The ten most historicaly important British fighters of all time

Discussion in 'British Boxing Forum' started by janitor, Nov 26, 2008.


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  1. Grant1

    Grant1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Didn't Colin Jones help shape your shed too?
     
    Grant1, Nov 28, 2008
    Grant1, Nov 28, 2008
    #31
  2. El Cepillo

    El Cepillo Baddest Man on the Planet Full Member

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    Benn and Eubank had two of the biggest domestic fights in British boxing history, they deserve a mention.
     
    El Cepillo, Nov 28, 2008
    El Cepillo, Nov 28, 2008
    #32
  3. LiamE

    LiamE Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Got to have Turpin top 10.

    Beating SRR > any single win by a british fighter.
     
    LiamE, Nov 28, 2008
    LiamE, Nov 28, 2008
    #33
  4. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

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    Tom Sayers 1826-1865

    British Champion 1858-1860

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    At 5’ 8’’ and 155 lbs Tom Sayers was never much more than a middleweight yet he was able to establish himself as the best heavyweight of his era. He is described by contemporary observers as “a technicaly astute offensive boxer”.

    His main claim to fame is participating in the first ever World Championship fight against the American Champion John C Heenan. If the fight had produced a winner it would have unified the British and American titles but the fight eneded in a draw preventing unification. Sayers is regarded by historians of the period as one of the best pound for pound bare knuckle fighters of all time and gave up 40 lbs to Heenan.





    Jem Mace 1831-1910

    British Champion 1861-1862 1865-?

    World Champion 1870-1871


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    Jem Mace became the first recognised “world champion” in history when he defeated Tom Allen to unify the British and American heavyweight titles.

    Mace was a slick boxer who used the jab as his primary weapon and used footwork to keep out of the way of his opponents. Despite his defensive style he was a punishing hitter and usually finished his opponents with a right hand to the chin. He is the first fighter known to have made extensive use of combination punching.

    As world champion Mace oversaw the transition from bare knuckle fighting and London Prize Ring rules to the gloved era and the widespread adoption of the Queensbury rules. He is thought to have developed the current system of “scoring a fight” based on punches landed, defence and ring generalship.

    After he retired from active fighting Mace became a boxing instructor training such great fighters as Bob Fitzsimmons, Peter Jackson, Young Griffo, and Frank Slavin.
     
    janitor, Nov 28, 2008
    janitor, Nov 28, 2008
    #34
  5. FLINT ISLAND

    FLINT ISLAND PENYRHEOL Full Member

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    Naz s a great talent..........but that is a silly comment
     
    FLINT ISLAND, Nov 28, 2008
    FLINT ISLAND, Nov 28, 2008
    #35
  6. ryanm8655

    ryanm8655 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    ^^^I'd disagree with that, perhaps saying over any fighter on that list is too far but I wouldn't say it is a silly comment...

    Ultimately the question isn't who are the 10 most talented fighters, but who are the ten most important historically...

    Naz did a lot for boxing as a whole, not just british boxing, and I think there is an argument he is among the more important historically.

    Youngest british world champion ever, titles at 2 weights, showmanship like no other boxer who has lived (imo), brought many new people to the sport, conquered america like no other brit has, and it is, and was even more so then, the mecca of boxing. He brought fans to the lower weights, would've been the first boxer ever to hold all 4 major titles in a division (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO) but for boxing politics.

    Yes, he could and should have achieved much more but he still did the above.
     
    ryanm8655, Nov 28, 2008
    ryanm8655, Nov 28, 2008
    #36
  7. jase hill

    jase hill Member Full Member

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    Any body who dont have Jimmy Wilde in their top ten is on the wrong page
     
    jase hill, Nov 28, 2008
    jase hill, Nov 28, 2008
    #37
  8. Laurent Robert

    Laurent Robert Member Full Member

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    Buchannon? He lost his title to arguably the greatest lightweight of all time, in controversial fashion, surely that has a lot of historical value?
     
    Laurent Robert, Nov 28, 2008
    Laurent Robert, Nov 28, 2008
    #38
  9. icemax

    icemax Indian Red Full Member

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    Probably more significant was the manner in which he won the title in the first place, away from home, hostile environment, 120 degree heat.....same could be said for Straceys victory over Napoles.
     
    icemax, Nov 28, 2008
    icemax, Nov 28, 2008
    #39
  10. El Cepillo

    El Cepillo Baddest Man on the Planet Full Member

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    I think Naz was more culturally significant, than historically important. Of couse what you say is true, to some degree.
     
    El Cepillo, Nov 28, 2008
    El Cepillo, Nov 28, 2008
    #40
  11. trotter

    trotter Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Naz built on what Eubank created in my opinion, with the entrances and persona.

    The litmus test would be the general public. Would they remember Eubank or Naz more? Eubank without a doubt IMO.
     
    trotter, Nov 28, 2008
    trotter, Nov 28, 2008
    #41
  12. brown bomber

    brown bomber 2010 Poster of the Year Full Member

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    Not sure about that... I'd say Naz is just as much of a b-lister as Eubank.
     
    brown bomber, Nov 28, 2008
    brown bomber, Nov 28, 2008
    #42
  13. girv

    girv Gatekeeper Full Member

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    Great work Janitor, I dont know much about the real early guys so cant comment on your list.

    I suppose for all those talking about Hatton, Naz, Benn, Eubank etc, will any of these guys be getting talked about on the equivalent of this forum in 100 years?
     
    girv, Nov 28, 2008
    girv, Nov 28, 2008
    #43
  14. jc

    jc Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Being famous and historically important are two very different things.
     
    jc, Nov 29, 2008
    jc, Nov 29, 2008
    #44
  15. ryanm8655

    ryanm8655 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Probably not to be honest, I could imagine Calzaghe being talked about if he retires undefeated though, and I can imagine him (deservedly or not) being rated much more highly than he is now.
     
    ryanm8655, Nov 29, 2008
    ryanm8655, Nov 29, 2008
    #45
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