How many fighters were truly seen as "best of their generation" in history?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by PugilisticPower, May 13, 2015.


  1. PugilisticPower

    PugilisticPower The Blonde Batman Full Member

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    Ignoring all the horse **** that Pacquaio fans are throwing around the forum at the moment, Mayweather Jr can rightfully say he is definitively "the best" in his generation of fighting, the other long serving champions he's either beaten (Pacquaio, Marquez, Mosley, ODLH) or don't have the career/boxing credibility he has ( Klitschko brothers )

    If we consider generation to be 15 year blocks and say Floyd was definitively the best from 2000-2015, how many other fighters would be viewed in the same way?

    2000-2015 - Floyd
    1985-2000 - Tyson / Jones Jr / Lewis
    1970 - 1985 - Tyson / Ali / SRL / Hagler
    1955 - 1970 - Sugar Ray Robinson / Ali / Marciano ?
    1940 - 1955 - Sugar Ray Robinson?
    1925 - 1940 - Joe Louis?
    1910 - 1925 - Jack Johnson

    Not very many eras have a definitive best fighter when you think about it.
     
    PugilisticPower, May 13, 2015
    PugilisticPower, May 13, 2015
    #1
  2. jdw2000

    jdw2000 Active Member Full Member

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    Roy Jones will be looked back upon as being he best of his generation. Few will argue too much with that. Floyd is obviously another candidate.

    Those are the two stand-outs of the last 25 years.
     
    jdw2000, May 13, 2015
    jdw2000, May 13, 2015
    #2
  3. boxing_master

    boxing_master Loyal Member banned

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    Manny Pacqauio
     
    boxing_master, May 13, 2015
    boxing_master, May 13, 2015
    #3
  4. Super Hans

    Super Hans The Super One™ banned

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    Stoop reading when I didn't seen 'Zaggers name there.
     
    Super Hans, May 13, 2015
    Super Hans, May 13, 2015
    #4
  5. PugilisticPower

    PugilisticPower The Blonde Batman Full Member

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    It's hard with Jones Jr because that would be my pick for the best guy during the 1990s without question, but you've got tough opposition in fighters like ODLH, Trinidad, Lennox Lewis, etc.

    If you do it in decades, I think Jones Jr gets 1990s hands down though but most fighters fight for 15 years these days. 15 years tends to be about the average career (start at 20-25 end at 35 - 40ish)
     
    PugilisticPower, May 13, 2015
    PugilisticPower, May 13, 2015
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  6. jdw2000

    jdw2000 Active Member Full Member

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    I'm Lennox's biggest fan. But he didn't dominate like RJJ did. Despite having huge advantages over most people he fought. I wouldn't say Lewis was a better fighter than RJJ.

    Tito and DLH were good fighters, but lost some big fights. They aren;t candidates either.


    Regarding Tito - you could ask most mainstream sports fans in the UK (where I live) who he is and they wouldn't have a clue. I know this point is off topic somewhat, but he's not known at all in the UK. DLH might be.
     
    jdw2000, May 13, 2015
    jdw2000, May 13, 2015
    #6
  7. buckdacious

    buckdacious Sin~City punks!!! Full Member

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    Man so hard! I can only say Floyd without a doubt. everything else can be questioned. I wish era's were decade but there not because fighters fight over 10 years
     
    buckdacious, May 13, 2015
    buckdacious, May 13, 2015
    #7
  8. Jake LaMotta

    Jake LaMotta Lights Out Full Member

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    Roy/Manny/Sweet Pea/Leonard/Duran/Hearns/Hagler
     
    Jake LaMotta, May 13, 2015
    Jake LaMotta, May 13, 2015
    #8
  9. rell84

    rell84 Member Full Member

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    Floyd Mayweather
     
    rell84, May 13, 2015
    rell84, May 13, 2015
    #9