The Greatest Middleweights of All Time

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Mteslamiller, May 17, 2022.


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  1. Mteslamiller

    Mteslamiller Member Full Member

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    These I feel were the greatest 160 pounders ever. This list ranks fighters by consistent greatness at the weight and is limited to boxers who the world title or a part of it—-

    1. Harry Greb
    2. Marvin Hagler
    3. Carlos Monzon
    4. Sugar Ray Robinson
    5. Bernard Hopkins
    6. Stanley Ketchel
    7. Tommy Ryan
    8. Bob Fitzsimmons
    9. Freddie Steele
    10. Tony Zale
    11. Mickey Walker
    12. Jake LaMotta
    13. Marcel Cerdan
    14. Dick Tiger
    15. Tiger Flowers
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2022
    Mteslamiller, May 17, 2022
    Mteslamiller, May 17, 2022
    #1
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  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Of these, I think you have Cerdan and Zale far too high, the rest is fine.

    In their place, I'd introduce Dick Tiger and Jack Dempsey, probably.
     
    McGrain, May 17, 2022
    McGrain, May 17, 2022
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  3. thistle

    thistle Boxing Addict Full Member

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    in NO Order here, these are certainly among the G.O.A.T middleweights...

    Harry Greb
    Marvin Hagler
    Carlos Monzon
    Sugar Ray Robinson
    Freddie Steele
    Tony Zale
    Mickey Walker
    Marcel Cerdan
     
    thistle, May 17, 2022
    thistle, May 17, 2022
    #3
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  4. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The name LaMotta does not compute with the word 'consistency'. If this is part of your criteria then Gene Fullmer in place of Jake makes more sense. But Gene didn't have a movie made on him.
     
    scartissue, May 17, 2022
    scartissue, May 17, 2022
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  5. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Mike McCallum is up there unquestionably for me.
     
    Bulldog24, May 17, 2022
    Bulldog24, May 17, 2022
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  6. Bulldog24

    Bulldog24 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Once adapted to the weight he never lost until near 40 against a peak Toney in the return. He had to travel to young hotshots backyards because he had no backing. Even guys who had 10lbs and 10yrs on him (Collins & Watson), beat Kalambay in the rematch abroad and took the fight even Hagler evaded in Herol Graham (in front of 1,500 with no commentary!). He didn’t have to face Toney either, but strove for greatness (that he already had anyway).
     
    Bulldog24, May 17, 2022
    Bulldog24, May 17, 2022
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  7. Mteslamiller

    Mteslamiller Member Full Member

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    It seems almost sacrilegious to me not to have Robinson at no. 1. He was such a fabulous competitor at 160 pounds. So great that he won the middleweight title 5 times. At his best at middleweight, he probably was the best middleweight of all time. But he was inconsistent in the division. Greb was far more consistent. Monzon and Hagler had 7 year title reigns. So as much as I admire the original Sugar Ray, I can’t place him at number 1. He was the greatest fighter of all time, but not the most consistently great middleweight of all time. So I have him at no. 4. Tommy Ryan was a brilliant all around fighter. Hopkins had consummate skill and impressive longevity. Freddie Steele was great but underrated. Fitzsimmons had extraordinary power. If Marcel Cerdan had lived, he would rank much higher. And Hagler was powerful, a skillful technician, and had one of the greatest chins in boxing history. As did Jake LaMotta.
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2022
    Mteslamiller, May 17, 2022
    Mteslamiller, May 17, 2022
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  8. Mteslamiller

    Mteslamiller Member Full Member

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    But was Gene Fullmer a great fighter? He was certainly a very good one. I don’t believe that he was better than LaMotta. Yes , the movie helped to enhance his legacy. He wasn’t a devastating puncher in reality. I do believe that most boxing historians consider him a great one.
     
    Mteslamiller, May 17, 2022
    Mteslamiller, May 17, 2022
    #8
  9. Mteslamiller

    Mteslamiller Member Full Member

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    Thistle, it’s good to see Steele in there.
     
