I may be biased with modern boxers because I've seen them, unlike boxers who only have a printed record. A boxer isn't the best just because no one else knows about him and you think he's under-rated. Because you are Mexican, white, black, Italian or striped, doesn't make a boxer of the same color the best. I'd love to put George Chuvalo on the list; a strong brawler, never took a step back, but, he's just not the best. Ultimately it comes down to who you think is the best, the lists are varied.
Rocky Marciano did beat Joe Louis, but it was during Louis's return and he just wasn't the same fighter. Sugar Ray Leonard should be on the list, but there's only 5 spots. George Foreman, being as strong as any boxer, doesn't have the skill of the Top 5 boxers. The Top 5 boxers have all been called the best, number one, and the greatest at one time.
Joe Louis : (May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981)Known as “The Brown Bomber”. Held the heavyweight title for 11 years, defending it 25 times.
Total fights: 72, Wins: 69, Wins by KO: 55, Losses: 3, Draws: 0, No contests: 0.
He knocked out the 6'6' 265 pound Primo Carnera, in six rounds. Louis knocked out Max Baer in four rounds. Before losing to Louis, Baer had been knocked down only once.
One of the most important fights in his life was against Nazi poster boy, Max Schmeling, and created a life long friendship, as seen in Joe and Max (2002) (TV). Even losing to Schmeling, he was awarded a title shot when talks broke down with Schmeling's camp.
Louis beat the “Cinderella Man” James J. Braddock by KO in the 8th to win the heavyweight championship of the world.
The rematch between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling is one of the most famous boxing matches of all time. Considered a national hero by the Nazi party, Schmeling had the weight of Germany on him. The fight lasted two minutes and four seconds. Schmeling was knocked down three times, and only managed to throw two punches in the entire bout. On the third knockdown, Schmeling's trainer threw in the towel. Schmeling never joined with the Nazi party, and his resistance made him a hero in post-war.
Joe served in the Army from 1942 to 1945, he donated over $100,000 awarded to him from fights to the Army and Navy Emergency Relief Funds to show his support for the U.S. war effort. However, this income was fully taxed by the IRS, and this left him with serious tax debts. Schmeling offered financial assistance to Louis during this period.
Sugar Ray Robinson : (May 3, 1921 – April 12, 1989) Total fights: 202, Wins: 175, Wins by KO: 108, Losses: 19, Draws: 6, No contests: 2.
Held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, and won the world middleweight title. He retired in 1952, only to come back two and a half years later and regain the middleweight title in 1955.
A bigger than life persona, he was the originator of the “entourage” life. A secretary, barber, masseur, voice coach, trainers, beautiful women, a dwarf mascot, all travelled with him.
Muhammed Ali : (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942) Total fights: 61, Wins: 56, Wins by KO: 37. Losses: 5, Draws: 0, No contests: 0.
"Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" was his style; power combined with sharp speed. Instead of defending his face, he relied on foot speed and quickness to avoid punches .
Won the Light Heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Won the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston on February 25, 1964, as Cassius Clay and then converted to Islam afterwards and took the name Muhammed Ali.
His match with Chuck Wepner was the inspiration for Rocky.
Mike Tyson : (June 30, 1966) the youngest to win and lose a world heavyweight title. Total fights: 58, Wins 50, Wins by KO: 44, Losses: 6, Draws: 0, No contests: 2.
Won his first 19 professional bouts by knockout, 12 in the first round.
On November 22, 1986, Tyson was given his first title fight against Trevor Berbick. Tyson won the title by second round TKO, and at the age of 20 years and 4 months became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
He became the first heavyweight to own all three major belts, WBA, WBC, and IBF, at the same time.
He faced Larry Holmes on January 22, 1988, and defeated the legendary former champion by fourth round knockout. This was the only knockout loss Holmes suffered in 75 professional bouts.
On June 27, 1988, Tyson faced Michael Spinks. considered to be the "legitimate" heavyweight champion. Tyson knocked out Spinks in 91 seconds of the first round.
Personal dislike of the man aside, If not for all the controversy and personal issues, Tyson, in his prime, might have gone on to become the greatest fighter of all.
Roy Jones Jr. : (January 16, 1969) Total fights: 56, Wins: 52, Wins by KO: 38, Losses: 4, Draws: 0, No contests: 0.
My favorite boxer. Held the title in middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. Also held the WBC, WBA, IBF, IBO, NABF, WBF, and IBA light heavyweight championships at the same time.
Jones represented the United States at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games where he won the silver medal. Jones dominated his opponents, never losing a single round on route to the final. He lost a 3-2 decision in the final to South Korean fighter Park Si-Hun, landing 86 punches to Park's 32. One judge shortly thereafter admitted the decision was a mistake, and all three judges voting against Jones were eventually suspended. An official IOC investigation concluding in 1997 found that 3 of the judges were wined and dined by Korean officials, but the IOC still officially stands by the decision.
In 1997, Jones suffered his first professional loss via disqualification. Jones was ahead of Montell Griffin on the scorecards. He dropped Griffin to the canvas early in round nine, but then hit him twice more. He was disqualified and lost his title. During the rematch, Jones knocked Griffin down within the first 20 seconds, and then ending the fight by knocking Griffin down again two minutes in.
Most info pilfered from www.wikipedia.org.
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