Greatest fighter?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by George Crowcroft, Apr 23, 2019.


  1. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    Who's the greatest fighter in your opinion?
    And why?

    No arguments tho
     
  2. The Undefeated Lachbuster

    The Undefeated Lachbuster On the Italian agenda Full Member

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    Based on greatness factoring in things such as longevity, competition and dominance, Greb or Robinson

    In terms of H2H, Marciano, Ali and Louis are all tied for 1st at heaviweight, and I'd obviously take my top heavyweights to beat my top lower weight H2H champs

    In terms of H2H P4P, I don't even consider that, because H2H P4P doesn't make sense
     
  3. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Ali...I know that’s not the consensus opinion but his competition was the best at HW and it’s the division that could end you with one punch. His prime years before banishment was a thing of beauty with a style I’ve never seen replicated in the division to this day. Chin style footwork speed and power and corner the most important things to me for a boxer he had in abundance. You’ll probably never see a HW beat that great of competition again.
     
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  4. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    I like Sam Langford for my PFP pick

    He moved up a good 50lbs and compiled one of the greatest body of works ever, having a reported record of
    211-43-53, and fighting in 70 something fights against HoFers, including

    Jack Johnson, Stanley Ketchel, Tiger Flowers, Philadelphia Jack O'Brien, Kid Norfolk, Joe Walcott, Joe Gans, Willie Meehan
    Dixie Kid 3 times
    Jack Blackburn 4 times
    Gunboat Smith 4 times
    Fireman Jim Flynn 6 times,
    Jeff Clark 13 times
    Harry Wills 18 times, Sam McVea 15 times, Joe Jeannette 14 times, and Battling Jim Johnson 11 times
     
  5. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    This is becoming as commonly regurgitated as all the heavyweight talk. Will it ever end...? Every other thread is someone's top ten all time pound for pound or some nonsense like that.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2019
  6. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Without hesitation, Sugar Ray Robinson. And I don't even think it's that close. No disrespect meant towards the likes of Greb or Langford, but they broke the mould with Sugar Ray.
     
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  7. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    The top tier is Langford, Greb and Robinson, and clearly so in my opinion. There is a significant gap before we talk of Duran, Armstrong and Ali. Due to the nature of the sport and its evolution, I don't think this will be changed anytime soon. I am comfortable with any of those three.

    By the by, whoever chose Marciano above as the head to head greatest is orbiting in a whole new stratosphere of delusion and is completely disengaged from the terra firma that is the sport of boxing.
     
  8. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Harry Greb
    .
    .
    Everyone else.


    Also, read Springs Toledo's book on Greb, Smokestack Lighting. It's ****ing amazing. Really captures the man, not just the record.
     
  9. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Greb is one of the figures that got me interested in boxing well over 10 years ago now. I always had a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that a fighter that great actually existed. The more you learn about him the more blown away you are. How it was for me anyway.
     
  10. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

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    Yeah.

    Reading about him for the first time was like reading a dime store novel or researching a comic book character. Unbelievable!
     
  11. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    Not in my experience, I knew his record was excellent before I knew of his best wins (outside of Tunney). But as I learn more and more about the sport at that time his résumé impresses me even more than ever. And will likely keep going as learn more
     
  12. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    It's been a long time since a man not Harry Greb has existed. He was about as much a product of his time as a man can be... I really do wonder what's changed in the world to not allow people like him to exist anymore. Is it just the climate of the world and the times?
     
  13. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    I have always said that his record reads like science fiction. It is just that damn impressive. Highly recommend the Klompton book if you haven't read it.
     
  14. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Henry Armstrong was the greatest ever.
     
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  15. BoxingPurest

    BoxingPurest Active Member Full Member

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    Salvador Sanchez was a heck of a fighter!