With the Mayweather-Pacquaio fight being potentially the two best fighters in the world at the present time facing each other, how often has that occurred in the history of boxing?

Leonard-Duran I&II(1980)
Leonard-Hearns I(1981)
Hagler-Hearns (1985)
Frazier-Foster(1970)
Ali-Frazier I(1971)
Whitaker-Chavez(1993)

These are some possibilities. Any others?

frazier and foster ? i don't know about that. maybe gomez vs sanchez, holyfield lewis?

Officially, Whitaker vs Chavez was the only fight where the top 2 P4P fighters fought.

Officially, Whitaker vs Chavez was the only fight where the top 2 P4P fighters fought.

rubbish... officially says who?

Leonard vs Hearns 1
Leonard vs Duran 1
Ali v Frazier 1

rubbish... officially says who?

Leonard vs Hearns 1
Leonard vs Duran 1
Ali v Frazier 1

When most people want official P4P rankings, they look at Ring Magazine. If not, that's fine.

But do you really think that Ali and Frazier were rated as the top two P4P fighters in the world? Seems unlikely.

Henry Armstrong vs Barney Ross

When most people want official P4P rankings, they look at Ring Magazine. If not, that's fine.

But do you really think that Ali and Frazier were rated as the top two P4P fighters in the world? Seems unlikely.

In 1971, who were better fighters than Ali and Frazier? Bob Foster, carlos Monzon and/or Jose Napoles? There is an argument to be made that Ali and Frazier were the 2 best fighters at that time. Certainly Ken Buchanan wasn't

In 1971, who were better fighters than Ali and Frazier? Bob Foster, carlos Monzon and/or Jose Napoles? There is an argument to be made that Ali and Frazier were the 2 best fighters at that time. Certainly Ken Buchanan wasn't

Ali came off a long layoff. I doubt he was still rated as either #1 or #2 P4P. Frazier is understandable.

Personally, I think Monzon and Frazier would've been in the top 2. Ali would probably still be somewhere in the top 10, though.

Ali came off a long layoff. I doubt he was still rated as either #1 or #2 P4P. Frazier is understandable.

Personally, I think Monzon and Frazier would've been in the top 2. Ali would probably still be somewhere in the top 10.

I'd have no argument if you put Monzon ahead of Ali. I can't see Ali no less that 3rd in the world at the time, as he beat the #1 contender Quarry in his first fight and the very tough Bonavena in the 2nd fight. Monzon no doubt could have been the second best at the time.

I don't think Monzon that highly rated in 1971. Napoles had lost to Billy Backus on a cut. It's arguable that Ali and Frazier were the two best fighters in the world at the time.

Of course Locche, Foster and Olivares also had a claim.

I don't think Monzon that highly rated in 1971. Napoles had lost to Billy Backus on a cut. It's arguable that Ali and Frazier were the two best fighters in the world at the time.

Looking at all the champions at that time, it is indeed arguable. Monzon would be the only one you'd make an argument for because he had just ko'd Benvenuti a few months before to win the 160 pound crown

Looking at all the champions at that time, it is indeed arguable. Monzon would be the only one you'd make an argument for because he had just ko'd Benvenuti a few months before to win the 160 pound crown

And even then Monzon only had the win over Benvenuti. Not enough to put him over Frazier or even a returning Ali at that point in my opinion. Of course he would go onto cement his legacy afterwards.

Officially, Whitaker vs Chavez was the only fight where the top 2 P4P fighters fought.

Leonard hearns was top 2 pound per pound..

When most people want official P4P rankings, they look at Ring Magazine. If not, that's fine.

But do you really think that Ali and Frazier were rated as the top two P4P fighters in the world? Seems unlikely.

The ring magazine did not even start rating pound per pound until 1989.
I was clear after hearns beat cuevas he and leoanrd stood alone as top 1 and 2 pound per pound. Biggest fightin boxing since ali frazier.

