This does not include factors like personality, interviews and ring entrance. Strictly boxing:
1. Ali (60's)
2. RJJ
3. Sugar Ray Robinson
4. Roberto Duran
5. Thomas Hearns
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This does not include factors like personality, interviews and ring entrance. Strictly boxing:
1. Ali (60's)
2. RJJ
3. Sugar Ray Robinson
4. Roberto Duran
5. Thomas Hearns
I'm going to handicap my list to only fighters who had careers during my lifetime...
1. RJJ - other worldly talent, like he was from a different planet, always amazed me (until the 2nd Tarver fight)
2. 'Iron' Mike Tyson - You knew there would be drama but you didn't know what to expect. Would he kill someone? Would he implode in the ring? You never knew but it was going to be exciting. Although post prison the skill level just plain wasn't there...still exciting, but not as skillful
3. Arturo 'Thunder' Gatti - The guy was never in a bad fight. Just a straight blood and guts warrior, but he could stick and move at times which made him very interesting to watch because as a fan you waited for the moment when he squared up and fought face first which would either win or lose him the fight.
4. Miguel Cotto - Like Gatti, just a warrior. He would keep that poker face no matter what was going on in the ring, and he had raw power. It was very intriguing to see him when he chose to box though, because he is very skilled at it and it's not something a lot of people give him credit for.
5. Going to cheat a bit: The trio of De la Hoya/Mosley/Trinidad: Consummate professionals always brought their A games, and there isn't much to separate them talent-wise .
Runners up/Honorable mentions
I personally enjoy watching Wlad & Vitali fight, but in terms of excitement there's precious little drama in their fights (by design) as they typically win by stoppage and they are methodical in the way they fight. That said, the technical skill that they show is and always has been underrated.
Also Diego 'Chico' Corrales, Erik Morales, Manny Pacquiao, Naseem Hamed (he was a little shit but fun to watch), Tommy Morrison, Lennox Lewis, Joe Mesi.
Tyson
SSR + SRL - I count them as one
Ali
Duran
RJJ
Tyson
Terry Noriss
James Toney
Roy Jones
Manny Pac
How can you think Ali was the most exciting if you're talking only boxing and none of the outside stuff? I've seen just about every one of his fights and I can tell you for every "Thrilla in Manilla" or "Rumble in the Jungle" there were about 5-10 "jab and grab" or "run and gun" fights that were anything but entertaining.
I guess mine would be...
1. Tyson
2. Manny Pacquaio
3. Arturo Gatti
4. Julian Jackson
5. Aaron Pryor
It's hard to pick a guy over Tyson, how can it get more exciting than a guy with that kind of power and handspeed who throws every punch to knock you unconscious. Julian Jackson was that way too in a middleweight form.
OOOh Julian Jackson good mention!Quote:
Originally Posted by Beanflicker
I haven't seen a lot of Ali being super exciting....but against Cleveland Williams he was just absolutely amazing, he was in stunning form, damn near untouchable, smooth with the combos, light on his feet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B96sS_njqfA
RJJ
Sergio Martinez
Vitali Klitschko
Duran
And of course the gentleman in my avatar pic :D
Jesus?Quote:
Originally Posted by DavilaJones
For different reasons and at different times in my interest in the sport not in any order of favorite that would be the reverse order to the list the list is more my time line.
Tyson, Similar reasons to Naz and the shock and fear value he brought into the ring.
Naz, Because of the the unorthodox things in the ring he got away against some who he probably shouldnt of got away with that stuff.The power generated from the legs thing got him over the line.
Tszyu his single minded stalking and systematic breaking down of most people.
Jmm naturally skilled warrior, followed his trail since day one, wanted him to be challenged by better in the feather weight divisions.
Rjj, his fluid adaption to others styles on the go.
Saad Muhammad
Little Red Lopez
Nigel Benn
Arguello
Michael Carbajal
A) Jung Koo Chang B) Jeff Fenech C) Holyfield D) Tasuyoshi E) Gatti F) Kevin Pompey G ok I'll stop ;D
In no particular order.
RJJ
Vinnie Paz
James Toney
Mayorga
Tyson
Holyfield? Bleh....now Bowe on the other hand he was the one who made that trilogy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spicoli
;D Wlads #1 fan is critiques a pick on 'entertaining' ;DQuote:
Originally Posted by El KabongHolyfield? Bleh....now Bowe on the other hand he was the one who made that trilogy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spicoli
Ok so rather than the pair that ended his career, and the Holyfield fights that helped initiate it....Bowes entertaining fights were......???
