Who is/was the Best Boxer of all Time

[so-tex]

I would have to say Rocky Marciano. As a 180 lb. Heavyweight, pound for pound, I think he was the best.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Marciano

[dungeonmistress]

My personal all time fave was Salvador Sanchez, whose career was cut short by an untimely death. I like the lighter weight classes tho, never been a fan of anything above say a welterweight. Some of my other faves are, in no particular order:

Wilfredo Benitez
Lupe Pintor
Bobby Chacon
Bazooka Limon
Wilfredo Gomez
Roberto Duran
Julio Cesar Chavez
Ray Mancini
Alexis Arguello
Carlos Zarate

I was an avid boxing fan back in the 70's to early 80's; had ringside seats and used to go to events about once a month. I've been to some awesome fights too! I got out of it when Macho Camacho appeared on the scene. I hated that ratfck sumbitch and decided to turn my sights onto something else: WWF wrasslin.

[so-tex]

My personal all time fave was Salvador Sanchez, whose career was cut short by an untimely death. I like the lighter weight classes tho, never been a fan of anything above say a welterweight. Some of my other faves are, in no particular order:

Wilfredo Benitez
Lupe Pintor
Bobby Chacon
Bazooka Limon
Wilfredo Gomez
Roberto Duran
Julio Cesar Chavez
Ray Mancini
Alexis Arguello
Carlos Zarate

I was an avid boxing fan back in the 70's to early 80's; had ringside seats and used to go to events about once a month. I've been to some awesome fights too!

Definately some great boxers on your list.

[2nd_chance]

Louis and Clay/Ali

[so-tex]

Louis and Clay/Ali

Yes sir, can't really argue with that, but Louis and Ali, both fought at 200+ pounds as heavyweights.

[2nd_chance]

Yes sir, can't really argue with that, but Louis and Ali, both fought at 200+ pounds as heavyweights.

I didn't read where you were limiting this to non-heavyweights.

[so-tex]

I didn't read where you were limiting this to non-heavyweights.

Marciano fought as a heavyweight at 180 lbs. soaking wet.

[2nd_chance]

BTW, my childhood friend was a boxer, and a pretty good one. He was a lefty and was undefeated as a pro. Sadly, he died an early death and never reached his potential. He was, however, Sugar Ray Leonard's sparring partner for Hagler.

[2nd_chance]

Marciano fought as a heavyweight at 180 lbs. soaking wet.

Right, pound for pound doesn't mean you have to be light for your class.

[so-tex]

BTW, my childhood friend was a boxer, and a pretty good one. He was a lefty and was undefeated as a pro. Sadly, he died an early death and never reached his potential. He was, however, Sugar Ray Leonard's sparring partner for Hagler.

Damn, that is ashame. . The only boxing I did, was in the Golden Gloves from about age 11-15 years old. I still hit the heavy bags and speed bags on a regular basis.

[fn257]

Rocky Balboa...........





























obviously I don't now much about boxing but I loved to watch Sugar Ray Leonard and George Foreman. Opposite end of the extremes but each had a certain fascination for me.

[beachguy498]

Marciano was one of the greats and one of my favorite boxers of the era. I never looked at many boxers who weren't heavy weights until recent years. I wasn't a fan of Ali, but I had to respect what he did in his career, I consider him to be the best heavy weight with Foreman as a close 2nd.

Rob

[Medtreker]

Joe Louis.

[boathead]

i don't know. but i do know THIS was the greatest single round of boxing. hitman vs. hagler, round 1.

[dougefresh93]

maybe not the best but loved watching Mike Tyson in his prime.

[Black Sunday]

My personal all time fave was Salvador Sanchez, whose career was cut short by an untimely death. I like the lighter weight classes tho, never been a fan of anything above say a welterweight. Some of my other faves are, in no particular order:

Wilfredo Benitez
Lupe Pintor
Bobby Chacon
Bazooka Limon
Wilfredo Gomez
Roberto Duran
Julio Cesar Chavez
Ray Mancini
Alexis Arguello
Carlos Zarate

I was an avid boxing fan back in the 70's to early 80's; had ringside seats and used to go to events about once a month. I've been to some awesome fights too! I got out of it when Macho Camacho appeared on the scene. I hated that ratfck sumbitch and decided to turn my sights onto something else: WWF wrasslin.

Great list. Sanchez was also one of my favorites. Broke my heart when he dismantled little red Lopez, twice, but he really shut up Gomez. Unfortunately I only saw a couple of Zarate's fights and i wasn't disappointed. An assassin.

