Top 25 European fighters since 1990

[coghaugen]

It's tempting to put Rocky in the top-five, because at the end of the day he did beat Maske twice (clearly) and destroyed Michalczewski, only to be robbed of three victories. He beat Nunn and destroyed Hamsho!

But he was so non-dynamic with that always high guard and those always flat feet.

[Humean]

And isn't Russia located on the continent of Asia?

The majority of the Russian landmass is in Asia but the most populated parts are in Europe. It is a somewhat debatable question of whether Russia is a European or an Asian country but for the purposes of this they count as European. I could of considered any Russian fighter born east of the Ural mountains as Asian which would rule out Arbachakov and possibly Tszyu as well but I based the list on the view that if you are a Russian national then you are from Europe.

It's tempting to put Rocky in the top-five, because at the end of the day he did beat Maske twice (clearly) and destroyed Michalczewski, only to be robbed of three victories. He beat Nunn and destroyed Hamsho!

But he was so non-dynamic with that always high guard and those always flat feet.

Rochigianni was one of a handful that just missed out on my list. I don't think he clearly defeated Maske twice, nor did he destroy Michalczewski, he was slightly getting the better of in their first fight before he ended up ruining it with the illegal blow and was then stopped in their rematch.

[IronDanHamza]

1. Chris Eubank
2. Joe Calzaghe
3. Naseem Hamed
4. Lennox Lewis
5. Henry Maske
6. Nigel Benn
7. Ricky Hatton
8. Kostya Tszyu
9. Graciano Rocchigiani
10. Dariusz Michalczewski

On what basis and reasoning do you have Eubank as #1?

[Suckmedry]

The majority of the Russian landmass is in Asia but the most populated parts are in Europe. It is a somewhat debatable question of whether Russia is a European or an Asian country but for the purposes of this they count as European. I could of considered any Russian fighter born east of the Ural mountains as Asian which would rule out Arbachakov and possibly Tszyu as well but I based the list on the view that if you are a Russian national then you are from Europe.



Rochigianni was one of a handful that just missed out on my list. I don't think he clearly defeated Maske twice, nor did he destroy Michalczewski, he was slightly getting the better of in their first fight before he ended up ruining it with the illegal blow and was then stopped in their rematch.

just an interesting random fact, Tszyu is a 1/4 Korean descent also. So that and being born in Siberia really does make him an Asian fighter!

Although Australia tried to adopt him as their own lol!

[C.Y.]

I'm going to go further back with this in 25 year intervals but here is the first 25. This is the 25 from those who belong in this particular (1990-2015) era. I'm not too interested in arguing for or against minor differences in placing, but are any placings way off or are there any fighters I should have included/excluded?

1: Naseem Hamed
2: Joe Calzaghe
3: Lennox Lewis
4: Kostya Tszyu
5: Yuri Arbachakov
6: Dariusz Michalczewski
7: Wladimir Klitschko
8: Chris Eubank
9; Nigel Benn
10: Steve Collins
11: Vitali Klitschko
12: Carl Froch
13: Henry Maske
14: Mikkel Kessler
15: Vic Darchinyan
16: Ricky Hatton
17: Sven Ottke
18: Laurent Boudouani
19: Sergey Kovalev
20: Fabrice Tiozzo
21: David Haye
22: Arthur Abraham
23: Marco Huck
24: Mahyar Monshipour
25: Felix Sturm

Are these rankings based on skill set or accomplishments

[Humean]

just an interesting random fact, Tszyu is a 1/4 Korean descent also. So that and being born in Siberia really does make him an Asian fighter!

Although Australia tried to adopt him as their own lol!

I didn't want to turn this into some issue of race or ethnicity and that is really the main reason I just went with the idea that if you are a Russian national then you are European.

Are these rankings based on skill set or accomplishments

Both but with the balance more favouring how good a fighter was for a significant period of time rather than straight up accomplishments or 'resume'.

[SCtrojansbaby]

1.Chris Eubank
2.Lennox Lewis
3.Naseem Hamed
4.Wlad Klitschko
5.Sumbu Kalambay
6.Dariusz Michalczewski
7.Steve Collins
8.Carl Froch
9.Vitali Klitschko
10.Fabrice Tiozzo

[Suckmedry]

I didn't want to turn this into some issue of race or ethnicity and that is really the main reason I just went with the idea that if you are a Russian national then you are European.



Both but with the balance more favouring how good a fighter was for a significant period of time rather than straight up accomplishments or 'resume'.

of course! just my 2c!

[soul_survivor]

Now this list is more like it, I'd probs have Naz below Lewis and Calzaghe but being a top 3 is a lock. And just looking at that list, damn there are so many actual champions and not just alphabet titlists.

Although I can't see how Kovalev is placed in there above Haye, who went on to beat the biggest heavyweight champ, was unified champ at cruiser and exceptionally skilled and powerful. Now I'm not saying Kovalev is too far off but he still has some way to go.