BoxRec

I would like you to name who you think are the THREE greatest fighters ever to come out of Europe.

You can name one or two, if you like, but not more than three.

And no explanations are needed. Just three names. But feel free to add a short explanation.

After a few days I'll tally up the top ten votes & keep updating it for as long as this thread has interest.

Interestingly enough, if you look at Boxrecs top European fighters of all times Wlad Klitschko has 1713 points. Calzaghe is 2nd with 1291. Only eight men break 1000.

No particular order and I'm probably being a bit bias but feck it......

Calzaghe
Naz
Lewis

As Johnny says, Wlad deserves a mention but I'm sticking with the Brits

In no particular order.

Georges Carpentier - 91(60)-14(9)-6. Fought in every division, won titles from Bantam to Heavy (although a Supermiddle by todays standards).

Duilio Loi - 115(26)-3-8 - Avenged all three losses, Went out on the top. At one point had only one loss in 87 bouts.

Jimmy Wilde - 132(99)-3(3)-1 (plus a few newspaper decisions) - Only lost ONE of his first 131 fights, & that was to a man who outweighed him 111 to 102 pounds. Often fought men who outweighed him by 10 or 20 pounds.

Stuarty wrote: ↑04 Feb 2018, 21:17 No particular order and I'm probably being a bit bias but feck it......

Calzaghe
Naz
Lewis

As Johnny says, Wlad deserves a mention but I'm sticking with the Brits

Cheers Mate.

I actually don't think Wlad deserves a spot in the top three but pointed out that Boxrecs system has him as 50% better than any other Euro fighter.

I can see an argument for Calzaghe & Lewis but Naz's star didn't shine bright enough for long enough.

naz was obviously extremely talented but he lost vs his only great opponent and a lot of his opponents even if they were good for the division at the time were not very strong really in a broader context. still hes worth a mention but i dont think really a strong cadidate for greatest

tbh i gotta admit that looking over the european rankings i didnt realise how comparitively weak european boxing has been, although it seems things have shifted a bit

Marcel Cerdan

I almost completely agree with BoxRec ratings here. Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko, Joe Calzaghe.

Taansend wrote: ↑04 Feb 2018, 21:26

Stuarty wrote: ↑04 Feb 2018, 21:17 No particular order and I'm probably being a bit bias but feck it......

Calzaghe
Naz
Lewis

As Johnny says, Wlad deserves a mention but I'm sticking with the Brits

Cheers Mate.

I actually don't think Wlad deserves a spot in the top three but pointed out that Boxrecs system has him as 50% better than any other Euro fighter.

I can see an argument for Calzaghe & Lewis but Naz's star didn't shine bright enough for long enough.

He's one of the main reasons I started boxing as a kid so I'm probably biased. On form he was phenomenal to watch though. I could watch him all day

No Europes greatest ever professional fighter (for obvious reasons) but IMO one of Europe's greatest ever boxers was Lazslo Papp.

The Klitschko brothers?

Owen Moran drew twice with great Abe Attell, supposedly deserving both fights. He also knocked out legendary lightweight champ Battling Nelson, who was also born in Europe (Denmark)

Jimmy Wilde

dr_devious wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 18:10 Jimmy Wilde

He’s got his hat in the ring for greatest ever

Stuarty wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 08:50

Taansend wrote: ↑04 Feb 2018, 21:26

Stuarty wrote: ↑04 Feb 2018, 21:17 No particular order and I'm probably being a bit bias but feck it......

Calzaghe
Naz
Lewis

As Johnny says, Wlad deserves a mention but I'm sticking with the Brits

Cheers Mate.

I actually don't think Wlad deserves a spot in the top three but pointed out that Boxrecs system has him as 50% better than any other Euro fighter.

I can see an argument for Calzaghe & Lewis but Naz's star didn't shine bright enough for long enough.

He's one of the main reasons I started boxing as a kid so I'm probably biased. On form he was phenomenal to watch though. I could watch him all day

Nice.

He was being touted in Boxing News while still a fairly young amateur. Then they talked about him winning titles in five weight divisions STARTING WITH FLYWEIGHT

And he was known more as a fancy stylist then. After he turned pro he just kept getting thicker (stockier)

Tomasino wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 17:33 Owen Moran drew twice with great Abe Attell, supposedly deserving both fights. He also knocked out legendary lightweight champ Battling Nelson, who was also born in Europe (Denmark)

So are you saying he's Europes best ever or one of the top three?

stujones wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 08:52 No Europes greatest ever professional fighter (for obvious reasons) but IMO one of Europe's greatest ever boxers was Lazslo Papp.