THAT trilogy was a mutual hardship, and its the rally and near ko mentioned first by most.
I put Rigo and Floyd on the list. Not due to offensive output but watching their defense and footwork amazes me. I saw Rigo in the boring thread and I can understand why but technically he is exciting to me.
Santa Cruz, the kid just amazes me, nonstop
Omar ( I forget the kids last name by I'm sure you know who I mean) Hopefully he gets some defense cause I would like to see him stay around.
Cotto- Always liked him.
I left Pac out but he would actually be number one.
I went with active fighters, historically I would put Max Baer. I've seen his old fights, now he was exciting. My list is subject to change but these are what came to mind. I left Manny out of No.1 because I cry when you guys call me a pactard
Archie Moore, a boyhood hero.
Tyson, of course.
Aaron Pryor, made it look so easy.
Hearns, of course.
Joe Frazier, perpetual motion.
Guys I would never miss watching if possible: GGG, Oscar, PacMan, Alexis Arguello and Ali.
Piss on 'em, Sir Pactard, it's your list!Quote:
Originally Posted by walrus
At present, I'm most entertained by Golovkin, M Garcia, Beterbiev, Lomachenko and Kovalev.
I like watching boxers with skilled aggression.
Michael Carbajal always comes to play hard .Quote:
Originally Posted by Spicoli;D Wlads #1 fan is critiques a pick on 'entertaining' ;DQuote:
Originally Posted by El KabongHolyfield? Bleh....now Bowe on the other hand he was the one who made that trilogy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spicoli
Ok so rather than the pair that ended his career, and the Holyfield fights that helped initiate it....Bowes entertaining fights were......???
THAT trilogy was a mutual hardship, and its the rally and near ko mentioned first by most.
Funny I had Humberto Gonzales in my mind when I opened the thread and got thinking,those two had one of my favorite all time fights.
Thanks for the support, most of them are Europeans anyway so it's not like their opinions means anything.Quote:
Originally Posted by beenKOedPiss on 'em, Sir Pactard, it's your list!Quote:
Originally Posted by walrus
I have a real love and hate relationship with these kinds of threads. Once I take a peek inside I'm doomed. I work alone and in a big shop with lots of miles put on throughout the day so when I saw this earlier I grabbed pen and paper and went about my day. Five came fast and then another five and then another and so on. When I tried to narrow it down to five all time I honestly couldn't and believe me I tried. I changed my top 5 almost as many times as I added people to the list. So I compromised and broke it down into eras. For practical purposes based on decades. Some fellas overlap a bit.
2010-present
Gonzalez
Santa Cruz
Kovalev
Cotto
Garcia
Yesterday 2000-2010
Corrales
Vazquez
Morales
Mab
Hatton
Day before that. 1990-2000
Jones
Trinidad
Mosley
Jackson
Lopez
Last week. 1980-1990
Hearns
Arguello
Sanchez
Gomez
Qawi
Last month. 1970-1980
Napoles
Olivares
Arguello
Chacon
Zarate
Last year. 1960-1970
Saldivar
Chuvalo
Tiger
Foster
Jofre
Ray leonard
Jung koo chang
Finito
Jose luis lopez
Marquez
Linares
1) Matthew Saad Muhammad
2) Nigel Benn
3) Carl Thompson
4) Mike Tyson
5) Prince Naseem Hamed
Michael Katsidis
Nigel Benn
Naz
Mike Tyson
Marcos Maidiana
Ray Leonard
Tyson
Gatti
Benn
RJJ.
Ricardo Lopez, Chavez, Toney, Little Red Lopez, Mike MacCallum/Buddy McGirt.
From the time he moved up to 147, McGirt did some beautiful things in the ring. I also really enjoy watching fighters that have no physical advantages but really know how to box and are quality pro fighters. Fernie Morales from El Paso falls into this group and I really liked to watch him fight.
Almost forgot Orlando Canizalez.
I know I'm gonna miss a few, so I'll list more than 5 (in no particular order).
Trinidad
Arguello
SRL
Tyson
Corrales
Barrera
Cotto
I'm sure I'll be back to add some later. ;D
Right now, Matthysse, Maidana, Angulo, Alvarado, Rios. Pacquaio, Bika, GGG, Wilder and Ji Hoon Kim.
Kirkland is coming back soon too.
I need my ass kicked!
Johnny Tapia...RIP. Just rewatched the Ayala, Romero and Martinez fights, what a whirlwind. On the sleeve, heart exposed and a pure thrill to watch between the ropes.