The Best in your Lifetime?

That is a long list, I'll try and answer some of your points. I have never said and never will say that Lewis is a glass jaw bum, he is far more than that but this discussion of whether or not he was over/underrated then it depends on how you rate him. For me he may verge on being a top 10 heavyweight he definitely isn't top 5 or anywhere near the greatness of Ali/Louis/Foreman/Holmes/Frazier/Holyfield. They are just better than him. As many say that Lewis is a top 2 or 3 or 5 heavyweight then that is overrating him, if people start rating him below the likes of the Klitschko's or Bowe then that is underrating him. You say that Lewis fought a bigger list of "punchers" than Ali, that may be so, even though Ali fought Foreman, Liston, Frazier, Shavers and all of them near or in their primes. But these "punchers" that Lewis fought were/are just that, punchers, they wouldn't last against any of the world class heavies of the 60s, 70s or early 80s. The fact that rate you Bruno/Morrison/Tua/Briggs...it's quite ridiculous. The very fact that Rahman and McCall knocked him out, especially the former, is detrimental to Lewis' legacy. Neither of those men ever proved their greatness, honestly they weren't more than B level fighters. Lewis was a great heavyweight but he never came close to achievement or greatness of his predecessors.

our lifetime is the same, but I'm too lazy to make a list, so I'll critique yours. First, no way in hell is George Foreman the 5th best fighter- he beat very few quality fighters and loss to some that were well below world class, loveable character but not in the top 15 let alone top 5. Especially with Holmes (who accomplished much, much more) in at 15. I wouldn't have Chavez Sr that high, more like 11-14. Despite what the idiot judges said, he lost badly to Whitaker (9th) Napoles 16-20, good fighter, just doesn't have the quality wins to be that high Bienvenuti is here but no RJJ, Wilfredo Gomez, Salvador Sanchez, Lennox Lewis, Khaosi Galaxy, or Ricardo Lopez? No, just no Chavez did everything that was required of him, I too believe he lost to Whitaker but these things happen. Apart from that he was a multi-weight champion, unbeaten in 88 fights and he was highly skilled. Many think of him as a brawler but he was far more than that, he could move and box, he jabbed well, switched attacks between body and head better than almost anyone I have ever seen. RJJ was just left out, his career wins against truly worthy opposition is far too thin, the same goes to Lewis. While Sanchez was certainly great his career was sadly far too short, of course not his fault but dying at 23 leaves great memories but just as many questions. How would he have done as he aged, possibly moved up in weight and had to face fierce younger challengers.

1. Lennox Lewis 2. Manny Pacquiao 3. Andre Ward Those three pretty much fought everyone coming out in credit. I think they're the best fighters I've watched. Great lists coming through from a number of fellow posters here. I'd rate Ward highly in the skill department but take away the Froch and Kessler wins his resume is very thin. He needs some more wins against top quality opposition to be mentioned in the same list as a Pacquiao or Lewis. Just a little something on Lewis, I find him to be a tad bit overrated, he had great skill, good jab and very good power but he lost to two men, in his prime, who he should never have lost to, let alone be destroyed by. Yes he avenged those losses but they stick out like a sore thumb. His best wins, over Tyson and Holyfield were against great fighters who were severely deprived of their primes.

Top 10 in no order Roy Jones Bernard Hopkins Andre Ward Manny Pacquiao Floyd Mayweather Evander Holyfield Pernell Whitaker Lennox Lewis Felix Trinidad Oscar De La Hoya Shane Mosley

1. Lennox Lewis 2. Manny Pacquiao 3. Andre Ward Those three pretty much fought everyone coming out in credit. I think they're the best fighters I've watched.

Definitely better/greater than Morales, Barrera or JMM infact not only are their resumes better. They're definitely more exciting. I disagree. I'd put those guys somewhere in the 21-30 area. Marquez probably top 25. Lots of fighters were in great battles but unworthy of my top 20. Gatti and Ward come to mind. Camacho comes to mind. Sergio Martinez, Gerry Cooney, Aaron Pryor, to name a few.

