Best boxer of the 1940s

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Yorbals, Mar 24, 2026.


Page 1 of 2
  1. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,247
    2,930
    Jul 28, 2025
    Is it Ray Robinson or Willie Pep?

    Ray - 101-1-2
    Pep- 143-2-1

    Only fights in the 40s so Peps other losses to Saddler and Robinsons middleweight fights don’t count
     
    Yorbals, Mar 24, 2026
    Yorbals, Mar 24, 2026
    #1
    Fogger likes this.
  2. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

    8,034
    13,700
    Oct 20, 2017
    It’s Robinson.
     
    Jel, Mar 24, 2026
    Jel, Mar 24, 2026
    #2
    Yorbals likes this.
  3. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,247
    2,930
    Jul 28, 2025
    Imagine having Peps record and not being the best boxer of the decade. Crazy stuff
     
    Yorbals, Mar 24, 2026
    Yorbals, Mar 24, 2026
    #3
    Jel and Mike Cannon like this.
  4. Fogger

    Fogger Father, grandfather and big sports fan. Full Member

    9,479
    15,359
    Aug 9, 2021
    I consider the welterweight version of Robinson to be the best fighter of all time, just a bit ahead of lightweight Roberto Duran.

    For me, Sugar Ray is the best fighter of the 1940s.
     
    Fogger, Mar 24, 2026
    Fogger, Mar 24, 2026
    #4
    Greg Price99, ETM, Quick Cash and 2 others like this.
  5. Macedoine62

    Macedoine62 Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,905
    2,102
    Dec 23, 2023
    Ray Robinson
     
    Macedoine62, Mar 24, 2026
    Macedoine62, Mar 24, 2026
    #5
    Greg Price99 and Fergy like this.
  6. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    25,456
    9,330
    Jul 17, 2009
    Another vote for the Sugarman.
     
    Stevie G, Mar 24, 2026
    Stevie G, Mar 24, 2026
    #6
    Fergy likes this.
  7. Fogger

    Fogger Father, grandfather and big sports fan. Full Member

    9,479
    15,359
    Aug 9, 2021
    As a point of interest, the top five boxers of the 1940s from the poll that @Rumsfeld did a little while back was as follows.

    1. Ray Robinson
    2. Joe Louis
    3. Willie Pep
    4. Ezzard Charles
    5. Ike Williams
     
    Fogger, Mar 24, 2026
    Fogger, Mar 24, 2026
    #7
    Greg Price99, Fergy, thistle and 2 others like this.
  8. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Active Member Full Member

    923
    743
    Dec 17, 2019
    If you mean P 4 P it was Ray Robinson. If your talking about the most successful it was Joe Louis the Supreme heavyweight champ for the decade beat the best around and retired with the title.
     
    Steve Fero, Mar 24, 2026
    Steve Fero, Mar 24, 2026
    #8
    Yorbals likes this.
  9. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,247
    2,930
    Jul 28, 2025
    Gotta be Pep over Louis for the 40’s. 18- 0 and his biggest wins were probably in the 30s where he went 40-1, vs Pep 143-2-1?
     
    Yorbals, Mar 25, 2026
    Yorbals, Mar 25, 2026
    #9
    Fogger likes this.
  10. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

    58,380
    13,480
    Jul 28, 2009
    Ronnie Dobbs deserves a mention.
     
    Boxed Ears, Mar 25, 2026
    Boxed Ears, Mar 25, 2026
    #10
  11. thistle

    thistle Boxing Junkie

    8,371
    8,958
    Dec 21, 2016
    Ray Robinson for sure, the best in damn every category throughout Boxing History...

    Louis, Charles, Pep among many others can & should be considered 'among' ultimate greats i.e. Jersey Joe and Lloyd Marshall.

    I know those two names will be excluded on many a list, because so many people get stuck on achievements and the like, which baffles me I have to say, because for me it matters little...

    If a fighter's at & among the Top, well then there is only one true measure.

    H2H & Peak 4 Peak, which in that regard the JJW's & Lloyd Marshall's will always figure.
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2026
    thistle, Mar 25, 2026
    thistle, Mar 25, 2026
    #11
  12. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

    13,677
    12,339
    Mar 19, 2012
    Ezzard Charles in the 40s was a problem.
     
    ETM, Mar 25, 2026
    ETM, Mar 25, 2026
    #12
    Yorbals and Fogger like this.
  13. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,247
    2,930
    Jul 28, 2025
    Archie Moore rough record

    30s 38-4-3
    40s 71-12-3
    50’s 66-3-2
    60’s 9-2-1
     
    Yorbals, Mar 25, 2026
    Yorbals, Mar 25, 2026
    #13
    Fogger likes this.
  14. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,247
    2,930
    Jul 28, 2025
    i think I would just swap Pep and Louis in the poll but looking at these records from the 40s and 50s, today just doesn’t compare
     
    Yorbals, Mar 25, 2026
    Yorbals, Mar 25, 2026
    #14
    ETM likes this.
  15. Larry201038

    Larry201038 New Member Full Member

    60
    49
    Nov 5, 2022
    Yeah Robinson
     
    Larry201038, Mar 25, 2026
    Larry201038, Mar 25, 2026
    #15
Page 1 of 2