Pound-for-Pound: The Fifty Greatest Boxers Of All-Time

http://www.********boxing.com/news.php?p=30514&more=1 by james slater: A while back (in 2008) i contributed an article to esb in which i gave my honest opinion on the 50 finest boxers in the sport’s history. No easy task to compile, my list was met with some approval, some utter disgust and some opinion somewhere in the middle. Here i give here my revised list of the fifty finest pugilists of all-time; where a few changes have been made. Once again, disagreement, even angst, will no doubt be felt by a few readers - perhaps even more than a few. But, as i wrote last time, you must understand that this list was written with absolutely no axe to grind, and that if serious disagreement is felt then perhaps the writing of another list should be undertaken by the person (or persons) who so feel so strongly against mine. My fifty choices now follow. And remember, it’s only my opinion. 1. Sugar ray robinson 2. Henry armstrong 3. Muhammad ali 4. Roberto duran 5. Ezzard charles 6. Benny leonard 7. Archie moore 8. Willie pep 9. Harry greb 10. Joe louis 11. Joe gans 12. Sam langford 13. Jimmy wilde 14. Gene tunney 15. Charley burley 16. Billy conn 17. Jack johnson 18. Edre jofre 19. Sugar ray leonard 20. Barney ross/kid gavilan (tie) 21. Marvellous marvin hagler 22. Jack dempsey 23. Pernell whitaker/roy jones junior (tie) 24. Stanley ketchell 25. Julio cesar chavez 26. Tony canzoneri 27. Rocky marciano 28. Carlos monzon 29. Sandy saddler 30. Michael spinks 31. Jimmy mclarnin 32. Thomas hearns 33. Bob foster 34. George foreman 35. Mickey walker 36. Terry mcgovern 37. Larry holmes 38. Mickey walker 39. Floyd mayweather junior 40. Joe frazier 41. Ricardo lopez 42. Jake lamotta 43. Salvador sanchez 44. Alexis arguello 45. Marcel cerdan 46. Emile griffith 47. Ted kid lewis 48. Oscar de la hoya 49. Lennox lewis 50. joe calzaghe/aaron pryor (tie) epic fail....

It actually starts off well, but Hopkins and Roy should be above De La Hoya. I'm not sure how Holyfield got left off or Calzaghe got put on either.

He doesn't belong in the top 50 and I think everyone knows that. Mr. Fantastic is just a fanatic. Don't get it really. For the most part, Oscar was a mean SOB in the ring but I find it hard to be a fan of someone who probably spends his days lounging around the GBP offices waiting for a fresh-faced boxer to walk in so he can get his grope on. I never said top fifty either lol in the last twenty years those he should be considered somewhere on a atg list low on a all time maybe non existent But for this time period yes

These ATG lists make me lol, like anyone has actually watched at least a dozen fights involving hundreds of the best through boxing history and understands them in their context of time. Do you have any idea how long that would take and how unemployed one would have to be to have the time to do it? Exactly. Most are lucky enough to see 10 fights from the old time fighters. These list can't be taken serious because of that.

Just regurgitating my previous post. The number next to each individual represents where they place Duran in their top 10. Out of curiosity, who do you have before Duran - if you were to compile a list? Me personally? Top of my head; Robinson Greb Langford Armstrong Charles Moore B.Leonard Fitzsimmons Pep I struggled to think of 9 there. Possibly Mickey Walker? I'd say Duran could easily be ranked above Pep, Walker, Fitzsimmons and Leonard on that list too. Me personally, the highest I could have Duran is probably #6. I can't see him being ranked above Robinson,Greb, Langford, Armstrong or Charles (My Top 5) but although I wouldn't have him at #6 he could easily be at #6.

I don't know why you're even entertaining a Foreman >>Duran argument. I can't believe what the Boxing world is coming to when Foreman is being claimed to be greater than Duran. For the record, I also have Duran just outside the Top 10. But we're in the miniority. And he obviously has more than an argument for Top 10. Just regurgitating my previous post. The number next to each individual represents where they place Duran in their top 10. Dave Carlson - 7. Top five: Robinson, Armstrong, Pep, Louis, Ali. Burt Sugar - 8. Top 5: Robinson, Armstrong, Pep, Louis, Greb Andrew Eisele - 6. Top 5: Robinson, Ali, Armstrong, Louis, Pep Kieran Mulvaney (ESPN) - 6. Top 5: Robinson, Ali, Armstrong, Louis, Pep Ring Magazine - 5 Top 5: Robinson, Armstrong, Ali, Louis, Duran Teddy Atlas - 8 Top 5: Robinson, Armstrong, Ali, Leonard (Benny), Langford Tracy Callis - Not top 10 Top 5: Fitzsimmons, Robinson, Dempsey, Langford, Mitchell George Blair - No list, quoted for saying Duran was top 10. Luckett Davis - No list, quoted for saying Duran was top 10, "possibly" 5 in 98. Monte Cox - 6 Top 5: Gans, Robinson, Greb, Langford, Louis (Monte Cox is VERY respected) Max Kellerman - 7 Top 5: Robinson, Armstrong, Ali, Greb, Langford Jimmy Connors - 6 Look, I can go on and on all day. I stand corrected, He is not top 5 by the majority, but damn close. And so, I don't see why he is too low on this persons list who is probably not as intelligible as the above mentioned. Out of curiosity, who do you have before Duran - if you were to compile a list?

