Over the past 4 years I have become engrossed in the “art” of Pugilism, or Boxing. It has been known as a variant of things down the years, from the Sweet Science to a barbaric practice.
Some people look for heart, guts and determination. Others look for speed both of mind and body, combinations and entertainment. Others still look for grace, defensive prowess and slick counter-punching. In this piece I will be looking to find the best 20 fighters that possessed all over these aspects of their game.
It will not include current boxers as their careers are still on-going and the rises and falls of their records are unfinished. It will be an endeavour to try to judge the fighters’ whole careers and not just the peaks. However, fights seen as ridiculous will be given more lenience, for example; Ali v Holmes and Leonard v Camacho when many said Ali and Leonard were not fit to fight.
So, enough talking, here is what you want, I hope it sparks debate.
20. Jimmy Wilde 152 fights 137 wins (100 by KO) / 4 losses / 2 draws / 8 no contests
19. Joe Frazier 37 fights 32 wins (27 by KO) / 4 losses / 1 draw
18. Roy Jones Jr 62 fights 54 wins (40 by KO) / 8 losses
17. Marcellin Cerdan 117 fights 113 wins (66 by KO) / 4 losses
16. Sandy Saddler 162 fights 144 wins (103 by KO) / 16 losses / 2 draws
15. Harry Greb 298 fights 261 wins (48 by KO) / 19 losses / 18 draws / 6 no contests
14. Gene Tunney 86 fights 81 wins (48 by KO) / 1 loss / 3 draws / 2 no contests
13. Roberto Duran 120 fights 104 wins (69 by KO) / 16 losses
12. Julio Cesar Chavez 115 fights 107 wins (89 by KO) / 6 losses / 2 draws
11. Rocky Marciano 49 fights 49 wins (43 by KO)
10. Lennox Lewis - Heavyweight - 44 fights 41W (32 KO’s) / 2L / 1D
He is probably the most controversial inclusion in the top 10. But in a good era for heavyweight boxing, Lennox Lewis stood top of the pile as undisputed Champion.
He was stripped of the WBA title for not fighting John Ruiz, but held the lineal titles (WBC, IBF and IBO) in two separate periods.
A man who can say he beat everyone he shared a ring with as he avenged his two shock loses to Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall. His subsequent wins against Rahman, Holyfield and Tyson gave him his legacy.
His two losses called in to question his biggest criticism; a poor chin. Lewis was KO'd in both of his losses, but his strong defence meant that his chin wasn't too frequently tested.
Whether he would have beaten Vitali Klitschko had the Ukrainian not been stopped for a severe cut nobody knows. The only other question was whether he would have been Riddick Bowe if they had thought, but as Bowe dodged the fight it suggests he was scared of Lewis. Whilst these questions may linger, Lewis' superb technique, record and the fact he was never tempted out of retirement like many before him has ensured him a place in my top 10.
9. Tommy Hearns - Various - 67 fights 61W (48 KO’s) / 5L / 1D
The "Hitman" astonishing (and at the time record-setting) five world titles at five weights under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward is held in high reverence. He boxed at Welterweight, Super-Welterweight, Middleweight, Super-Middleweight, Light Heavyweight and Cruiserweight winning belts in all divisions apart from Super-Welter.
He is unfortunate in that he is probably best remembered for losing the two biggest fights of his career; "The Showdown" against Sugar Ray Leonard and "The War" against Marvin Hagler. The latter is one of boxing's most famous matches and it does its name full justice and in the former he was ahead on all cards at the end of the 13th before Leonard KO'd him in the 14th.
He did, however, beat Wilfred Benitez and KO Roberto Duran in two rounds.
At 6ft1, he had unusual dimension to be boxing at welterweight and middleweight and he was often able to utilise his long reach to great effect.
That he won belts at 5 weights within 15 years also shows the longevity of his greatness.
8. Henry Armstrong - Various - 180 fights 149W (101 KO’s) / 21L / 10D
Henry "Homicide Hank" Armstrong was a special boxer in many ways, he remains the only man two have ever held three belts at three weights at the same time. In an era when there was only eight weights to choose from, it is quite some achievement.
