Top 20 of all times?

[Sugar Adam Ali]

You cant compare team sports to individual sports,, especially one that involves getting punched in the face,,,

[LacedUp]

That tells the story of the comparison.

I understand what you're trying to say but I still think it's not sound reasoning and your football example doesn't support it.

Well it was the best I could come up with

[Anthony342]

I have him #10.

Of course he'd have beaten Dariasz

Pretty good, considering it sounds like it's been historically one of the most stacked divisions.

[Anthony342]

It is some of my criteria. It's like Bernard Hopkins. Sure, he has a decent resume, he's had a lot of defenses and he fights even though he's an old man and I respect his accomplishments.

But is he great? As in, would you tell your kids about the time you saw Bernard Hopkins fight?

I sure as hell wouldn't and that's some of the logic behind it.

Well I might mention his long reign at middleweight and the Trinidad win.

[Anthony342]

I don't understand why that would matter.

If Fighter A is a boring spoiler but beats 10 ATG's in their primes and Fighter A is the most exciting fighter of all time and beats 5 ATG's in their prime who ranks higher? Fighter A surely? Otherwise that just defeats the object of winning and losing and just achievements in general.


Marciano is a whole lot more exciting to watch than Lennox Lewis but I think most would rank Lewis higher.

Pacquaio is a lot more exciting than Ezzard Charles but who ranks higher?

Just isn't sound logic at all IMO.

No, but I imagine that WAS most likely the logic behind Gatti's HOF induction, plus the fact that it was posthumous.

[billeau2]

No, but I imagine that WAS most likely the logic behind Gatti's HOF induction, plus the fact that it was posthumous.

You bring up a good point. At the time for gatti the argument was never his skill, rather it was how he repressented a certain quality we look at as such a part of boxing. The HOF is a more universal construction than a list of great fighters based on skill. Its a touchy issue but I personally do think there is a place for such people in the HOF.

[euellgong]

Mine are:
Joe Louis
Benny Leonard
Willie Pep
Gene Tunney
Micky Walker
Archie Moore
Jack Dempsey

[StarshipTrooper]

Suffice it to say the Hall of Fame isn't the Hall of ATGs. More than any other HoF the Boxing Hall of Fame is for the fans. If a fighter has lasting popularity (and Gatti does, even posthumously) they'll probably get into the Hall even if they're second or third tier fighters.

[RubenSonny]

Suffice it to say the Hall of Fame isn't the Hall of ATGs. More than any other HoF the Boxing Hall of Fame is for the fans. If a fighter has lasting popularity (and Gatti does, even posthumously) they'll probably get into the Hall even if they're second or third tier fighters.

I've never understood why people have used it as a measurement of greatness.

[StarshipTrooper]

I've never understood why people have used it as a measurement of greatness.

That's why I never use the term "Hall of Famer".....it's really meaningless as a benchmark. People didn't take me seriously when I said Gatti would get in lol :chuckle9: