How is greatness measured?

[STILL_DETOX]

what makes a fighter a "great"?

[Earl-Hickey]

Skills+Resume=greatness

that's the short formula, but pretty much it sums it up quite well, most truly great fighters had very good skills, that they could compete with the best in any era, and had a good voulme of work to look back on.

Of course there are exceptions, Charlie Burley, who never won a world title, is a true ATG, but by and large, its Resume and Skills that form greatness.

[Junito-Rulez]

**** size.

[Tsukiyomi]

For me, pure accomplishment.

Although that has to be balanced out for slow eras, and those who weren't given their fair shake.

[Clyde Barrow]

resume and longevity

[GameGod]

How good a fighter is at fighting? Their skills, judgeable only by watching them fight.

Or the normal definition of greatness: how they stood out. This is judged by Accomplishments * Opposition Quality.

[GJC]

Skills+Resume=greatness

that's the short formula, but pretty much it sums it up quite well, most truly great fighters had very good skills, that they could compete with the best in any era, and had a good voulme of work to look back on.

Of course there are exceptions, Charlie Burley, who never won a world title, is a true ATG, but by and large, its Resume and Skills that form greatness.

I would add longevity,historical impact and character to those too.

I think the historical impact of a Johnson or Dempsey has to be added into the mix.

Longevity I think is a biggie, it is hard getting to the top but staying there is even harder. Getting up at 5am leaving your mansion to pound out those miles on the road to stay at the top takes enormous discipline. You went into boxing to make your money now you have the title and the money but you still put the work in because you know your next opponent who wants what you have is doing it. I think there have been a lot of fighters who having cleaned out the division hit their peak for 18 months then as the skills start to decline, lose. The absolute top of the tree still grind out those wins against a younger sometimes fitter certainly hungrier opponent.

And character of course, to use the oft said phrase about boxing, other sports and adversity, it doesn't build character it reveals it

[ty89]

Skill, reign in the limelight, character, but i think the most is how the responded to adversity, champs find a way to win no matter what. I think its more impressive for a great whose had some really tough fights and came back and won or won a rematch.
example Marco Antonio Barrera, Ali, B-hop, all three sugars!

[gatagata]

Skill, what the fighter does for the sport, fighting the best guys out there

[HouSTONER]

Pacquiao's the example of how greatness is measured.