This sentencing is confusing Stu

Taansend wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 18:59

Tomasino wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 17:33 Owen Moran drew twice with great Abe Attell, supposedly deserving both fights. He also knocked out legendary lightweight champ Battling Nelson, who was also born in Europe (Denmark)

So are you saying he's Europes best ever or one of the top three?

Top three. He was a ferocious fighter and was feared and avoided in the US at a time when UK fighters were much derided. Also, most of the other candidates had been mentioned, like Cerdan and Lewis. Battling Nelson himself is surely in the running. So is Freddie Welsh.

Taansend wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 19:00

stujones wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 08:52 No Europes greatest ever professional fighter (for obvious reasons) but IMO one of Europe's greatest ever boxers was Lazslo Papp.

This sentencing is confusing Stu

I meant - you cannot really call a guy who never won a world title in the pro ring Europe's greatest professional fighter - but if circumstances were different then I am sure he would have been a longstanding world champion - 3x Olympic Champion and undefeated as a pro on the verge of a world title fight before his pro career was cut short by Politics.

Sven otkke.

stujones wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 06:20

Taansend wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 19:00

stujones wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 08:52 No Europes greatest ever professional fighter (for obvious reasons) but IMO one of Europe's greatest ever boxers was Lazslo Papp.

This sentencing is confusing Stu

I meant - you cannot really call a guy who never won a world title in the pro ring Europe's greatest professional fighter - but if circumstances were different then I am sure he would have been a longstanding world champion - 3x Olympic Champion and undefeated as a pro on the verge of a world title fight before his pro career was cut short by Politics.

If you think he's the best that's all that matters.

Finn wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 06:42Sven otkke.

It's said that after knocking out a couple of opponents with one punch he decided it was unfair and essentially carried the majority of his other title defences.

Taansend wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 06:58

stujones wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 06:20

Taansend wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 19:00

This sentencing is confusing Stu

I meant - you cannot really call a guy who never won a world title in the pro ring Europe's greatest professional fighter - but if circumstances were different then I am sure he would have been a longstanding world champion - 3x Olympic Champion and undefeated as a pro on the verge of a world title fight before his pro career was cut short by Politics.

If you think he's the best that's all that matters.

As I said, he cannot really be considered Europes greatest pro fighter because of his situation, but Europes most greatest boxer - considering the AMS and the potential that was cut short through no fault of his own - then I think he is right up there with Jimmy Wilde.

No mention of Ted Kid Lewis yet also.

stujones wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 09:25

Taansend wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 06:58

stujones wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 06:20

I meant - you cannot really call a guy who never won a world title in the pro ring Europe's greatest professional fighter - but if circumstances were different then I am sure he would have been a longstanding world champion - 3x Olympic Champion and undefeated as a pro on the verge of a world title fight before his pro career was cut short by Politics.

If you think he's the best that's all that matters.

As I said, he cannot really be considered Europes greatest pro fighter because of his situation, but Europes most greatest boxer - considering the AMS and the potential that was cut short through no fault of his own - then I think he is right up there with Jimmy Wilde.

No mention of Ted Kid Lewis yet also.

The two Kids - Lewis & Berg - among my favourite fighters but not among Europe's top three.

Taansend wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 11:40

stujones wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 09:25

Taansend wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 06:58

If you think he's the best that's all that matters.

As I said, he cannot really be considered Europes greatest pro fighter because of his situation, but Europes most greatest boxer - considering the AMS and the potential that was cut short through no fault of his own - then I think he is right up there with Jimmy Wilde.

No mention of Ted Kid Lewis yet also.

The two Kids - Lewis & Berg - among my favourite fighters but not among Europe's top three.

I'd put Ted Kid Lewis right up there with the three greats of modern times from the UK that have been mentioned, Lennox, Naz and JC.

Its Jimmy Wilde for me though as #1.

orbtastic wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 08:40

Finn wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 06:42Sven otkke.

It's said that after knocking out a couple of opponents with one punch he decided it was unfair and essentially carried the majority of his other title defences.

Some say he was so feared that he was banned by the rest of the world from leaving Germany.