Top 10 Per Decade

[soul_survivor]

Now, post Mayweather-Pacquiao, the inevitable "who is the best fighter of his generation?" discussion has popped up yet again. It's a discussion I've found myself dragged into several times before but thinking back on these two fighters and men like Hopkins, Wladimir Klitschko, Oscar De La Hoya and so on, it's impossible not to notice one similarity: they all fought across multiple generations, so what exactly is meant by "their generation" or "this generation". How long does one assume is a generation?

In my opinion, a proper gauge of the best fighters we get to witness, is who was most dominant across a set span of time, a year, 2...or better, 10. So I decided to put together a list of the top 10 best fighters, per decade, from the 1950s on wards. If you wish, you can start earlier or later, it's up to you but have some sort of a criteria in mind. Mine is the: 5 Steps to Greatness-

1. Accomplishments (championships won, title reigns, length of reign(s))

2. Level of opposition faced (wins and losses will be taken into account and the quality of that opposition, number of HOFers or champions, former champions and top, universally recognised contenders)

3. Skill level (looking at the boxers ring IQ, defensive and offensive ability as well as his footwork, speed and punch variety/combinations)

4. Appeal (what was the fan support for the fighter like, cross over/pop culture importance, importance to the sport in terms of popularity, revenue and consensus agreement as one of the best if not the best)

5. Consistency throughout the decade

So, these are the criteria I'll be using and you can use them too.

The 1950s...

1. Sugar Ray Robinson (MW/LHW) USA
2. Kid Gavilan (WW) Cuba
3. Archie Moore (LHW/HW) USA
4. Sandy Saddler (FW/SFW) USA
5. Rocky Marciano (HW) USA
6. Gene Fullmer (MW) USA
7. Floyd Patterson (HW) USA
8. Ezzard Charles (HW/LHW) USA
9. Pascual Perez (FlyW) Argentina
10. Sonny Liston (HW) USA

The 1960s...

1. Muhammad Ali (HW) USA
2. Emile Griffith (WW/LMW/MW) USA
3. Carlos Ortiz (LW/LWW) Puerto Rico
4. Eder Jofre (BW/FW) Brazil
5. Nino Benvenuti (LMW/MW) Italy
6. **** Tiger (MW/LHW) Nigeria
7. Fighting Harada (FlyW/BW) Japan
8. Jose Torres (LHW) Puerto Rico
9. Flash Elorde (LWW) Philippines
10. Vicente Saldivar (FW) Mexico

The 1970s...

1. Muhammad Ali (HW) USA
2. Roberto Duran (LW) Panama
3. Carlos Monzon (MW) Argentina
4. George Foreman (HW) USA
5. Joe Frazier (HW) USA
6. Jose Napoles (WW/MW) Cuba
7. Bob Foster (LHW/HW) USA
8. Alexis Arguello (FW/SFW) Nicaragua
9. Wilfredo Gomez (SBW/FW/SFW) Puerto Rico
10. Miguel Canto (FlyW) Mexico

The 1980s...

1. Sugar Ray Leonard (WW/LMW/MW/SMW) USA
2. Marvin Hagler (MW) USA
3. Tommy Hearns (WW/LMW/SMW) USA
4. Julio Cesar Chavez Sr (SFW/LW/LWW) Mexico
5. Larry Holmes (HW) USA
6. Roberto Duran (WW/MW) Panama
7. Mike Tyson (HW) USA
8. Evander Holyfield (CW) USA
9. Michael Spinks (LHW/HW) USA
10. Aaron Pryor (LWW) USA

The 1990s...

1. Evander Holyfield (HW) USA
2. Roy Jones Jr. (MW/SMW/LHW) USA
3. Pernell Whitaker (LW/LWW/WW) USA
4. Oscar De La Hoya (SFW/LW/LWW/WW) USA
5. Felix Trinidad (WW) Puerto Rico
6. James Toney (MW/SMW/CW) USA
7. Lennox Lewis (HW) GB
8. Mike Tyson (HW) USA
9. Bernard Hopkins (MW) USA
10. Prince Naseem Hamed (FW) GB

The 2000s...

1. Manny Pacquiao (SBW/FW/SFW/LW/LWW/WW) Philipines
2. Bernard Hopkins (MW/LHW) USA
3. Floyd Mayweather (SFW/LW/LWW/WW/LMW) USA
4. Marco Antonio Barrera (FW/SFW) Mexico
5. Erik Morales (FW/SFW/LW) Mexico
6. Wladimir Klitschko (HW) Ukraine
7. Joe Calzaghe (SMW/LHW) GB
8. Oscar De La Hoya (WW/LMW/MW) USA
9. Sergio Martinez (MW) Argentina
10. Juan Manuel Marquez (FW/SFW/LW) Mexico

(P.S. Don't turn this into a Pac/May thing, we're beyond that now)

[Scipio2009]

Now, post Mayweather-Pacquiao, the inevitable "who is the best fighter of his generation?" discussion has popped up yet again. It's a discussion I've found myself dragged into several times before but thinking back on these two fighters and men like Hopkins, Wladimir Klitschko, Oscar De La Hoya and so on, it's impossible not to notice one similarity: they all fought across multiple generations, so what exactly is meant by "their generation" or "this generation". How long does one assume is a generation?

