Is Mike Tyson the most popular boxer ever?

1- Ali
2- Tyson

Then a massive, enormous gap before third place.

 

Ali....

 

Probably Sugar Ray Leonard #3. The Olympic hype, the unification with Hearns, the feud with Duran, the comeback against Haglar...

It is hard for these young-uns to get the phenomenon that was Mike Tyson. It was different times, with boxing still on the networks, HBO doing the tournament. Unless the world changes back to boxing being a mainstream sport, I don't think there can be another Tyson.

This is all from an American's point of view, though.

 

Now it got me thinking who's the third most famous fighter ever? I think that's a more interesting discussion. Guys like Sugar Ray Leonard, Robinson, aren't really that famous among non-boxing fans. I think De La Hoya, Pacquiao, Mayweather and George Foreman are up there.

 

Definitely in the US and among fans of the sport worldwide. But I don't think his name is that recognizable for people who don't know anything about boxing.

 

Could be right about Foreman.

 

Ali was also famous in Britain, the left hook Cooper him down with is an iconic moment in British sports, Cooper was one of the most loved sportsmen in British sporting history and Bruno hurting Tyson in their first bout has become iconic also here in the UK, I`ve even got a drawing of that bout from a notable artist on my wall, Ray Leonard was also well known in Britain mainly for the Haglerr fight but Leonards fame hasn`t lasted as well in Britain, he was invited on a top British chat show a couple of years ago though.

 

This is good measure of how famous Leonard is in the UK.

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DeLaHoya never had global fame, he wasn`t known to the average person where I live in the UK and most of his bouts weren`t televised live in Britain, Floyd and Manny were more famous globally but Floyd`s fight with McGregor made him much more famous in the UK than Manny and he is more known than Leonard in the UK but Ray wa better known in his prime, his fights were shown on mainstream TV and the Hagler fight was more famous in Britain than any of Floyd`s, a lot of people in Britain have never seen Mayweather fight.

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Ali

 

Ali
Tyson
Mayweather
Pacquiao

 

Im from Portugal, a small country who knows **** about boxing. Its probably 1. Ali ; 2. Tyson...

the 3rd is Mayweather. After the bout with Pac and McGregor (who is really popular here) Mayweather gets the 3rd spot.

 

John L Sullivan deserves a mention for his insane popularity, especially in his time period nearly 130 years ago. He has literally entered memetic standard now as a fighting idol (as the mustachioed destroyer who could take on all comers). That his stature not only survives but thrives today is a testament to his legendary charisma.

I mean there is this famous phrase and its derivatives, after all:

'“Shake the hand which shook the hand which shook the hand of The Great John L.”