Esb hof

Twenty seems a bit extreme.

If I were to do a ESB Hall of Fame/Greatness; I would keep it down to one entry a month, thus keeeping it a bit special and everyone who gets there deserves it.

Maybe get a list of eight/ten worthy contenders each month; and place them in a vote, that finishes at the end of the month; with the most popular getting in?

Perhaps also write a bio on the entrant?

 

Old Timer (Last Bout Before 1925)
Joe Gans
James J. Corbett
Jack Johnson
Sam Langford
Harry Wills
Bob Fitzimmons
Jimmy Wilde
Panco Villa
Jim Driscoll
George Dixon
Jack Britton
Ted 'Kid' Lewis
Young Griffo
Peter Jackson
Joe Jeanette
Mysteriuos Billy Smith
Nonpareil Jack Dempsey
Stanley Ketchell
Battling Nelson
Owen Moran
Jack McAuliffe
Ad Wolgast
Jack Dillon
Les Darcy
Abe Attell

Modern (Fought after 1925 until 15 years ago)

Benny Leonard
Marvin Hagler
Jose Napoles
Benny Lynch
Jack Demspey
Rocky Marcaino
Ray Robinson
Harry Greb
Henry Armstrong
Ezzard Charles
Archie Moore
Carlos Monzon
Willie Pep
Sandy Saddler
Carmen Basilio
Wilfredo Benitez
Bob Foster
Khaosai Galaxy
Kid Gavilan
Fighting Harada
Beau Jack
Eder Jofre
Ike Williams
Ismael laguna
Ken Buchanan
Muhammed Ali
Niccolijno Locche
Ruben Olivarez
Lionel Rose
Pascal Perez
Luis Rodriguez
Emile Griffith
Salvador Sanchez
Dick Tiger
Carlos Zarate
Jersey Joe Walcott
Tony Zale
Chalky Wright
Fritzie Zivic
Miguel Canto[/quote]

 

With the 15 year rule rightly in place; my five would be:

Pioneers: Jem Mace and Jack Broughton

Old Timers: Sammy Langford

Modern: Muhammad Ali and Ray Robinson

Broughton and Mace both were the most influential (not Figg and Queensberry) in putting the modern sport together.

Broughton through being the first to put together rules for Prize fighting.

Mace was the first big name to see the benefits of fighting with gloves, and because of his popular world tours, reestablished the sport, as the authorities were driving out fighting under London Prize Rules.

Sammy Langford was arguably the most gifted fighter of the first half of the 20th century.

Muhammad Ali was an icon, Sports (as in every sport) Personality of the 20th Century; love him or hate him, it was and still is hard to ignore him.

Ray Robinson was arguably the finest fighter there has ever been in the squared circle. A dazzling fighter and a personality to match, boxing was damn lucky to have him.

 

I'd like to hear about 60 of them, to start with. I'd also like to hear of atleast 40 of them which were not 'exhibition' bouts, with the legitimate rules that allowed a fight to the finish, for the sole purpose of making money LEGALLY.. I'd like to hear of genuine challengers, with genuine records and genuine ability to fight for the 'Championship' of a genuine nature.

Your knowlege is second to none on the 'classic forum' Janitor, please fill me in mate.

 

If any Pioneers should go in, I go with Jim Belcher, Monzoda, Jackson, Tom Cribb as the first and foremost before Mace gets in.

These guys were the icons of the day.

 

To clarify, Mace gets in as a Pioneer of Queensberry Rules boxing. Although it should be noted Mace's trainer Nat Langham did a lot of development work in London Prize fighting.

Mace's iconic status, worldwide, is greater than all those listed above.