* Who is the Greatest African fighter? *

Who do you consider the to be the greatest African fighter of all time?
Weeks a go I made a thread about the greatest Japanese fighter. Thanks to everyone for the replies and input I myself learned some stuff from that thread.
I did some research for the greatest African fighter here's what I came up with...

(Let me clarify that I put the list together looking at skills, opposition, titles, wins vs. loses among other things. I've also at least seen 1 full fight of each fighter plus highlights.)


1. Azumah Nelson
2. Dick Tiger (Richard Ihetu)
3. Thulani Malinga
4. Ike Quartey
5. Ayub Kalule
6. Sumbu Kalambay (Thanks No Contest ;) )
7. Harry Simon
8. Brian Mitchell
9.Digaan Thobela
10. Vuyani Bungu



*It's hard for me to rate Hogan Bassey cause I've only seen some small clips on him I know he beat Pep and all that but still I'd hate to rate him on that alone

Honor mentions: Piet Crous, Zolani Petelo, Silence Mabuza, Kassim Ouma, Ike Ibeabuchi, John Mugabi.


Thoughts opinions?

*Shit load of edits made.

I'd have to agree with Nelson. He was the first fighter who came to mind when i read the topic.
Isn't Mcallum from Jamaica?

Kassim Ouma?

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Originally Posted by eagle

I'd have to agree with Nelson. He was the first fighter who came to mind when i read the topic.
Isn't Mcallum from Jamaica?

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I know O'Neil Bell is Jamaican

Dingaan Thobela: wbo and wba lightweight champ in early 90's

Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala is the only South African boxer to have won four titles in three different divisions: he won the WBO flyweight title in May 1993, the WBO light flyweight title in November 1995, as well as the junior flyweight titles under the International Boxing Association in July 1997 and the World Boxing Union in February 2001.








{I cheated ;D}

What about Vuyani Bungu?

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Originally Posted by eagle

I'd have to agree with Nelson. He was the first fighter who came to mind when i read the topic.
Isn't Mcallum from Jamaica?

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Spot on eagle....
Thanks for that...
I have soo many papers (On Microsoft Word) with names and info of fighters. I'm currently working on other all time lists...
Thanks for that.

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

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Originally Posted by eagle

I'd have to agree with Nelson. He was the first fighter who came to mind when i read the topic.
Isn't Mcallum from Jamaica?

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I know O'Neil Bell is Jamaican

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Right on...
I gotta go thru my lists more carefully before posting...
Sorry fellas.

I like these African fighters. They are tough as nails and just bring it from start to end.

Vuyani Bungu 14 IBF title fights 13 Defences only ever stopped once by Naz in his WBO featherweight title fight he has to be up their with the african greats.

Thanks to everyone for their input...

Now that I cleared up my mess....

I put Thulani in Thobelas place and I put Mike in Thulanis place.
I also mixed in O'Neil after seeing Waynes name.

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Originally Posted by Floyd_Fears_Cotto

I like these African fighters. They are tough as nails and just bring it from start to end.

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As I read your comment I remembered Silence Mabuza who also deserves a mention.

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Originally Posted by MAYWEATHER P4P#1

Vuyani Bungu 14 IBF title fights 13 Defences only ever stopped once by Naz in his WBO featherweight title fight he has to be up their with the african greats.

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Good one.
Def. deserved the honor mentions.... :)

Violent Demise,
You wanna know something....
I had the most trouble figuring out if Ike should be above Ayub or Ayub above Ike.
I know you'll say Ike off the top of your head but I needed to do a double take on their careers to make sure Ike went above Ayub.

Also was wondering what people thought about Tiger being #2....

Thoughts anyone?

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Also was wondering what people thought about Tiger being #2....

Thoughts anyone?

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I have no problem with him being there.
Is Sam Peter close to getting on the list?

Can't disagree with much of the list, if anything Braithwaite wouldn't be near my top ten, he's got a win over Dale Brown. Really that's about it, maybe Cantatore too.

Not sure if I'd have Ouma in the top ten even though I'm biased clearly but still I'd definitely have him over Braithwaite and Mabuza. I like Mabuza a lot but he's got a win over Chapo Vargas and Cruz Carbajal and that's about it, he performed well enough against Marquez but in the end those are just losses. Good losses but losses. He may end in the end accomplish more than either of them but so far I'm not sure he's there yet.

CC though, interesting topic

What about Sumbu Kalambay, he fought out of Italy but was from Africa originally. Joseph "King Kong"(a bantamweight) Agbeko is gonna be one to watch in the future. I gotta throw in Joshua Clottey, he will be worthy soon enough. I would also put Ben Tackie in the honorable mentions just for his toughness.

