Who is the toughest boxer who ever boxed at the top level?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mark ant, Oct 1, 2018.

  1. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2006
    Messages:
    18,091
    Likes Received:
    15,550
    How do you even begin to quantify toughness?
     
  2. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2017
    Messages:
    8,584
    Likes Received:
    11,096
    I'll add Bob Fitzsimmons was very tough, how he found a way to beat Corbett was incredible.

    Andy Bowen was just ridiculous, fighting 110 rounds, the longest known boxing match ever, and then an 85 round contest the next month.
     
    mcvey likes this.
  3. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2018
    Messages:
    6,916
    Likes Received:
    8,574
    What he said!
     
  4. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2018
    Messages:
    6,916
    Likes Received:
    8,574
    Guy names Joe Grim (the human punching bag) May take the second place prize though behind Chuvalo
     
    DJN16 likes this.
  5. DJN16

    DJN16 Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2013
    Messages:
    3,704
    Likes Received:
    2,760
    Never heard of him, tell me more.
     
  6. DJN16

    DJN16 Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2013
    Messages:
    3,704
    Likes Received:
    2,760
    Although I agree pretty much what you said..... Journeyman are not there to win. Their job is survival. At the highest level you don't see them in 12 round contests (nowadays, unlike 15 rounds ot more) taking on champions and challengers in their prime putting it on the line.

    However I'm agreeing many journeyman are hard as ****.
     
  7. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2018
    Messages:
    6,916
    Likes Received:
    8,574
    Rumored to have over 300 fights and losing most. (think boxing rec has him at like 33-16-4 or something) was given the name human punching bag for his ability to not get knocked out. Terrible fighter though believe he fought Jack johnson who called him more then flesh and blood lol
     
  8. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2017
    Messages:
    8,584
    Likes Received:
    11,096
    A lot of ND fights which don't show in his record at the top.

    Including them his record is 40-113-25, only being stopped 6 times. He fought a lot of world champions from different weights, he weighed in at 167.5Ibs and Sam McVea took 13 rounds to stop him, and that was near the end of his "career", when his chin wasn't quite what it was. A true freak of nature.

    I think Bob Fitzsimmons reinjured his hands trying to KO him before the Gardner fight

    Before taking up boxing, back in Italy, he would supposedly run head first into an iron door for money.
     
  9. DJN16

    DJN16 Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2013
    Messages:
    3,704
    Likes Received:
    2,760
    Haha I remember Johnson referring to someone along those lines, probably him.

    Off topic, read in boxing news/monthly recently about an average British fighter who had an exhibition with Johnson. After retirement the fighter went on to be an Oscar winning actor. Forgot his name without googling it.
     
  10. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Messages:
    9,812
    Likes Received:
    843
    Never gets mentioned in these sort of threads but I'd say Mike McCallum deserves a mention. An all rounder and a real tough guy!
     
  11. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Messages:
    9,812
    Likes Received:
    843
    Bombardier Billy Wells, didn't read the question there. You thinking about the actor in the Quiet Man, forget his name now:)
     
  12. cross_trainer

    cross_trainer Liston was good, but no "Tire Iron" Jones Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2005
    Messages:
    18,216
    Likes Received:
    14,017
    Victor Mclaglen. He also makes cameo appearances in Bruce Lee threads as the man who could outfight AND out-act Bruce.
     
    DJN16 and AlFrancis like this.
  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2006
    Messages:
    97,605
    Likes Received:
    28,861
    Victor Mclaglen
     
    DJN16, cross_trainer and AlFrancis like this.
  14. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 25, 2008
    Messages:
    9,812
    Likes Received:
    843
    I read it originally that he was talking about the Gong bloke :)
     
  15. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2018
    Messages:
    6,029
    Likes Received:
    11,170
    How about James Toney. 30 year career and I don't recall ever seeing him hurt. Sure he was great defensively but even when fighters got through and caught him he never wavered.

    Lamotta and Zivic come to mind as well.
     
    BitPlayerVesti likes this.