50 greatest fighters of all time poll for radio show

[SBleeder]

It baffles me how people can make lists like this, considering they've never seen several of the people on it actually fighting!

Most of our opinions of the old timers is based on boxing historians' opinions and newspaper reports. Now this is just my opinion, but I believe boxing historians try to make out that what they saw back in the day was the best, be it true or untrue, and cling on to their memories of the fighters of yesteryear because no-one else can truly say "you're wrong", as the only thing anyone else has to go by is a fighter's record.

I'm not saying you're right or wrong, UrDazed. I'm not slating your opinion, I just think it's a bit crazy that people buy into the old reports so much. I'm also of the belief that the pre-war, turn of the 19th century world champions are vastly overrated simply because we will never be able to see what the majority of them were like. Also, the modern day version of boxing was more or less just starting to take shape back then, so fighters were obviously a whole lot less evolved.

Apologies if it seems like I'm having a go at you, UrDazed. I'm not. I just thought this was an appropriate time and thread to vent some of my opinions that I haven't really been able to do before.

Other than Harry Greb and "Barbados Demon" Joe Walcott, there is footage of every fighter on his list. For many of them, there is plentiful footage. So I'm not sure how you can assume that he hasn't seen them fight. I realize that a lot of people are too lazy to bother watching black and white fights, but there are plenty of people who have seen more than enough footage of the "old-timers" to rate them appropriately.

[Bolo Punch]

Other than Harry Greb and "Barbados Demon" Joe Walcott, there is footage of every fighter on his list. For many of them, there is plentiful footage. So I'm not sure how you can assume that he hasn't seen them fight.

I'd say you'd struggle to find a film of a fight in its entirety for a third of the fighters named on that list. Judging on 5-10 minute highlight videos is hardly enough evidence to use in ranking someone as one of the greatest fighters of all-time.

I realize that a lot of people are too lazy to bother watching black and white fights, but there are plenty of people who have seen more than enough footage of the "old-timers" to rate them appropriately.

Certainly not me, for one. I love watching fights from all eras of the sport. It fascinates me to see how the sport has grown or evolved in some ways and stayed the same in others. For someone wanting to forever expand their knowledge of the sport, what better way is there to do so than by watching the fights?

[UrDazed]

I've seen them all fight barring Walcott and Greb, and I've studied all of their resumes.

[Pockets]

1. Sugar Ray Robinson
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Henry Armstrong
4. Harry Greb
5. Sam Langford
6. Willie Pep
7. Archie Moore
8. Jimmy Wilde
9. Ezzard Charles
10. Joe Louis

[1SILVA]

1. Sugar ray robinson
2. Muhammad ali
3. Henry armstrong
4. Harry greb
5. Sam langford
6. Willie pep
7. Archie moore
8. Jimmy wilde
9. Ezzard charles
10. Joe louis

i want to thank everyone for their input so far.

[McGrain]

Tier I
Harry Greb, Bob Fitzsimmons, Sam Langford, Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Robinson, Ezzard Charles, Muhammad Ali


Tier II
Benny Leonard, Joe Gans, Mickey Walker, Archie Moore, Roberto Duran, Packey McFarland, Joe Louis, Willie Pep, Joe Walcott.

Tier III
George Dixon, Eder Jofre, Charley Burley, Holman Williams, Sugar Ray Leonard, Barney Ross, Tony Canzoneri, Jimmy McLarnin.

Tier IV
Gene Tunney, Ruben Olivares, Pernell Whitaker, Roy Jones, Terry McGovern, Billy Conn, Kid Gavilan, Sandy Saddler, Stanley Ketchel.

Tier V
Manuel Ortiz, Alexis Arguello, Jimmy Wilde, Jose Napoles, Emile Griffith, Jack Britton, Carlos Monzon, Marvin Hagler, Jimmy Bivins, Rocky Marciano.

Tier VI
Salvador Sanchez, Julio Cesar Chavez, Evander Holyfield, Jack McAuliffe, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Thomas Hearns.


