These top 10 boxers of all time are chosen not only because of their household names but also because of their solid affirmation of their supremacy during the time of their reign as champions.
1. Sugar Ray Robinson; 179 W, 19 L, 6 D, 2 NC, 109 KO – born Walker Smith Jr., May 3, 1921 – April 12, 1989 made his professional debut on October 4, 1940. Sugar Ray Robinson is admittedly the hands down choice of top boxer of all time and to this date, no one comes close of surpassing or even equaling his achievement as a boxer.
2. Muhhamed Ali; 56 W, 5 L, 37 KO – born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. He had an unorthodox style for a heavyweight boxer relying on foot speed and quickness to avoid punches and carried his hands low. Muhammad will come down in boxing history as one of the greatest human being that has fought in the square canvas.
3. Henry Armstrong; 150 W, 21 L, 101 KO – Henry Jackson Jr., born December 12, 1912 was the only boxer to hold three world championships at the same time. These titles included the Featherweight, Lightweight, and Welterweight crowns. He also defended the Welterweight championship more times than any other fighter.
4. Julio Cesar Chavez; 104 W, 5 L, 2 D, 80 KO – Julio Cesar Chavez was born on July 12, 1962 in Ciudad Obregon, Mexico. He is the ultimate Mexican champion of all time. He began boxing as an amateur at the age of sixteen and had demolished practically all the top fighters during his time. He went on to fight for 13 years with a unblemished record.
5. Joe Louis; 68 W, 3 L, 54 KO – Joseph Louis Barrow born May 13, 1914–April 12, 1981 nicknamed the Brown Bomber, he is considered to be one of the greatest in boxing history. Among his numerous victories Louis coined two of boxing’s most famous quotes: “He can run, but he can’t hide” and “Everyone has a plan until they’ve been hit.”
6. Roy Jones; 49 W, 3 L, 38 KO – born January 16, 1969. His selection may raise not a few eyebrows as there are a lot of skeptics on the circumstances of his being propelled to championship status. Jones started his rap music career in 2001 with his successful album, titled Round One: The Album and the debut single, “You all Must’ve Forgot”.
7. Archie Moore; 181 W, 24 L, 9 D, 1 NC, 145 KO – December 13, 1913 – December 9, 1998. If only for his impressive and superhuman career record, the Old mongoose could well have been the greatest. His fighting career spanned all four decades and has knocked out more fighters than any of the other great fighters in this top 10 list.
8. Marvin Hagler; 62 W, 3 L, 2 D, 52 KO – born in Newark, New Jersey, May 23, 1954. Because he felt that he did not receive enough credit for his accomplishments, Hagler legally changed his name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest middleweights of all time. Later in life he moved to Italy, where he made low budget movies.
9. Sugar Ray Leonard; 36 W, 3 L, 1 D, 25 KO – born May 17, 1956. He is an epitome of a scientific fighter and a genius on top of the ring. He can get into the minds of his opponent to inflict the most serious jabs to bring them to submission. One of the most memorable of all is the infamous “no mas” episode with Roberto Duran.
10. George Foreman; 76 W, 5 L, 68 KO – born January 05, 1949. This fighter has always been haunted by his own ghost. After his triumphal rise to fame, his crashing defeat in the hands of Ali has left him devastated more on the spirit than on his physical side. He has named all five of his sons George because: “In this career, you have to prepare for long term brain damage.”
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December 18th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Hi!. Thanks for the blog. I’ve been digging around for info, but i think i’m getting lost!. Google lead me here – good for you i guess! Keep up the great information. I will be popping back over in a few days to see if there is updated posts.
December 21st, 2009 at 10:41 am
Yo people! I have always had an interest in boxing. I also have fought in boxing clubs. But, it appears i have one beef with this post. Where’s Rocky Marciano? Now i know many people may not have heard of him he died close to his Birthday. But the man was undefeated, only knocked to the canvas once in his career. He had 49 fights with 49 wins.. meaning UNDEFEATED Heavyweight Champ. 43 Knockouts. The man was an Iron Horse. A true sportsman and hero to boxing. A whole lot more of a fighter than Ali. I would argue he would be at the number one spot. His heart was what kept him standing that or his Right Fist. I just thought id share my opinion. I do agree with you on one thing though, after Foremans fight with Ali, he never was the same Big George. But he was a great fighter. Thats all, thanks for the info
February 21st, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Hey, is that Chavez picture or Jr?
February 25th, 2010 at 12:23 am
In one of the most debatable, subjective lists of them all because of the time or era differences and weight divisions, different belts WBC,IBC etc. The strength of their divisions when they fought, I thought your list was as good as one could be made. When Roberto Duran,Thomas Hearns, Sugar ray leonard, Marvin Hagler and one or two I can’t think of were all fighting each other for the welter weight crown it was great. My only thing with this is I think Mike Tyson at his best was as good as any Heavy weight, I would love to see him and George Foreman (before Ali took his manhood from him) lock horns, they were both feared by all others because they destroyed their opponents with incredible power. Until.
March 16th, 2010 at 2:19 am
where is Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao? He is one of the greatest boxer today aside from that he is the only boxer who has 7 titles in different weight division..
March 21st, 2010 at 7:33 pm
to leave duran &argueiio of all time list should not happen
April 6th, 2010 at 7:55 am
joe louis and marven hagler was great boxer and mike tyson
April 12th, 2010 at 12:12 pm
how can you evan mention boxing without talking about joe calzzage who beat both hopkins and roy jones and i am pretty sure that the pacman should get a mention as the best in the world at the mo.
April 16th, 2010 at 4:21 am
Manny Pacman Pacquiao should be mentioned and should be at the top half of the list… the only person to have 7 world titles in as many weight divisions, fought in three weight divisions in just 1 year, 2 is championship titles
April 16th, 2010 at 4:23 am
Fighter of the decade, and fighter of the year three times, MANNY PACQUIAO
May 5th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
where the hell is mike tyson
May 16th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Ummm I’m not sure why George Foreman is on this list… I’d have put Roberto Duran before Chavez or Foreman…
July 29th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
manny pacquiao should be in the list, he is the only boxer won 7 in 7 different weight classes. the only boxer defeated many great fighter and most of all the only fighter fought all hall of famer in his weight class period.PACMAN hands down…
August 18th, 2010 at 5:29 am
i agree with ivan duran should definitely be up there
August 20th, 2010 at 6:56 am
Manny Pacquiao is absent here man
where is he?
August 22nd, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Bulsh*t! Where is pacman you should in manny he is d best boxer of alltym