Panamaniac

Arguably the biggest boxing match since Ali/Frazier I is on the horizon, should it come to pass, who do you like?

Got your attention, didn't I, lol. Not quite (not even close, really), but you have to give him kudos for desposing of his most formidable challenge to date. :hail:

What was your favorite fighter's finest hour? Against whom did he bring his "A" game? Which performance was so magnificent you could never see it often enough? For me (in chronological order): Ali vs. Williams Durán vs. Moore Tyson vs. Berbick

Which fighter best practiced the fine art of pre-fight psychological warfare? Who was the master of pre-fight intimidation? The fighters on the poll had a reputation (during their primes) for planting fear in the hearts of mortal men. From the pre-fight press conference, to the weigh-in, to the ring instructions, these guys actively or passively (by rep only) disrupted their opponents' game plans. I've seen 'em utilize the ol' baleful stare during pre-fight instructions, and the opponent would timidly avoid eye contact.

And who - in your view - has (or had) the best of each? My picks: Best jab: Sonny Liston (L) Ever so slightly edges runner-up Muhammad Ali by the sheer wrecking-ball power of it. I've seen him snap heads back, knock opponents of balance and (if I'm not mistaken) down with that thing... Honorable mention(s): Muhammad Ali Larry HolmesBest hook: Joe Frazier (L) The greatest practical exponent of the "Philadelphia left hook." It was a thing of beauty and devastation (see Ali-Frazier I). Honorable mention(s): Pipino Cuevas Julio Cesar ChavezBest cross: Roberto Durán (R) With jarring effect, he delivered the punch with remarkable ease and frequency, because it was always cocked (for lack of a better term). It sat next to his right shoulder like a pointed gun with the hammer pulled back and finger on the trigger. Honorable mention(s): Muhammad Ali Lennox LewisBest uppercut: Mike Tyson (R/L) With either hand, I can't think of anyone who unleashed this weapon with greater frequency or deadly accuracy. Thrown in combination, it was usually the begining of the end... Honorable mention(s): George Foreman Roberto Durán

Feel free to list the 5-10 greatest fights you ever saw and rate them in order of quality. These are not fights you heard of or read about, but fights you actually saw in it's entirety, be it on site, TV, or video. Mine are: Castillo-Corrales Gatti-Ward Ali-Frazier III Barrera-Morales III Duran-Leonard I Tyson-Ruddick II Bowe Holyfield III Ali-Frazier I Duran-Barkley Foreman-LyleNote: The fighters listed at #1 and #2, might have faced each other more than once. If so, I don't recall which fight, only that one impressed me enough to be listed.

Who's the greatest heavyweight power puncher of all time? This topic has been discussed before, but not with a poll to keep score.

Active or retired, who's the most popular fighter on the forum?

To regain one of the many golden eras of the past? Fans often cite the Hagler/Hearns/Leonard/Duran "glory" years as the last boxing revival. What would it take to put Boxing back into the headlines of sports pages, if not the front pages of newspapers. Not just for megafights, but on a consistent basis, like the "ball" sports. :boxing: Would it take another Muhammad Ali - a flamboyant self-promoting hot shot who backs up his loud-mouth with his fists of stone? :boxing: Would it take another power-punching KO artist like (pre-cannibalistic) Mike Tyson - a dark destroyer who puts practically every opponent to sleep within five rounds. :boxing: Would it take unification or elimination bouts between the champions of the four major governing bodies of Boxing toward the crowning of one champion per weight class. :boxing: Or is Boxing is perfect as is and needs no improvement to regain prominence among major sports. TYPO ALERT ON LAST POLL ITEM: SHOULD READ - BOXING NEEDS NO IMPROVEMENT. Mods., can you fix this?

That is, emotionally painful to you. Which defeat makes you wince to this day, upon recollection? For me it was Muhammad Ali's first defeat courtesy of Joe Frazier and Roberto Duran's "no mas" against Sugar Ray Leonard. The latter made more painful by the shattered image of Duran as the embodiment of machismo, courage and unrelenting determination...

Inspired by the most boring boxer thread, I propose the opposite for discussion: Who's the most exciting fighter in the ring today?