That's my 50.

[hhascup]

I was asked by the BWAA and Steve Lott to be on a committee that will pick the 1st ever Boxing Hall of Famers in Las Vegas. They asked 19 of us to pick their top 50 fighters of all-time. The fighter had to be retired at least 5 years. Most of the fighters that were picked so far on this site, were also picked by several members of the committee. The final selection will be done by Friday. I order to get in, the fighter must get at least 75% of the vote. So far it looks like we have 25 in the 1st ever class, But there can be a few changes.

When the vote has been complete, I will post my top 50, I can't do it before then.

The new Boxing Hall of Fame will be located in the Luxor Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip. It will be part of major new sports attraction called, SCORE!.

The SCORE! attraction has a prime location right next to the Titanic and Bodies exhibits on the mezzanine level of the Hotel.

SCORE! will contain exhibits from each major sports hall of fame including baseball, football, hockey, basketball and NASCAR.

The SCORE! attraction will contain rare memorabila from each Hall of Fame.
The video in each exhibit is a critical part as it makes each sport come to life. The Boxing Hall of Fame owns the exclusive HOF rights to the massive ESPN/Classic Sports fight film and tape library. The library spans over a century beginning with Thomas Edison's filming of Gentleman Jim Corbett in 1894 right through to the fights of "Iron" Mike Tyson. No other sports hall of fame in the world contains such an inventory of films and tapes.

[Scott9945]

I was asked by the BWAA and Steve Lott to be on a committee that will pick the 1st ever Boxing Hall of Famers in Las Vegas. They asked 19 of us to pick their top 50 fighters of all-time. The fighter had to be retired at least 5 years. Most of the fighters that were picked so far on this site, were also picked by several members of the committee. The final selection will be done by Friday. I order to get in, the fighter must get at least 75% of the vote. So far it looks like we have 25 in the 1st ever class, But there can be a few changes.

When the vote has been complete, I will post my top 50, I can't do it before then.

The new Boxing Hall of Fame will be located in the Luxor Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas strip. It will be part of major new sports attraction called, SCORE!.

The SCORE! attraction has a prime location right next to the Titanic and Bodies exhibits on the mezzanine level of the Hotel.

SCORE! will contain exhibits from each major sports hall of fame including baseball, football, hockey, basketball and NASCAR.

The SCORE! attraction will contain rare memorabila from each Hall of Fame.
The video in each exhibit is a critical part as it makes each sport come to life. The Boxing Hall of Fame owns the exclusive HOF rights to the massive ESPN/Classic Sports fight film and tape library. The library spans over a century beginning with Thomas Edison's filming of Gentleman Jim Corbett in 1894 right through to the fights of "Iron" Mike Tyson. No other sports hall of fame in the world contains such an inventory of films and tapes.

I'll be looking forward to reading that.

[Bundana]

It baffles me how people can make lists like this, considering they've never seen several of the people on it actually fighting!

Most of our opinions of the old timers is based on boxing historians' opinions and newspaper reports. Now this is just my opinion, but I believe boxing historians try to make out that what they saw back in the day was the best, be it true or untrue, and cling on to their memories of the fighters of yesteryear because no-one else can truly say "you're wrong", as the only thing anyone else has to go by is a fighter's record.

I'm not saying you're right or wrong, UrDazed. I'm not slating your opinion, I just think it's a bit crazy that people buy into the old reports so much. I'm also of the belief that the pre-war, turn of the 19th century world champions are vastly overrated simply because we will never be able to see what the majority of them were like. Also, the modern day version of boxing was more or less just starting to take shape back then, so fighters were obviously a whole lot less evolved.

Apologies if it seems like I'm having a go at you, UrDazed. I'm not. I just thought this was an appropriate time and thread to vent some of my opinions that I haven't really been able to do before.

Very good post; agree 100%!

[wmute]

You got all the way to 32 without making my jaw drop out of shock.

I didn't realise that was possible.

Ray Leonard at #10 made mine drop.