Considering the quality of opposition as the main factor, what do consider the most impressive win-loss records in the sport? This can be streaks of wins without defeat as well as overall career records. It can also include defeats if the overall record warrants it.
I'll start off with some classic examples from just one fighter: According to Boxrec, Willie Pep started his career with a streak of 62 wins before his first defeat - a record at the time, I believe. He then went unbeaten in the next five and half years and 73 fights. This meant his career record over his first 8 years as a pro was 134-1-1. His second defeat came one fight later, against Sandy Saddler, in which he lost his world featherweight title. He had been undefeated world Featherweight champion for six years. Not sure there are more impressive examples but can you think of any?
Although we don't know as much as we would like about many of his opponents (sorry, I understand that undermines my argument somewhat), I've always been incredibly impressed by Jimmy Wilde's ledger. I'd like to see him in more P4P lists. He's an ATG top 15 man, for my money. Legend.
In terms of KO percentage for fighters with 100 wins or more, there can't be many (if any) with a better record - 99 kos in 132 wins. Crazy.
He's the only standout best fighter of all time in his division. Who's comparable? Ray Robinson at welter, certainly. Ali at heavy, possibly. Wilde is underrated.
Eder Jofre comes to mind. Sorta pulled a Ray Robinson move after semi-retirement and was undefeated even then before retiring. Sidebar: "All hail Fighting Harada"! And of course Ray. 131-1-1 after the St. Valentine's Day massacre, avenging those 2 draw-loss 'burps' with KO's.
Good shout on Jofre - went unbeaten over his last 25 fights during his comeback and won the world featherweight title too. One of the greatest comebacks ever. Robinson's record between 1940 and 1951 was, of course, awesome and truly reflective of his greatness.
Great picks. Both were unbeaten over their first 50+ fights and had almost as many knockouts in those wins. Incredible fighters who beat top level opposition in those winning streaks too.
Not saying it's the best ever, but Bob Fitzsimmons actually had a pretty awesome unbeaten run. After his early loss to Jim Hall, he then went on an unbeaten run of 35 wins, a ND (news win), and 2. 1 draw was preagreed for failing to stop an opponent in 4 rounds. The other was due to police interferance when he was pummeling the excellent Choyenski. In the run he beat Billy McCarthy, Nonpareil Jack Dempsey, News win over Harris Martin, Peter Maher, Jim Hall, Choyenski "draw", Dan Creedon. If you ignore his stupid DQ to sharkey he then also beat Corbett (probably his best win overall). Some of those names are pretty obscure, but looking into them it really was an awesome run of opponents.
Armstrong went something like 59-1-1 in less than four years with 52 or 53 knockouts and beat a shitload of top fighters including several HOFers. And the lone loss to Ambers was controversial. Monzon was undefeated for 13 years and about 80 (?) fights and actually came up through a pretty strong Argentinean/South American scene before his title reign despite being relatively unknown when he beat Benvenuti first time.