The Ipswich Express Top 100 Fighters of All Time List

I don't consider him Australian... there's your hint.

 

You make an interesting point. :yep

http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=10552&cat=boxer&pageID=2

 

39.


George Foreman 76-5 (68 )

Best wins: W12 Lou Savarese, KO10 Michael Moorer, W10 Alex Stewart, TKO5 & TKO2 Joe Frazier, KO5 Ron Lyle, KO2 Ken Norton, TKO3 George Chuvalo, W10 & TKO10 Gregorio Peralta.

Good Losses: L12 Shannon Briggs, L12 Evander Holyfield, L12 Jimmy Young & KO8 Muhammad Ali.

We perhaps never quite saw the best version of "Big" George Foreman. Imagine trying to combine the wrecking ball of a Heavyweight that we saw in his first "career" with the patient slugger from his "rebirth". A lethal concoction of brute force and aggressiveness mixed with will and stamina.

Regardless, he is still a top 5 Heavyweight for mine. Belting Joe Frazier twice and giving Evander Holyfield plenty 20 years later is ample proof. The oldest ever Heayweight champion, he beat Moorer, a man 19 years his junior, a truly incredible feat.


38.


Charlie Burley 83-12-2 (50)

Best Wins: W10 Archie Moore, TKO12, TKO9, W10 Jack Chase, TKO9 W10 x 2 Holman Williams, W10 x 2 Fritzie Zivic, W10 Billy Soose, W15 Cocoa Kid.

Good Losses: L15 x 2, L12 Holman Williams, L10 Lloyd Marshall, L10 x 2 Ezzard Charles, L10 Jimmy Bivins, L10 Fritzie Zivic.

Not too much footage floating around of Burley. From the little I have seen, his style looks to be one that would slip seamlessly into today's methods. He is one of the most avoided fighters in history, never earning a title shot at either Welter or Middle. Despite this, he has some outstanding wins, and losses on his ledger. Eddie Futch called him the finest all-round boxer he ever saw. I think that's saying something.



37.

George Dixon 65-30-2 (34) (Includes Newspaper Decisions)

Best Wins: W19 Nunc Wallace, TKO22 Cal McCarthy, KO14 Fred Johnson, WDQ3 & KO6 Torpedo Billy Murphy, W25 Oscar Gardiner, KO10 Young Pluto, W20 Tommy White, W20 Pedlar Palmer.

Good Losses: D70 Cal McCarthy, D20, D25, D10 Young Griffo, L20 Solly Smith, D10 & L15 Abe Attell, L6 Jim Driscoll, LKO8 Terry McGovern.


"Little Chocolate" had lightning fast hands and apparently exceptional foot speed. He won the world Bantamweight title in 1890, becoming the first black fighter to capture a world crown. He is also Canada's first champion.

From 1891-1897 and from 1898-1900 he reigned as world Featherweight champion. Apparently used his left jab followed by a straight right hand to much success. He is believe to have actually fought in excess of 800 times, though these unfortunately aren't recorded. Someone I'd definitely like to read more about.


36.


Maxie Rosenbloom 222-42-31 (19) (Includes Newspaper Decisions)

Best Wins: W10 Lou Nova, W10 Lee Ramage, W10 x 3 John Henry Lewis, W15 Mickey Walker, W10 Tiger Jack Fox, W10 x 3 & W15 Lou Scozza, W10, W15 x 2 Jimmy Slattery, W10 Jim Braddock, W10 Pete Latzo, DQ9 Tiger Flowers, W12 & W10 Dave Shase.

Good Losses: L10 Mickey Walker, L10 & D15 Joe Knight, L10 x 2 Young Stribling, L10 x 2 John Henry Lewis, L10 & D10 Tiger Jack Fox, L10 x 3 Jimmy Slattery, D10 x 2 Tiger Flowers, L10 Harry Greb.

A man that is overlooked by so many. Just 19 stoppages in an amazing 222 wins, "Slapsie Maxie" defended his Lt Heavyweight title 7 times. Despite using an open glove technique and having no power, he was only stopped twice in his entire career, even though he often fought bigger men. He beat many greats and gave them all they could handle in defeat.



35.


Bernard Hopkins 50-5-1 (32)

Best Wins: W12 Kelly Pavlik, W12 Winky Wright, W12 Antonio Tarver, W12 Howard Eastman, W12 William Joppy, KO9 Oscar De La Hoya, TKO10 Carl Daniels, TKO12 Felix Trinidad, W12 Keith Holmes, TKO10 & W12 Antwun Echols, TKO11 Glen Johnson, TKO7 John David Jackson.

Good Losses: L12 Joe Calazghe, L12 x 2 Jermain Taylor, L12 Roy Jones.

Quite simply, a living legend. A master defensive fighter that appears to somehow get better with age. Hopkins had his coming out party some 6 years after winning the Middleweight title, whipping Felix Trinidad in New York. Hopkins made a record 20 defences of his title, becoming the oldest Middleweight champion ever and owning the longest reign.

He moved up to Lt Heavyweight and shocked many by beating Antonio Tarver. 7 years after his Trinidad victory and against the odds, Hopkins whipped the reigning Middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik, in a near shut out. There may be more exciting fighters out there, but very few who have "The Executioner's" technique. Perhaps the most applicable comment is that Hopkins is a throw back fighter in the truest sense.

 

Absolutely. Big George was 48 years old at the time.