"Bert Sugar has a passion for the sport that is rivaled only by his talent for writing about it" - New York Sportscene FOREWORD Bert Randolph Sugar, known as the "unofficial historian" and "the guru" of boxing, is one of the most charismatic writers ever to capture the drama of fights and fighters on paper. One of the most recognizable personalities in the sport, Sugar - with his trademark fedora and cigar - has been called "entertaining, insightful, and eminently colorful." A member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, he has served as the editor of The Ring, Boxing Illustrated, and Fight Game magazines, and is the author of more than fifty books. Bert Randolph Sugar http://www.strategyboxing.com/Images/bert.jpg "...No amount of fistic bookkeeping could account for "greatness" absent other elements in the equation." - Bert Sugar 100 Greatest Boxers of All Time Sugar Ray Robinson Henry Armstrong Willie Pep Joe Louis Harry Greb Benny Leonard Muhammad Ali Roberto Duran Jack Dempsey Jack Johnson Mickey Walker Tony Canzoneri Gene Tunney Rocky Marciano Joe Gans Sam Langford Julio Cesar Chavez Jimmy Wild Stanley Ketchel Barney Ross Jimmy McLarnin Archie Moore Marcel Cerdan Ezzard Charles Sugar Ray Leonard Joe Walcott Jake LaMptta Eder Jofre Emile Griffith Terry McGovern George Foreman Johnny Dundee Jose Napoles Pascual Perez Billy Conn Ruben Olivares Joe Frazier Tommy Loughran Sandy Saddler Kid Chocolate Abe Atell Evander Holyfield George Dixon Maxie Rosenbloom Larry Holmes Ted "Kid" Lewis Marvelous Marvin Hagler Pernell Whitaker Carlos Zarate Thomas Hearns Battling Nelson Beau Jack Ricardo Lopez John L. Sullivan Carlos Monzon Alexis Arguello Carmen Basilio Pete Herman Charley Burley Ike Williams Kid Gavilan Jack Britton Dick Tiger Pancho Villa Panama Al Brown Bob Fitzsimmons Philadelphia Jack O'Brien Tiger Flowers James J. Corbett Tony Zale Tommy Ryan Georges Carpentier Sonny Liston "Kid" McCoy Bob Foster Freddie Welsh Joe Jeannette Jim Driscoll Jersey Joe Walcott Peter Jackson Ad Wolgast Nonpareil Jack Dempsey Manuel Ortiz James J. Jeffries Salvador Sanchez Jimmy Barry Carlos Ortiz Roy Jones, Jr. Wilfredo Gomez Aaron Pryor Bernard Hopkins Mike Gibbons Jack Delaney Johnny Kilbane Willie Ritchie Wilfredo Benitez Packey McFarland Rocky Graziano Lew Jenkins Mike Tyson Your thoughts... SEE APPENDIX AT POST #39

Which do you like best? Below are the fighters to whom the above nicknames are attributed.* Luis Angel Firpo Joe Louis Mickey Walker Jake LaMotta Archie Moore Jack Johnson Rocky Marciano Jack Dempsey Tommy Hearns Roberto DuranMy favorite belonged to the Argentine Luis Angel Firpo who once fought Dempsey: "Wild Bull of the Pampas" (El Toro Salvaje de las Pampas) Nicknamed simply because he hits hard, the impact (if you will) of Roberto Duran's "Hands of Stone" gets lost in translation. The direct translation from spanish (Manos de Piedra) hardly makes any sense... *I've omitted the word "the" (in the nicknames) for the sake of brevity.

What basic boxing style do you prefer? Most fighters can and do use a combination of styles, or make adjustments during a given fight, or against a given opponent, but all have their own basic or signature style, and start all fights in this mode. Slick Boxers (Ali, Leonard) are elusive and measured in their attack. They like to "stick and move" on their toes. "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." Power Punchers (Foreman, Tyson) like to plant their feet and put their whole torso into the punch. Almost every punch has a jarring effect, even jabs. Brawlers (Duran, Pryor) are all over their opponents from the opening bell. They are relentless in their swarming attack and opponents eventually succumb to a cumulative effect of punches. Boxer-punchers (Louis, Robinson) are adept at cutting off the ring and use their jab to set-up power punches. They use combinations and can KO opponents with a single punch by either hand.

Name your top three champions in each major weight class. My picks:* Heavyweights: Joe Louis Jack Johnson Muhammad AliLight Heavyweights: Archie Moore Bob Foster Michael SpinksMiddleweights: Sugar Ray Robinson** Marvin Hagler Carlos MonzónWelterweights: Sugar Ray Leonard Tommy Hearns José NápolesLightweights: Roberto Durán Benny Leonard Julio Cesar ChavezFeatherweights: Henry Armstrong Alexis Arguello Marco Antonio BarreraBantamweights: Panama Al Brown Carlos Zárate Lupe PintorFlyweights: Guty Espadas Hilario Zapata Manny Pacquiao*Subject to revision **Pound-for-pound all time best

Who was the most noteworthy Latin American Champion ever? By "Latin American" I don't mean of Latin descent like US-born Oscar De La Hoya or Carlos Palomino, but actually born in Latin America. Listed on the poll are champions (some legends, some dominant in their era, all retired) who captured the imagination of the boxing world in their prime. If you can think of a more celebrated (unlisted) Latin champ, check "other" and say who.

Inspired by the ugliest boxer thread, I propose the positive opposite: Past or present, who takes home "the most handsome fighter" award? Vote for the best looking fighter in the poll, if none of the above, say whom.