Whos is your favorite Boxer? why?

[EzzardFan]

Ezzard Charles. One of the greatest technicians of all time. An ATG fighter at LHW and HW, beat ATG fighters at MW, LHW and HW. Would've been three weight lineal champion had he got the shots he deserved (at MW and LHW). Never ducked a fighter, fought them all and beat them all on more than one occasion. The greatest LHW of all time, one of the great HWs (top 20) and is arguably a pretty high ranked MW (if Roy Jones can get a MW ranking.. than Charles can too. Charles MW resume ****s on Jones).

That's it for me. A complete, accomplished fighter who fought everyone and more, of whom we have enough footage to talk about.

WOW - other people with exquisite taste!

I cannot improve on CCobra's sentiments.

Other fighters I love are:

Harry Grebb - he was one of a kind we've never seen his likes before or since. I truly believe that Harry could have held his own in any era! He fought at the top for years, beating all the top middleweights, light heavyweights and heavyweights with the exception of Dempsey (who ducked him after he was made to look silly in sparring), AND ALL THAT TIME HE WAS BLIND IN ONE EYE AND NEVER WEIGHED MORE THAN 160lbs.

Rocky Marciano - this is purely personal because I look just like him am borderline 6' and 175-180lbs with a 42" chest, stoop shoulders, and freakishly short arms (reach identical to Rocky). I just wish I was as indestructible as him and could throw 600 punches a round...

Archie Moore - because he fought at or near the top until he hit 50 and really gave Marciano a good run for his money.

Sugar Ray Robinson - poetry in motion.

Stanley Ketchel - just imagine... Ketchel vs Grebb wouldn't that have been the greatest fight ever?

Jack Johnson - IMO he's up there with Ali and Louis for the #1 ATG heavyweight. If only we had more footage against quality (ie black) opponents.

Mike Tyson - in his early career the man was devastating. A lot of people forget that Tyson was always the smaller guy in the ring. I loved his style, he was like an scary indestructible version of Floyd Patterson on kryptonite.

Ali - circa 1967. At that time he was arguably the greatest heavyweight boxer the world has ever witnessed. I cite the Cleveland Williams and Ernie Terrell fights as evidence. Yes Williams was a shadow of his former self after being shot... but WOW. And you can't argue with the Terrell fight.

But ultimately Ezzard is my favourite, because he had it all. He fought and beat guys much bigger than him. Won the HW title and would/should have reigned supreme at LHW but was never given a shot. He beat Archie Moore three times. He took Rocky the distance when he was past his best, and almost TKO'd Rocky in their return. He was the only man to beat Louis between Schmelling and Marciano. IMO he was the greatest and most exciting technical boxer ever to grace a ring. RIP Ez.

[ufirst]

a few;
Sweet Pea- all time fave; superb speed, smarts, defense, reflexes and heart. plus got the nick name Grandma gives her little precious & would bust that ass if you tried him. A real legend in Hampton Roads, many a Sweet Pea urban tale (not great for the career) told there, The only legend whose house I've been to.


Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon; who I advise people who want to box to watch. Skill wise, maybe the best in the game today, can dance on you, make you look dumb and if you piss him off, light you up with his little fists. Too bad he has had to move up in weight for recognition.

James "Lights Out" Toney & Floyd Mayweather; shoulder roll, although I like James' better because he punishes the **** out of you when you miss. That **** is beautiful. Love Floyd's handspeed and his ability to take you out of your fight with defense.

Aaron "The Hawk" Pryor; if there were ever a junkyard dog of boxing, Aaron was him. Hit him with whatever, he'd shake it off. Underrated defense, good power, and unrivaled intensity make him a favorite. Without the drug problems, would've retired undefeated. 39-1 ain't bad though. Would have liked to see him and Leonard do it. What time is it?

Chavez: small pressure fighter ever imo. triple uppercuts and left hooks inside and still made dudes miss (grossly underrated defensively, I think because his offense shined so much)

Sugar Ray Leonard; what can I say that hasn't been said already. the heart of a killer hidden behind a million dollar smile. The original Golden Boy.

The Bodysnatcher, Mike McCallum; a fighter who specializes in body punching and doesn't get hit in return--skill level is overlooked. I think the only fighter i've ever heard James Toney praise- nuff said

BHop; what's not to like? Gritty, defensive enough to take you out of your game plan, & beats you up without showy punches. Talks **** & backs it up.

