Rank these fighters based on how popular they were in their own time

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Melankomas, Nov 6, 2025.


  1. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    John L. Sullivan
    Jack Johnson
    Jack Dempsey
    Joe Louis
    Muhammad Ali
    Mike Tyson

    The six biggest cultural phenomenons this sport has seen, how would you rank them based on how popular they were at their respective peaks. Who was more culturally relevant?
     
    Melankomas, Nov 6, 2025
    Melankomas, Nov 6, 2025
    #1
    mattdonnellon likes this.
  2. mattdonnellon

    mattdonnellon Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    My stab at popular;
    Sullivan
    tyson
    dempsey
    Ali
    louis
    Johnson

    Culture?
    Johnson
    Sullivan
    Ali
    Dempsey
    Louis
    Tyson
     
    mattdonnellon, Nov 6, 2025
    mattdonnellon, Nov 6, 2025
    #2
  3. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    # 1 Dempsey
    #2 Ali ( Only the 70's version)
    #3 Louis
    #4 Sullivan
    #5 Tyson
    # 6 Johnson ( Who was actually hated by the vast majority of the people who could actually pay to see him fight, he was only popular in the black communities in America)
    Ali and Louis can easily be switched
     
    Flash24, Nov 6, 2025
    Flash24, Nov 6, 2025
    #3
  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Jeffries was way, way more popular than Johnson.

    Johnson was more culturally significant though, yeah.
     
    McGrain, Nov 6, 2025
    McGrain, Nov 6, 2025
    #4