In my opinion, a proper gauge of the best fighters we get to witness, is who was most dominant across a set span of time, a year, 2...or better, 10. So I decided to put together a list of the top 10 best fighters, per decade, from the 1950s on wards. If you wish, you can start earlier or later, it's up to you but have some sort of a criteria in mind. Mine is the: 5 Steps to Greatness-

1. Accomplishments (championships won, title reigns, length of reign(s))

2. Level of opposition faced (wins and losses will be taken into account and the quality of that opposition, number of HOFers or champions, former champions and top, universally recognised contenders)

3. Skill level (looking at the boxers ring IQ, defensive and offensive ability as well as his footwork, speed and punch variety/combinations)

4. Appeal (what was the fan support for the fighter like, cross over/pop culture importance, importance to the sport in terms of popularity, revenue and consensus agreement as one of the best if not the best)

5. Consistency throughout the decade

So, these are the criteria I'll be using and you can use them too.

The 1950s...

1. Sugar Ray Robinson (MW/LHW) USA
2. Kid Gavilan (WW) Cuba
3. Archie Moore (LHW/HW) USA
4. Sandy Saddler (FW/SFW) USA
5. Rocky Marciano (HW) USA
6. Gene Fullmer (MW) USA
7. Floyd Patterson (HW) USA
8. Ezzard Charles (HW/LHW) USA
9. Pascual Perez (FlyW) Argentina
10. Sonny Liston (HW) USA

The 1960s...

1. Muhammad Ali (HW) USA
2. Emile Griffith (WW/LMW/MW) USA
3. Carlos Ortiz (LW/LWW) Puerto Rico
4. Eder Jofre (BW/FW) Brazil
5. Nino Benvenuti (LMW/MW) Italy
6. **** Tiger (MW/LHW) Nigeria
7. Fighting Harada (FlyW/BW) Japan
8. Jose Torres (LHW) Puerto Rico
9. Flash Elorde (LWW) Philippines
10. Vicente Saldivar (FW) Mexico

The 1970s...

1. Muhammad Ali (HW) USA
2. Roberto Duran (LW) Panama
3. Carlos Monzon (MW) Argentina
4. George Foreman (HW) USA
5. Joe Frazier (HW) USA
6. Jose Napoles (WW/MW) Cuba
7. Bob Foster (LHW/HW) USA
8. Alexis Arguello (FW/SFW) Nicaragua
9. Wilfredo Gomez (SBW/FW/SFW) Puerto Rico
10. Miguel Canto (FlyW) Mexico

The 1980s...

1. Sugar Ray Leonard (WW/LMW/MW/SMW) USA
2. Marvin Hagler (MW) USA
3. Tommy Hearns (WW/LMW/SMW) USA
4. Julio Cesar Chavez Sr (SFW/LW/LWW) Mexico
5. Larry Holmes (HW) USA
6. Roberto Duran (WW/MW) Panama
7. Mike Tyson (HW) USA
8. Evander Holyfield (CW) USA
9. Michael Spinks (LHW/HW) USA
10. Aaron Pryor (LWW) USA

The 1990s...

1. Evander Holyfield (HW) USA
2. Roy Jones Jr. (MW/SMW/LHW) USA
3. Pernell Whitaker (LW/LWW/WW) USA
4. Oscar De La Hoya (SFW/LW/LWW/WW) USA
5. Felix Trinidad (WW) Puerto Rico
6. James Toney (MW/SMW/CW) USA
7. Lennox Lewis (HW) GB
8. Mike Tyson (HW) USA
9. Bernard Hopkins (MW) USA
10. Prince Naseem Hamed (FW) GB

The 2000s...

1. Manny Pacquiao (SBW/FW/SFW/LW/LWW/WW) Philipines
2. Bernard Hopkins (MW/LHW) USA
3. Floyd Mayweather (SFW/LW/LWW/WW/LMW) USA
4. Marco Antonio Barrera (FW/SFW) Mexico
5. Erik Morales (FW/SFW/LW) Mexico
6. Wladimir Klitschko (HW) Ukraine
7. Joe Calzaghe (SMW/LHW) GB
8. Oscar De La Hoya (WW/LMW/MW) USA
9. Sergio Martinez (MW) Argentina
10. Juan Manuel Marquez (FW/SFW/LW) Mexico

(P.S. Don't turn this into a Pac/May thing, we're beyond that now)

Before you put up the P.S. disclaimer, I'd suggest that you add a little blurb about the accomplishments during the decade, to give some idea to your reasoning

[1/1/00-12/31/10 dovetails pretty clearly with Floyd's career defining run (Corralles, the two Castillo wins, destruction of Gatti, unifying all the belts at 147, beating Oscar, knocking out Hatton, utterly embarrassing Marquez after eighteen months off) and Pacquiao closed out the decade with two **** fights, if we're honest, while also dropping a fight to Morales (while also having three life/death fights with Marquez)]

personally, i think that Mayweather and Hopkins both clearly had the best 2000s of anyone, with Calzaghe/Klitschko/Pacquiao all around the same level under that.

oh well

note: made a typo in my time window. A decade is actually 1/1/00 through 12/31/09, just outside of Pacquiao two **** fights in early 2010 and Pacquiao getting stopped in late 1999. cong****, folks

[Showtime..]

