The Best 1980-2015

[boxinghead530]

Cool list dude, but the big one that stood out and made me say WTF is having David Haye on your list. David Haye was good at a certain time in his career but his is not top 50 from 1980-2015.

Now I got to look at the rest of your list, but so far so good.

[hhs661]

Entertainment value is important because sport is meant to be entertainment. But I understand it may not be as important as other factors. In terms of title wins, of course that has to be important, even in today's world but it does not exist in a vacuum. I also have a category for quality of opposition faced, which links in to who they beat for those titles.

I get your definition of it. I just wouldn't put much into it. For me, I can't put one fighter over another if it came down to entertainment value. However, I do realize I'm nitpicking. Your list so far is solid. There are some great names that have came through this beautiful sport

[soul_survivor]

I get your definition of it. I just wouldn't put much into it. For me, I can't put one fighter over another if it came down to entertainment value. However, I do realize I'm nitpicking. Your list so far is solid. There are some great names that have came through this beautiful sport

Thanks.

I just want to add, each category in my criteria is dependent on the other. None are in a vacuum so if entertainment value is high for one fighter and lower for another, it doesn't automatically mean he would be ranked higher. For example, Wlad is ranked above Eubank but we all know Eubank was more entertaining but Wlad scores highly in all the other categories.

[soul_survivor]

Cool list dude, but the big one that stood out and made me say WTF is having David Haye on your list. David Haye was good at a certain time in his career but his is not top 50 from 1980-2015.

Now I got to look at the rest of your list, but so far so good.

Haye was THE man at cruiser, unified titles and managed to win and defend a title at hw and go 12 with the best hw of his generation. All the while undersized. Not to mention, he is probably the most skilled, quickest and best exhibitionist of combination punching in modern heavyweight boxing.

That loss to Wlad and the excuses that followed have really hurt his reputation but based on what he actually accomplished in the ring he has to be up there. I would find it difficult to mention another name or 2, not on this list, that should be instead of Haye.

[boxinghead530]

Haye was THE man at cruiser, unified titles and managed to win and defend a title at hw and go 12 with the best hw of his generation. All the while undersized. Not to mention, he is probably the most skilled, quickest and best exhibitionist of combination punching in modern heavyweight boxing.

That loss to Wlad and the excuses that followed have really hurt his reputation but based on what he actually accomplished in the ring he has to be up there. I would find it difficult to mention another name or 2, not on this list, that should be instead of Haye.

Its all good dude. Its your list and you have your reason for it so respect.

I guess I'm not as impressed with Haye as you are but overall your list is cool with me. After seeing the list most should be there with some definite tweaking here and there, but overall a good list

[j0zef]

Good list and I'm enjoying it. Don't let the whiners detract you. Nobody will ever agree with 100% of what you're saying, and that's ok.

[soul_survivor]

Good list and I'm enjoying it. Don't let the whiners detract you. Nobody will ever agree with 100% of what you're saying, and that's ok.

Its all good dude. Its your list and you have your reason for it so respect.

I guess I'm not as impressed with Haye as you are but overall your list is cool with me. After seeing the list most should be there with some definite tweaking here and there, but overall a good list

Thanks guys.

The reason I posted my criteria was so that it could be viewed as objectively as possible. I'd love to have given favourites like Barrera, Morales, Eubank, Naz and Froch top 10 spots but it's not going to happen with an objective criteria.

[soul_survivor]

No. 16 Marco Antonio Barrera

67(44)-7(1)-0

Marco Antonio Barrera, or the "Baby Faced Assassin" as he came to be known, was one of Mexico's finest fighters...ever. He had the smarts of a ring general, the skill of an amateur stand out and the killer instinct of a puncher. He would win his first world title at super bantamweight and end his career with back to back victories at a 140-ish pounds. That's a remarkable achievement for a man who stood at barely 5'6''.

Barrera always had guts, like many great fighters before him but he also had the brains. He knew when to box and when to slug. His ability to dictate the pace of a fight was second to none. It helped him gain victories of Hamed, Morales, Tapia and Kelley. His jab was effective but his ability to throw punches in bunches was even better. Along with Morales, he would put on one of boxing's most renowned trilogies.