Duran matches Foreman is longevity. Might even surpass it. Duran has a better resume and accomplishments. Duran greatest single victory(Leonard) is better than Foreman greatest single victory(Frazier). Old Duran greatest victory(Barkley) is just as good if not better than an old Foreman greatest victory(Moorer) Duran dominated and cleaned out the LW division in the 70's. Foreman best wins are Frazier(2x) Lyle Moorer Norton The span(coming back after 10 years) and have the accomplishments that he did along with longevity that Formen had is good enough to make him a top 5 ATG HW IMO. But, Duran longevity was just as good if not better. And his resume is much deeper. Marcell(at 130) Kobayashi DeJesus(2x) Ishmatsu Leonared Barkley Duran beat Marcel in 1970 at 130 then went on to beat Jorge Castro in 1997 at 168. Think about that for a second. IMO Duran is a much greater P4P fighter than Foreman. I don't have Duran in my top 5. I have him just barely outside my top 10. But, there plenty of historians that do have him in the top 10 a few in the top 5. But, to have Foreman ahead of him. I don't see it. But, like I guess if you say so he is then so be it. I don't know why you're even entertaining a Foreman >>Duran argument. I can't believe what the Boxing world is coming to when Foreman is being claimed to be greater than Duran. For the record, I also have Duran just outside the Top 10. But we're in the miniority. And he obviously has more than an argument for Top 10.

how's duran greater then foreman. please explain............ I'm waiting for this.............. Duran matches Foreman is longevity. Might even surpass it. Duran has a better resume and accomplishments. Duran greatest single victory(Leonard) is better than Foreman greatest single victory(Frazier). Old Duran greatest victory(Barkley) is just as good if not better than an old Foreman greatest victory(Moorer) Duran dominated and cleaned out the LW division in the 70's. Foreman best wins are Frazier(2x) Lyle Moorer Norton The span(coming back after 10 years) and have the accomplishments that he did along with longevity that Formen had is good enough to make him a top 5 ATG HW IMO. But, Duran longevity was just as good if not better. And his resume is much deeper. Marcell(at 130) Kobayashi DeJesus(2x) Ishmatsu Leonared Barkley Duran beat Marcel in 1970 at 130 then went on to beat Jorge Castro in 1997 at 168. Think about that for a second. IMO Duran is a much greater P4P fighter than Foreman. I don't have Duran in my top 5. I have him just barely outside my top 10. But, there plenty of historians that do have him in the top 10 a few in the top 5. But, to have Foreman ahead of him. I don't see it. But, like said, I guess if you say he is then so be it.

The cherry picked midget by gbp who retired him>>>Oscar Manny makes top 50 easy. Hopkins>>Calzaghe and Griffith Holyfield without a doubt in the top 50... Please, elaborate.

Oh I've been reading, just not posting..... Poet welcome back i wish i had that sort of self control

Thank you, I don't know if I'm staying but I couldn't let a comment like that go by. I'm human, there's only so much ignorance I can take without blowing a gasket..... Poet You should have been here a week or two ago LOL.

The cherry picked midget by gbp who retired him>>>Oscar Manny makes top 50 easy. Hopkins>>Calzaghe and Griffith Holyfield without a doubt in the top 50...

