Hall of Fame/All Time Great-Same thing, different names?

[FrankJack]

Just curious, gentlemen (and ladies if there are any here): sometimes when I listen or read fans of this sport speak, it appears that some see HOF and ATG as two different categories. So I'm curious what all of you here think:

1) Are they different? If so, how?

2) If they are different, name some individuals who fit one category but not the other and why.


Thanks in advance for your responses!

[jas]

In my book, no.

ATG is above hall of famer

[TBear]

HOF fighters are selected by a group representing the Hall of fame(IBHOF). Often forgotten that there is actually two "Boxing Hall of Fame's". The original, The World Boxing Hall of Fame is based in California on the west coast but it is over shadowed by the newer International Boxing Hall of Fame based on the east coast in Canastota, New York.

The term "All Time Great" is an intangible used by fans to describe great boxers. I call it an "intangible" because there is no committee of boxing experts that names them. It is up to the discretion of individual fans. There is no measure on ATG, is it top ten, top twenty or top 100 all time? Fans of certain fighters often claim the title of ATG for fighters while other fans may disagree. ATG is often an opinion of individual fans, while HOF means a fighter's accomplishments have been recognized by an official panel and the title is not disputed. Once they are in they are in.

[FrankJack]

Interesting responses. But for those that have answered; who are some individuals, in your minds, that fit one category but not the other?

[Bundana]

Interesting responses. But for those that have answered; who are some individuals, in your minds, that fit one category but not the other?

Depends on which Hall we're talking about!

The original World Boxing Hall of Fame started out in 1980, but has since lost all credibility with some crazy inductions (and even crazier omissions!) and should not be taken seriously. Anyway, they went out of business in 2010 (their last year of inductions)... and when we today say a boxer is a HOFer, I think we more or less take for granted, that we're talking about the IBHOF.

Fighters who are HOFers, but not ATGs? Well, since - as TBear has already explained - there is no set definition of what an ATG is, there's of course no "correct" answer to that question.

Gatti and McGuigan are often mentioned as examples of HOFers, who didn't really deserve to be inducted, as they are not seen as ATGs. You could argue, that there are lots of other HOFers, who belong in that category... like Billy Miske and Jim Braddock, to name just a couple.

[FrankJack]

Thanks for your response. I understand that there is no set definition for ATG. I wanted to know from the viewpoint of the individual posters, as I know each has a different list of ATGs, and each has their own criteria. I wanted to see the different viewpoints and why they held those viewpoints in regards to x fighter(s).

[hhascup]

The Original Boxing Hall of Fame was the Ring Magazine Boxing Hall of Fame.

In 1954 the Ring Magazine established its own Boxing Hall of Fame and inducted 155 members before it was abandoned after the 1987 inductions.

Then came the World Boxing Hall of Fame followed by the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Now we have another one in Las Vegas.

[Anthony342]

What's the one in Vegas called?

[Scott9945]

Every ATG is in the HOF (except Pete Rose). Not every hall of famer is an ATG though.

[Anthony342]

Yeah and I imagine Holyfield will get in in about 2-3 years when he becomes eligible.