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This is my list of the top 10 greatest Canadian fighters of all time... All fighters have to be born in Canada... Even though Lennox Lewis represented Canada in the Olympics he was not born in Canada. And, that is why he was off the list...
10. Larry Gains 114-23-5 (60)
Gains was a very good heavyweight in a period of good heavyweights but never received a shot at the World Heavyweight title. He was a fighter who truly got better over the years. Gains defeated such men as Max Schmeling, Primo Carnera, George Godfrey, Phil Scott, Jack Renault, Horace "Soldier" Jones, Jack London, Reggie Meen, Joe Lohman, George Cook, Charley Belanger, Pierre Charles, Constant Barrick, Paul Journee, Erminio Spalla and Franz Diener
9. Arturo Gatti 40-9 (31)
He began boxing professionally on the night of June 10, 1991, with a third round knockout of Jose Gonzalez. On December 15, 1995, Gatti became world super featherweight champion winning a decision over Tracy Patterson. 2yrs later came a successful defense against former world champion Gabriel Ruelas which was name 1997 "fight of the year" by Ring Magazine. Gatti relinquished the world title, going up in weight to the lightweight division. However, 1998 was a bad year for Gatti, as he lost all three of his fights that year. He lost by a technical knockout in round eight to Angel Manfredy, and then lost a pair of close decisions in 10 rounds to Ivan Robinson. Gatti-Robinson I was chosen "fight of the year" by Ring Magazine, thus marking the second year in a row that a Gatti fight was given that award. Gatti's first fight of 2000 proved to be controversial. Faced with former world champion Joey Gamache, Gatti won by a knockout in round two. A subsequent lawsuit by Gamache's handlers claimed Gatti had gained 19 pounds since the weigh-in the day before and thus had a large advantage over Gamache. In the wake of the fight, boxing regulators pushed for a new law limiting the amount of weight a competitor can gain between the weigh-in and time of the fight. in 2002 Arturo Gatti fought Mickey Ward in what was the start of a legendary trilogy. Gatti-Ward I also garnered "fight of the year" honors by Ring Magazine. In 2004 scored a tenth round knock-down and defeated Gianluca Branco of Italy by a 12 round unanimous decision to win the vacant WBC junior welterweight title. He defended twice before loosing in dominant fashion to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Gatti would go on to lose his last two fights by knockout before retiring.
8. George Chuvalo 73-18-2 (64)
He was never knocked down in ninety-three professional fights between 1956 and 1979. He was Canadian heavyweight champion as both an amateur and a professional, and twice fought for versions of the professional world's heavyweight title. He knocked out four opponents in one night to win a heavyweight tournament held by former world's champion Jack Dempsey at Maple Leaf Gardens.
7. "Mysterious" Billy Smith 30-24-26 (22)
Standing 5' 8 ½”, Smith was a talented two-fisted battler with quick hands who entered the ring ready to wage war. He often displayed a blatant disregard for the rules, resorting to a variety of foul tactics including but not limited to elbows, butts, knees and sometimes even biting. His tactics earned him the label as “The Dirtiest Fighter Who Ever Lived.” Smith won the world welterweight title in 1892 from Danny Needham and lost it to seven-time rival Tommy Ryan two years later. He regained the title in 1898 from Matty Matthews and reigned for two years before dropping the title back to Matthews in 1900. Smith defeated such men as Joe Walcott, George "Kid" Lavigne, Al Neil, "Young" Peter Jackson, William "Matty" Matthews, Young Corbett (George Green), Charles McKeever, Jim Judge, Billy "Shadow" Maber, Danny Needham, Charles Gleason, Tom Williams, Dido Plumb, Bill Husbands, Billy Armstrong, Mike Dempsey and Johnny Gorman
6. Jack Delaney 77-12-2 (43)
Delaney was a fine, clever boxer who possessed an exceptional jab and a stiff right hand punch; His career as a light heavyweight was outstanding but as a heavyweight was only mediocre due to his weight disadvantage; He won the Light Heavyweight Championship of the World during his career. Delaney defeated such men as Tommy Loughran, Maxie Rosenbloom, Paul Berlenbach, Mike McTigue, Theodore "Tiger" Flowers, George Robinson, Johnny Risko, Paolino Uzcudun and Tony "Young" Marullo. Delaney was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996.
5. Lou Brouillard 109-29-3 (67)
With broad shoulders and an awkward southpaw stance, he turned pro in 1928 and began a steady march to the world welterweight title. With a devastating left, he used a solid body attack to rack up early victories. Wins over Baby Joe Gans, Paul Pirrone and Young Jack Thompson set him up for a welterweight title go. On October 23, 1931, he defeated Thompson over 15 rounds to win the world title. He lost it the next year to Jackie Fields. After losing the title, he defeated “Babyface” Jimmy McLarnin over 10 rounds. He then went on to win the middleweight champion. Lou defeated such men as Mickey Walker, Bob Olin, Al Gainer, Ben Jeby, Young Corbett III, Norman Conrad, Al McCoy, Ad Zachow, Adolph Heuser, Johnny Indrisano, Henry Firpo, Gustave Roth, Sammy "Kid" Slaughter, Bucky Lawless, Tait Littman, Johnny Rossi, Al Mello and George "Wop" Manolian. Brouillard was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.
