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1. Sugar Ray Robinson
Why: his dominance across decades is unparalleled. Simply the greatest boxer to ever lace up gloves.
2. Melankomas
Why: this Ancient Greek boxer was the ultimate defensive fighter. The legends say he never once was hit at all. Or perhaps he was never hit cleanly; either way he never lost and didn’t take any damage.
3. Ray Leonard
Why: perhaps the singularly most talented fighter overall in history. He was able to fight defensively, stick-and-move, and go toe to toe with one of the most feared punchers in history and keep his feet. If only he had had more fights.
4. Muhammad Ali
Why: he had the mobility and skill of a welterweight but ruled the heavyweight division in an era of elite comp. We will never know just how amazing this athlete was, as he missed his prime years in the ring.
5. Bernard Hopkins
The Alien was legendary in his ability to fight at the top level for decades. He never shied away from big fights, and proved himself time and time again.
6. Marvin Hagler
Why: a legendary fighter and a man among men. Chin of steel and fists of dynamite made this fighter a force to be reckoned with.
7. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Why: simply the best of his generation, no one was able to beat him. His defense, chin, and accuracy made him a legend in our time. If his biggest fights had been against prime opponents, he would be even higher on my list.
8. Harry Greb
Why: Legendary one-eyed volume puncher who went toe to toe with the best of his era and fought well over 200 times. He also was willing to matchup with black boxers in an era where discrimination and segregation was still commonplace.
9. Joe Frazier
Why: an elite and true Swarmer whose style captivated me when I first saw it on grainy faded video footage as a young teen. Only boxer to defeat the legendary Ali in what could be argued was still his prime years.
10. Roberto Duran
Why: great pressure fighter who went toe to toe with the best of his golden generation across several weight classes. Probably the most merciless and devastating puncher pound for pound in boxing history. Would have been even greater if he had more discipline in and out of the ring.
Why: his dominance across decades is unparalleled. Simply the greatest boxer to ever lace up gloves.
2. Melankomas
Why: this Ancient Greek boxer was the ultimate defensive fighter. The legends say he never once was hit at all. Or perhaps he was never hit cleanly; either way he never lost and didn’t take any damage.
3. Ray Leonard
Why: perhaps the singularly most talented fighter overall in history. He was able to fight defensively, stick-and-move, and go toe to toe with one of the most feared punchers in history and keep his feet. If only he had had more fights.
4. Muhammad Ali
Why: he had the mobility and skill of a welterweight but ruled the heavyweight division in an era of elite comp. We will never know just how amazing this athlete was, as he missed his prime years in the ring.
5. Bernard Hopkins
The Alien was legendary in his ability to fight at the top level for decades. He never shied away from big fights, and proved himself time and time again.
6. Marvin Hagler
Why: a legendary fighter and a man among men. Chin of steel and fists of dynamite made this fighter a force to be reckoned with.
7. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Why: simply the best of his generation, no one was able to beat him. His defense, chin, and accuracy made him a legend in our time. If his biggest fights had been against prime opponents, he would be even higher on my list.
8. Harry Greb
Why: Legendary one-eyed volume puncher who went toe to toe with the best of his era and fought well over 200 times. He also was willing to matchup with black boxers in an era where discrimination and segregation was still commonplace.
9. Joe Frazier
Why: an elite and true Swarmer whose style captivated me when I first saw it on grainy faded video footage as a young teen. Only boxer to defeat the legendary Ali in what could be argued was still his prime years.
10. Roberto Duran
Why: great pressure fighter who went toe to toe with the best of his golden generation across several weight classes. Probably the most merciless and devastating puncher pound for pound in boxing history. Would have been even greater if he had more discipline in and out of the ring.
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