Best boxer of the 1960s

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Yorbals, Mar 25, 2026.

  1. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Ali 29-0
    Locche 87-1-12
    Monzon 62-3-9
    Frazier 24-0
    Benvenuti 80-3-1

    Are these the best boxers of the 60s? What order would you put them in or who else should be in the top 5?
     
  2. Ioakeim Tzortzakis

    Ioakeim Tzortzakis "The David Haye of Loma's Gay" -Edgar Allan Poe Full Member

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    Napoles, Griffith, Jofre and Harada should definitely be in over Frazier and Benvenuti. Especially if we only count achievements exclusive to the 60s. Monzon hadn't even become champ yet, and Frazier's best win at that point was Quarry.

    Resume wise, I'd go with Griffith. Ali's resume wasn't as dense by that point and his marquee wins over Frazier and Foreman were still to come.

    In terms of sheer ability in the ring, P4P H2H or whatever, I'd go with Napoles.
     
  3. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yes only in the 60s

    Napoles 52-3
    Jofre 19-2
    Harada 56-6
    Griffith 45-10
    Rodriguez 70- 8

    I’d agree with Napoles, and maybe some of the others.
    Good point about Monzon, maybe he’s better off in the 70s behind Duran.
    He hadn’t lost in 5 years by 1969 though and wouldn’t lose again.
    He might have been ‘better’ than Griffith or Jofre, again going off purely the 60s, despite not being champion yet.
     
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  4. newurban99

    newurban99 Active Member Full Member

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    Dick Tiger, the great underrated middleweight champ.
     
  5. Bronson666

    Bronson666 Member Full Member

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    Jofre, Ortiz, Griffith, Luis Rodriguez, Jose Napoles, Harada, Tiger.
     
  6. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Active Member Full Member

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    Ali, Frazier and the dominate light heavyweight champ Bob Foster. The other guys mentioned all got bested by someone in the end. Napoles just won the title right at end of 1960s.
     
  7. Macedoine62

    Macedoine62 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    In Asia Masao Oba, Fighting Harada, Pone Kingpetch, Chartchai Chionoi, Susumu Hanagata, Hiroyuki Ebihara, Berkrerk Chartvanchai.
     
  8. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Ortiz 21-4-1
    Multiple lightweight titles, losing series with Loi, winning series with Laguna, draw with Locche
    Tiger 23-5-1
    Middle titles and light heavy title, winning series with Fullmer, splitting series with Giardello
    Foster
    37-4
    Light heavyweight title.
     
  9. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Frazier must make way for one or two of the mentioned fighters I reckon, since we can’t count his early 70s title and wins. Good
     
  10. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Personally I voted:

    1. Ali
    2. Griffiths
    3. Harada
    4. Saldivar
    5. Olivares
     
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  11. Ice8Cold

    Ice8Cold The Hype Job Spotter. Full Member

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    Got to be Muhammad Ali.
     
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  12. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Active Member Full Member

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    Frazier had a version of the title in the 60s after beating Buster Mathis. He was beating all the best heavyweights around and was undefeated plus an Olympic Gold Medal.
     
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  13. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

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    You make a good case for him.
    I love Frazier, maybe I should stick with him. Napoles has a great case though. I love Locche too, maybe Monzon should make way for Napoles. There were so many great fighters in the 40s-70s