There is ONLY 2 BOXERS that TRANSCENDED the SPORT!! ALI and TYSON!!!!

[glidesmack]

johnson wasn't the first black champ but I don't know about the one before him, dempsey created big boxing in american and his popularity was close to tyson's though mass media wasn't the same yet, louis supposedly single handedly ended segregation. Ali is like the second most famous person in the world and tyson was probably the most "exciting" fighter as well as personality in boxing of all time.

As far as actual popularity based on their boxing style goes, tyson and dempsey are at the top. People were simply more inclined to watch those two guys fight people than they were to watch anyone else. A successful boxer who combines aggression and power will always draw the biggest crowd, in my estimation.

As far as legends in the sport go, my long list is Tyson, Dempsey, Robinson and Louis, my short list is Tyson and Dempsey.

[Peek-A-Boo]

Well i got no clue on WHO bave ruth is.

This is the second time i herd his name. First was from a episode of seinfeld!!!

But yea "babe ruth" may have been popular IN AMERICA but rest of the world most people would have NO CLUE!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gojira]

p.s. Rocky Balboa was not based on Rocky Marciano. It was based on the Ali-Wepner fight.

rocky himself is based on marciano but the film is based on the fight.

[strugler]

I agree.......................some may be greater......but their charisma/notoriety just took the world by storm

[Chr0nic]

rocky himself is based on marciano but the film is based on the fight.

and here i thought it was based on micky ward

[Slimey Limey]

Jack Johnson transcended the sport in his day, but unless you follow boxing, then you wouldn't know it anymore. Old timers will tell you. Also, Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey were huge celebrities in their day. Dempsey was probably the best example of an athlete that transcended his sport until Ali. In the 20's Dempsey and Babe Ruth were the two biggest names in america. And I'm sure everybody knows the name Babe Ruth.

p.s. Rocky Balboa was not based on Rocky Marciano. It was based on the Ali-Wepner fight.

Actually you morons, Rocky the name, the fighting style from Marciano, and Marciano has several mentions in the movies. So it took Marciano to inspire a huge actor to transcend our sport even more.

[kmcc505]

Ray Leonard?
Evander Holyfied?

[Slimey Limey]

Ray Leonard?
Evander Holyfied?

Holyfield yes because I always hear some ****** **** say "yoooz dat beez the real deal holyfield!".

[Ryn0]

loool people im talking about boxers that the general public have herd of.

louis, dempsey, marciano, majority of general public would have no clue who they are.

ONLY ali and tyson are knows TO LIKE THE WHOLE WORLD!!!!!

LOL at you not knowing your history. Joe Louis, Dempsey especially trancended the sport at their respective times.

Dempsey genereated the first million dollar gate thats HUGE, if you take in inflation, Joe Louis was an accepted black man in white america. Roy Robinson filled MSG just to announce his retirement.....

ODLH an Leonard also deserve a mention.

[hammerhiem]

Just about everyone in the UK knows who Ricky Hatton is, same with Henry Cooper and Frank Bruno.

Joe Calzaghe won the Sports personality of the year, beating out David Beckham, Lewis Hamilton etc.