10 Most Historically Important Boxers?

[JeBron Lamez]

viva the other 2 %!

boooooooooooooo!!!

[JeBron Lamez]

1. Muhammad Ali - The most important athlete of all-time, period. One of the most important non-politicians in history.

2. Joe Louis - The first African-American to be an icon in America; was a symbol of fighting **** Germany; changed perceptions of Black people worldwide

3. Jack Johnson - Broke the color barrier of the HW division; highest paid man in sports in his age.

4. Jack Dempey - the 2nd most important athlete of sports initial "Golden Age"

5. Joe Gans - 1st Black champion

6. John L. Sullivan - the first "man who beat the man"

7. Mike Tyson - The last boxer to be considered "the baddest man on the planet"

8. Manny Pacquaio = brought the dawn of the "international superstar"

9. Sugar Ray Robinson - The GOAT

10. Roberto Duran - the greatest fighter of the past 50 years & brought about the dawn of the Latino superstar.

Nice list, I can respect it.

Only real sore spot is no Corbett (probably bump Tyson for him) & my own personal piece of opinionated potential pedantry is just to point out that despite everything Ali was, did & was put through... perhaps Jesse Owens trumps The Greatest as most important athlete of all time (I said perhaps!).

[JeBron Lamez]

1. Jim Corbett - the reason

2. Jack Johnson - the other reason

3. Muhammad Ali - The Greatest

4. John L Sullivan - the modern first

5. Sugar Ray Robinson - Ali's reason

6. Floyd Mayweather Jr - the Money, elevated the expectations for personal discipline

7. Willie Pep - elevated the perception of what a boxer can do

8. Julio Cesar Chavez - elevated the level of expectation for tough guys

9. Manny Pacquiao - (unproven PED allegations aside) unique demonstration of the capabilities of a boxer's body

10. Roy Jones Jr - further elevated the perception of what a boxer can do

[Anomalocaris]

Jake Paul - undoubtedly the greatest fighter who ever laced them up.

[Anomalocaris]

Jim Corbett - for having the finest arse cheeks in all of Christendom.

[solidman]

Probably Jack Dempsey because he introduced a new style to boxing. I know i question him in another thread, but i do rate him. Never have i seen anybody as ferocious and intense as Dempsey.

[Willie Pep 229]

Probably Jack Dempsey because he introduced a new style to boxing. I know i question him in another thread, but i do rate him. Never have i seen anybody as ferocious and intense as Dempsey.

There's two things going on.

Dempsey as an ATG and then there is his importance to the fight game.

For the former I would,at best, put him at the bottom of a top ten list.

But in relative importance to the game itself, I believe he is an unquestioned #1.

His agressive style revolutionized the game but more importantly it packed giant venues and captured the nation's attention.

Had there been no Dempsey boxing might have gone the way of wrestling in the 1920s. Fighting before lesser crowds, for less money, with fewer men participating.

Dempsey made the HW Champion a national icon not merely a temporary celebrity like the previous champions.

[Mr Mitts]

I guess it was in a neighboring thread. But no, I do not believe Theogenes had 1500 fights without a loss. In fact, the quote I originally read in some book or other said only 1200 fights and wins. I do not believe he even had 1500 or 1200 fights, period, let alone winning that many. I don't know what the source is on this guy, but it has to come from a hundred fathers. I don't trust that. It makes Fleischer look like a Rhodes scholar with all his only second hand opinions.

Using Occam's razor, the simplest explanation is probably the right one. Theogenes was a hella fighter, idolized in his own time, and further mythologized after his death by fans who missed the good ol' days. Occam's razor, lads. Look it up if you haven't heard of it.

What does anyone know about the equipment used then?

[Anomalocaris]

I guess it was in a neighboring thread. But no, I do not believe Theogenes had 1500 fights without a loss. In fact, the quote I originally read in some book or other said only 1200 fights and wins. I do not believe he even had 1500 or 1200 fights, period, let alone winning that many. I don't know what the source is on this guy, but it has to come from a hundred fathers. I don't trust that. It makes Fleischer look like a Rhodes scholar with all his only second hand opinions.

Using Occam's razor, the simplest explanation is probably the right one. Theogenes was a hella fighter, idolized in his own time, and further mythologized after his death by fans who missed the good ol' days. Occam's razor, lads. Look it up if you haven't heard of it.

What does anyone know about the equipment used then?

Indeed.

Chinese Whispers over millennia fool so many.

Religion for a start.

[Willie Pep 229]

Indeed.

Chinese Whispers over millennia fool so many.

Religion for a start.

I had to look up "Chinese Wispers" to make sure I got the allusion correct. (I did.)

Even as far back as my childhood (early sixties) we were taught to call it "telephone" (and we weren't even WOKE yet.)

Are you just showing your age, or is it still called 'Chinese Wispers' in the UK?

P.S. Just my leftover curiosity from being a social studies school teacher.