Of the guys I've seen I'd throw Aaron Pryor on the list, fun guy to watch, never boring.

Then there was Tony Ayala. I think I saw one of his amateur title fights on TV. Not sure, long time ago, but I remember thinking to myself that the kid was fourteen or fifteen and had a left hook that would be the envy of most professionals. Savage as well. Threw it all away. Think he would have been one of the all time greats if he had stayed out of prison.

[GSCampbell]

[bigvin73]

Auger ray Robinson joe Lewis Roy jones jr.
I'm italian so I understand the fascination with Marciano but he would have been destroyed by Ali and that era of heavyweights. Larry Holmes was another great fighter he just had no one to fight.

To many great fighters to name just one.

[FlaIronMind]

As a long-time Golden Gloves boxer, I've had this discussion countless times.

Surprised no one has mentioned Sugar Ray Robinson. Not that he's my favorite, but he was definitely a tremendous boxer. Also surprised no one mentioned De La Hoya. Hype and/or life out of the ring aside, De La Hoya is a classic boxer.

As for my favorites -

John Ruiz (whom I know personally and is a hell of a nice guy).
Jack Dempsey (all time favorite boxer, period).
Roberto Duran (an awesome boxer).
Lennox Lewis (excellent boxer, former neighbor and all around good guy).
Willie Pep.
David Tua.
Gene Tunney (ironic, I know, given the Dempsey-Tunney fight, but Tunney was a tremendous fighter and a Marine).
Andrew Golota.
Joe Calzaghe (awesome fighter).
Micky Ward (got to meet Micky and he's just a f'cking great, down to earth guy, excellent fighter so he's here).
Naseem Hamed (for sheer entertainment value alone...and he could actually box...he can't drive for sh*t, but he could damn sure box).
John L. Sullivan ('cause you gotta remember some roots).

The list could go on and on. No single boxer ever is "the boxer" IMHO, but I completely understand (and can agree with) those listed above. Each brings something different. Tyson, while an undeniably tremendous brawler was one who lacked polished boxing skills.

[Getsum]

In no particular order: Dempsey, Ali, Duran, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, Chavez, Marciano, Leonard...I don't know, there's just too many to list. I would have to include Pacquiao as well, he's really had a great career.

Watching Ali with Cosell as a kid was great. All this PPV stuff has really hurt the sport IMHO by taking it out of the mainstream and into the fringes.

[bakedNOTfried]

are these best boxers of all time
or your favourites?

[amoroque]

joe louis.

plus 1

[BrandonLee]

We have this stupid argument at my gym all the time.. There's a difference in best and who would win. Plus you really can't place people of different time periods against each other. Marciano may have been a 'better' boxer, but Tyson probably would have killed him in the ring. Doubt Ali had a shot either. At least while Iron Mike was in his prime.

[Getsum]

a better question would have been who's your favorite fighter...

there's never going to be "best fighter" so the points moot

yep

[Getsum]

We have this stupid argument at my gym all the time.. There's a difference in best and who would win. Plus you really can't place people of different time periods against each other. Marciano may have been a 'better' boxer, but Tyson probably would have killed him in the ring. Doubt Ali had a shot either. At least while Iron Mike was in his prime.

Tyson sure was fun to watch.

[magic15]

Clubber Lang or Apollo Creed




























obviously I don't now much about boxing but I loved to watch Sugar Ray Leonard and George Foreman. Opposite end of the extremes but each had a certain fascination for me.[/QUOTE]

[m314]

I would have to say Rocky Marciano. As a 180 lb. Heavyweight, pound for pound, I think he was the best.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Marciano

Marciano was great for his time, but he wouldn't have made it more than a few rounds with Roy Jones Jr in his prime.

[theKurp]

a better question would have been who's your favorite fighter...

there's never going to be "best fighter" so the points moot

Or your favorite fights.

I love huge underdog upsets. Three that come to mind are:

1. Ali/Liston
2. Bramble/Mancini
3. Douglas/Tyson

[erinlee01]

My grandpa was my favorite. He just did amateur.

Honestly, I stopped watching boxing with the arrival of Mike Tyson. That's when it stopped being boxing and became who could hit the most. I loved the way Ali moved. That was talent. Hitting as hard as you can doesn't necessarily mean talent, IMO. Not to mention, paying $60 for pay per view for a 2 minute match just wasn't worth it.

[magic15]

wish i could say tyson, but he blew it, so i'll go with the safe pick - ali