BoxRec

A few months back a friend of mine asked me who the greatest living boxer was. After a bit of though I answered Willie Pep. With the sad news of Pep's passing at the weekend this is obviously no longer the case.

So who is your pick for greatest fighter still living today?

Duran, Ali, Jofre?

Ali would be my pick... and dont forget Fighting Harada, he beat Jofre twice and should have been a 3 weight world champion but for a naff verdict given in his fight against Johnny Famechon, given by none other than Willie Pep!!... :x

that's a very good question, I recently meet Gene Fulmer at the WBHOF induction ceromonies and although Fulmer is a Boxing great he certainly ISN'T one of the Best! I was also fortunate enough to meet Duran and Carlos Ortiz and two of my personal favourites Ken Norton & Greg Haugan...

In line with the question Julian Jackson was awarded as was Mathew Saad Mohammed- do any of these men quailify(?), well yes Duran for sure and maybe Ortiz & Jackson, but when I think of "still living best," right or wrong I automatically think of older fighters from Boxing's Golden years...So then who is it?

I might also add "who's the Best still living 'British' fighter...

Jim.

Three days ago I would have said Willie Pep :(

Today I say Roberto Duran.

Muhammad Ali

I believe p4p it is the great Roberto Duran.

Jim, the answers you are looking for are:

Greatest Living Boxer (Britain) : Ken Buchanan

Greatest Living Boxer (anywhere) : Muhammad Ali

although Fulmer is a Boxing great he certainly ISN'T one of the Best!

I think that may be a little unfair to Gene Fulmer. Given the fighters that are still alive today, it is hard to dismiss a guy outright that beat Ray Robinson (possibly the greatest ever) twice and also beat Carmen Basilio (an alltime great in his own right) twice as well in two very exciting fights. As well as defeating a whole host of elite level fighters

chance, I agree given that most of the fighters alive today aren't from that Golden age and of course Gene Fulmer ranks supperior to many,

as I said he's a great - just not the Best among other greats from that respected golden age, but yes better than many of very good and great fighters that came after him...

Collins aside from Buchanan, who else might qualify, again I was wondering what 'old' greats are still living i.e Johnny McManus, Johnny Williams, Eddie Thomas (I think), which old fighters are still around?

Ali, Duran, SR Leonard, Griffiths, Jofre, Napoles, Ortiz.

Duran would get my vote.

Duran was great, but it's Ali for me :-)

I am not doubting his greatness, but:
Hagler, Leonard and Hearns all got the upper hand on Duran

yes they did but they are all naturally bigger men...hearns & leonard WW cum MW, hagler MW+...p4p was it DURAN (?), many would say yes!

Until just a few days ago it was Willie Pep

Harada was out of left fiels but a great choice. Think of the titles he could have won in todays era.
He was/is a gentleman also.
Duran and Ali also, very hard to pick.
What about Emile Griffith.....what a record

Marvin Hagler should also be mentioned in this post..........hes up there with all the other greats

Muhammad Ali

Ali and Leonard.

Jake LaMotta hands down

Roberto Duran.

...maybe not as great as all those mentioned here....but i'd like to at least toss in harold johnson to the mix....

Jaclem wrote:...maybe not as great as all those mentioned here....but i'd like to at least toss in harold johnson to the mix....

I always think he looks huge for a light heavyweight.

I would have like to have seen that sparring match .
And if they are waiting to each get in the ring to take turns sparring with whoever is in there now , well whoever it is must be a helluva fighter!