The Ipswich Express Top 100 Fighters of All Time List

I can understand where you're coming from Leon. I just think that it was a decent win considering Foreman's age. Lou beat a few decent fighters in his career and at the time of the Foreman fight, there were some wraps on him as he had a very good amateur career, as WhataRock mentioned.

 

No, but obviously you could argue a few in there, such as Russell Townshend etc.

 

34.

Roy Jones Jnr 54-6 (40)

Best Wins: TKO10 Jeff Lacy, W12 Antonio Tarver, W12 John Ruiz, TKO10 Erik Harding, W12 Reggie Johnson, KO4 Virgil Hill, KO1 Montell Griffin, TKO2 Merqui Sosa, W12 James Toney, W12 Bernard Hopkins, W10 Jorge Castro.

Good Losses: LDQ9 Montell Griffen.

One of the most athletic men to ever step into the ring. Jones had reflexes that were beyond imagination. Thoroughly dominated Toney in a fight that was a "pick 'em". Between 1997 and 2003 he looked absolutely unbeatable, clearing out the Lt Heavyweight division, apart from Dariusz Michalcwezski. Beat John Ruiz for his Heavyweight title, making him a 4 division champion from Middle to Heavy.


33.


Evander Holyfield 42-10-2 (27)


Best Wins: TKO8 Hasim Rahman, TKO8 Michael Moorer, WDQ3 & TKO11 Mike Tyson, W12 Riddick Bowe, W10 Ray Mercer, W12 Larry Holmes, W12 George Foreman, TKO8 Alex Stewart, TKO10 Michael Dokes, TKO7 Bert Cooper, TKO8 Carlos De Leon, W15 & KO4 Dwight Muhammad Qawi.

Good Losses: L12 Nicoli Valuev, L12 & D12 John Ruiz, L12 Lennox Lewis, TKO8 & L12 Riddick Bowe.

Everything you could want in a fighter. Holyfield fought anyone, anywhere, anytime. With just 11 fights under his belt, he got down and dirty with Qawi, going on to establish himself as the great Cruiser champion ever.

Crushed Buster Douglas to annex the Heavyweight title and eventually became the only 4 time Heavyweight champion. Beating Tyson against all odds was epic. His wars with Riddick Bowe are among boxing's best. Look up heart in the dictionary, there's a picture of this man.


32.


Manny Pacquiao 50-3-2 (38 )

Best Wins: TKO12 Miguel Cotto, KO2 Ricky Hatton, TKO8 Oscar De La Hoya, W12 Juan Manual Marquez, TKO11 & W12 Marco Antonio Barerra, KO3 & KO9 Erik Morales, KO2 Jorge Elicear Julio, TKO6 Lehlo Ledwaba.

Good Losses: D12 Juan Manuel Marquez, L12 Erik Morales.


To put it simply, a modern day great. Champion from Flyweight to Welterweight, which basically says it all. A fighter that has improved significantly as his career has progressed.

"The Pac-Man" has looked near unbeatable for the past 5 or so years, jumping weight classes and dispatching a number of great fighters along the way. If he gets past Clottey and then defeats Mayweather, there is potential to climb even higher on this list.


31.


Terry McGovern 65-6-7 (44) (Includes Newspaper Decisions)

Best Wins: KO11, KO2, KO15 Harry Forbes, KO24 & WDQ7 George Monroe, KO12 Casper Leon, KO1 Pedlar Palmer, TKO8 & W6 George Dixon, KO5 Eddie Santry, KO3 & KO4 Oscar Gardner, TKO3 Frank Erne, KO2 Joe Gans, KO5 Aurelio Herrera.

Good Losses: D10 Tommy Sullivan, D20 George Monroe, L6 Battling Nelson


Won the Bantamweight title with a first round blowout over Pedlar Palmer and defended that crown once. Won the Featherweight title and made 7 successful defences.

On top of this he annihilated the legendary Gans in 2 rounds and also whipped George Dixon twice. "Terrible Terry" is recognised as one of the best punchers of all time, and Nat Fleischer called him the best Featherweight of all time.



30.


Tommy Loughran 116-29-13 (17) (Includes Newspaper Decisions)

Best Wins: W15 Jack Sharkey, W10 Max Baer, W15 James Braddock, W10 Mickey Walker, W8, W10 & W15 Mike McTigue, W10 & W15 Pete Latzo, W15 Jimmy Slattery, W10 Young Stribling, W10 Georges Carpentier, W10 Harry Greb, W12 Arturo Godoy.

Good Losses: W15 Primo Carnera, L10 & D10 Jack Delaney, L6 & L10 Young Stribling, L8, L10 x 2, L15 & D10 Harry Greb, D8 Gene Tunney.


"The Phantom of Philly" was a fighter with incredible footwork and a deadly counter-puncher. A two time Light Heavyweight champ, making 6 defences in his second reign. He also has some fantastic wins at Heavyweight.

Fought for the Heavyweight title against Carnera and gave at 84lbs (38kg) in a losing effort. His record is truly amazing with some top wins at Heavyweight over top contenders of his day.

 

29.


Larry Holmes 69-6 (44)

Best Wins: W12 Ray Mercer, W15 Carl Williams, W12 Tim Witherspoon, TKO13 Gerry Cooney, TKO3 Leon Spinks, TKO11 & W12 Earnie Shavers, TKO12 Mike Weaver, W15 Ken Norton.