4. Tommy Burns 43-5-9 (34)
Burns was a short, squat battler who was quick and bouncy and carried a stinging, sharp punch - especially his right hand blow; Tommy was an early-day Rocky Marciano. Standing only at 5'7 and weighing under 180lbs he won the heavyweight championship by beating the favorite Marvin Hart. Burns went on and defended the heavyweight title 11 times. Burns became the first fighter to agree to a heavyweight championship bout with a black boxer, Jack Johnson, to whom he lost his title in a match held in Sydney. Burns was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996
3. George Dixon 65-30-53 (34)
George Dixon was the first black fighter to win a world title and was one of boxing’s all time greats. Fighting at a time when a black fighter had to be great to be even considered for a title shot he was hailed as the best fighter of his time. Dixon was bantamweight and featherweight champion for 10 years and won over 20 title fights. Dixon’s record is very incomplete and he may have competed in as many as 800 boxing matches, the most of any athlete in history. He defeated or drew with such ring legends as Nunc Wallace, Johnny Murphy, Young Griffo, Solly Smith, Pedlar Palmer, Dal Hawkins, Frank Erne, Abe Attell, and Jim Driscoll. A classic boxer-puncher Dixon invented the “black school” of fighting that Jack Johnson, Joe Gans and Joe Walcott belonged.
2. Jimmy McClarnin 54-11-3 (21)
Won welterweight championship in 1933 with first-round knockout… Then engaged in spectacular three-fight series with Barney Ross, winning one and losing two… Held victories over 13 world champions… Was the first fighter to be referred to by sportswriters as best "pound-for-pound" fighter in the world.
1. Sam Langford 202-47-50 (127)
Almost certainly the greatest fighter never to win, or even fight for, a world title… Fought all the way from lightweight to heavyweight, and continued to fight, and win, even after becoming almost completely blind in one eye and partially blind in another… Problem was that he was just too good. That, and the fact that heavyweight career overlapped with that of Jack Johnson, who refused to give him a title shot, and whose behavior outside the ropes made promoters leery about the prospect of another black heavyweight champion, combined to deny him the world title opportunity he deserved.
10. Larry Gains 114-23-5 (60)
Gains was a very good heavyweight in a period of good heavyweights but never received a shot at the World Heavyweight title. He was a fighter who truly got better over the years. Gains defeated such men as Max Schmeling, Primo Carnera, George Godfrey, Phil Scott, Jack Renault, Horace "Soldier" Jones, Jack London, Reggie Meen, Joe Lohman, George Cook, Charley Belanger, Pierre Charles, Constant Barrick, Paul Journee, Erminio Spalla and Franz Diener
9. Arturo Gatti 40-9 (31)
He began boxing professionally on the night of June 10, 1991, with a third round knockout of Jose Gonzalez. On December 15, 1995, Gatti became world super featherweight champion winning a decision over Tracy Patterson. 2yrs later came a successful defense against former world champion Gabriel Ruelas which was name 1997 "fight of the year" by Ring Magazine. Gatti relinquished the world title, going up in weight to the lightweight division. However, 1998 was a bad year for Gatti, as he lost all three of his fights that year. He lost by a technical knockout in round eight to Angel Manfredy, and then lost a pair of close decisions in 10 rounds to Ivan Robinson. Gatti-Robinson I was chosen "fight of the year" by Ring Magazine, thus marking the second year in a row that a Gatti fight was given that award. Gatti's first fight of 2000 proved to be controversial. Faced with former world champion Joey Gamache, Gatti won by a knockout in round two. A subsequent lawsuit by Gamache's handlers claimed Gatti had gained 19 pounds since the weigh-in the day before and thus had a large advantage over Gamache. In the wake of the fight, boxing regulators pushed for a new law limiting the amount of weight a competitor can gain between the weigh-in and time of the fight. in 2002 Arturo Gatti fought Mickey Ward in what was the start of a legendary trilogy. Gatti-Ward I also garnered "fight of the year" honors by Ring Magazine. In 2004 scored a tenth round knock-down and defeated Gianluca Branco of Italy by a 12 round unanimous decision to win the vacant WBC junior welterweight title. He defended twice before loosing in dominant fashion to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Gatti would go on to lose his last two fights by knockout before retiring.
8. George Chuvalo 73-18-2 (64)
He was never knocked down in ninety-three professional fights between 1956 and 1979. He was Canadian heavyweight champion as both an amateur and a professional, and twice fought for versions of the professional world's heavyweight title. He knocked out four opponents in one night to win a heavyweight tournament held by former world's champion Jack Dempsey at Maple Leaf Gardens.