In fact I think Hearns was ranked number one, after the leoanrd duran 1 and 2fights.

The ring magazine did not even start rating pound per pound until 1989.
I was clear after hearns beat cuevas he and leoanrd stood alone as top 1 and 2 pound per pound. Biggest fightin boxing since ali frazier.

In fact I think Hearns was ranked number one, after the leoanrd duran 1 and 2fights.

January 1981 KO Magazine Pound for Pound Ratings
From Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia

1 - Thomas Hearns
2 - Sugar Ray Leonard
3 - Marvin Hagler
4 - Larry Holmes
5 - Alexis Arguello
6 - Wilfredo Gomez
7 - Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
8 - Matt Saad Muhammmad
9 - Wilfred Benitez
10 - Roberto Duran
10 - Aaron Pryor

January 1981 KO Magazine Pound for Pound Ratings
From Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia

1 - Thomas Hearns
2 - Sugar Ray Leonard
3 - Marvin Hagler
4 - Larry Holmes
5 - Alexis Arguello
6 - Wilfredo Gomez
7 - Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
8 - Matt Saad Muhammmad
9 - Wilfred Benitez
10 - Roberto Duran
10 - Aaron Pryor

Great reference. A year prior, I believe Duran was voted number 1

Good topic question..

unofficially

Joe Gans vs Joe Walcott
Willie Pep vs Sandy Saddler
Ray Robinson vs Kid Gavilan
Jim Corbett vs Peter Jackson

With the Mayweather-Pacquaio fight being potentially the two best fighters in the world at the present time facing each other, how often has that occurred in the history of boxing?

Leonard-Duran I&II(1980)
Leonard-Hearns I(1981)
Hagler-Hearns (1985)
Frazier-Foster(1970)
Ali-Frazier I(1971)
Whitaker-Chavez(1993)

These are some possibilities. Any others?
chuck in oscar vs mosley,morles ve barraer,roy jones vs hopkins

chuck in oscar vs mosley,morles ve barraer,roy jones vs hopkins

Roy Jones was rated as number 1 p4p in the first 2 fights you mentioned. Hopkins was an unknown at the time he fought Jones. The top 2 fighters at the time were Whitaker and Chavez, who fought a month later

Obviously a bit before p4p ratings but Ketchell v Johnson in 09 and Langford in 1910 must be up there?

Good topic question..

unofficially

Joe Gans vs Joe Walcott
Willie Pep vs Sandy Saddler
Ray Robinson vs Kid Gavilan
Jim Corbett vs Peter Jackson

When Pep fought Saddler, wasn't Sugar Ray considered number one? Robinson-Gavilan is an excellent possibility

With the Mayweather-Pacquaio fight being potentially the two best fighters in the world at the present time facing each other, how often has that occurred in the history of boxing?

Leonard-Duran I&II(1980)
Leonard-Hearns I(1981)
Hagler-Hearns (1985)
Frazier-Foster(1970)
Ali-Frazier I(1971)
Whitaker-Chavez(1993)

These are some possibilities. Any others?

Roy Jones Jr and James Toney were ranked high on the pound fopr pound list when they fought.

Roy Jones Jr and James Toney were ranked high on the pound fopr pound list when they fought.

Yes they were. Toney might have been number one, but I think Sweat Pea was number 2

Roy Jones was rated as number 1 p4p in the first 2 fights you mentioned. Hopkins was an unknown at the time he fought Jones. The top 2 fighters at the time were Whitaker and Chavez, who fought a month later
ok dude didnt know that

As selected by The Ring magazine in the April 1994 issue.
Pound For Pound

1. Pernell Whitaker
2. Julio Cesar Chavez
3. James Toney
4. Michael Carbajal
5. Orlando Canizales
6. Evander Holyfield
7. Ricardo Lopez
8. Roy Jones Jr.
9. Kennedy McKinney
10. Yuri Arbachakov

