Who are the top 10 boxers of all time? This can
be a highly debatable topic, especially now that
we’ve seen countless fighters lace up and
trade punches on top of the ring. Also, styles
make fights. There are those boxers who
performed well on boxers with specific
styles.
The sweet science is a combination of power,
grit, finesse, and heart displayed inside
the squared circle. Over the past decades,
we’ve witnessed the evolution of the fight
sport paving way for sluggers to slick boxers
who made their way into the ring. We’ve seen
countless rounds and controversial decisions
that have made an impression to every fight
fan. Let’s start counting the top 10 boxers of
all time.
- Willie Pep
One of the finest featherweights and boxing
innovators to ever enter the ring, Willie Pep
made it in our list of top 10 boxers of all time
because of his smooth boxing skills. Living in
the early days of boxing during 40s to 60s, he
finished his historic career with a total of
229 wins with 65 knockouts.
His style is reminiscent of boxers like Manny
Pacquiao and Ivan Calderon who popularized
the sport today. Willie Pep is known to be an
innovator of the sport, given his magnificent
footwork, timing and excellent hand speed.
He retired after suffering from an accident.
He passed away at age 84 in 2006.
9. Julio Cesar Chavez
Mexican boxers are known for their heart in
the ring. And if there’s anyone who embodies
this trait, that would be Mexico’s favorite son,
Julio Cesar Chavez. JC Chavez made his career
from 1980 to 2005, facing the likes of
Oscar Dela Hoya, Meldrick Taylor and Hector
Camacho. Chavez is not only known for his win
streak, winning 87 straight fights in 13
years, but also for his exciting matches.
Chavez is known for his technical ability and
slugger mentality that caught the attention of
both casual and avid boxing fans alike.
Chavez made a career out of his left hook and
ability to trade and accept punches from very
tough opponents.
After hanging the gloves, Julio Cesar Chavez
has won six world titles in three different
weight divisions from 1984 to 1994. It is
also worth mentioning that he received the
Ring Magazine Lightweight championship in
1988.
Today, Julio Cesar Chavez works on the corner
of his son Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
8. Bernard Hopkins
If there is something that made Bernard
Hopkins in our list of top 10 boxers of all
time, it is his ability to compete against high
level boxers despite his age. Born in 1965
at age 51, The Executioner has been able to
face the biggest names from middleweight to
light heavyweight division. He broke George
Foreman’s record as the oldest boxer to win a
world championship.
Bernard Hopkins was also the former number
one pound for pound boxer by Ring Magazine. He
managed to reign as world middleweight
champion from 1994 to 2005. He was able to
face the likes of James Toney, Roy Jones Jr
and Jermane Taylor.
- Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier has been known as the toughest
rival of Muhammad Ali. He is an Olympic gold
medalist and a world champion who lived in
the glory days of the heavyweight division.
Smokin Joe is a star pupil of Eddie Futch, a
boxing trainer known as a tactician for his
methodical approach in training fighters.
Frazier has been known for his body punches,
unrelenting attacks and extreme durability.
He was able to fight Oscar Bonavena, Buster
Mathis and Doug Jones even defeating
Muhammad Ali in one occasion.
But what defined Joe Frazier’s career is his
historic Thrilla in Manila rubbermatch against
Muhammad Ali. Thrilla in Manila took place in
Araneta Coliseum in Manila, Philippines.
Thrilla in Manila is considered by many as the
greatest boxing match in history. It has even
been used by anti-boxing advocates in their
attempts to ban boxing as a sport. Smokin Joe
eventually retired one match after Thrilla in
Manila. He died in 2011 with liver cancer. -
Roberto Duran
Nicknamed the Hands of Stone, Roberto Duran is
the number six in our list of top 10 boxers of
all time. He is considered by many as the best
lightweight in history. He is one of the four
horsemen who fought during the best era of
welterweights in the 80s. During his career,
he’s been able to fight in four different
weight divisions from lightweight all the way
up to middleweight.
He is the second boxer to have fought in five
different decades. Unfortunately, Roberto
Duran’s career was most infamous after saying
no mas after becoming frustrated against Sugar
Ray Leonard. It was only in 2000 when Duran
finally decided to hang the gloves after his
rematch against Hector Camacho. -
Mike Tyson
Who wouldn’t remember Mike Tyson? Mike Tyson is
considered by many as the hardest hitting
heavyweight who ever lived. He fought the
heavyweight division with a fearsome
reputation. His quick bobbing and weaving
reflexes combined with fast heavy hands made
him the youngest heavyweight champion.