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Originally Posted by No Contest

What about Sumbu Kalambay, he fought out of Italy but was from Africa originally. Joseph "King Kong"(a bantamweight) Agbeko is gonna be one to watch in the future. I gotta throw in Joshua Clottey, he will be worthy soon enough. I would also put Ben Tackie in the honorable mentions just for his toughness.

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Kalambay had some great wins. Good call.
Any news on Harry Simon. He is on the comeback trail right? Could be an interesting addition to the 160 ranks.

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

Can't disagree with much of the list, if anything Braithwaite wouldn't be near my top ten, he's got a win over Dale Brown. Really that's about it, maybe Cantatore too.

Not sure if I'd have Ouma in the top ten even though I'm biased clearly but still I'd definitely have him over Braithwaite and Mabuza. I like Mabuza a lot but he's got a win over Chapo Vargas and Cruz Carbajal and that's about it, he performed well enough against Marquez but in the end those are just losses. Good losses but losses. He may end in the end accomplish more than either of them but so far I'm not sure he's there yet.

CC though, interesting topic

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Thanks Ouma for your input..
I gotta say I was rushing this list and had too many things going on at once...
But I got it started and tried to finish it today.

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Originally Posted by No Contest

What about Sumbu Kalambay, he fought out of Italy but was from Africa originally. Joseph "King Kong"(a bantamweight) Agbeko is gonna be one to watch in the future. I gotta throw in Joshua Clottey, he will be worthy soon enough. I would also put Ben Tackie in the honorable mentions just for his toughness.

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Great call...
I completely overlooked Sumbu.
He's def. in the top 10 and that would drop off Wayne off the top 10.

Gerrie Coetzee WBA heavyweight champ and Pierre Fourie lightheavy did'nt win world title but gave Bob Foster to good scuffles

I don't like the heavy weight division and you know this but I like watching Samuel Peter.
He is not the greatest African fighter but I don't know many African Heavy Weights that are.
I will be tuning in for his March bout against Oleg Maskaev ;)

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Originally Posted by MAYWEATHER P4P#1

Gerrie Coetzee WBA heavyweight champ and Pierre Fourie lightheavy did'nt win world title but gave Bob Foster to good scuffles

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I gave Gerrie honor mentions....

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Originally Posted by Floyd_Fears_Cotto

I don't like the heavy weight division and you know this but I like watching Samuel Peter.
He is not the greatest African fighter but I don't know many African Heavy Weights that are.
I will be tuning in for his March bout against Oleg Maskaev ;)

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;D

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Originally Posted by eagle

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Also was wondering what people thought about Tiger being #2....

Thoughts anyone?

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I have no problem with him being there.
Is Sam Peter close to getting on the list?

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Def. deserves honor mentions...

eagle, your thoughts on Ike above Ayub? :)

*The list has been updated. :)

I got a few more, John "the Beast" Mugabi, monster up until he met Hagler. If your counting Jamaicans you gotta throw in Emile Griffith. This one may be on the borderline and I nkow you probably know of this guy....Cornelius "Boza" Edwards, he fought alot of big names but you probably remember him for getting his butt whooped by Arguello.

Oh yeah Ike Ibeabuchi, put him in the what could have been section ;)

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Originally Posted by No Contest

I got a few more, John "the Beast" Mugabi, monster up until he met Hagler. If your counting Jamaicans you gotta throw in Emile Griffith. This one may be on the borderline and I nkow you probably know of this guy....Cornelius "Boza" Edwards, he fought alot of big names but you probably remember him for getting his butt whooped by Arguello.

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I did come across John & Boza but not top 10.
Def. honor mentions to both.

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Originally Posted by No Contest

Oh yeah Ike Ibeabuchi, put him in the what could have been section ;)

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Falls waay too short, the wins were VERY good but too short of a career to compare against guys who went on to win titles & defend agains some of the best of their times.

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Originally Posted by No Contest

I got a few more, John "the Beast" Mugabi, monster up until he met Hagler. If your counting Jamaicans you gotta throw in Emile Griffith. This one may be on the borderline and I nkow you probably know of this guy....Cornelius "Boza" Edwards, he fought alot of big names but you probably remember him for getting his butt whooped by Arguello.

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Also Emile is from the Virgin Islands so that wouldn't count.
Same reason I accidently put McCallum there.... :P

Its easy to forget now but I remember Dan Rafeal had Ledwahba in his P4P top fifteen. Pac kind of ended that.

David Kamau was fairly hyped up for a while.

Can't believe I didn't think of Mugabi.

