BoxRec

What's the biggest, best year you've ever seen a fighter have? First thing I have to say about it is, the biggest year of the past 30 was Oscar de la Hoya's 1997. UD 12 Miguel Angel Gonzalez to defend the light welterweight title, then a move up to welter for a UD 12 Pernell Whitaker, KO 2 David Kamau, UD 12 Hector Camacho, and TKO 8 Wilfredo Rivera. Most careers don't get as good as that one year.

Muhammad Ali - 1974. Won Joe Frazier and George Foreman, regained the championship.

Mike Tyson - 1987. Became unified and then undisputed. Won Bonecrusher Smith, Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tucker, Tyrell Biggs.

I'd say Leonard beating Hagler trumps all those together. Or Holyfield beating Bowe in 93, or Tyson and Moorer in 97.

1938 - Henry Armstrong

Henry went 14-0 that year. He entered the year as the featherweight champ and added the welterweight and lightweight titles to his haul courtesy of Barney Ross and Lou Ambers. Also that year he beat Ceferino Garcia, Baby Arizmendi, Chalky Wright and Lew Feldman.

Henry Armstrong in 1937. He went 27-0, all by knockout! There cannot be a better year for a fighter than that. Plus, he won the featherweight crown that year.

elmersalsa wrote: ↑08 Dec 2020, 15:44 Henry Armstrong in 1937. He went 27-0, all by knockout! There cannot be a better year for a fighter than that. Plus, he won the featherweight crown that year.

OP's year was clearly better. Oscarito #80 all-time best p4p fighter

1941 - Joe Louis defended his title 7 times
1977 - Saensak Muangsurin defended his title 6 times
1966 - Muhammad Ali defended his title 5 times
1972 - Muhammad Ali defeated 6 top contenders in a row as a non-champion

But I still think Henry Armstrong's 1938 was the best. 14-0 against excellent opposition and added the luster of 147 and then 135 lb titles to his record while also holding the 126 lb title.

scartissue wrote: ↑08 Dec 2020, 19:02 1966 - Muhammad Ali defended his title 5 times
1972 - Muhammad Ali defeated 6 top contenders in a row as a non-champion

Ali's 1974 with only 2 fights, but wins over Frazier and Foreman is greater than those ones. As well as many other years, which are bigger by quantity.

1919 Harry Greb

Defeated Brennan, Gibbons, Houck, Levinsky, McTigue and Billy Miske with 45 wins in the year.

First, to the originator of this thread: Squiggy, condolences on the passing of your namesake, David L. Lander. It sounds like he was a nice man.

Second, it's tough to follow some of these responses, particularly the one about Harry Greb.

Third, I'll give it a try: Sugar Ray Robinson, in his second year as a pro, went 20-0 in 1941, which included wins over Fritzie Zivic, Sammy Angott, Marty Servo and Maxie Shapiro.

squiggy wrote: ↑08 Dec 2020, 11:48 What's the biggest, best year you've ever seen a fighter have? First thing I have to say about it is, the biggest year of the past 30 was Oscar de la Hoya's 1997. UD 12 Miguel Angel Gonzalez to defend the light welterweight title, then a move up to welter for a UD 12 Pernell Whitaker, KO 2 David Kamau, UD 12 Hector Camacho, and TKO 8 Wilfredo Rivera. Most careers don't get as good as that one year.

Is that Oscars best year? I thought pea schooled him, even if you didn't that year is nothing to drool over.

squiggy wrote: ↑08 Dec 2020, 11:48 What's the biggest, best year you've ever seen a fighter have? First thing I have to say about it is, the biggest year of the past 30 was Oscar de la Hoya's 1997. UD 12 Miguel Angel Gonzalez to defend the light welterweight title, then a move up to welter for a UD 12 Pernell Whitaker, KO 2 David Kamau, UD 12 Hector Camacho, and TKO 8 Wilfredo Rivera. Most careers don't get as good as that one year.