Mike Tyson easily caught the attention of
boxing aficionados by winning his first 19
bouts via knockout. He was able to defeat
Trevor Berbick in just two rounds in 1986 to
become the youngest heavyweight champion. The
year later, he was able to amass both WBA and IBF
heavyweight crown making him the first
heavyweight to successively unify the IBF, WBC
and WBC heavyweight titles. However, Mike
Tyson was defeated by the underdog Buster
Douglass in 1988.
Mike Tyson would later return in 1996 after
being convicted of rape. He was able to face
Evander Holyfield in 1996 only to lose via TKO
in the 11th round. During their rematch, Mike
Tyson ended up disqualified after biting
Evander Holyfield’s ear. At age 35 in 2002,
he also fought Lennox Lewis losing via
knockout. Tyson called it quits in 2006. -
Sugar Ray Robinson
Another all-time great in our list of top 10
best boxers is Sugar Ray Robinson. Sugar Ray
Robinson is considered the pound for pound
number one by many boxing critics. He could also
easily be the number one in our list of top 10
best boxers of all time. In fact, Sugar Ray
Robinson was the very first boxer to be
considered as the pound for pound champion.
Inducted in the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990,
Sugar Ray Robinson had an 85-0 run as an
amateur. As a professional, his record was
nothing short of amazing. He had a 91
winning streak. He retired with a total of
200 fights in his record winning 173
fights, 108 of which were via knockout.
Sugar Ray Robinson viewed both Henry Armstrong
and Joe Louis as his inspirations during his
early years in boxing. What defined Sugar Ray
Robinson’s career was his rivalry against
Jake Lamotta. He had a six fights with the
raging bull. He won five of six of those
matches. -
Manny Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao is larger than life in the
Philippines. He is a politician, an actor,
and a singer in his home country. However,
what made Manny Pacquiao one of the all-time
boxing greats is his ability to fight and
dominate in different weight classes.
Manny Pacquiao managed to win ten world titles
in eight different weight divisions.
Starting his career as a light flyweight, he’s
able to win world titles in different weight
divisions becoming the number one Ring
Magazine pound for pound champion at one
point.
Manny Pacquiao made a name in the US after
defeating series of tough Mexican opponents
such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Eric Morales, Juan
Manuel Marquez and David Diaz. In December
2008, Manny Pacquiao jumped several
weight classes above to face the Golden Boy
Oscar Dela Hoya. After demolishing Oscar Dela
Hoya in eight rounds, this propelled Manny
Pacquiao into superstar status, making him
one of the highly paid athletes of his time.
Manny Pacquiao lost to Floyd Mayweather in 2015
in one of the most highly anticipated matches
of the year. The match had a total of 4.4
million pay-per-view buys making it as one of
the biggest events in boxing. -
Joe Louis
Considered by many as one of the best
heavyweights of all time, Joe Louis was able to
become the world heavyweight champion from
1937 to 1949. Joe Louis helped popularize
the sport right after Jack Dempsey. He made
a reputation as a clean and honest boxer, who
at that time was a breath of fresh air when
the sport was ruled by gambling interests.
Joe Louis is a cultural icon considered as the
very first African American to win the hearts
of America. He is also known for his Anti-Nazi
sentiments especially during the Second World
War.
Unfortunately, Joe Louis had to deal with tax
woes forcing him to make a post retirement
comeback. With a $500,000 debt, he had no
other choice but to fight in the ring once
again. In one of his post-retirement matches,
he took a beating against Rocky Marciano. -
Muhammad Ali
Making it on top of our top 10 boxers of all-
time list is none other thanMuhammad Ali.
Muhammad Ali is considered by many as the
greatest boxer of all time by many critics. He
was able to defeat the likes of Joe Frazier
and George Foreman during one of the best
years of the heavyweight division.
He was also one of the most charismatic
athletes who ever lived. He is not only a
tremendous boxer during his prime, but also an
entertainer.
Do you agree with our list Top 10 Boxers? Who do
you think should’ve made it? Feel free to leave
your comments below!
Top 10 Boxers of All Time
- Muhammad Ali
- Joe Louis
- Manny Pacquiao
- Sugar Ray Robinson
- Mike Tyson
- Roberto Duran
- Joe Frazier
- Bernard Hopkins
- Julio Cesar Chavez
- Willie Pep
Source : Wonder List
