All-time top 10 boxers (influence/impact, not in-ring greatness)

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Jel, Jul 24, 2023.


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  1. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    I started another thread asking how much the influence a fighter had on the sport should impact their ranking when it comes to greatness: https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/how-much-should-‘impact’-influence-ranking.706913/

    Let’s go one further and remove in-ring accomplishments and rank based solely on influence and impact. How you assess influence (popularity, money-making, recognition from general public, etc) is up to you… but based on that, who are your top 10 boxers of all time, in order?

    And before anyone asks, no Rocky Balboa doesn’t count - only real fighters please.
     
    Jel, Jul 24, 2023
    Jel, Jul 24, 2023
    #1
  2. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Interesting topic Jel, I've never considered such a list.

    I think profile is linked to the 3 example categories of influence you list, so I'll go with highest profile, relative to their era.

    Therefore, HWs will factor disproportionately. Off the top of my head, something like:

    1. Ali
    2. Dempsey
    3. J. Johnson
    4. SRR
    5. Louis
    6. Tyson
    7. Marciano
    8. SRL
    9. Mayweather
    10. Foreman
     
    Greg Price99, Jul 24, 2023
    Greg Price99, Jul 24, 2023
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  3. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    For pure impact on the sport:

    1. James Figg
    2. Jack Broughton
    3. John L. Sullivan
    4. Jem Mace
    5. Jack Dempsey
    6. James J. Corbett
    7. Jack Johnson
    8. Daniel Mendoza
    9. Bill Richmond
    10. Joe Louis

    For popularity (relative to their own time)

    1. John L. Sullivan
    2. Floyd Mayweather
    3. Jack Dempsey
    4. Muhammad Ali
    5. Mike Tyson
    6. Joe Louis
    7. James J. Corbett
    8. Jack Johnson (hated but known)
    9. Manny Pacquiao
    10. Jack Broughton

    Edit: realize I put Floyd twice so I rearranged the second list a bit
     
    Last edited: Jul 24, 2023
    Melankomas, Jul 24, 2023
    Melankomas, Jul 24, 2023
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  4. Shay Sonya

    Shay Sonya The REAL Wonder Woman! Full Member

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    Nice lists! I will think about this a while. If I come up with a list, I am sure it will be very similar to yours.
     
    Shay Sonya, Jul 24, 2023
    Shay Sonya, Jul 24, 2023
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  5. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yeah, Sullivan is the glaring omission from my list, Mel
     
    Greg Price99, Jul 24, 2023
    Greg Price99, Jul 24, 2023
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  6. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    People often forget how popular Sullivan was, he was the first boxer to do a nationwide tour so he was known all over. He was literally the Michael Jackson of his time
     
    Melankomas, Jul 24, 2023
    Melankomas, Jul 24, 2023
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  7. Rubber Glove Sandwich

    Rubber Glove Sandwich A lot of people have pools Full Member

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    George Dixon might have a good case for top 10 but I'm not knowledgeable enough on him to be the one to make it.

    A pick I thought about that is outside the box and morbid and I apologize for that, is Kim Duk-Koo. In terms of impact not many can say that they've had a fight that changed the rules of the sport.
     
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Jul 24, 2023
    Rubber Glove Sandwich, Jul 24, 2023
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  8. Mike_b

    Mike_b Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Muhammad Ali
    Mike Tyson
    George Foreman
    Evander Holyfield
    De la Hoya
    Ray Leonard
    Manny Pacquiao
    Roy Jones Jr
    Floyd Mayweather
     
    Mike_b, Jul 24, 2023
    Mike_b, Jul 24, 2023
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  9. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ali
    Louis
    Sullivan
    Dempsey
    Johnson.
     
    Reinhardt, Jul 25, 2023
    Reinhardt, Jul 25, 2023
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  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    01 - Jack Johnson
    02 - Joe Louis
    03 - Muhammad Ali
    04 - Jack Dempsey
    05 - Oscar De La Hoya
    06 - Manny Pacquiao
    07 - Floyd Mayweather
    08 - Mike Tyson
    09 - Julio Cesar Chavez
    10 - Sugar Ray Leonard

    That's MoQ.
     
    McGrain, Jul 25, 2023
    McGrain, Jul 25, 2023
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  11. Frankus

    Frankus Active Member Full Member

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    Do you think SRR deserves a spot considering he is widely considered to be, one of, if not the most influential reason P4P rankings were established?
     
    Frankus, Jul 27, 2023
    Frankus, Jul 27, 2023
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  12. The Cryptkeeper

    The Cryptkeeper Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Most of these lists are going to be a little too US centric. Given this is a global sport I think guys like Duran, Fighting Harada, Lionel Rose, Henry Cooper, Chavez and others should be well in the conversation.

    For example, Chavez would be more influential than Mayweather Jr given he was the face of Mexican boxing for 20 years.
     
    The Cryptkeeper, Jul 27, 2023
    The Cryptkeeper, Jul 27, 2023
    #12
  13. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Sure, why not.
     
    McGrain, Jul 28, 2023
    McGrain, Jul 28, 2023
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  14. My dinner with Conteh

    My dinner with Conteh Tending Bepi Ros' grave again Full Member

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    Good call. Although the first ever 'pfp' poll was 94 years ago and won by Mickey Walker.
     
    My dinner with Conteh, Jul 28, 2023
    My dinner with Conteh, Jul 28, 2023
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  15. AntonioMartin1

    AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

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    You could not talk bad to a Mexican and for that matter to a Latino about Chavez for those 20 years...
     
    AntonioMartin1, Jul 28, 2023
    AntonioMartin1, Jul 28, 2023
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