I'm 45 and have been watching fights since the mid 70's. My top twenty is based on skill, resume, and box office appeal and star power and historical impact on the sport, along with entertainment value leading up to the fight and during the fight. With that, here we go... 20. Shane Mosley/Miguel Cotto (tied) 19. Real Deal Holyfield 18. Lennox Lewis 17. Sweet Pea 16. Chavez Sr. 15. B Hop 14. Marvin Hagler 13. The Klit Brothers 12. George Foreman 11. Oscar De La Hoya 10. Manny Pacquiao 9. Roy Jones Jr. 8. Joe Frazier 7. Roberto Duran 6. Thomas Hearns 5. Larry Holmes 4. Mike Tyson 3. SRL 2. Muhammad Ali and #1 is.... Floyd Mayweather Jr. I was gonna question Duran lower than leoard but then I saw Floyd no1 and Tyson no3 So...... Yea

Since I started watching... In no order Floyd Rjj Manny Morales Barrera Marquez Odlh Moseley Cotto Bhop Klitchko 1&2 Toney Tito Marquez

roy jones jr james toney benard Hopkins tito Trinidad Oscar delahoya marcos areera erik morales juan diaz juan manuel marquez ivan calderon Miguel cotto shane mosley Vernon forrest Floyd maweather andre ward gullmero rigondeoux if I had to choose it be prime-roy and mayweather

Roy and Mayweather

brandon rios pacquiao marquez ruslan provodnikov marcos maidana Golovkin matthysse antonio margarito paul williams mikey garcia eric morales fck floyd fck poopkins fck hoe tease

I'm 45 and have been watching fights since the mid 70's. My top twenty is based on skill, resume, and box office appeal and star power and historical impact on the sport, along with entertainment value leading up to the fight and during the fight. With that, here we go... 20. Shane Mosley/Miguel Cotto (tied) 19. Real Deal Holyfield 18. Lennox Lewis 17. Sweet Pea 16. Chavez Sr. 15. B Hop 14. Marvin Hagler 13. The Klit Brothers 12. George Foreman 11. Oscar De La Hoya 10. Manny Pacquiao 9. Roy Jones Jr. 8. Joe Frazier 7. Roberto Duran 6. Thomas Hearns 5. Larry Holmes 4. Mike Tyson 3. SRL 2. Muhammad Ali and #1 is.... Floyd Mayweather Jr. Definitely better/greater than Morales, Barrera or JMM infact not only are their resumes better. They're definitely more exciting.

roy jones jr

Startedwatching . In 03 so Pac Floyd Bhop Jmm Klitschkos But honestly the most skilled fighter I've seen live is rigo and I've seen em all live rigo is the real deal

The best in my lifetime...the top 3 are interchangeable...IN THEIR PRIME, I wouldnt favor anyone to beat them in their best weight classes any era, any time. This is the best, not necessarily the greatest or most accomplished 1)Roy Jones(168) 2)Pernell Whitaker (135) 3)Floyd Mayweather (130) 4)RICARDO Lopez was probably the best all around fighter, including textbook skills, good speed, power and footwork...he was a little bible of boxing 5)Mark Too Sharp Johnson didnt have the marquee names or fights but skill-wise from 112-115 he is one of the best fighters ive seen 6)James Toney 7) Bernard Hopkins 8) Michael Nunn...his prime was wasted away by personal endeavors but man at his best, he troubles everyone at 160 9)Hector Camacho was undefeated until his 38th fight I caught him at the tail end of his prime, but going back and watching him in fights back in 82 then on...he was a phenom and even after the Rosario fights was one of the best I ever saw live in my lifetime...He was past prime by the time he lost to Haugen and Chavez, had been a pro a decade, but IMO in the 80's he and pernell whitaker were the best of that era. 10) Mike Tyson- he was the biggest star and the first boxer I saw fight...sadly we never got to see how good Tyson could be....people forget he lost several of years of his prime as a fighter going to prison