Can't think of any more right now.

Anybody know anything about this Munyai that's fighing in England. Bit off topic but I've heard some good things about him.

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

CC though, interesting topic

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cc#761 on me Ouma

Was wondering what your thoughts were on Ike over Ayub... I had the biggest issue with those 2.
Any thoughts?

I like when you do these lists with old school fighters, four of those guys in your top ten I really need to check out: Dick Tiger(only saw his loss to Foster), Dingaan Thobela(unknown to me), Ayub Kalue (who? ;)), Brian Mitchell(he must be South African :P) but great thread, I am all about boxing history.

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Violent Demise,
You wanna know something....
I had the most trouble figuring out if Ike should be above Ayub or Ayub above Ike.
I know you'll say Ike off the top of your head but I needed to do a double take on their careers to make sure Ike went above Ayub.

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I think very highly of Quartey as you know. I think he's fine where he's at. I would personally put him 3rd on your list. But I got no problem with your selection

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

CC though, interesting topic

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cc#761 on me Ouma

Was wondering what your thoughts were on Ike over Ayub... I had the biggest issue with those 2.
Any thoughts?

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I don't know, I know more about Ike cause I watched his fights live whereas I've just seen some Kalule tapes, I don't act like I've seen more than I think four or five of his fights and two of them, McCallum and SRL, he got stopped.

I think Quartey's performance against Oscar might be a better performance against a big name guy than Kalule had but then again it was a loss and also McCallum and SRL were both pretty much bad asses.

I really don't have an answer, Quartey over him is fine with me, if he had gotten the decision over Vernon that would be another good win. Then again Quartey doesn't have a ton of great wins considering he drew with Jose Luis and didn't get the nod versus Vernon so if you put Kalule over him that's fine with me ;D

Nelson and Quartey would be my stock reply if someone asked me this on the street. This would have more to do with my limited knowledge more than their actual greatness.

I can name the names (Ouma, Tackie, Akenwande, etc.) but I couldn't really do a categorical breakdown on them. So, why I am replying to this? I want my name to be seen in the cool thread.

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

CC though, interesting topic

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cc#761 on me Ouma

Was wondering what your thoughts were on Ike over Ayub... I had the biggest issue with those 2.
Any thoughts?

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I don't know, I know more about Ike cause I watched his fights live whereas I've just seen some Kalule tapes, I don't act like I've seen more than I think four or five of his fights and two of them, McCallum and SRL, he got stopped.

I think Quartey's performance against Oscar might be a better performance against a big name guy than Kalule had but then again it was a loss and also McCallum and SRL were both pretty much bad asses.

I really don't have an answer, Quartey over him is fine with me, if he had gotten the decision over Vernon that would be another good win. Then again Quartey doesn't have a ton of great wins considering he drew with Jose Luis and didn't get the nod versus Vernon so if you put Kalule over him that's fine with me ;D

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Got it. ;D

I saw a couple of Baby Jake fights but at the end of his career so he didn't look anything special. I'd have to go with Azumah Nelson.

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Originally Posted by BoxingGorilla

Nelson and Quartey would be my stock reply if someone asked me this on the street. This would have more to do with my limited knowledge more than their actual greatness.

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Right on Silverback,
Thanks for your input.

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Originally Posted by BoxingGorilla

I can name the names (Ouma, Tackie, Akenwande, etc.) but I couldn't really do a categorical breakdown on them.

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Def. honor mentions to Ben & Akiwande.
Good ones....

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Originally Posted by BoxingGorilla

So, why I am replying to this? I want my name to be seen in the cool thread.

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Your such a fool. ;D

How about Corrie Sanders?

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Originally Posted by Kirkland Laing

I saw a couple of Baby Jake fights but at the end of his career so he didn't look anything special. I'd have to go with Azumah Nelson.

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Thanks for the input....

One thing about Quartey, he always fought the best fighters he could get and was competitive in almost all his losses. Alot of people think he gave De La Hoya his first loss, and Jose Luis Lopez draw was questionable scoring. I didnt see his fight against Forrest, again controversial. But his losses to Winky and Vargas were legit. He couldn't land jack on Winky and Winky dropped him once in the fight. That was definately a loss.

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Originally Posted by eagle

How about Corrie Sanders?

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The Sniper def. deserves a mention....

Love his fights against Tubbs & Rahman... Talk about back and forth. Good call eagle.

Some people don't know this but he fought Johnny Nelson early in his career (1992) beat Nelson on points.

CC#330 on me No Contest for your posts....
CC#142 on me eagle for your posts...

We've come up with some really good names.... :)