Do you agree with an article in `96 that stated Ray Robinson was the greatest P4P fighter OAT?

In a June edition of the Ring magazine 1996 magazine pundits got together and decided who they though were the 50 greatest fighters of the last 50 years at that time. Here`s why they said Ray was No.1: Record 175-19-6 (110)
Quality of competition 10
Bouts vs Top 50 fighters:4
Why he`s here:The last 50 years, the last 100, it doesn`t matter, He`s the greatest fighter of all time
What he could have done to improve his ranking: Walked on water. Do you agree wit all that was said here?

 

Yes, emphatically. This assertion flies in the face of all attempts to discredit him via historical revisionism.

 

Yeah, he is the greatest ever, without a doubt. I know there are some who assert Greb or Langford should be number 1 but the consensus is still Robinson. And I fully agree with that.

 

Personally I would argue the case for Langford or Greb, but I am not outraged by the argument for Robinson.

 

yes.

when you can box like leonard (if need be) and punch like hearns (with either hand) you are really on to something.

 

Quality of competition is always #1 in my book, Robinson has that,quantity of competition, Robinson had that, physical attributes of power,speed agility, height,reach, Robinson's had all of it. Ring intelligence, heart,will,toughness,dedication. Robinson had that. FILM review, though their is none of his welterweight yrs, their is plenty of film of his middleweight yrs. And he looked great at Middle, slightly past prime, just imagine what a dynamic force he was at welterweight. Every great trainer, great fighter, great sports writer's who saw him say he was the G.O.A.T, even The Greatest of All times said he was the greatest of all time..... Who am I to argue against all that evidence?

 

There is a little bit of fight footage of Robinson in his WW prime and he looks as good as one would expect. But if there was more full fight footage of Robinson from the 40s that would be the holy grail, maybe even more so than the destroyed Greb footage.

 

He's a great choice for #1.

 

#1 Yes.
Consistently great. Very seldom an off night. Giving away weight. Asserting his right as the star in negotiations. Sweet Style.

 

In his first three years as a pro he beat Angott, Zivic and LaMotta twice each plus Armstrong. 15 years later he won the MW title for the last time. He went 90+ fights unbeaten in his prime. Those are all unbelievable achievements.

But Armstrong also has a case. Was it 22 times he defended the WW crown? (EDiT: No, about 19 it seems, and few of them were ranked by The Ring.) On top of being champion at FW, LW and WW at the sam time. And he was robbed of also being a MW champion. (EDIT: It wasn't universally sanctioned.) Mind boggling. So even though he didn't have the longevity of Robinson and lost to him, his unbelievable achievements in his prime makes him a firm candidate.

I know less about Greb and Langford, but clearly they did amazing things as well.

 

I'd give it to Greb but nobody sensible would have their nose put out of joint by Robinson being the chosen.

 

What about the last 50 years from `96 (even though they added 100 years) Greb wasn`t included in the list because of that criteria.

 

Yes, it was once put to Robi that he was the best P4P ever and he put Armstrong and Joe Louis above himself, he said Louis had the fastest hands he had ever seen.

 

It would have been interesting if he had of fought Basilio at welter and it was filmed, then we would have a direct comparison with the welter version of Ray fighting the same legend at both weights, like JCC vs Roger Mayweather at lightweight (Rd 2 KO) and light welter (Rd 8 KO).

 

Sorry I missed the timeline, in the period allowed Robinson.Apologies Armstrong ,Charles and Duran,but its SRR for me.