He was Featherweight, Lightweight and Welterweight world Champion.
According to many experts, he should been a four weight Champion, but his rematch with Ceferino Garcia - who he had beaten in their first mach before Garcia became Champion - was scored a harsh draw that many thought Armstrong had won.
He managed to successfully defend his Welterweight belt eighteen times, still a record at that weight.
At the age of 31 however, he lost to a 22 year old future world Champion and hall of famer Sugar Ray Robinson in a unanimous decision. This loss marked the end of Armstrong's competitive career and after a few more fights he retired. But by this point he had already set the benchmark for all welterweight boxers before and after him.
7. Marvin Hagler - Middleweight -67 fights 62W (52 KO’s) / 3L / 2D
Marvelous Marvin Hagler was the undisputed Middleweight Champion of the world from 1980 - 1987 and still owns the highest KO% of any Middleweight.
In his 14 year career, he only had one un-avenged defeat to the great Sugar Ray Leonard.
In his most famous fight, "The War" versus Tommy Hearns, he dispatched the Hitman in three of the most aggressive rounds ever seen in boxing. He also defeated the last of the "Four Kings" Roberto Duran in a fifteen round unanimous decision.
Possibly the most interest facet of Hagler was that he was completely ambidextrous and just as good a boxer in a southpaw stance as he was in an orthodox one.
He had to overcome controversy when he was awarded a high-contested draw in his first title fight against Vito "Mosquito" Antuofermo when even referee Mills Lane thought Hagler had won easily.
Many also say that Hagler was robbed in his fight against Leonard as Sugar Ray simply put in a few flashy-looking combinations per round to convince the judges.
However, Hagler's grit, determination and commitment to training and boxing as an art has him in my top 10.
6. Benny Leonard - Lightweight - 217 fights 183W (70 KO’s) / 19L / 11D / 4NC
One of boxing's most articulate fighters, Benny Leonard beat many of his opponents with the words he said and combined them well with the speed of his fists.
He was world Lightweight Champion for seven and a half years, setting a precedent for those that followed him and set many gate receipt records with his popularity.
An adaptable fighter, when tired he would often talk to his opponents, making them think while he recovered himself. He was also renowned for his superb technique and wasn't hit too often in his prime.
He could have become a two-weight Champion when he challenged then Welterweight Champion Jack Britton, he was subsequently disqualified in their match as he hit
He even died in the ring whilst refereeing a bout in 1947, a fitting place for him to go.
5. Sugar Ray Leonard -Various - 40 fights 36W (25KO’s) / 3L / 1D
To many, he was a smaller reincarnation of Muhammad Ali. Sugar Ray does indeed claim that he tried to be like Ali. He is set the precedent for the high purses that fighters like Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao now know as second nature.
The most successful of the "Four Kings", he managed to beat Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns and Roberto Duran, though he famously lost to the latter in their first fight. Indeed the trilogy with Duran is a watermark in Leonard's career with Duran quitting in the infamous "No mas" rematch before winning again in their rubber match.
He defeated Tommy Hearns in "The Showdown" with a stunning finish to takeout the Hitman in the 14th after Angelo Dundee warned him: "You're blowing it son!". He was also given a debatable draw in their rematch.
After retiring, he finally granted Hagler a fight in 1986. Leonard boxed his way to a decision that many believe could have gone either way.
After two ill-advised comeback fights against Terry Norris and Hector Camacho in 1991 and 1997 respectively, Leonard finally called it quits on his career. He was a 5 weight champion, at Welterweight, Light-Middleweight, Middleweight, Super-Middleweight and Light-Heavyweight. He only lost a belt once, retiring whilst champion or vacated the title with all the others.
He was the most stylish and talented boxer of his generation and the king in a supreme era of welter/middleweight boxing.
4. Willie Pep - Featherweight -249 fights 229W (65 KO’s) / 11L / 1D
Will o' the Wisp's record speaks for itself; to step to the ring 249 times and fail to win only 12 of those times is truly staggering.
He is another fighter that used his speed, reactions and finesse to out-do his opponents.
