10 Best Boxers Of All Time (all Divs)

[IAMTHEGREATEST]

M.ali
R.Marciano
J.louis
r. Robinson
G.Foreman
M.Tyson
R.Leonard
J.Dempsey
RJJ
PBF

[mokele]

very close to my own list

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Sugar Ray Robinson
3. Joe Louis
4. Marvin Hagler
5. Roy Jones Jr.
6. Julio Cesar Chavez
7. Rocky Marciano
8. Sugar Ray Leonard
9. Bernard Hopkins
10.Roberto Duran

This list is so close to my own that I'll endorse it with 1 or 2 changes.

I wouldn't put Ali ahead of Joe Louis. Ali dominated his division in 1964 through 1967 but after his comeback he was really more like 1st among equals. Louis stood alone on top for much longer.

I just can't include Bernard Hopkins in spite of his longevity as champion. He did too much running and clinching sometimes. In his place I would put Gene Tunney. Tunney's career was nothing short of brilliant from start to finish. He lost only twice, both times to Harry Greb, but he defeated Greb 3 times, including a 1-sided thrashing in their 5th and final fight. I was never a Gene Tunney fan until I took a closer look at his career. I was a Jack Dempsey fan and Tunney was the "bad guy" . Tunney's an acquired taste for me as a boxing fan, but I just can't overlook him.

The whole rest of the list is fantastic, filled with immortal greats that combined great skill with the heart of a warrior.

well, I just saw a compilation of video clips of Bernard Hopkins fights, starting with his fight in 1993 with Roy Jones, then his fights with Bo James, Glencoffe Johnson, Antwun Echols, William Joppy and Taylor. After looking at it I must admit that Bernard Hopkins does not disgrace any list of 10 best fighters all time. The running and holding have characterized only his later years, starting perhaps around the year 2000 or so.

[JDizzle79]

1) Ali/Clay
2) Robinson
3) Louis
4) Hagler
5) Leonard--I know, I know...gimme a break
6) Marciano--it was hard to place him here but look at the names above
7) Foreman
8) Duran
9) Hopkins
10) Lennox Lewis

[The Raging Bull]

My top 5 is

1. Muhammad Ali- So talented
2. Rocky Marciano- Undefeated
3. Sugar ray leonard- sooo quick
4. George Forman- A beast
5. Joe Louis- Just an amazing fighter


As you can see i kinda like heavyweights lol

[oldgringo]

Robinson (goat)
Armstrong (close to goat)
Duran (animal)
Charles (best 175'er in my estimation and a good hw)
Langford (a bear)
Pep (maybe the best little guy ever)
Ali (greatest)
Greb (windmilling tunney beater)
Leonard (benny that is)
Whitaker (modern marvel)

[oldgringo]

i havent really studied gans enough to put him in anywhere

[K-DOGG]

Best "Pure Boxers"...? Okay, off the cuff...

1. "Sugar" Ray Robinson
2. Willie Pep
3. Joe Gans
4. Benny Leonard
5. Pernell Whitaker
6. Carlos Zarate
7. Eder Jofre
8. Charley Burley
9. Ezzard Charles
10. Alexis Arguello


Like I said, that's off the cuff, so hold up on the crucifictions.

[QueensburyRules]

Now, im sure my list may be different if i sat and thought about it for a while. But ill slap together a quick list that reflects my general thoughts.

Use whatever criteria you like except head to head (that just stupid).

1)Sugar Ray Robinson
2)Joe Gans
3)Muhammad Ali
4)Roberto Duran
5)Henry Armstrong
6)Joe Louis
7)Harry Greb
8)Sugar Ray Leonard (people will dislike this i know, duran, hagler, hearns - enough said)
9)George Foreman (closest thing to invincible boxing has ever seen IMO)
10)Archie Moore

- -15 yrs later a major overhaul needed.

Agreed, using head to head matchups is stupid unless the fighters share the same era, ie Timely Foreman/Ali rematch or Manny/Floyd in 2010 before Manny made the sissy forfeit his reservation for Mar13th at MGM. Not only was daddy scared of Manny, but Sissyboy feared he could not compete with Manny in competing PPVs, a pure emasculation of a top American fighter and his family without Manny needing to raise a pinky!

[chrisJS]

For what I factor in: skill/talent, how they were relevant to their era (I don’t do mythical h2h at all), the chances they took, wow factor wins and or accomplishments, consistency, longevity. I do penalize modern era fighters comparing to old time if they do not become undisputed or at least unify the majority of there division and have no real challenge left, I do also factor in activity or lack of it. Modern guys fight once or twice a year which helps their longevity (as does juicing), performances against larger fighters factors in also as does dominance of individual divisions. I’m far more impressed by a lengthy and active undisputed title reign than trinket collecting. Accomplishments relative to era too like an undefeated record these days means nothing since a bunch of guys are doing it.

My top 20 looks something like:-

1. Sugar Ray Robinson
2. Harry Greb
3. Sam Langford
4. Henry Armstrong
5. Ezzard Charles
6. Roberto Durán
7. Benny Leonard
8. Willie Pep
9. Eder Jofre
10. Micky Walker
11. Joe Gans
12. Archie Moore
13. Bob Fitzsimmons
14. Muhammad Ali
15. Joe Louis
16. Sugar Ray Leonard
17. Jimmy Wilde
18. Gene Tunney
19. Barney Ross
20. Tony Canzoneri

Honorable mentions: Jimmy McLarnin, Packey Macfarland, Terry McGovern, Charley Burley, Sandy Saddler, Ike Williams, Pernell Whitaker, Jose Napoles, Carlos Monzon, George Dixon, Original Joe Walcott, Marvin Hagler, Holman Williams, Lloyd Marshall, Carlos Ortiz, Manny Pacquaio, Fighting Harada, Emile Griffith, Luis Rodriguez, Tommy Hearns, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Julio Cesar Chavez, Kid Gavilan, Alexis Arguello, Tiger Flowers

[joseph5620]

- -15 yrs later a major overhaul needed.

Agreed, using head to head matchups is stupid unless the fighters share the same era, ie Timely Foreman/Ali rematch or Manny/Floyd in 2010 before Manny made the sissy forfeit his reservation for Mar13th at MGM. Not only was daddy scared of Manny, but Sissyboy feared he could not compete with Manny in competing PPVs, a pure emasculation of a top American fighter and his family without Manny needing to raise a pinky!

15 years later shows me how much this section has deteriorated.

This was a serious thread about boxing history. Your response to it speaks for itself.