7. "Mysterious" Billy Smith 30-24-26 (22)
Standing 5' 8 ½”, Smith was a talented two-fisted battler with quick hands who entered the ring ready to wage war. He often displayed a blatant disregard for the rules, resorting to a variety of foul tactics including but not limited to elbows, butts, knees and sometimes even biting. His tactics earned him the label as “The Dirtiest Fighter Who Ever Lived.” Smith won the world welterweight title in 1892 from Danny Needham and lost it to seven-time rival Tommy Ryan two years later. He regained the title in 1898 from Matty Matthews and reigned for two years before dropping the title back to Matthews in 1900. Smith defeated such men as Joe Walcott, George "Kid" Lavigne, Al Neil, "Young" Peter Jackson, William "Matty" Matthews, Young Corbett (George Green), Charles McKeever, Jim Judge, Billy "Shadow" Maber, Danny Needham, Charles Gleason, Tom Williams, Dido Plumb, Bill Husbands, Billy Armstrong, Mike Dempsey and Johnny Gorman
6. Jack Delaney 77-12-2 (43)
Delaney was a fine, clever boxer who possessed an exceptional jab and a stiff right hand punch; His career as a light heavyweight was outstanding but as a heavyweight was only mediocre due to his weight disadvantage; He won the Light Heavyweight Championship of the World during his career. Delaney defeated such men as Tommy Loughran, Maxie Rosenbloom, Paul Berlenbach, Mike McTigue, Theodore "Tiger" Flowers, George Robinson, Johnny Risko, Paolino Uzcudun and Tony "Young" Marullo. Delaney was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996.
5. Lou Brouillard 109-29-3 (67)
With broad shoulders and an awkward southpaw stance, he turned pro in 1928 and began a steady march to the world welterweight title. With a devastating left, he used a solid body attack to rack up early victories. Wins over Baby Joe Gans, Paul Pirrone and Young Jack Thompson set him up for a welterweight title go. On October 23, 1931, he defeated Thompson over 15 rounds to win the world title. He lost it the next year to Jackie Fields. After losing the title, he defeated “Babyface” Jimmy McLarnin over 10 rounds. He then went on to win the middleweight champion. Lou defeated such men as Mickey Walker, Bob Olin, Al Gainer, Ben Jeby, Young Corbett III, Norman Conrad, Al McCoy, Ad Zachow, Adolph Heuser, Johnny Indrisano, Henry Firpo, Gustave Roth, Sammy "Kid" Slaughter, Bucky Lawless, Tait Littman, Johnny Rossi, Al Mello and George "Wop" Manolian. Brouillard was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.
4. Tommy Burns 43-5-9 (34)
Burns was a short, squat battler who was quick and bouncy and carried a stinging, sharp punch - especially his right hand blow; Tommy was an early-day Rocky Marciano. Standing only at 5'7 and weighing under 180lbs he won the heavyweight championship by beating the favorite Marvin Hart. Burns went on and defended the heavyweight title 11 times. Burns became the first fighter to agree to a heavyweight championship bout with a black boxer, Jack Johnson, to whom he lost his title in a match held in Sydney. Burns was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996
3. George Dixon 65-30-53 (34)
George Dixon was the first black fighter to win a world title and was one of boxing’s all time greats. Fighting at a time when a black fighter had to be great to be even considered for a title shot he was hailed as the best fighter of his time. Dixon was bantamweight and featherweight champion for 10 years and won over 20 title fights. Dixon’s record is very incomplete and he may have competed in as many as 800 boxing matches, the most of any athlete in history. He defeated or drew with such ring legends as Nunc Wallace, Johnny Murphy, Young Griffo, Solly Smith, Pedlar Palmer, Dal Hawkins, Frank Erne, Abe Attell, and Jim Driscoll. A classic boxer-puncher Dixon invented the “black school” of fighting that Jack Johnson, Joe Gans and Joe Walcott belonged.
2. Jimmy McClarnin 54-11-3 (21)
Won welterweight championship in 1933 with first-round knockout… Then engaged in spectacular three-fight series with Barney Ross, winning one and losing two… Held victories over 13 world champions… Was the first fighter to be referred to by sportswriters as best "pound-for-pound" fighter in the world.
1. Sam Langford 202-47-50 (127)
Almost certainly the greatest fighter never to win, or even fight for, a world title… Fought all the way from lightweight to heavyweight, and continued to fight, and win, even after becoming almost completely blind in one eye and partially blind in another… Problem was that he was just too good. That, and the fact that heavyweight career overlapped with that of Jack Johnson, who refused to give him a title shot, and whose behavior outside the ropes made promoters leery about the prospect of another black heavyweight champion, combined to deny him the world title opportunity he deserved.
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