The Best 1980-2015

[soul_survivor]

No. 3 Evander Holyfield


The cruiserweight king who would beat the devil out of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield was certainly the "Real Deal". He became only the 3rd man to regain THE heavyweight crown and would consistently better bigger, heavier, taller opponents. How did he manage to survive in the heavyweight division while not naturally being a heavyweight? I think most would agree that it was a combination of bullish determination and a heart as big as any in this sport.

There was something else too, an underrated understanding of the sport. Holyfield knew when to throw combinations, how to push opponents back and when to stay away. His killer instinct often got him involved in a scrap, even when he had the superior boxing skill. It all made him even more popular and the second most iconic heavyweight of the 90s.

As time wore on, Holyfield started to rely more heavily on his heart to get him through fights. Eventually it would give way but as all great fighters do, he came back, again and again and again. That's the Holyfield story. You could back him up but you couldn't make him quit.

[soul_survivor]

No. 2 Julio Cesar Chavez Sr

107(86)-6(4)-2

There is a reason this man is known as "El Gran Campeon Mexicano", with 87 straight wins, with 37 world title fights, 31 wins, 18 of which came against current/former/future title holders and a claim to being the best fighter, of his era, across 3 different weight divisions. Chavez Sr is an upper tier great but it's not just the sheer scale of his numbers that make him great.

The Mexican was a highly skilled operator with underrated defensive skills and an engine that kept on going. He could take a punch and he would, if only to land his own. And boy could he land a punch. He knew how to pick his shots too, edging his way in, watching the opponents feet, waiting for a mistake and then ****! It would be lights out. Just ask Meldrick Taylor on his most heart breaking night.

Chavez was also the epitome of longevity, up there alongside the likes of Hopkins and Moore for the ability to fight at a high level for almost two decades. His entire career would span three decades and two millennia. It is remarkable, that in the modern age, there was a fighter with over a hundred professional bouts.

El Gran Campeon indeed.

[soul_survivor]

So, this is it, the journey comes to an end:

No. 1 "Sugar" Ray Leonard

36(25)-3(1)-1

Sugar Ray Leonard, the only man since the original Sugar to live up to that moniker, did in 40 professional bouts what other greats accomplished in 50 or 60: he became a legend. In just 36 wins, he managed to hold 7 world titles across 5 weight divisions. On top of all that, he is regarded by many as the consensus fighter of the 1980s and the greatest of the "Fab Four". These achievements however are only the tip of the iceberg.

What truly makes Leonard great, indeed the greatest since a certain Muhammad Ali, is not just the numbers and titles but the way in which he won. He was a highly skilled fighter who was also entertaining, carrying power in both his hands and a deadly killer instinct. Lenard was a street fighter. He went to war when he had to and he almost always came out on top.

Much like his idol, Leonard wanted to entertain but when he had to, he could be the most cerebral of opponents. He out thought and then out gritted the great Roberto Duran. He got into the Panamanians head to such an extent, that the all machismo warrior had to quit..."No Mas" has become one of boxing's most famous moments. That was not all.

In the twilight of his career, returning from injury and a long lay off, he would thoroughly out box and out outmaneuver middleweight king Marvin Hagler. He allowed Hagler the upper hand in negotiations but not inside the ring. Leonard would prove to be too quick, too elusive and too smart. Hagler was no dummy but Leonard had ascended to a level of boxing IQ where only Robinson and Ali reside.

[therealpugilist]

So, this is it, the journey comes to an end:

No. 1 "Sugar" Ray Leonard

36(25)-3(1)-1

Sugar Ray Leonard, the only man since the original Sugar to live up to that moniker, did in 40 professional bouts what other greats accomplished in 50 or 60: he became a legend. In just 36 wins, he managed to hold 7 world titles across 5 weight divisions. On top of all that, he is regarded by many as the consensus fighter of the 1980s and the greatest of the "Fab Four". These achievements however are only the tip of the iceberg.

What truly makes Leonard great, indeed the greatest since a certain Muhammad Ali, is not just the numbers and titles but the way in which he won. He was a highly skilled fighter who was also entertaining, carrying power in both his hands and a deadly killer instinct. Lenard was a street fighter. He went to war when he had to and he almost always came out on top.

Much like his idol, Leonard wanted to entertain but when he had to, he could be the most cerebral of opponents. He out thought and then out gritted the great Roberto Duran. He got into the Panamanians head to such an extent, that the all machismo warrior had to quit..."No Mas" has become one of boxing's most famous moments. That was not all.

In the twilight of his career, returning from injury and a long lay off, he would thoroughly out box and out outmaneuver middleweight king Marvin Hagler. He allowed Hagler the upper hand in negotiations but not inside the ring. Leonard would prove to be too quick, too elusive and too smart. Hagler was no dummy but Leonard had ascended to a level of boxing IQ where only Robinson and Ali reside.

I could see leonard being number one, especially top 5....Hearns is at a decent spot...definitely top ten


Julio Cesar Chavez though....a little too high....Pernell Whitaker should be above him.....he won more titles, should have an official win over JCC, and was just as dominant...only loss in his prime was a hometown decision

Chavez definitely shouldnt be over Pacquaio, Mayweather, Whitaker, and Roy Jones Jr.