When Pep fought Saddler, wasn't Sugar Ray considered number one? Robinson-Gavilan is an excellent possibility
That did cross my mind, but as it was unofficial, many may well have considered Pep & Saddler as somewhere in the top 2 at various times during their careers..

batman vs the joker

LOL

As selected by The Ring magazine in the April 1994 issue.
Pound For Pound

1. Pernell Whitaker
2. Julio Cesar Chavez
3. James Toney
4. Michael Carbajal
5. Orlando Canizales
6. Evander Holyfield
7. Ricardo Lopez
8. Roy Jones Jr.
9. Kennedy McKinney
10. Yuri Arbachakov




Great stuff there. I had forgotten that Canizales was rated that high at one time.

January 1981 KO Magazine Pound for Pound Ratings
From Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia

1 - Thomas Hearns
2 - Sugar Ray Leonard
3 - Marvin Hagler
4 - Larry Holmes
5 - Alexis Arguello
6 - Wilfredo Gomez
7 - Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
8 - Matt Saad Muhammmad
9 - Wilfred Benitez
10 - Roberto Duran
10 - Aaron Pryor

Good post. I knew the ring magazine did not have a pound per pound yet. I believve I have this magazine somewhere. but this proves my point that I said, Hearns was ranked #1 then ray..

When most people want official P4P rankings, they look at Ring Magazine. If not, that's fine.

But do you really think that Ali and Frazier were rated as the top two P4P fighters in the world? Seems unlikely.

I was just thinking about that and could imagine both Eder Jofre and Carlos Monzon being rated higher at that time. I have no proof though as it was only a thought.

These are the official Ring ratings the month Ali and frazier fought for the first time. Jofre was no longer the fighter he was and Monzon had only been champ 5 monts. hence, Ali and frazier were the 2 beast fighters in the world. It is hard, outside of Monzon, to find a fighter that was good as either Ali or frazier on March 8, 1971. By the way, notice how Ali beat the number 3 and 4 contender right before he fought frazier and he didn't have to. For all the posters who claim Ali is overrated, he beat everyone from the Champ to number 8 in the heavyweight rankings.

As selected by The Ring magazine in the March 1971 issue.
Heavyweights

Light Heavyweights

Middleweights

Joe Frazier, Champion

1. Muhammad Ali
2. George Foreman
3. Oscar Bonavena
4. Jerry Quarry
5. Mac Foster
6. Henry Cooper
7. George Chuvalo
8. Sonny Liston
9. Jose Ibar Urtain
10. Jose Luis Garcia



Bob Foster, Champion

1. Jimmy Dupree
2. Vicente Rondon
3. Gomeo Brennan
4. Hal Carroll
5. Dick Tiger
6. Mark Tessman
7. Andy Kendall
8. Larry Buck
9. Piero Del Papa
10. Ron Marsh



Carlos Monzon, Champion

1. Nino Benvenuti
2. Emile Griffith
3. Luis Manuel Rodriguez
4. Carmelo Bossi
5. Fraser Scott
6. Juan Carlos Duran
7. Doyle Baird
8. Denny Moyer
9. Tom Bogs
10. Rafael Gutierrez

Welterweights

Junior Welterweights

Lightweights

Billy Backus, Champion

1. Jose Napoles
2. Percy Pugh
3. Donato Paduano
4. Hedgemon Lewis
5. Ernie Lopez
6. Dario Hidalgo
7. Robert Gallois
8. Ralph Charles
9. Roger Menetrey
10. Jean Josselin



Nicolino Locche, Champion

1. Bruno Arcari
2. Adolph Pruitt
3. Eddie Perkins
4. Bunny Grant
5. Ely Yares
6. Joao Henrique
7. Enrique Jana
8. Jimmy Robertson
9. Lion Furuyama
10. Anthony Morodi



