List your top 10 most influential people in boxing history.

[bzkfn]

Jack Johnson
Sugar Ray Robinson
Bob Arum
Don King
Jose Suliaman
Muhammed Ali/Cassius Clay
Mike Tyson
Oscar De La Hoya
Frank Warren (For BoxNation, I've wanted an all Boxing Channel for years!)
Ricky Hatton (For what he did for Boxing in the UK)

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

1. The Marquis of Queensbury
2. Ring Magazine
3. YouTube

[TitoFan]

Good question, and good thread.

You said "good" OR "bad", so I'll go with that.

Muhammad Ali - His name's got to be first on the list. People who don't know shit about boxing still know and recognize Ali's name.

Don King - I'm not saying he's second on the list, 'cause from here on out, they're in no particular order. And he's not on the "good" side, either. But he has been extremely influential in boxing and the good he did for the sport's popularity cannot be denied, no matter how much of a scumbag he is.

Sugar Ray Leonard - He was the quintessential All-American, good-looking, smart young man who made good. Forget skin color. He made most boxing fans love him. Not to mention he's one of the ATG's, at a time when boxing was enjoying a time of riches in talent. He had not one, but several epic fights against other ATG's.

Joe Louis - One of the very best HW champs in history. But beyond that... he brought the nation together with his KO over Max Schmeling. Good over evil. America over Nazi Germany. A black man making his country proud. Too bad America was still embroiled in it's racist years... and the racist culture continued. So you could say that America was united in race during a few joyful days of celebration. The unfortunately it was business as usual.

Howard Cosell - Yes... he was abrasive and arrogant. But he was also intellectual and brought a cerebral aspect to boxing commentary which undoubtedly brought in a lot of fans. Love him or hate him, he was a polarizing figure.

Jim Lampley - Yes... the guy we all love to hate. Like it or not, Lampley has been the face of boxing on arguably the biggest TV network when it comes to boxing. His face and voice will be forever connected to boxing. Many young fans have been watching Lampley as long as they can remember.

Michael Buffer - Another surprising name to most of you. But think about it.... who doesn't know Buffer's signature line? Even outside of boxing. And looking at some old boxing clips, announcers were as exciting as watching grass grow. "In this corner... (yawn)... the challenger, weighing 160 pounds.... (yawn).... blah, blah, blah."

Rocky Marciano - Again, not the best. But who didn't know who Rocky Marciano was? How many parallels can be drawn between Rocky Marciano and Stallone's "Rocky"? He was the quintessential white, undersized, hardworking, Italian-American champion of the masses. Retired undefeated, which added to his myth. Mention the name of Rocky Marciano outside of boxing... and most people recognize the name.



I tried to stick with universal influence. Surely some fighters can be named, who have been influential in their own countries. Like Hatton in England... and Trinidad in Puerto Rico. But sticking to strictly global influence, I'd have to say those are the main names on my list.

[Master]

These influenced me.

Ali – Greatest boxer to transcend the sport
Tyson – my hero
Cus De Mato – magical trainer who created my hero
King – controlled the heavyweights
Arum – controlled the non- heavyweights
Louis – credit to the human race
Herol Graham – first boxing hero
Dundee – Ali, SRL and Foreman
Manny Steward – Kronk Gym and Hit Man Hearn’s
Nat – Ring mag for his historical insight

[armyash]

Jem Mace would be discussed a lot more than he is if he was from anywhere other than Norfolk i somehow think.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

Rocky was an excellent pick Mick!!!

Most of my friend's (casual fans) greatest memory of Boxing would of been Rocky IV.

[Master]

Rocky was an excellent pick Mick!!!

Most of my friend's (casual fans) greatest memory of Boxing would of been Rocky IV.

Yes and the soundtrack still train to that and Drago still scares the crap out of me.

[IamInuit]

Forgot about Dundee's brother Chris. If not for that fifth street gym in Miami we may have never had Ali.
Mercante Sr deserves a mention as does Murray Goodman who was a big part of the careers of Robinson, Armstrong and Marciano.

[bzkfn]

Jim Lampley - Yes... the guy we all love to hate. Like it or not, Lampley has been the face of boxing on arguably the biggest TV network when it comes to boxing. His face and voice will be forever connected to boxing. Many young fans have been watching Lampley as long as they can remember.

Michael Buffer - Another surprising name to most of you. But think about it.... who doesn't know Buffer's signature line? Even outside of boxing. And looking at some old boxing clips, announcers were as exciting as watching grass grow. "In this corner... (yawn)... the challenger, weighing 160 pounds.... (yawn).... blah, blah, blah."

Both of these are good calls. If I lived in the US, Lampley might have made my list. Buffer definately should have been on my list though. The mans voice is iconic. His voice is so smooth, I almost want him to introduce me to the bedroom before I have sex.

[Master]

Ring card girls introduced me to a stiffy.

[CutMeMick]

I can't believe he has not been mentioned...

I see a lot of great shouts on here but the one I'm gonna list was and will continue to be influential for EVER wether you like it or not.

Sylvester Stallone/Rocky.


The other day I debated with a person wether or not he belonged in the Hall.
I said yes, he is rightfully listed as a Non-Participant. Nothing wrong with that.

Why he belongs you ask?

Name another sports movie that has had as much influence on a sport as the Rocky movies have? (I'm not asking you to rate the movies or if they are good)
I'm asking you to tell me what other sports movie has done what those movies have for the sport?

I can't think of a single sports movie that comes remotely close to it.

Space Jam? (basketball)
Mighty Ducks (hockey)

As good as 42 looks and as eager as I am to watch it I doubt it does what Rocky did.

[bzkfn]

I can't believe he has not been mentioned...

I see a lot of great shouts on here but the one I'm gonna list was and will continue to be influential for EVER wether you like it or not.

Sylvester Stallone/Rocky.


The other day I debated with a person wether or not he belonged in the Hall.
I said yes, he is rightfully listed as a Non-Participant. Nothing wrong with that.

Why he belongs you ask?

Name another sports movie that has had as much influence on a sport as the Rocky movies have? (I'm not asking you to rate the movies or if they are good)
I'm asking you to tell me what other sports movie has done what those movies have for the sport?

I can't think of a single sports movie that comes remotely close to it.

Space Jam? (basketball)
Mighty Ducks (hockey)

As good as 42 looks and as eager as I am to watch it I doubt it does what Rocky did.

Dodgeball.

Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive and Dodge are the 5 D's of Dodgeball. Also, Patches O'hoolahan is a legend. May he rest in peace.

[Rantcatrat]

Some great responses to the thread and I don't have too much to add to it. Arguably, there should be mention of Blinky Palermo, Truman Gibson, the and the rest of the criminals in the fifties. Julio Cesar Chavez brought in a huge number of Mexican fight fans that might not have been fans before him. I think I saw Jim Jeffries listed somewhere too. I'll ponder a bit more.