Salvador Sanchez; another dude who stayed in your chest & you still couldn't hit cleanly

The real Hitman, Tommy Hearns; Before he fell in love with being a power puncher "The Motor City Cobra" would box your ears off. Remember Hearns/Leonard I? Of course he could line up that lanky right hand & put you to sleep.



finally, Mickey Ward (I know, I know) despite what he lacked in skills that dude is all grit and heart. I'm not into bloodbaths but dude would walk through hell with gasoline trunks to land that hook to the liver, you gotta love that ****.:

[KRUEGER]

manny pacquiao
zab judah
shane mosley
miguel cotto
paulie malignaggi
jmm
and more....

[UKRAINIANGIANTS]

Wlad and Vitali

[ernes]

i didn't know that tyson knocked his opponent in 8secs.

[Insane Ninja]

My all-time favorite is Mike Tyson. I'm sure a lot of it had to do with growing up during the 'Tyson era' of boxing. It really was exciting when Tyson fought. He was the last fighter to truly capture the attention of the American public, the last guy to mark the time when being the heavyweight champion of boxing meant being the 'baddest man on the planet'.

On top of that, he was a great fighter in his early years, before he became obsessed with the 'quick knockout' (which, ironically, hurt his ability to deliver said knockout). He was like a destructive force of nature in the ring.


Besides him, I've always been enthralled by the histories of Muhammad Ali and Jack Johnson. It's amazing how their fights could take on importance far beyond that of a regular boxing match, even one for the world championship. Jack Johnson's career is so darn interesting to follow, even without a vast amount of video footage of his fights. (Everyone who likes boxing should read 'Unforgivable Blackness').
The movie 'Cinderella Man' has also given me a soft spot for James Braddock.


My favorite current boxer is probably Floyd Mayweather Jr., but I don't really have favorites in boxing these days so that doesn't mean a whole lot. I just think he's a good fighter and my friend really like Manny Pacquiao, so rooting for Floyd is a good way to needle him.

[ernes]

My all-time favorite is Mike Tyson. I'm sure a lot of it had to do with growing up during the 'Tyson era' of boxing. It really was exciting when Tyson fought. He was the last fighter to truly capture the attention of the American public, the last guy to mark the time when being the heavyweight champion of boxing meant being the 'baddest man on the planet'.

On top of that, he was a great fighter in his early years, before he became obsessed with the 'quick knockout' (which, ironically, hurt his ability to deliver said knockout). He was like a destructive force of nature in the ring.


Besides him, I've always been enthralled by the histories of Muhammad Ali and Jack Johnson. It's amazing how their fights could take on importance far beyond that of a regular boxing match, even one for the world championship. Jack Johnson's career is so darn interesting to follow, even without a vast amount of video footage of his fights. (Everyone who likes boxing should read 'Unforgivable Blackness').
The movie 'Cinderella Man' has also given me a soft spot for James Braddock.


My favorite current boxer is probably Floyd Mayweather Jr., but I don't really have favorites in boxing these days so that doesn't mean a whole lot. I just think he's a good fighter and my friend really like Manny Pacquiao, so rooting for Floyd is a good way to needle him.

hehehe lol...

i'll starting watching mike tyson videos..

[EzzardFan]

The movie 'Cinderella Man' has also given me a soft spot for James Braddock.

The way that movie portrayed Baer was shocking. They made him out to be like Darth Vader or something. Max Baer was a nice man with the heart of a clown in a boxers body.

The best things about Braddock was his never giving up, and the fact that he was the first HW champ in a long time not to draw the colour line. The result was the great Joe Louis.

[Insane Ninja]

The way that movie portrayed Baer was shocking. They made him out to be like Darth Vader or something. Max Baer was a nice man with the heart of a clown in a boxers body.

The best things about Braddock was his never giving up, and the fact that he was the first HW champ in a long time not to draw the colour line. The result was the great Joe Louis.

Yeah, the movie did get some flack for the portrayal of Max Baer, but it worked for the film and from what I understand, was actually in line a bit with how he was viewed in the press at the time. It's unfortunate that is how a lot of people will think of Baer, though.


I agree about Braddock giving a title shot to Joe Louis. It was better than how things went for Jack Johnson not too far in the past.

[ernes]

Frank "Frankie" Genaro is my favorite... hehhe the shortest professional boxer.