Who is the most popular boxer in the history of boxing?

[MrRolltide91]

ali and tyson

[SBleeder]

Honestly, I really don't think any active fighter- including Mayweather and Pacquiao- is truly a "household name". Boxing fans obviously know the current crop of fighters and sports fans in general know the big names, but if you asked the average housewife to name a current world champion, I'm not sure you'd get an answer.

In decades past, even people who didn't care a lick about sports knew who Muhammad Ali, Jack Dempsey, and Joe Louis were. Same goes for Sugar Ray Leonard.

[Anthony342]

Honestly, I really don't think any active fighter- including Mayweather and Pacquiao- is truly a "household name". Boxing fans obviously know the current crop of fighters and sports fans in general know the big names, but if you asked the average housewife to name a current world champion, I'm not sure you'd get an answer.

In decades past, even people who didn't care a lick about sports knew who Muhammad Ali, Jack Dempsey, and Joe Louis were. Same goes for Sugar Ray Leonard.

Completely agree and I hate that about boxing, as that says a lot about what it's become. I miss having names everyone knew in the sport.

[WESS]

Honestly, I really don't think any active fighter- including Mayweather and Pacquiao- is truly a "household name". Boxing fans obviously know the current crop of fighters and sports fans in general know the big names, but if you asked the average housewife to name a current world champion, I'm not sure you'd get an answer.

In decades past, even people who didn't care a lick about sports knew who Muhammad Ali, Jack Dempsey, and Joe Louis were. Same goes for Sugar Ray Leonard.

Maybe I ask the wrong random people time and time and time and time and time again but I ALWAYS... every single time get the names of Ali, Tyson, Mayweather and/or Pacquaio out of people when I ask to name a boxer(s).

[juggernaut666]

Ali or Tyson and i think Tyson by far exceeded ALI ,from video games to cartoons hes still getting more popular ,than even current champions who are active.

[sonnyboyx2]

Muhammad Ali

[The Old LefHook]

The most popular boxer ever was a guy not many people heard of when he was alive, and even fewer since he died. He remains popular to this day.

[them_apples]

Ali, Jack Dempsey, Louis, Tyson...I don't think you could say one with any degree of certainty, but it was just a different era back then. Boxing was the king of all sports and the heavyweight champ the king of them all. As it used to be the world would stop for the big fights and it was just a general part of daily/weekly life. Now it's a small niche sport that occasionally gets watched on PPV by the fans that are left...which are still plentiful, just not nearly what it was.

Ali, then Tyson, then Louis, then? lots of even playing fields here.

Ali for sure number 1 though

[atomicsad]

Oscar in recent years as shown by his PPV success.

Older fighters, I guess Robinson and Louis.

[jiopsi]

Most popular, Ali
Most polarizing, Tyson