Fritzie Zivic was a great fouler although he was also a very good fighter which is sometimes shadowed by the fact he fouled so much. Holyfield was great at headbutting and Marciano was also a dirty fighter.
Right there at the top is Fritzie Zivic. His thumbs alone should have been encased in tiny boxing gloves.
Zivic's standing in boxing history is also helped out by the fact that he was an excellent and smart fighter as well. His strategy against Henry Armstrong was brilliant in itself. He fought on the retreat only to stop suddenly and lash out in short bursts of offense. He was a smart, smart fighter whose use of dirty tactics was something of an equalizer against those whose physical gifts may have been greater, much like, in a very different way, how Joey Maxim's defensive skills and brains helped him out likewise.
Bernard Hopkins. He fouled casually and intermittingly almost as though it was part of a combination. He wasnt excessive but he was a very wiley character.
Whilst i certainly think he was a fabulous fighter at his peak, and certainly not the worst Fouler of All Time, John Conteh was habitually "careless" with his head, and it won fights for him, certainly he would top Holyfield in this regard Also Tony Gelento could i understand be something of a rulebender on occassion, Lou Nova would i understand second this !
Fritzie Zivic is the first fighter I thought of when reading the title of this thread. As far as active fighters go, Bernard Hopkins gets my vote.
I've never seen the Simuwelu fight, but it's a good think for Lewis that Mike Acey had honor and didn't try to pull an acting job, otherwise Lewis might've had an early DQ loss when he hit Acey 3 times when Acey was down. Oh, and Michael Grant found out how dirty Lewis could be too. During the Calzaghe-Bika fight: Lennox: That was a dirty move, I wouldn't have done that. Kellerman: Michael Grant might disagree that you wouldn't have done that. (Long pause) Lennox: No comment.
The best one from Lennox that is underrated was probably that elbow to the dome of Levi Billups.. It was a really tough one.. Nasty *******.. End of the first round i think....
what about, mysterious billy smith and al bummy davis i thought those where the greatest dirty fighters of all time?