Ken Buchanan, Champion

1. Ismael Laguna
2. Pedro Carrasco
3. Carlos Hernandez
4. Mando Ramos
5. Al Ford
6. Sugar Ramos
7. Miguel Velasquez
8. Raul (Lobito) Montoya
9. Shinichi Kadota
10. Chango Carmona

Junior Lightweights

Featherweights

Hiroshi Kobayashi, Champion

1. Ruben Navarro
2. Yoshiaki Numata
3. Antonio Amaya
4. Rene Barrientos
5. Sammy Goss
6. Frankie Otero
7. Frankie Crawford
8. Armando Mendoza
9. Jose Acosta
10. Hiroshi Shoji



Kuniaki Shibata, Champion

1. Vicente Saldivar
2. Shozo Saijo
3. Antonio Gomez
4. Raul Cruz
5. Eder Jofre
6. Jose Legra
7. Jose Luis Pimentel
8. Jimmy Revie
9. Alfredo Marcano
10. Ricardo Arredondo

Bantamweights

Flyweights

Chucho Castillo, Champion

1. Ruben Olivares
2. Rodolfo Martinez
3. Jesus Pimentel
4. Alan Rudkin
5. Franco Zurlo
6. Ramon Bravo
7. Takao Sakurai
8. Orlando Amores
9. Rafael Herrera
10. Ushiwakamaru Harada



Erbito Salavarria, Champion

1. Chartchai Chionoi
2. Masao Ohba
3. Alacran Efren Torres
4. Bernabe Villacampo
5. Lorenzo Gutierrez
6. Berkrerk Chartvanchai
7. Octavio Gomez
8. Fermin Gomez
9. Susumu Hanagata
10. Fernando Atzori

January 1980 KO Magazine Pound for Pound Ratings
From Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia


1 - Roberto Duran

2 - Sugar Ray Leonard

3 - Wilfredo Gomez

4 - Danny Lopez

5 - Pipino Cuevas

6 - Alexis Arguello

7 - Larry Holmes

8 - Wilfred Benitez

10 - Vito Antuofermo

10 - Matt Saad Muhammad

This confirms that Leonard and Duran were the top 2 fighters when they fought in june, 1980

frazier and foster ?


Yes,Bob Foster,the light heavyweight champion who never won a notable heavyweight fight in his life,another hand picked opponent by Frazier's camp.There was another big punching Foster that was around at that year,a heavyweight contender also, who Frazier and his camp wanted nothing to do with because unfortunately for him,he happened to punch just a little too hard for a champion with a suspect chin.

Yes,Bob Foster,the light heavyweight champion who never won a notable heavyweight fight in his life,another hand picked opponent by Frazier's camp.There was another big punching Foster that was around at that year,a heavyweight contender also, who Frazier and his camp wanted nothing to do with because unfortunately for him,he happened to punch just a little too hard for a champion with a suspect chin.

You mean the one that was ko'd by Jerry Quarry, right?

Whitaker-Chavez, 1993
Trinidad-Dela Hoya, 1999
Mayweather-Hatton, 2007

these are just huge fights with both at the top of the pound for pound ratings and with so much anticipation.

Yes,Bob Foster,the light heavyweight champion who never won a notable heavyweight fight in his life,another hand picked opponent by Frazier's camp.There was another big punching Foster that was around at that year,a heavyweight contender also, who Frazier and his camp wanted nothing to do with because unfortunately for him,he happened to punch just a little too hard for a champion with a suspect chin.
And coincidently, was also ducked by a certain Charles 'Sonny' Liston

Absolutely preposterous Malone.You're just talkin crazy.At that point in his career Sonny Liston would have jumped at the chance to take any fight of relevance.

Absolutely preposterous Malone.You're just talkin crazy.At that point in his career Sonny Liston would have jumped at the chance to take any fight of relevance.
But he didn't.. That's the whole point..

But he didn't.. That's the whole point..

Sonny Liston ducked Mac Foster and Ron Lyle ;)

Poet