    Mteslamiller, May 17, 2022
    Mteslamiller, May 17, 2022
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  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I'm totally wrong btw - you need Mike Gibbons on there urgently, and also Burley and Holman Williams more urgently than Tiger.

    IN fact Cerdan above those three hurts my eyes a bit.
     
    McGrain, May 17, 2022
    McGrain, May 17, 2022
    #10
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  11. JackSilver

    JackSilver Boxing Addict Full Member

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    He don't have the longevity at middleweight but I would take Middleweight Roy Jones to beat anyone on that list.
     
    JackSilver, May 17, 2022
    JackSilver, May 17, 2022
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  12. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    HERE I GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    01 - Harry Greb
    02 - Carlos Monzon
    03 - Marvin Hagler
    04 - Sugar Ray Robinson
    05 - Stanley Ketchel
    06 - Mike Gibbons
    07 - Bernard Hopkins
    08 - Charley Burley
    09 - Tommy Ryan
    10 - Holman Williams
    11 - Freddie Steele
    12 - Jake LaMotta
    13 - Dick Tiger
    14 - Bob Fitzsimmons
    15 - Jack Dempsey
    16 - Fred Apostoli
    17 - Teddy Yarosz
    18 - Mickey Walker
    19 - Jack Dillon
    20 - Tiger Flowers
    21 - Ken Overlin
    22 - Joe Giardello
    23 - Billy Papke
    24 - Gene Fullmer
    25 - Mike O'Dowd
    26 - Les Darcy
    27 - Bert Lytell
    28 - Frank Klaus
    29 - Emile Griffiths
    30 - Nino Benvenuti
    31 - Lloyd Marshall
    32 - James Toney
    33 - Tony Zale
    34 - Billy Conn
    35 - Roy Jones
    36 - Mike Nunn
    37 - Randy Turpin
    38 - Marcel Cerdan
    39 - Georgie Abrams
    40 - Mike McCallum
    41 - Jeff Smith
    42 - Young Corbett III
    43 - Charles "Kid" McCoy
    44 - Sumbu Kalambay
    45 - Bobo Olsen
    46 - Marcel Thil
    47 - Jack Chase
    48 - Jermain Taylor
    49 - Cocoa Kid
    50 - Hugo Kelly
     
    McGrain, May 17, 2022
    McGrain, May 17, 2022
    #12
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  13. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I'm only commenting on your criteria of consistency. And LaMotta certainly was not. Losses to Cecil Hudson, welterweight Fritzie Zivic, Robert Villemain (whom he also received a gift decision over), Laurent Dauthille (who was outclassing him again in the rematch before Jake pulled out a last minute rescue) and being thoroughly outclassed by the great and underrated Lloyd Marshall should exclude him from any list based on consistency. Even his greatest win is tainted by beating a one-armed fighter. It's your list and if you wish to include Jake on your opinion or the opinion of others I say go for it. But never based on consistency.
     
    scartissue, May 17, 2022
    scartissue, May 17, 2022
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  14. OP_TheJawBreaker

    OP_TheJawBreaker NOBODY hit like that guy! Full Member

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    10) Jake LaMotta
    9) Marcel Cerdan
    8) Mickey Walker
    7) D!ck Tiger
    6) Freddie Steele
    5) Stanley Ketchel
    4) Sugar Ray Robinson
    3) Carlos Monzon
    2) Marvin Hagler
    1) Harry Greb
     
    OP_TheJawBreaker, May 17, 2022
    OP_TheJawBreaker, May 17, 2022
    #14
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  15. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Furthermore, La Motta was ( as we know ) avoided to a degree by both Zale and Graziano, they swapped roles from 46 to 48, keeping Jake out in the cold, to his resume and his credit, unlike SRR and the above 2 , he fought and beat dangerous and avoided MWs that adorned the ranks of Murderers row Williams and Lytell , wasn't afraid to swop punch's with Scatterfield and Marshall, brave indeed, also Basora/Raadik good tough fighters, none of them held any fear for La Motta.
    So for me he warrants a place in the top ten, for the above achievements alone. stay safe guys.
     
    Mike Cannon, May 17, 2022
    Mike Cannon, May 17, 2022
    #15
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