Who's the greatest?

I used to agree with you. Now I have Harry Greb at #1, with Sugar Ray Robinson at a distant second.

 

Seems to be constant mix between Sugar, Greb, and Langford. In the grand scheme they all have a claim to #1. As far the resume department is concerned Greb trumps everyone and Langford in that regard should be above Robinson. Robinson however displayed the greatest skillset of any boxer ever recorded and dominated two of the richest classes in the sports history, 1 loss out his 1st 100 fights or so and none at Welter. It's a judgement call in all honesty, theirs no wrong answer out of the three.

 

I voted for Armstrong, though I can just as well see a case for Robinson or Greb. However, I think those three are the only ones on that list that have a genuine claim to being the absolute #1 ATG. I think Langford, Charles, and possibly Benny Leonard have better claims to that spot than the others on that list.

 

What in the world did Muhammed Ali (for example) do that say Bob Fitzsimmons didnt do. Or what did Roberto Duran do that Sam Langford couldnt and didnt do? Why is Sugar Ray Leonard a better fighter than say Tommy Ryan. Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Benny Leonard, Carlos Monzon, the list is endless of fighters who could be considered. Many of whom really have a much stronger case than several on the list. Saying that you really shouln't have anyone else is quite frankly, wrong.

Especially when the greatest ever (bob fitzsimmons) isnt even listed.

 

I voted for Leonard because of his boxing acumen, physical attributes and quality of competition...despite being inactive for 2 years. I have to say that RJJ would get my p4p vote if he had simply retired after beating Ruiz and Tarver in 2003.

 

Wlad, of course!










SRR, actually. I know it's the safe pick but it's also the correct pick.

 

By and large; fighters that get pound for pound acclaim are fighters that excel at one weight, and go on to success at higher weights. There are exceptions to this. Ali, Pep, and Benny Leonard established themselves in their own respective title winning weight class.

I sometimes lose sight of how important dominance of one class is in today's 17 divisioned, with 3-4 world titles each division, mess that no one cares to clean up. Today, people can find a particular style they fare well against and move from weight class to weight class looking good against that particular type.

Ray Robinson can make a completely sound and solid argument for being the best in two weight classes, welter and middle. I don't know of anyone else being able to make that sort of claim, especially since 6 of the 8 in this poll competed in at least one of these weight classes.

 

Would it somehow erase his accomplishments or make him a different man if he had? I still don't get this "If they had retired when..." stuff.

 

The question who is the greatest,is tough to answer for two reasons, to me...The greatest, could mean, what fighter was the best ALL around fighter , and the most beautiful to watch ? I would answer Ray Robinson, who I was fortunate to see in his welterweight prime several times...By far the best fighter I ever saw live. Hands down...
However, the GREATEST Fighter question could mean something else...
It could also mean what fighter, could beat great fighters way above his weight class, that A Ray Robinson, would never attempt to do...Robinson wisely knew his physical limitations...Of course the fighter I have in mind is the Iron City Express, Harry Greb.... Greb beat Hall of famers such as Tunney, Loughran, Gibbons , Jack Dillon,Battling Levinsky, Maxsie Rosenbloom, Mickey Walker, etc,alltime greats who outweighed Harry Greb by 15 pounds or so, and yes, heavyweights such as Bill Brennan several times... As I posted before Harry Greb would certainly lick every one of Ray Robinsons opponents, but Robinson never would beat these great and heavier light heavyweights...He avoided the bigger men such as Moore, Charles, Lloyd Marshall, Harold Johnson...Greb feared no one...This is why I pick Harry Greb, along with Ruby Bob Fitzimmons, and Sam Langford, as the greatest P4P fighters of alltime...They were great " handy cap horses".