Before you put up the P.S. disclaimer, I'd suggest that you add a little blurb about the accomplishments during the decade, to give some idea to your reasoning

[1/1/00-12/31/10 dovetails pretty clearly with Floyd's career defining run (Corralles, the two Castillo wins, destruction of Gatti, unifying all the belts at 147, beating Oscar, knocking out Hatton, utterly embarrassing Marquez after eighteen months off) and Pacquiao closed out the decade with two **** fights, if we're honest, while also dropping a fight to Morales (while also having three life/death fights with Marquez)]

personally, i think that Mayweather and Hopkins both clearly had the best 2000s of anyone, with Calzaghe/Klitschko/Pacquiao all around the same level under that.

oh well

This is why we hate you people. Leave and never come back to this thread.

[StefanTosic]

This is why we hate you people. Leave and never come back to this thread.

Exactly!!!

[Bigg Rigg]

Why u got Tito behind Oscar??? De La Hoya literally RAN like a little b1tch after he got up on the score cards in the last fight of the century. Lol **** outta here bruh!!

[Left Hook Tua]

Before you put up the P.S. disclaimer, I'd suggest that you add a little blurb about the accomplishments during the decade, to give some idea to your reasoning

[1/1/00-12/31/10 dovetails pretty clearly with Floyd's career defining run (Corralles, the two Castillo wins, destruction of Gatti, unifying all the belts at 147, beating Oscar, knocking out Hatton, utterly embarrassing Marquez after eighteen months off) and Pacquiao closed out the decade with two **** fights, if we're honest, while also dropping a fight to Morales (while also having three life/death fights with Marquez)]

personally, i think that Mayweather and Hopkins both clearly had the best 2000s of anyone, with Calzaghe/Klitschko/Pacquiao all around the same level under that.

oh well

another dumbo who thinks decade is 2000-2010?

two crap fights? 2009 hatton and cotto?

or 2010 clottey and marg?

even clottey and marg were good opponents. especially with how tough, big, strong they are.

[El-blanco]

Before you put up the P.S. disclaimer, I'd suggest that you add a little blurb about the accomplishments during the decade, to give some idea to your reasoning

[1/1/00-12/31/10 dovetails pretty clearly with Floyd's career defining run (Corralles, the two Castillo wins, destruction of Gatti, unifying all the belts at 147, beating Oscar, knocking out Hatton, utterly embarrassing Marquez after eighteen months off) and Pacquiao closed out the decade with two **** fights, if we're honest, while also dropping a fight to Morales (while also having three life/death fights with Marquez)]

personally, i think that Mayweather and Hopkins both clearly had the best 2000s of anyone, with Calzaghe/Klitschko/Pacquiao all around the same level under that.

oh well

Holy ****, are these guys this ******?

[IronDanHamza]

Sonny Liston Top 10 for the 1950's?

No chance.

[soul_survivor]

Why u got Tito behind Oscar??? De La Hoya literally RAN like a little b1tch after he got up on the score cards in the last fight of the century. Lol **** outta here bruh!!

De La Hoya had more championships and better names on his resume come the end of the decade. Say what you want but DLH clearly won some 8 rounds in his fight with Tito, he may have coasted but that doesn't mean you deduct previous points or rounds. Let's be real here. Use the criteria I've posted, noway does Tito come out on top. And I'm a fan of both guys.

Sonny Liston Top 10 for the 1950's?

No chance.

During the late 50s he essentially cleared out the division, by knocking guys into the middle of next week. Patterson and Cus were **** scared of putting on a defence against Liston, otherwise Liston woulda been champ earlier.

But there are a handful of guys who could be listed in that 10th position, it's very close but I had to go with the destructive puncher who was already being regarded as the most feared fighter in the game.

[IronDanHamza]

De La Hoya had more championships and better names on his resume come the end of the decade. Say what you want but DLH clearly won some 8 rounds in his fight with Tito, he may have coasted but that doesn't mean you deduct previous points or rounds. Let's be real here. Use the criteria I've posted, noway does Tito come out on top. And I'm a fan of both guys.



During the late 50s he essentially cleared out the division, by knocking guys into the middle of next week. Patterson and Cus were **** scared of putting on a defence against Liston, otherwise Liston woulda been champ earlier.

But there are a handful of guys who could be listed in that 10th position, it's very close but I had to go with the destructive puncher who was already being regarded as the most feared fighter in the game.

What's his best win in the 50's? Valdez or Williams.

There ain't no way he's Top 10.

How could he possibly be in there instead of Harold Johnson?