No. 15 Felix Trinidad

42(35)-3(1)-0

Felix "Tito" Trinidad, at his absolute best, was a fighting machine. He carried his power through the divisions but at welterweight, he seemed to be unstoppable. Of his 17 world title fights at 147lb, he won all but 3 by way of stoppage. Along the way, he would put a fearsome beating on just about every opponent.

Tall and rangy, Tito was more than just a puncher. He could box too, with a sharp jab and quick feet, Trinidad was one for the boxing purists and casuals alike. You want action? Tune in. You want skills? Tune in. He would hold belts at light middle and middleweight as well as going 12 rounds with Roy Jones at light heavyweight.

No. 14 Pernell Whitaker


40(17)-4(1)-1

An argument can be made that the great Pernell Whitaker, known stragely as "Sweet Pea" was both the greatest lightweight and welterweight of his generation. It just so happened, that in the latter division, his age and path crossed with that of a rising star, otherwise he could have ruled the division for another year or 2.

A mixture of skill, speed and cheek kept Whitaker at the top. He not only beat you, he made sure you knew it. Far from a big puncher, Whitaker made up for that by stringing together punch combinations, constant movement and upper body movement to rival the great Willie Pep.Championship wins from a 135-147lb, with unification bouts along the way solidify his place as one of the greats.

[soul_survivor]

so we continue (pace has slowed down due to exams):

No. 13 Oscar De La Hoya

39(30)-6(2)-0

The Goldenboy, at one time boxing's undisputed PPV king was also a great fighter...and I really do mean fighter. He had a mean left hook, the desire to end fighters he hurt and he could throw terrific combinations. This was no pretty boy, slick rick, this wast he real deal. Add to that the desire to move up in weight and always fight the best and you have the making of a legend.

Oscar's run started at super featherweight and would end at middleweight, having won titles across 6 divisions and beaten the likes of Whitaker, Chavez Sr, Sturm, Quartey and Vargas along the way. Ideally, he should also have had wins over Mosley and Trinidad.

De La Hoya, the Golden Boy, savvy businessman and self promoter was the epitome of an entertaining boxer.


No. 12 Lennox Lewis

41(32)-2(2)-1

As the heavyweight division started to wind down, circa 1997, with Tyson and Holyfield now fading, it was Lennox Lewis' time to rise to the top. Boy did he make it count.

Knock out victories over Golota and Briggs would set up the Holyfield match up. These two were clearly the two best heavyweights on the planet. Lewis came out on top, arguably two times. The Brit, by way of Canada, was now THE heavyweight champion of the world.

His reign would feature a host of challengers, some tried and tested, others fresh faced and eager. Whoever they were, Lewis dealt with. His defining moment would come against the feared Mike Tyson. A systematic destruction of "The Baddest Man on the Planet" would follow. Lewis had set his table and was now sitting among the greats.

No. 11 Larry Holmes

66(44)-6(1)-0

Larry Holmes was one of boxing's most technically adept heavyweights. A fine jab, educated footwork and the ability to disrupt his opponents rhythm. These are the three attributes all great fighters require. Holmes was certainly great.

The Easton Assassin defended his heavyweight title an outstanding 20 times. 15 of them ended by way of stoppage. Holmes was an almost complete fighter, quick and powerful, strong and gritty and always probing for his opponents weaknesses.

[soul_survivor]

No. 10 Roberto Duran

103(70)-16(4)-0

The Hands of Stone.

Roberto Duran.

Lightweight king and perverse distributor of pain. The Panamanian whirl wind would reek havoc across welterweight and light middleweight and have one last great moment at middleweight. Standing only 5'7'' wit ha reach of barely 66 inches, that is quite some achievement.

It's easy to remember Duran as a punching machine but it is important to see what he did throughout the 80s and even the 90s in a fuller context. his power was not as devastating at the higher weights so he relied on timing, ring smarts and the ability to work his opponents out. His jab improved and his footwork became slower but more effortless. Duran's win over Leonard still stands as one of boxing's greatest nights. His triumph at middleweight one of boxing's most unlikely comebacks.