who was the toughest fighter ever? im talking about someone that dindt give a f*ck and would jump into the box with them anytime anywhere regardless of size and outcome? a guy that even if he lost would come away thinking he was winning or won at all times a guy that could take a tremendous beating and just keep coming after his opponent.. possibly joe grimm, battling nelson what are your nominations? id like to see a top ten list.
When I think of the toughest fighters, the first guy that comes to mind is Big Jess Willard. He kept getting up. He finished the fight on his feet. And my belief is that he was boxing well before the fight was stopped. Then "the Bronx Bull" JAKE LAMOTTA. Fight Robbie six time. The lathering he took in his final fight with Robinson should have been enough to say I have had enough of boxing. Yet he kept fighting. He is still alive and kicking after all those fights, and years. Hard man. Recent. I like Diego Corrales. He went down six times to Floyd, but was fired up when the fight was stoped. Casamayor put is guard through his lip, he still wanted to fight, and who could forget the war with Castillio. Gatti's put the "T" in tough. Ward.
Fenech has got to be on that list. Not only the toughest but also the most mentally toughest fighter ever.
greb Foreman absolutely does not fit this bill: dindt give a f*ck and would jump into the box with them anytime anywhere regardless of size and outcome? During his first reign he admitted to ducking Quarry, wouldnt even spar with him. During his second reign he was avoiding all kinds of fighters and his promoters were paying massive amounts of money to get unworthy fighters ranked just so foreman could beat them and keep the gravy train rolling.
Lennox is a good pick for tougness at heavy - watch his Fights VS Briggs, Tyson, VITLAY, Bruno, Mercer, ETC.
LaMotta is often a favorite for such consideration based upon his career alone. But is there a point where we also need to factor in how well he's aged and continues to thrive? He has all his marbles, and has now surpassed Dempsey in longevity. Johnny Wilson was the first former champion to live past 90. McLarnin and Schmeling followed him, and actually came not far short of the century mark. Jack Sharkey got to 91. Would Jake be the fifth former champion to get to 90 next July? Of all these champions, who's the last one who would be expected to retain full health and vitality by his late 80s? Chuvalo is also in excellent shape. The man had 93 fights, successfully competed until he was 41, and retired as Canadian HW Champion. He just turned 73. If we are to go by in ring toughness, the legendary way Walker survived the last 1:10 of round eight against Schmeling was insane. He kept returning fire, fighting back while getting battered all over the ring. Don't forget that Mickey wanted to continue, but Kearns overruled him. Bullets, malaria and morphine addiction couldn't stop Barney Ross. Nor could a peak Armstrong. What kind of fighter would have been necessary to take him out? Schmeling himself got up from a lethal Max Baer right, and was on his feet at the end. He was also getting up for a third time in the rematch with Louis with very serious injuries when the towel came flying in from the corner before his eyes. He recovered from what should have been a career ending disaster to win the EBU HW Title in a starching of his own over Heuser, recovered from getting wounded in the Pyrrhic German victory at Crete, then made a comeback on his 42nd birthday, and went 3-2, earning enough to finance his acquisition of Coca Cola in Germany. He was intact until his death at 99.
Anyone else know of someone who went to the post 233 times and fought LaMotta (4 times), while outweighed by at least 10 lbs., Armstrong (3 times), Robinson (twice), Burley (3 times), Jack (twice), Jenkins (twice), Conn, Ambers, Angott, Montgomery and Booker. I'll tell you who. Fritzie Zivic, that's who. Scartissue