
Originally Posted by
1g5a22
Boxing fans have varied opinions as to which fighters were the greatest of all-time. Younger fans prefer the modern fighters. Older fans prefer the old timers. Other fans have mixed and more diversified views.
Those who favor the modern fighters argue that the men have gotten bigger, faster, and stronger over the years. They also point out that techniques have improved with the passing of time.
Those who favor the fighters of the earlier years contend that the men grew up in tougher times and were "hungrier," more rugged, better disciplined, and better conditioned.
I do not believe that all fighters and athletes necessarily get better with the passing years. Athletes do get bigger, faster, and stronger over time. Techniques improve too. But, that does not mean they are better. Different periods of history impart certain attitudes and practices due to the "temper of the times" and the conditions under which the people live. Athletic skills are affected by mental conditioning and discipline as well as physical attributes and techniques. Consequently, performance peaks and ebbs in different periods of history and fighters are better in some periods than they are in others.
It is my definite belief that different periods of history produced better fighters than other periods, but the very best fighters of all-time from any era could fight with each other on a competitive and "near-equal" basis.
In these rankings, I have included a man in several weight classes if I believe him to be among the greatest at that weight. For what it's worth, here is one man's opinion
Heavyweights:
1. Jim Jeffries
2. Jack Johnson
3. Jack Dempsey
4. Joe Louis
5. Muhammad Ali
6. Gene Tunney
7. Jim Corbett
8. Sonny Liston
9. Rocky Marciano
10. Larry Holmes
Cruiserweights:
1. Jack Johnson
2. Jack Dempsey
3. Joe Louis
4. Gene Tunney
5. Jim Corbett
6. Rocky Marciano
7. John L. Sullivan
8. Peter Jackson
9. Bob Fitzsimmons
10. Tom Sharkey
Light Heavyweights:
1. Gene Tunney
2. Bob Fitzsimmons
3. Ezzard Charles
4. Sam Langford
5. Philadelphia Jack O’Brien
6. Harry Greb
7. Kid McCoy
8. Michael Spinks
9. Archie Moore
10. Bob Foster
Middleweights:
1. Bob Fitzsimmons
2. Stanley Ketchel
3. Philadelphia Jack O’Brien
4. Harry Greb
5. Sugar Ray Robinson
6. Nonpareil Jack Dempsey
7. Kid McCoy
8. Tommy Ryan
9. Roy Jones Jr.
10. Mickey Walker
Welterweights:
1. Sugar Ray Robinson
2. Nonpareil Jack Dempsey
3. Kid McCoy
4. Tommy Ryan
5. Joe Walcott
6. Henry Armstrong
7. Sugar Ray Leonard
8. Mickey Walker
9. Tommy Hearns
10. Jack Britton
Lightweights:
1. Benny Leonard
2. Joe Gans
3. Roberto Duran
4. Henry Armstrong
5. Aaron Pryor
6. Jack McAuliffe
7. Packey McFarland
8. Barney Ross
9. Tony Canzoneri
10* Pernell Whitaker
10* George "Kid" Lavigne
Featherweights:
1. Henry Armstrong
2. Jem Driscoll
3. Terry McGovern
4. Alexis Arguello
5. Willie Pep
6. Abe Attell
7. George Dixon
8. Sandy Saddler
9. Johnny Dundee
10. Kid Chocolate
Bantamweights:
1. Terry McGovern
2. Eder Jofre
3. Jimmy Barry
4. George Dixon
5. Pete Herman
6. Carlos Zarate
7. Ruben Olivares
8. Panama Al Brown
9. Kid Williams
10. Johnny Coulon
Flyweights:
1. Jimmy Barry
2. Jimmy Wilde
3. Pascual Perez
4. Pancho Villa
5. Fidel LaBarba
6. Frankie Genaro
7. Benny Lynch
8. Midget Wolgast
9. Johnny Buff
10. Peter Kane
Pound-For-Pound:
1. Bob Fitzsimmons
2. Sugar Ray Robinson
3. Nonpareil Jack Dempsey
4. Sam Langford
5. Charley Mitchell
6. Henry Armstrong
7. Stanley Ketchel
8. Jack Dempsey
9. Philadelphia Jack O’Brien
10. Harry Greb
shall i duck for cover now??
im sorry to any RJJ,TYSON,MAYWEATHER etc fanatics
IV GOTTA COME CLEAN PEOPLE,,
ITS MY DADS LIST,HES A KEEN AMATEUR BOXING HISTORIAN,I THOUGHT ID PUT IT OUT THERE TO GAUGE PEOPLES OPINIONS,I KNEW IT WOULD GET PEOPLE TALKING,
SORRY HES A BIT BEHIND THE TIMES
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