I'm 45 and have been watching fights since the mid 70's. My top twenty is based on skill, resume, and box office appeal and star power and historical impact on the sport, along with entertainment value leading up to the fight and during the fight. With that, here we go... 20. Shane Mosley/Miguel Cotto (tied) 19. Real Deal Holyfield 18. Lennox Lewis 17. Sweet Pea 16. Chavez Sr. 15. B Hop 14. Marvin Hagler 13. The Klit Brothers 12. George Foreman 11. Oscar De La Hoya 10. Manny Pacquiao 9. Roy Jones Jr. 8. Joe Frazier 7. Roberto Duran 6. Thomas Hearns 5. Larry Holmes 4. Mike Tyson 3. SRL 2. Muhammad Ali and #1 is.... Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Was born in '85 started watching boxing casually until about '97 when I saw Roy Jones ko Virgil Hill with a body shot and his natural instincts, athleticism and combination of speed and power I was hooked. Watching Leonard, Benitez, Hearns, Ali, on ESPN classic got me into the sport. In my lifetime, in his prime, Roy Jones was the best fighter I ever saw....not the greatest, but most definitely the best. Watching Mayweather's career unfold was a treat, the first fight I saw of his was the Genaro Hernandez fight, I knew he was gonna be an all-time great.

I've been a member of this site for a few days now and it is obvious that a number of other members have a great knowledge of the sport. This led me to thinking, as so many of you are from various parts of the world and spread across multiple age groups, who are the best fighters you have seen in your life times? Only pick the top 10 or 20 that have actually fought while you have been alive and you have actually seen, whether it be live or on TV. My own list stretches as far back as 1970. 1. Muhammad Ali 2. Ray Leonard 3. Roberto Duran 4. Julio Cesar Chavez Sr 5. George Foreman 6. Marvin Hagler 7. Joe Frazier 8. Carlos Monzon 9. Pernell Whitaker 10. Jose Napoles 11. Tommy Hearns 12. Bernard Hopkins 13. Nino Bienvenuti 14. Bob Foster 15. Larry Holmes 16. Michael Spinks 17. Alexis Arguello 18. Miguel Canto 20. Mike Tyson Ali for me is the greatest all round fighter I ever saw and is most definitely the most thought provoking athlete I have had the pleasure of meeting. In the ring he was as smooth as silk, there is no one who comes close to a prime Ali and when he got older he worked on his inside game, he started to sit down on his punches more and learned to fight. He was a street fighter with the looks of a movie star. There is clear day light between him and everyone else. Leonard is a distant second, his all round skill made him the best of the fab four, his ability to fight and box allowed him to beat every great fighter put in front of him at least once. His demise was slow and sad. Duran was ferocity personified, much like Tyson. I'd like to know how many of you have heard of Miguel Canto, the best "little" fighter I ever saw. He was sadly underrated in his own time and seems to have disappeared from our collective conscience. What do you guys think? our lifetime is the same, but I'm too lazy to make a list, so I'll critique yours. First, no way in hell is George Foreman the 5th best fighter- he beat very few quality fighters and loss to some that were well below world class, loveable character but not in the top 15 let alone top 5. Especially with Holmes (who accomplished much, much more) in at 15. I wouldn't have Chavez Sr that high, more like 11-14. Despite what the idiot judges said, he lost badly to Whitaker (9th) Napoles 16-20, good fighter, just doesn't have the quality wins to be that high Bienvenuti is here but no RJJ, Wilfredo Gomez, Salvador Sanchez, Lennox Lewis, Khaosi Galaxy, or Ricardo Lopez? No, just no

I started watching boxing in a serious manner in the 2000's so Pacquiao Morales Marquez Barrera Kltischkos Trinidad DLH Poopkins Fraud If I named the ones I lived through I'd have to include Roy Jones Toney Whitaker Chavez sr Lewis Holyfield Tyson Finito Lopez Carbajal Gonzalez

I always had a love hate relationship with Jones. I don't think he liked me much either haha But I loved his skill, his natural talent and his athleticism but he picked on a string of men who did not deserve to even be in the same ring as him. There were worthy challengers out there but he never took them, Roy Jones was a Formula 1 car racing in the Formula 3 series. Roy Jones could and probably would beat any MW/SMW/LHW in the history of boxing. That says enough. At least be the favorite in a vast majority of those bouts. SRR/Ezzard Charles give him the best fights. I grew up with Roy Jone's career, so I'm sort of a RJJ homer, but over the years, moved onto other fighters, but still, he's my first boxing, fanboy moment. Also was a HUGE Tyson homer, like everyone else, but then grew out of that phase, as I really started to learn about Ali. Could never pick Tyson over Ali.