most exciting fighter you ever saw

nigel benn

 

Tyson, Hamed, Benn, Duran, Barrera.

 

A tyson fight 86-89 was more than just a fight, it was an event that everyone talked about for weeks or months leading up to it and the anticipation on fightnight itself was nailbiting

 

I'm inclined to agree. I'd include 89, though, when he still had that invincible aura.

 

Just my first reaction:

Of the elite:

Early Tyson, Early Holyfield, Joe Louis, Floyd Patterson, Joe Frazier

Lower level guys: Gatti, Pazienza

 

Hearns and Tyson - when they stepped into the ring it was electric. Tyson would edge even Hearns in that Tommy had a couple of flat periods with hand probs etc and the world was fooled into thinking he hadn't carried his immense power up in weight.

 

Saad Muhammad
Gatti
Chacon
Tommy Cordova (had some breathtaking club fights in the 80's on ESPN)

 

Limón and Chacón are two of the most visceral fighters I've ever seen.

Ali's excitement went beyond the ring into the realms of politics, civil and human rights and idealism itself.

But Mike Tyson must be king here.

Why, exactly?

He is not acknowledged as the biggest puncher in the ring by a considerable margin. Shavers should be considered more exciting in this case.

His knockout percentage is comfortably not the highest of all time. Vitali should be considered the most exciting champion ever in this case.

Aura of invincibility? This hardly helped the popularity of the likes of Liston and Foreman -or Jack Johnson.

So, why?

 

Has Danny Lopez had a mention yet?

 

Talk about goin' out on your shield, D, Tommy attacked with his face, without a shield.

 

Hearns for me. Never disappointed even when he lost .

 

Nigel Benn

 

Thomas Hearns. That is why he is my favorite fighter. He always came to fight and get a knockout. Regardless of opponent.

 

From my own lifetime hhmmm

Nigel Benn is first that springs to mind

then Arturo Gatti

and Tommy Hearns

from the past first one hands down would be Jack Dempsey

 

Perhaps if you actually watched his fights, rather than just going by statistics and lists, then you would be able to answer your own question.

Great pick! :good