Best trainers of all time?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Vanboxingfan, Jun 24, 2014.


  1. Vanboxingfan

    Vanboxingfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    It recently occurred to me that we've had a lot of lists and polls over the last 12-15 since I've been on internet boxing sites, but I don't recall many threads about trainers. Now even though I've been in these sites for what seems like forever, I'm the first to admit I'm far from a boxing expert.

    So how would you rank these trainers and why and who should be added onto this list?


    Angelo Dundee - notable for training Ali and SRL - Arguably two top 10
    ATG's

    Jack Blackburn - trained Joe Louis, an ATG

    Jack "Doc" Kearns - trained Jack Dempsey

    Ray Arcel - Trained Duran up to the "No mas" fight, also trained Benny
    Leonard, Tony Zale

    Eddie Futch - Trained Holmes, Frazier, Norton, Bowe, Michael Spinks,
    Alexis Arguello among others

    Freddie Roach - Trained Pac, and several others including Miguel Cotto

    voted the trainer of the year by the Boxing
    Writers Association of America in 2003, 2006, 2008,
    2009,2010 and 2013 current fighters including

    Mayweather's Floyd Sr and Roger - Current and/or past trainers of Floyd
    Mayweather

    Emanuel Stewart - Trained Tommy Hearns, Lennox Lewis, Wlad
    Klitschko trained 41 champions altogether.
     
  2. stokejason

    stokejason New Member Full Member

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    Agree totally
     
  3. grumpy old man

    grumpy old man Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Add perhaps:

    Cus D'Amato - Tyson, Patterson & Torres.

    "Nacho" Beristan - Saldivar, Zaragoza, Lopez, Roman, Gonzalez, De La Hoya, Arce, etc,
     
  4. ForemanJab

    ForemanJab Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Why is Steward last on that list? He should be number 1.
     
  5. The Long Count

    The Long Count Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Angelo Dundee was a great motivator but I do not rank him in top three. He was entrusted as caretaker to, two legendary talents.
    For my money it's Futch, Arcel and Stewart. Roach learned under Futch. Chappie Blackburn was also great trainer. Everyone you list is great I just slightly disagree with placement.
     
  6. Vanboxingfan

    Vanboxingfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Just to clarify I wasn't ranking them, they were randomly selected. I was hoping other posters would rank and/or add names to the list.

    Were I to rank them it would be something like this.

    Ray Arcel - two top 10 ATG greats

    Dundee - also two (or close to it) ATG's

    Futch - the king of the heavweights

    Steward - close behind him

    Roach - accolades galore, and Pac and Cotto are currently among the best

    Blackburn, - only had one notable fighter but he may have been the best heavyweight of all time, no worse than second.

    Mayweather(s) - I think teaching defense is harder to do than train someone who is naturally offensive

    Kearns - Dempey is a legend, who many consider the best they've seen according to the AP poll of 1950

    Would probably add Cus D'Amato and put him behind or maybe above Roach.
     
  7. Vanboxingfan

    Vanboxingfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    As mentioned the placement was random. it was simply in the order of who I thought about and when. But I do disagree that Dundee he didn't influence Ali (especially in the first Liston fight when Ali fought at least part of a round blind) and SRL by how they ended their rounds in flurries trying to influence the judges, and had it not been for Dundee loosening the ropes in Zaire who knows how that fight would have unfolded. That's over and above any training techniques he may have taught.
     
  8. The Long Count

    The Long Count Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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  9. Vanboxingfan

    Vanboxingfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Great suggestions :good
     
  10. martinburke

    martinburke New Member Full Member

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    Freddie Brown is criminally underrated as a trainer, and was also a great cut man. A real teacher who could train all body types and boxing styles. Bob Pastor, Larry Holmes, Abe Simon, Robert Duran and perhaps most impressively taking Vito Antuofermo to a world title.

    Also saved Rocky Marciano's title with his patchwork the night Ezzard Charles split his nose.

    Bill Gore never gets mentioned, either. Willie Pep, Bob Foster, Joe Brown. I'm pretty sure Kenny Weldon was trained by him as well.
     
  11. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    You are forgetting he trained Ezzard Charles. Charles was better than Duran and Leonard.
     
  12. Vysotskyy

    Vysotskyy Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    Wanted to mention him, Charley Goldman, George Benton and Bill Miller who trained James Toney even though Stewart is always credited for it. I think a couple of the more modern guys listed in the OP are overrated tbh.
     
  13. WhyYouLittle

    WhyYouLittle Stand Still Full Member

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    Bah beat me to it. Speaking of Freddie Brown, Whitey Bimstein.
     
  14. Senya13

    Senya13 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Sammy Mandell

    He hardly taught or developed anything about Leonard though, his part was rather insignificant.
     
  15. Senya13

    Senya13 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Harry Gilmore - Jimmy Barry, Packey McFarland.