1. Sugar Ray Robinson - Simply the best fighter ever to lace up gloves. 2. Sam Langford - He was so good no champion would risk fighting him. 3. Sugar Ray Leonard - Was almost as sweet as the real sugar. 4. Henry Armstrong - The man didn't know how to stop punching. 5. Joe Gans - I know he was a natural lightweight but fought much bigger fighters at welter; Walcott and Langford. 6. Pernell Whitaker - A defensive genius. 7. Thomas Hearns - A freak of nature. 8. Joe Walcott - Nat Fleischer rated him as the best welter he ever saw. 9. Floyd Mayweather - He has beaten everyone in his era and will continue to beat the remaining serious challengers Cotto and Hatton. 10. Roberto Duran - Better at lightweight but still a force at Welter as he showed in Montreal. Well theres my list. My lists normally tend to favour the head2head criteria. But feel free to tear it apart as I invite constructive criticism and debate. What does yours look like?
i rate Langford at light-heavy 1.Robinson 2.Griffith 3.Leonard 4.Napoles 5.Gavilan 6.Hearns 7.Armstrong 8.Walcott 9.Duran 10.Rodriguez
One-----SRR Two-----Duran (Only Robinson could have defeated Montreal Duran) Three--- Henry Armstrong Four-----Benny Leonard (Had Jack Britton knocked out, chose a DQ) Five-----Emile Grffith Six------Barney Ross Seven---Kid Gavilan Eight----Mickey Walker Nine-----Jose Napoles Ten-----Ted Lewis Note: Subject to constant revision.
Yes you are quite right. But in the future Say he beat, Cotto, Hatton and Mosley all at welter would you have him on the list then?
My humble effort 1. Ray Robinson 2. Joe Walcott 3. Mickey Walker 4. Tommy Ryan 5. Ray Leonard 6. Henry Armstrong 7. Jose Napoles 8. Thomas Hearns 9. Barney Ross 10. Emille Griffith 11. Mysterious Billy Smith 12. Young Peter Jackson 13. Jack Britton 14. Ted Kid Lewis 15. Dixie Kid This content is protected This content is protected
Well I think it's a great list. But if you're talking head to head then you should be made to add Burley and perhaps Ted Kid Lewis. You should also consider adding Zivic.
Nice to see Lewis getting the nod from you Janitor. Sweet leans heavily on head to head, would you have him higher under these criteria?
I think I probably would. I tend to think that it is safer to rank on resume however since you are dealing in known results.
I'm sure you are probably right McGain, I must admit my current boxing knowledge does not cover Tex Kid Lewis and Burley (though I know abit more of Zivic). The same can be said of my knowedge on Mickey Walker and Tommy Ryan. I need to read more about them and watch whatever fights I can get my hands on. My list will defo need to be revised once I have seen more fights. I am very green when compared with some of you guys who I'm sure have seen all these fighters and have extensive knowledge on them. My knowledge needs to be broader with some of the older boxers.
Something like this... 1. Sugar Ray Robinson 2. Henry Armstrong 3. Sugar Ray Leonard 4. Jose Napoles 5. Emile Griffith 6. Kid Gavilan 7. Thomas Hearns 8. Carmen Basilio 9. Barney Ross 10. Joe Walcott 11. Jimmy McClarnin 12. Felix Trinidad 13. Roberto Duran 14. Donald Curry 15. Luis Rodriguez
Hey Sweet Pea, Again I must admit my knowledge of Napoles, Griffith and Gavilan is sorely lacking. I need to do a lot of research and get some of their fights before I can accuratley rate and rank them. I have much learn yet.
FWIW, here's mine, based on accomplishments and head to head: 1. Sugar Ray Robinson 2. Sugar Ray Leonard 3. Emile Griffith 4. Thomas Hearns 5. Jose Napoles 6. Henry Armstrong 7. Kid Gavilan 8. Carmen Basilio 9. Barney Ross 10. Mickey Walker
Not a bad list. Jose Napoles should be higher and replace Ted Lewis with Ray Leonard. I am not sure about Benny Leonard.