I take it you don't follow the polls Ring magazine does of boxing historians? The last time I saw one in their almanac more historians had Duran at #1. I really couldn't give a sh1t what the "general population" thinks.....about anything. Poet No i don't read ring magazine since 10 years or so. But i'll take your word for it, and i guess i can't act too surprised.

http://www.********boxing.com/news.php?p=30514&more=1 By James Slater: A while back (in 2008) I contributed an article to ESB in which I gave my honest opinion on the 50 finest boxers in the sport’s history. No easy task to compile, my list was met with some approval, some utter disgust and some opinion somewhere in the middle. Here I give here my revised list of the fifty finest pugilists of all-time; where a few changes have been made. Once again, disagreement, even angst, will no doubt be felt by a few readers - perhaps even more than a few. But, as I wrote last time, you must understand that this list was written with absolutely no axe to grind, and that if serious disagreement is felt then perhaps the writing of another list should be undertaken by the person (or persons) who so feel so strongly against mine. My fifty choices now follow. And remember, it’s only MY opinion. 1. Sugar Ray Robinson 2. Henry Armstrong 3. Muhammad Ali 4. Roberto Duran 5. Ezzard Charles 6. Benny Leonard 7. Archie Moore 8. Willie Pep 9. Harry Greb 10. Joe Louis 11. Joe Gans 12. Sam Langford 13. Jimmy Wilde 14. Gene Tunney 15. Charley Burley 16. Billy Conn 17. Jack Johnson 18. Edre Jofre 19. Sugar Ray Leonard 20. Barney Ross/Kid Gavilan (Tie) 21. Marvellous Marvin Hagler 22. Jack Dempsey 23. Pernell Whitaker/Roy Jones Junior (Tie) 24. Stanley Ketchell 25. Julio Cesar Chavez 26. Tony Canzoneri 27. Rocky Marciano 28. Carlos Monzon 29. Sandy Saddler 30. Michael Spinks 31. Jimmy McLarnin 32. Thomas Hearns 33. Bob Foster 34. George Foreman 35. Mickey Walker 36. Terry McGovern 37. Larry Holmes 38. Mickey Walker 39. Floyd Mayweather Junior 40. Joe Frazier 41. Ricardo Lopez 42. Jake LaMotta 43. Salvador Sanchez 44. Alexis Arguello 45. Marcel Cerdan 46. Emile Griffith 47. Ted Kid Lewis 48. Oscar De La Hoya 49. Lennox Lewis 50. Joe Calzaghe/Aaron Pryor (Tie) The cherry picked midget by gbp who retired him>>>Oscar Manny makes top 50 easy. Hopkins>>Calzaghe and Griffith Holyfield without a doubt in the top 50...

Thank you, I don't know if I'm staying but I couldn't let a comment like that go by. I'm human, there's only so much ignorance I can take without blowing a gasket..... Poet Lol! Hang out and start posting again. We could use the knowledge and humor around here.

Harry Greb the middleweight? Are you joking me right now? Carpentier is the most overrated Frenchie to ever walk the earth. The rest of them are nobodies. Sorry bud. Harry Greb has one hell of a resume at LHW. The rest are nobodies? :lol1: :lol1:

is that so? I guess the general population that make up the consensus don't remember Benny Leonard. I don't think anyone putting Leonard, Gans or Duran at #1 is wrong. I can live with either of those 3 guys in the top spot.

I gotta head out but I'll be back for you. You're one of the main critics of "accomplishments". Come back with something of substance.

Whitaker was in the P4P list when DLH fought him. I think he was #1 or #2. Since you want to talk about being past their prime....you might as well take 99% of the big wins from everyone in boxing. From Tyson to Lewis to Floyd, etc. Whitaker lost that fight. He should of let his hands go more instead of being all flashy with his defense. It was close but Oscar won it. Defensive style fans would disagree but 1 punch compared to 5 just won't cut it for me. No, Whitaker was slipping fast and was not considered the number one p4p fighter at that time. Roy Jones jr was along with Oscar.In fact Oscar had passed Whitaker in the mythical ratings in most people's eyes and was favored to beat Whitaker. Here is an example of how the p4p ratings looked at that time. http://www.theboxinghistorian.com/ring-magazine-awards/pound-for-pound-history 1996 1. Roy Jones Jr. 2. Oscar De La Hoya 3. Pernell Whitaker 4. Felix Trinidad 5. Ricardo Lopez 6. Junior Jones 7. Kostya Tszyu 8. Terry Norris 9. Evander Holyfield 10. Mark Johnson 1997 KO Magazine 1. Oscar De La Hoya 2. Roy Jones Jr. 3. Felix Trinidad 4. Pernell Whitaker 5. Evander Holyfield 6. Terry Norris 7. Junior Jones 8. Ricardo Lopez 9. Ike Quartey 10. Mark Johnson As far as beating prime fighters, you're right. Most don't do it which is why the fighters that accomplish this should not be compared to fighters that have not done this. You see this a lot here with the Ali/Klitschko debates. Ali beating a prime Foreman is a bigger win than any heavyweight can come up with on their resume imo.

You know? It's just fvcking idiotic. He should just admit he doesn't know anything about them and jog the fvck on..... Poet Oh I understand, trust me.