3 of these guys were the consensus p4p # 1 for years and the other (Pacquaio) was #1 or 2 in most eyes with a better resume than Chavez


maybe you have a style preference or sentimental value inn chavez...great fighter just not # 2 imo

[soul_survivor]

I could see leonard being number one, especially top 5....Hearns is at a decent spot...definitely top ten


Julio Cesar Chavez though....a little too high....Pernell Whitaker should be above him.....he won more titles, should have an official win over JCC, and was just as dominant...only loss in his prime was a hometown decision

Chavez definitely shouldnt be over Pacquaio, Mayweather, Whitaker, and Roy Jones Jr.

3 of these guys were the consensus p4p # 1 for years and the other (Pacquaio) was #1 or 2 in most eyes with a better resume than Chavez


maybe you have a style preference or sentimental value inn chavez...great fighter just not # 2 imo

Chavez has more accomplishments, world title fights, world level wins and was the best fighter at super feather, lightweight and light welter, as opposed to Whitaker who has fewer world title fights and fewer wins over world level opponents. Although Whitaker matches up by being the top light weight and welterweight for a period of time. Factor in Chavezs longevity and he deservedly ranks higher.

For those same reasons, he also ranks higher than RJJ although Jones would get better points for his jump to heavy but Chavez beats him in the categories mentioned. Not to mention the longest unbeaten streak in boxing (in terms of time and number of fights).

The same arguments would be used against Chavez v Mayweather/Pacquiao, although the latter had a better style and a better resume but his longevity may be in question and both Pac and May failed to dominate any divisions. By dominate I mean win a title, defend it over an extended period and take on the relevant all comers.

There's an argument for Pac at 147 with wins over the relevant names and May coming second but Chavez did that in 3 divisions.

[therealpugilist]

Chavez has more accomplishments, world title fights, world level wins and was the best fighter at super feather, lightweight and light welter, as opposed to Whitaker who has fewer world title fights and fewer wins over world level opponents. Although Whitaker matches up by being the top light weight and welterweight for a period of time. Factor in Chavezs longevity and he deservedly ranks higher.

For those same reasons, he also ranks higher than RJJ although Jones would get better points for his jump to heavy but Chavez beats him in the categories mentioned. Not to mention the longest unbeaten streak in boxing (in terms of time and number of fights).

The same arguments would be used against Chavez v Mayweather/Pacquiao, although the latter had a better style and a better resume but his longevity may be in question and both Pac and May failed to dominate any divisions. By dominate I mean win a title, defend it over an extended period and take on the relevant all comers.

There's an argument for Pac at 147 with wins over the relevant names and May coming second but Chavez did that in 3 divisions.

Chavez fought a lot of no names, guys with losing records even debuts during his years as a top fighter

Mayweather in less than half as many fights fought more champions n hall of famers

I can't see Chavez being over Jones or money

Whitaker either...they all won titles in more divisions and for their number of fights fought a higher % of top fighters

PAC should be over Chavez too....he accomplished more n fought stiffer competition

[IMDAZED]

[Kagami Taiga]

Ummm...ok.

[BodiesInFlight]

Floyd fans... UNITE!

[therealpugilist]

Chavez has more accomplishments, world title fights, world level wins and was the best fighter at super feather, lightweight and light welter, as opposed to Whitaker who has fewer world title fights and fewer wins over world level opponents. Although Whitaker matches up by being the top light weight and welterweight for a period of time. Factor in Chavezs longevity and he deservedly ranks higher.

For those same reasons, he also ranks higher than RJJ although Jones would get better points for his jump to heavy but Chavez beats him in the categories mentioned. Not to mention the longest unbeaten streak in boxing (in terms of time and number of fights).

The same arguments would be used against Chavez v Mayweather/Pacquiao, although the latter had a better style and a better resume but his longevity may be in question and both Pac and May failed to dominate any divisions. By dominate I mean win a title, defend it over an extended period and take on the relevant all comers.

There's an argument for Pac at 147 with wins over the relevant names and May coming second but Chavez did that in 3 divisions.

longevity is nice but you have to take into account he didnt fight as high a % in correlation to the amount of fights as they did

Dude has like 2 times the fights they have

As far as dominance you are waaaaaaaaaay off base...Manny never dominated a division because he moved up so many times and at welterweight he was always # 2 behind mayweather

whereas Mayweather is top ten all time on everyone's list of greatest junior lightweights....jesus Chavez and C. Hernandez went on to win titles after they lost to him, he should have been ibf/wbc unified champion but Corrales belt was gone before they fought even though he never lost it in the ring.....Also Mayweather defended the lineal title 8 times....thats the definition of dominance and 4 of those defenses were to former or future champion

@ 147 how was he not dominant? The only non-title fights he had were vs Sharmba Mitchell and Marquez...you can count mosley if you want but he was stripped of the wba, was # 1 at the time and it was for the lineal title.....thats 8 out of 10....he is a two time lineal champion...all his opponents were former or future champions

6 of his opponents were top 5 welterweights as well

where are you getting your information from man?