He went 62-0 before losing to Sammy Angott, another champion. He reigned as world Featherweight Champion for 6 years (1942-1948) in his first stint before falling at the hands of his biggest nemesis, Sandy Saddler. He beat Saddler in a rematch 6 months later to have another 18 month spell with the title before being once more defeated by Saddler, the only boxer to ever get the upper hand over Pep in some questionably dirty fights.
His career is particularly spectacular as he was severely injured in a plane crash in 1947 but still made it back to the ring.
His skill was such that a legend says he once one a round without throwing a punch, whether it is true, nobody is sure but Willie Pep was definitely that special.
3. Muhammad Ali - Heavyweight - 61 fights 56W (37 KO’s) / 5L
What is there to say about this man that hasn't already been said? Not only one of the greatest boxers ever, but one of the greatest people of his generation. The Louisville Lip transcended the sport when he chose to refuse to go to war, but we're going to concentrate on his boxing.
As a fighter, he beat everyone in a golden Heavyweight era; Liston, Frazier, Foreman, Paterson, Norton and Spinks to name a few victims.
The three-time World Heavyweight Champion is famous for so many things; the "Ali Shuffle", the "Rope-a-Dope" as well as his famed trash talk.
When he beat Sonny Liston at 22, he became the youngest Heavyweight Champion to dethrone another Champion.
The only two fighters to beat him in his prime were Ken Norton and Joe Frazier, both of which he avenged. Indeed with Frazier, Ali shared a memorable trilogy which culminated in the "Thrilla in Manilla" which Ali won by 14th round TKO, after which Ali would claim: "that was the closest I've been to death."
He was beaten by Larry Holmes and Trevor Berbick in fights he should never have fought and for which he was barely healthy.
Parkinson's disease may have slowed him down over time, but no one will ever forget Ali, his legacy will live forever.
2. Joe Louis - Heavyweight - 72 fights 69W (57 KO’s) / 3L / 1NC
The Brown Bomber is best remembered for his record of defending his World Heavyweight Championship belt successfully 25 times. But he was also one of the first nationally popular Black men in American and helped to pave the way for the likes of Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard.
He beat Max Baer and giant Primo Carnera before succumbing to a shock lose to Schmelling. In spite of this loss, he fought for the World Title a few fights later and disposed of James Braddock in eight rounds.
This begun his long reign on the throne, beating the German Schmelling in a rematch famous for its political ramifications in 1938, and Jersey Joe Walcott twice before announcing his retirement.
It only lasted 18 months. He had ten more fights, the most notable of which were losses to Ezzard Charles and later Rocky Marciano in his last fight when he was well past his best.
He was famed for his power punching and his humility in the ring. Sportswriter Jimmy Cannon once said of him: "He is a credit to his race - the human race."
1. Sugar Ray Robinson - Various - 200 fights 173W (108 KO’s) / 19L / 6D / 2NC
Simply the best, Ray Robinson was a magician in the ring. "The King, the Master. My Idol." is how Muhammad Ali described him. No praise is high enough for the 5-time Middleweight and 1-time Welterweight Champion.
His style was all about rhythm and timing, he was as fluid a boxer as there ever has been with KO power in both hands and supreme instinct.
He was so good that the pound-for-pound ranking system - where fighters are compared regardless of weight - was created around his brilliance. He defeated such big names as; Kid Gavilan, Jake LaMotta, Rocky Graziano, Carmen Basilio and Gene Fulmer.
He went 85-0 as an amateur before turning pro and enjoying a 26 year career.
He was a flamboyant man and is likely the originator for entourages.
Sugar was the fighter of the decade for the 1950's and is rated as the greatest of all time by Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali.
He is most famous for his six fight series with Jake LaMotta, LaMotta dealt him his first loss but whom Sugar Ray would go on to beat five times.
The only man to get some measure of Robinson was Gene Fulmer who managed 2 wins and a draw over Sugar.
Sugar Ray will always be synonymous with boxing as everyone wants to be the next "Sugar" he is the only one fit to be number one in this list as this quote from Sugar Ray Leonard exemplifies: "Someone once said there was a comparison between Sugar Ray Leonard and Sugar Ray Robinson. There is no comparison. Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest."
