Ali never backed away from an opponent either and it cost him dearly (He fought Holmes, Norton (thrice), Frazier (thrice), Foreman, Spinks (twice), Liston (twice--depending on how you look at that second farce), Bugner (twice), Chuvalo (twice), Patterson, Moore, Quarry (twice), Shavers, lyle, etc, etc.

Holmes battled Cooney, Spinks (twice), Shavers (twice), Norton, Weaver (twice), Witherspoon and Tyson. “The Real Deal” fought just about everyone including Qawi (twice), Byrd, Toney, Moorer (twice), Tyson (twice), Holmes, Bowe (thrice), Ruiz (thrice), Lewis (twice), Rahman, and Foreman. Talk about tough

There were (or are) others who would fight anyone put in front of them. There were guys like Beau Jack, Pastrano, Dupas, Aldo Minelli, Chico Vejar, Holly Mims, Yama Bahama, Kenny Lane, Tony Licata, Vito Antuofermo, Tommy Tibbs (who participated in 139 bouts), and Johnny Cesario.

And still more like Guts Ishimatsu, Frank Minton, Jorge Paez, James Martinez, Ray “Sucre” Oliveira, Ben Tackie and Julio Cesar Gonzalez.

Dick Tiger was pretty solid as well. Get this; he met Champions Emile Griffith, Nino Benvenuti, Jose Torres, Bob Foster, Joey Giardello, Gene Fullmer and Terry Downes. He also fought some impressive contenders like Andy Kendall, Frankie DePaula, Roger Rouse, Jose Gonzalez, Rubin Carter, Joey Archer, Don Fullmer, Florentino Fernandez, Spider Webb, Henry Hank, Gene Armstrong, Yolande Pompey, Randy Sandy, Holly Mims, Wilf Greaves and Rory Calhoun.

Jose "El Huitlacoche" Medel, Juan Laporte, and Livingstone “Pit Bull” Bramble took on all comers as did the late Joey Giardello. There are many, many others.

But my pick is he great “Cincinnati Cobra,” Ezzard Mack Charles.

Toward his career end, he lost seven of his last nine bouts, but still fought top opposition including Harry “Kid” Matthews (88-7-6), Donnie Fleeman (24-2), and Pat McMurtry (20-0-1). Like many greats who hang on too long, he faded into obscurity, especially after his last draining fight against Marciano. And from 1955 until his retirement in 1959, he fought twenty four times, winning only ten which, of course, diluted his legacy insofar as his record was concerned, but nothing can ever dilute the following encapsulation:

Rocky Marciano (twice) - IBHF/WBHF
Joe Louis - IBHF.WBHF
Jersey Joe Walcott (four times) IBHF/WBHF
Archie Moore (thrice) IBHF/WBHF
Rex Layne (thrice)
Joe Maxim (five times) IBHF/WBHF
Jimmy Bivins (four times) IBHF/WBHF
Charley Burley (twice) IBHF/WBHF
Lloyd Marshall (thrice) WBHF
Gus Lesnevich WBHF
Ken Overlin (twice)
Elmer Ray (twice)
Harold Johnson IBHF/WBHF
Bob Satterfield
Tommy Jackson (twice)
Freddie Beshore
Joe Baski

Final record 90-25-1 with 950 rounds fought.


Who would you go with?