Good Losses: L12 Oliver McCall, L12 Evander Holyfield, L15 Michael Spinks.

One of the greatest Heavyweight champions of all time. Holmes made 20 successful defences, second only to the great Joe Louis. His war with Ken Norton is one of the division's finest, and the "Easton Assassin" did it through heart, something he would show numerous times throughout his career.

His skill set is on par with Ali for mine, he just had less of a chance to show it. He completely dominated his era, and you can't do much more than that. Probably the most underrated fighter, that is considered an all time great.



28.



Jimmy McLarnin 54-11-3 (21)

Best Wins: W10 Lou Ambers, W10 Tony Canzoneri, W15 Barney Ross, KO1 Young Corbett III, KO8 Sammy Fuller, W10 x 2 Billy Petrolle, KO3 Al Singer, W10 Young Jack Thompson, W10 x 2 Sammy Mandell, KO8 Louis Kaplan, W10 Pancho Villa, W4 & W10 Fidel La Barba, KO2 Jackie Fields.


Good Losses: L10 Tony Canzoneri, L15 x 2 Barney Ross, L10 Billy Petrolle, L10 Lou Broulliard.

In this age of Manny Pacquiao hoopla (and it's deserved), here is a legend who started his career as a Flyweight. Fought in an era where weigh ins were 5 hours prior to the fight, McLarnin beat Pancho Villa in his 25th bout.

Knocked out Young Corbett III, for the World Welterweight title in a single round, causing one of boxing's biggest upsets. Corbett was 103-8-22 at the time.

An epic trilogy with Barney Ross followed. "The Baby-Faced Assassin" won his last two fights over all time greats Ambers and Canzoneri.


27.

Thomas Hearns 61-5-1 (48 )

Best Wins: W12 Nate Miller, W12 Virgil Hill, W12 James Kinchen, KO4 Juan Roldan, TKO10 Dennis Andries, KO1 James Shuler, KO2 Roberto Duran, W12 Luigi Minchillo, W15 Wilfred Benitez, KO2 Pipino Cuevas, TKO4 Angel Espada, TKO6 Harold Weston.


Good Losses: L12 Iran Barkley, D12 & TKO14 Ray Leonard D12 & TKO14, KO3 Marvin Hagler.

Thomas "Hitman" Hearns is surely one of the most destructive offensive fighters our great sport has ever seen. Owned one of the best one-two's in boxing history. His right hand put more people to sleep than counting sheep.

Hearns was the first ever champion in four weight divisions. The Ring recognises him as the greatest Jnr Middle of all time and 18th on their all time punchers list.

His KO's of Cuevas and Duran are frightening. His wars with Leonard and Hagler are some of the greatest fights boxing has ever seen. His whipping of Virgil Hill is the cream on the cake. Possibly the most exciting fighter of all time, in my opinion.



26.


Abe Attell 108-18-23 (39) (Includes Newspaper Decisions)

Best Wins: W15 George Dixon, W20 & W15 Johnny Reagan, KO5 & TKO7 Harry Forbes, W6 Young Erne, W6 Battling Nelson, W15, TKO9, W10 Jimmy Walsh, W20 Frankie Neil, W10 x 2, TKO13 Owen Moran, W10 Johnny Kilbane.

Good Losses: D10, D20 George Dixon, KO19 Benny Yanger, D10 Harry Forbes, D6 & L6 Young Erne, D6, D23 & D25 Owen Moran, D15 Battling Nelson, D10 Ad Wolgast, L10 Jim Driscoll, L20 Johnny Kilbane.


"The Little Hebrew" beat the legendary George Dixon for the World Featherweight title at just 18 years of age. After doing a lot of reading on Attell, there is some conjecture to how many title defences he made. Some claim 18, others claim 22.

Regardless, Attell fought the best in the world and often. His mother was initially against him fighting, until after Attell's first fight (KO2) when he came home unscathed and with $15. His mother asked: "Abie, when are you going to fight again?"

Initially a KO artist, his style changed after watching Dixon and James J Corbett slip and duck punches. He was also infamously involved in the Baseball World Series betting scandal.

 

Darcy and Griffo would be well at home on the list, make no mistake.

 

25.

Tony Canzoneri 141-24-10 (44)

(Includes Newspaper Decisions)

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Best Wins: W10 Jimmy McLarnin, W10 x 2, TKO9, W12 Frankie Klick, W15 Lou Ambers, W10 Baby Arizmendi, W15 & KO2 Kid Chocolate, W15 Billy Petrolle, W15 & KO3 Jack Berg, KO1 Al Singer, W10 & W15 Benny Bass, W10 Bud Taylor, W15 Johnny Dundee, W12 Andre Routis.

Good Losses: L10 McLarnin UD10, L15 & L10 Barney Ross, L10 Jack Berg, L10 Sammy Mandell, L15 x 2 Lou Ambers.

Canzoneri has a simply stellar resume and is deserved of the #25 spot on this list. He beat 12 different world champions and decisioned two Hall of Famers in Arizmendi and Petrolle.

Canzoneri won world titles at Featherweight, Lightweight and Light Welterweight. He was an agressive fighter, who had more of a punch than his stoppage ratio would indicate. He fought for two world titles by the time he was 20 years of age and by the age of 23 was considered the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.

Had he beaten Ross (he lost razor close decisions) he'd be much further up this list. As it was, he faced 18 world champions in total and 6 HOFers over a 15 year career.