I'm going to say Bernard Hopkins. His craftiness is beyond this world. The man wins soley on his mental wit. He doesnt have hand speed. He doesnt have monster power. He doesnt have excellent footwork. I even think his boxing defense sucks ass...but his style and strategic approach is beyond most. The fact that he can still box past his 40's demonstrates this... Not too many boxers are succesful beyond 35...and he's far beyond that and still managed to put on great performances.
I think the fight that changed boxing was Hagler/Hearns. The 4 greats of the 1980's were seen as exciting, but that fight there made them maybe as big or bigger than the heavyweights of the 1970s. I think that fight revived boxing for a few years.
dont forget donaire **** vic people wont look at him the way you say cause he never shouldve fought all them guys before rematching donaire. oh and he probabley never will
Ali's style is not the only thing about the man . . . Ali is the most known heavy weight fighter in the whole world . . . travelling almost all corners of the globe seeking the sports' world recognition . . . he made boxing the multi million dollar business as it is today.
Rocchigiani....he forced the WBC to be almost bankrupt...notice how many regional championship with sanctioning fees happened after the lawsuit
Jem 'Gypsy' Mace, took the sport out of the dark ages, promoted it around the world and advocated a scientific style, the use of gloves and a three minute round.
A thread about fighters who changed boxing got 20-some responses without mention of Mike Tyson? Like him or hate him, he changed the face of the sport and remains, for good or ill, the tattooed face of the sport in most peoples' (read non-hardcore fans') minds.
Tyson made boxing alive again. With his brutality in the ring, people were rushing to buy tickets to watch his destruction. It was like paying to watch a mugging. I was only like 13 at the time, but, what an adrelanine rush I got when I saw him perform. Fuggin' awesome.