Is that Oscars best year? I thought pea schooled him, even if you didn't that year is nothing to drool over.

squiggy wrote: ↑08 Dec 2020, 11:48 What's the biggest, best year you've ever seen a fighter have? First thing I have to say about it is, the biggest year of the past 30 was Oscar de la Hoya's 1997. UD 12 Miguel Angel Gonzalez to defend the light welterweight title, then a move up to welter for a UD 12 Pernell Whitaker, KO 2 David Kamau, UD 12 Hector Camacho, and TKO 8 Wilfredo Rivera. Most careers don't get as good as that one year.

Is that Oscars best year? I thought pea schooled him, even if you didn't that year is nothing to drool over.

squiggy wrote: ↑08 Dec 2020, 11:48 What's the biggest, best year you've ever seen a fighter have? First thing I have to say about it is, the biggest year of the past 30 was Oscar de la Hoya's 1997. UD 12 Miguel Angel Gonzalez to defend the light welterweight title, then a move up to welter for a UD 12 Pernell Whitaker, KO 2 David Kamau, UD 12 Hector Camacho, and TKO 8 Wilfredo Rivera. Most careers don't get as good as that one year.

Is that Oscars best year? I thought pea schooled him, even if you didn't that year is nothing to drool over.

squiggy wrote: ↑08 Dec 2020, 11:48 What's the biggest, best year you've ever seen a fighter have? First thing I have to say about it is, the biggest year of the past 30 was Oscar de la Hoya's 1997. UD 12 Miguel Angel Gonzalez to defend the light welterweight title, then a move up to welter for a UD 12 Pernell Whitaker, KO 2 David Kamau, UD 12 Hector Camacho, and TKO 8 Wilfredo Rivera. Most careers don't get as good as that one year.

Is that Oscars best year? I thought pea schooled him, even if you didn't that year is nothing to drool over.

5 posts to honour oscar's 5 fights that year, a true work of art

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑09 Dec 2020, 04:44 5 posts to honour oscar's 5 fights that year, a true work of art

Is that Oscars best year!!!!!!

Onetimeonly wrote: ↑09 Dec 2020, 04:58

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑09 Dec 2020, 04:44 5 posts to honour oscar's 5 fights that year, a true work of art

Is that Oscars best year!!!!!!

Fivetimesonly

Didnt Henry Armstrong go something like 25-1 one year???

Boxing wise, Wilfredo Gomez had an awesome 1982:

KO7 Jose Gonzalez
KO2 Jose Luis Soto
KO6 Juan Meza
KO10 Juan Antonio Lopez
KO8 Roberto Rubaldino
KO14 Lupe Pintor

squiggy wrote: ↑08 Dec 2020, 11:48 What's the biggest, best year you've ever seen a fighter have? First thing I have to say about it is, the biggest year of the past 30 was Oscar de la Hoya's 1997. UD 12 Miguel Angel Gonzalez to defend the light welterweight title, then a move up to welter for a UD 12 Pernell Whitaker, KO 2 David Kamau, UD 12 Hector Camacho, and TKO 8 Wilfredo Rivera. Most careers don't get as good as that one year.

Robinson in 41 went 20-0 first year as a pro and beat servo, angott and zivic. Not bad for a rookie :-)

AntonioMartin wrote: ↑09 Dec 2020, 07:30 Didnt Henry Armstrong go something like 25-1 one year???

Greb went 45-0

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑09 Dec 2020, 04:44 5 posts to honour oscar's 5 fights that year, a true work of art

The great Oscarcinco!!!

Here a few:

Ali in 1966 was at an unbelievable level.
Robinson in 1942 was 14-0, with wins over 7 Top 10 contenders, including Zivic, Angott and LaMotta, who outweighed him by quite a bit.
Charles in 1948 beat Moore, Ray, and Bivins.

Yes!!! charles in 48 was incredible. Greb and his 45-0 is untouchable. The goat imo.