These I feel were the greatest 160 pounders ever. This list ranks fighters by consistent greatness at the weight and is limited to boxers who the world title or a part of it—- 1. Harry Greb 2. Marvin Hagler 3. Carlos Monzon 4. Sugar Ray Robinson 5. Bernard Hopkins 6. Stanley Ketchel 7. Tommy Ryan 8. Bob Fitzsimmons 9. Freddie Steele 10. Tony Zale 11. Mickey Walker 12. Jake LaMotta 13. Marcel Cerdan 14. Dick Tiger 15. Tiger Flowers
Of these, I think you have Cerdan and Zale far too high, the rest is fine. In their place, I'd introduce Dick Tiger and Jack Dempsey, probably.
in NO Order here, these are certainly among the G.O.A.T middleweights... Harry Greb Marvin Hagler Carlos Monzon Sugar Ray Robinson Freddie Steele Tony Zale Mickey Walker Marcel Cerdan
The name LaMotta does not compute with the word 'consistency'. If this is part of your criteria then Gene Fullmer in place of Jake makes more sense. But Gene didn't have a movie made on him.
Once adapted to the weight he never lost until near 40 against a peak Toney in the return. He had to travel to young hotshots backyards because he had no backing. Even guys who had 10lbs and 10yrs on him (Collins & Watson), beat Kalambay in the rematch abroad and took the fight even Hagler evaded in Herol Graham (in front of 1,500 with no commentary!). He didn’t have to face Toney either, but strove for greatness (that he already had anyway).
It seems almost sacrilegious to me not to have Robinson at no. 1. He was such a fabulous competitor at 160 pounds. So great that he won the middleweight title 5 times. At his best at middleweight, he probably was the best middleweight of all time. But he was inconsistent in the division. Greb was far more consistent. Monzon and Hagler had 7 year title reigns. So as much as I admire the original Sugar Ray, I can’t place him at number 1. He was the greatest fighter of all time, but not the most consistently great middleweight of all time. So I have him at no. 4. Tommy Ryan was a brilliant all around fighter. Hopkins had consummate skill and impressive longevity. Freddie Steele was great but underrated. Fitzsimmons had extraordinary power. If Marcel Cerdan had lived, he would rank much higher. And Hagler was powerful, a skillful technician, and had one of the greatest chins in boxing history. As did Jake LaMotta.
But was Gene Fullmer a great fighter? He was certainly a very good one. I don’t believe that he was better than LaMotta. Yes , the movie helped to enhance his legacy. He wasn’t a devastating puncher in reality. I do believe that most boxing historians consider him a great one.
I'm totally wrong btw - you need Mike Gibbons on there urgently, and also Burley and Holman Williams more urgently than Tiger. IN fact Cerdan above those three hurts my eyes a bit.
He don't have the longevity at middleweight but I would take Middleweight Roy Jones to beat anyone on that list.
HERE I GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 01 - Harry Greb 02 - Carlos Monzon 03 - Marvin Hagler 04 - Sugar Ray Robinson 05 - Stanley Ketchel 06 - Mike Gibbons 07 - Bernard Hopkins 08 - Charley Burley 09 - Tommy Ryan 10 - Holman Williams 11 - Freddie Steele 12 - Jake LaMotta 13 - Dick Tiger 14 - Bob Fitzsimmons 15 - Jack Dempsey 16 - Fred Apostoli 17 - Teddy Yarosz 18 - Mickey Walker 19 - Jack Dillon 20 - Tiger Flowers 21 - Ken Overlin 22 - Joe Giardello 23 - Billy Papke 24 - Gene Fullmer 25 - Mike O'Dowd 26 - Les Darcy 27 - Bert Lytell 28 - Frank Klaus 29 - Emile Griffiths 30 - Nino Benvenuti 31 - Lloyd Marshall 32 - James Toney 33 - Tony Zale 34 - Billy Conn 35 - Roy Jones 36 - Mike Nunn 37 - Randy Turpin 38 - Marcel Cerdan 39 - Georgie Abrams 40 - Mike McCallum 41 - Jeff Smith 42 - Young Corbett III 43 - Charles "Kid" McCoy 44 - Sumbu Kalambay 45 - Bobo Olsen 46 - Marcel Thil 47 - Jack Chase 48 - Jermain Taylor 49 - Cocoa Kid 50 - Hugo Kelly
I'm only commenting on your criteria of consistency. And LaMotta certainly was not. Losses to Cecil Hudson, welterweight Fritzie Zivic, Robert Villemain (whom he also received a gift decision over), Laurent Dauthille (who was outclassing him again in the rematch before Jake pulled out a last minute rescue) and being thoroughly outclassed by the great and underrated Lloyd Marshall should exclude him from any list based on consistency. Even his greatest win is tainted by beating a one-armed fighter. It's your list and if you wish to include Jake on your opinion or the opinion of others I say go for it. But never based on consistency.
10) Jake LaMotta 9) Marcel Cerdan 8) Mickey Walker 7) D!ck Tiger 6) Freddie Steele 5) Stanley Ketchel 4) Sugar Ray Robinson 3) Carlos Monzon 2) Marvin Hagler 1) Harry Greb
Furthermore, La Motta was ( as we know ) avoided to a degree by both Zale and Graziano, they swapped roles from 46 to 48, keeping Jake out in the cold, to his resume and his credit, unlike SRR and the above 2 , he fought and beat dangerous and avoided MWs that adorned the ranks of Murderers row Williams and Lytell , wasn't afraid to swop punch's with Scatterfield and Marshall, brave indeed, also Basora/Raadik good tough fighters, none of them held any fear for La Motta. So for me he warrants a place in the top ten, for the above achievements alone. stay safe guys.
