.HE BEAT...LISTON,FRAZIER,FOREMAN,NORTON ETC ETC ETC ETC.
3.......HENRY ARMSTRONG........They changed the rule's because of Henry he held 3 world title's at the same time Feather/Light/Welter and nearly made it 4 World title's at Middle no one was ever to hold undisputed World Title's again at the same time The great Frazier copied him that'll do me.
4.......SANDY SADDLER........I don't like to bring up race and things like segregation and the like but the truth isn't hard to find if you take a hard
enough look so when I see a COLOURED FIGHTER defeat a GREAT WHITE CHAMPION like WILLY PEP WHO WAS 134-1-1.. BACK THEN WHEN A LOT OF WHITE FIGHTER'S DREW THE COLOURED LINE WELL IT JUST JUMPS OUT AT ME AND INDICATES HOW GREAT THIS MAN SADDLER MUST HAVE BEEN.
5.......HARRY GREB.......Only man to defeat the Future HEAVYWEIGHT champ GENE TUNNEY THIS GUY YOU WOULN'T WANT TO MEET IN A DARK ALLEY...ONLY LOST 8 TIME'S IN A 118 FIGHT'S.

ClivePatrickLyons wrote:1.......SUGAR RAY ROBINSON.......fought them all dodged no one and some future great's even stole his nickname NO HAND PICKED OPPONENT'S
2.......MUHAMMAD [THE GREATEST] ALI......Like SRR fought them all and dodged no one even lasted 10 round's with the great Holmes while it was clear he was suffering from PARKINSON SYNDROME i'd like to see Floyd try that.HE BEAT...LISTON,FRAZIER,FOREMAN,NORTON ETC ETC ETC ETC.
3.......HENRY ARMSTRONG........They changed the rule's because of Henry he held 3 world title's at the same time Feather/Light/Welter and nearly made it 4 World title's at Middle no one was ever to hold undisputed World Title's again at the same time The great Frazier copied him that'll do me.
4.......SANDY SADDLER........I don't like to bring up race and things like segregation and the like but the truth isn't hard to find if you take a hard
enough look so when I see a COLOURED FIGHTER defeat a GREAT WHITE CHAMPION like WILLY PEP WHO WAS 134-1-1.. BACK THEN WHEN A LOT OF WHITE FIGHTER'S DREW THE COLOURED LINE WELL IT JUST JUMPS OUT AT ME AND INDICATES HOW GREAT THIS MAN SADDLER MUST HAVE BEEN.
5.......HARRY GREB.......Only man to defeat the Future HEAVYWEIGHT champ GENE TUNNEY THIS GUY YOU WOULN'T WANT TO MEET IN A DARK ALLEY...ONLY LOST 8 TIME'S IN A 118 FIGHT'S.

Pretty good list - I'd argue Ali is outside the top 5, but can see why you have him there.

Ricky_ wrote:

Ezzard wrote:

jezzamundo wrote:1. Sugar Ray Robinson
Widely regarded by boxing experts and historians as the greatest boxer of all-time. At welterweight, he was virtually unbeatable, and was only ever troubled by middleweights. He then had a long reign at middleweight, despite the fact that he was past his best and probably only a natrual 154lb fighter. Would have taken the light heavyweight title had weather conditions been different. He wasn't great defensively and had trouble with swarmers and pressure fighters, especially those who significantly outweighed him, but he made up for this with outstanding hand and footspeed, a full arsenal of punches, knockout power in both hands and a granite chin.

2. Harry Greb
Has probably the most impressive record of any boxer ever. The only reason I don't put him at #1 is because he wasn't as highly regarded by his contemporaries. A natural middleweight without great power who regularly fought and beat light heavyweights (and occasionally heavyweights), including a win over the great Gene Tunney. His strengths were outstanding stamina and durability and well as great handspeed.

3. Henry Armstrong
Simultaneously undisputed champion in three weight divisions (which by todays standards would span five weight divisions) - this is probably the greatest accomplishment in boxing history. Like Greb, he has unbelievably good stamina and durability, being stopped only twice in 181 fights. He also had a good KO percentage, indicating good punching power, considering he went up in weight.

4. Sam Langford
There's a trend here... another boxer who made a career of beating guys he was significantly lighter - and in Langford's case shorter - than. Started his career at welterweight and went all the way up to heavyweight, keeping his punch the whole way while regularly fighting a high standard of opposition.

5. Ezzard Charles
Probably the greatest and best light heavyweight of all time, fighting in the strongest era for the division ever and coming out on top of the heap. Then moved up to heavyweight and was champion for a while, beating a post-prime Joe Louis, a prime Jersey Joe Walcott and giving Rocky Marciano two of the toughest fights of his career, despite the fact that Charles was likely a bit past his best at the time. Great blend of athleticism and technique, his boxing ability allowed him to compete with bigger, stronger, skilled heavyweights.

It's these guys and only these guys. You can change the order but these 5 are your answer.

Ali is in contention imo from 2-5, and as for the order... no. 1 is undisputable.

I think you can make a strong case for Armstrong being #1.

1. Robinson.
2. Ali.
3. Leonard, Ray.
4. Mayweather.
5. Duran.

Nice to see saddler getting in a top five. I wouldn't have him there but it's a legitimate argument.