Which fighters were one big win away from being considered an ATG?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Bronson666, Aug 26, 2025.


  1. Bronson666

    Bronson666 Member Full Member

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    Can you think of any fighters who may have been considered an ATG had they won just one more big fight? Could one big win make a difference in their legacy?

    Is Cotto an ATG if he beats either Floyd or Manny?

    Is Toney an ATG if he defeated Jones?

    What if GGG gets the win vs Canelo in either rematch?

    Who are some others whose legacies may have shined a little brighter with one big win?
     
  2. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    I already consider Toney and G all time greats.
    A past it G already beat Canelo twice IMO.
    Toneys skill set speaks for itself
     
  3. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    James Toney is already an ATG. I'd probably say Cotto as well.

    GGG is debatable but I would have no issue with people calling him one, although I think his case would have been even greater had he had one official win over Canelo.

    I'd say Lomachenko came in so close to that and might have been seen as an ATG if he had won narrowly against Devin Haney and became undisputed.
     
  4. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I think so. He already had a pretty damn good career as it was and I believe is in the hall of fame. A win over Floyd, Manny or even Canelo would have elevated him to that status. While I already consider Mike McCallum fairly close to ATG status, a win over Toney might have secured it
     
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  5. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Tyson Fury beating Oleksandr Usyk
    Carl Froch beating Andre Ward
    Edwin Rosario beating Julio Cesar Chavez
    Danny Lopez beating Salvador Sanchez
    Diego Corrales beating Floyd Mayweather Jr
    Julian Jackson beating Mike McCallum
    Curtis Cokes beating Jose Napoles
    Naseem Hamed beating Marco Antonio Barrera
    Carlos Palomino beating Roberto Duran
    Daniel Zaragoza beating Erik Morales
     
    Last edited: Aug 26, 2025
  6. Bronson666

    Bronson666 Member Full Member

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    Palomino and Cokes have always been very underrated. Good to see them mentioned here.
     
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  7. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Donald Curry prior to Honeygan

    Camacho prior to Rosario

    Sonny prior to Cassius Clay
     
  8. ThatOne

    ThatOne Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Richard Dunn.
     
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  9. Bronson666

    Bronson666 Member Full Member

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    A few more to consider

    Buddy McGirt wins over Whitaker (I felt he did enough to in their first fight)

    Laguna wins over Buchanan

    Paddy DeMarco can be in the conversation if he beats Pep. He had two wins over Saddler, Jimmy Carter, Dupas., Graham

    Hamed wins over Barrera?
     
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  10. Bigcheese

    Bigcheese Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Vitali beating Lewis. The resume would still be a little thin, but he'd have the big scalp to go with the dominant run and perceived H2H ability.
     
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  11. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    If Povetkin beats Wlad
    Tua beats Lewis
    I think if Buster Douglas had one more good win after Tyson he would be on a lot more lists of top 20. Shame what happened to him.
     
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  12. Marvelous_Iron

    Marvelous_Iron Active Member Full Member

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    Already an atg but if Frazier won in Manila I feel like he'd be in more top 10's
     
  13. TheMikeLake

    TheMikeLake Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I think Ken Norton is close to this threshold but maybe needed a second win. Let's say he takes two from Ali and the Holmes fight, he may be considered an ATG.
     
  14. TheMikeLake

    TheMikeLake Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I feel he's in the majority of people's (Experts and poll results) top ten.
     
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  15. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    There's some really well thought out names in that, nice one Flo.
     
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