They don't have to be your definitive pick. Just guys that are legitimately in the running. There aren't likely to be many names mentioned, so I'll leave my thoughts out and give the floor to you guys.
I'm looking for pound for pound first and foremost, but feel free to give guys at individual weight classes, too.
If I understand the question correctly the first fighters that come to mind is Robinson 40s-50s and Louis 30s-40s
Seems like you understand it. Fighters that could be argued as the best in the world for two different decades, just like the ones you mentioned. Fairly simple.
Here are candidates with my thoughts on how strong they are Joe Louis--I would pick him in the 1930's. He reversed his one loss. The other strong candidate was Henry Armstrong, who was a triple champion, while Louis could be only be heavyweight champion. Armstrong suffered a lot more losses. Louis was undefeated in the 1940's and heavyweight champion through most of the decade. But his career being interrupted by the war with its attendant inactivity weakens his case. Louis only fought in six years of the 1940's. So I go with Sugar Ray Robinson in first place in that decade, with Willie Pep in the runner-up position. Pep just comes up a trifle short of Robinson in achievement. Sugar Ray Robinson--I pick him in the 1940's. He fought a lot of top men over the entire decade and reversed his one loss four times. An easy pick I think. I split with what I think is the majority picking Robinson as the top man of the 1950's. He did not reverse his losses to Maxim and Jones, and only split with Turpin, Fullmer, and Basilio, not fighting a rubber match with any of them. Archie Moore dominated the light-heavyweight division, reversing his one loss to Harold Johnson several times. His only other losses were to heavy champs Marciano and Patterson. I go with Moore as #1. I put Marciano #2 for sweeping his competition, although like Louis in the 1940's, his case is weakened by only fighting six years of the decade. Muhammad Ali--My pick for the 1960's, a decade in which he was undefeated. He was inactive the last two years, but I can't hold that against him when it was all politics. He could be picked for the 1970's, but too many questionable decisions weigh against him in competition with Roberto Duran and Carlos Monzon. I go with Monzon as #1 as he swept his competition this decade. Jack Johnson--a strong pick for the 1900's. He was also champion for half of the 1910's, but fought only a few second-stringers before losing to Willard, so I don't think he has a case for that decade. Others Bob Fitzsimmons--I can see him only for the 1890's. Benny Leonard--career is split between the 1910's & 1920's, but I don't think he did enough in the 1920's to be a contender for that decade. Harry Greb--I can see him only for the 1920's. Eder Jofre--A strong candidate only for the 1960's. Roberto Duran--only a strong candidate for the 1970's. Sam Langford--only a good candidate for the 1910's, but lost quite often while fighting a brutal schedule.
Duran-dominant lightweight champion of the 70s; not my pick 4 best of the 70s, but won three world titles in 80s
I suppose I'll throw out mine. Langford has a strong case for the 1900s and a decent case for the 1910s. Greb has a solid case for the 1910s and a strong case for the 1920s. Robinson has a strong case for the 1940s and a solid case for the 1950s. Ali has a strong case for the 1960s and a decent enough case for the 1970s. Manny Pacquiao has a strong case for the 2000s and at least a case for the 2010s. The only ones I might actually favor above all others for their decades are Robinson and, to a slightly lesser extent, Greb.
This is excellent! I think Ali’s KO wins over Foreman and Frazier, make him a lock for the 70s. It is hard to imagine a greater fighter in the 60’s than Ali in bios butterfly prime. Manny is also a great pick for both decades. Barerra, Morales, Marquez, Hatton, Margarito, Cotto...Mosley, De La Hoya...he beat the holy crap out of these men. All of them and and I sure I am missing someone. He is still banging heads...He is making a strong case for some pretty high all time rankings.
I think Bob Fitzsimmons has a decent case 1900's, as well as the 1890's (though certainly isn't a lock for the former) I figure the main other canidates for the 1900s are Sam Langford, Joe Gans, and Terry McGovern. I don't think there's a single clear lock
