The Ipswich Express Top 100 Fighters of All Time List

Very interesting question mate. I've tried to avoid saying "he won" but the judges gave it to the other guy. However I've tried not to take anything away from "good losses". In fact, it usually strengthens a guy's standing, because it means he's taken on stellar opposition and perhaps just come up a little short on the night.

If Pernell got the nod on all three of those mentioned, he could be pushing top ten IMO, particuarly the De La Hoya fight, as he was well past his best.

Couldhavebeen, cheers for the good wrap. I agree, top ten should be a black tie event! haha.

 

15.


Mickey Walker 110-22-5 (60)
(Includes Newspaper Decisions)

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Best Wins: W10 Maxie Rosenbloom, W10 Paulino Uzcudun, W10 Paul Berlenbach, W12 & TKO1 Mike McTigue, W10 Tiger Flowers, TKO8 & W15 Dave Shade, W10 Lew Tendler, W12 Pete Latzo, W15 Jack Britton, W10 x 2 Ace Hudkins, W10 & W12 Jock Malone.

Good Losses: L15 Rosenbloom, TKO8 Max Schmeling, D15 Jack Sharkey, L10 Tommy Loughran, L15 Harry Greb, L12 Jack Britton, L10 Lou Broulliard.

One of the bravest men to step between the ropes of the squared circle. Walker is the only fighter win a championship as a Welterweight and end up a Heavyweight contender. A rugged slugger that reigned as Welter and went on to become Middleweight champion, over a 9 year period. Walker battered McTigue for the Lt Heavy championship over 12 rounds for a No Decision. "The Toy Bulldog" weighed less than 150lbs on that night!

Walker captured the public's imagination by taking on Heavy's and Lt Heavy's such as King Levinsky, Uzcudun, Arthur De Kuh (who outweighed him by nearly 50lbs) and Schmeling despite being just 5'7 and with no amateur boxing experience. His playboy lifestyle meant he was sadly without a penny to his name upon his retirement from boxing.

 

14.


Bob Fitzsimmons 70-8-5 (60) (Includes Newspaper Decisions)

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Best Wins: KO5 Billy McCarthy, TKO13 Jack Dempsey, W12 & KO1 Peter Maher, TKO2 Jack Britton, KO4 Jim Hall, KO14 James J Corbett, W20 George Gardner.

Good Losses: D5 Joe Choynski, LDQ8 Tom Sharkey, KO11 & KO8 James J Jeffries, D6 Philadelphia Jack O'Brien.

Boxing's first triple champion, "Ruby Robert" won the world Middleweight, Heavyweight and then Lt Heavyweight titles over an incredible 27 year career. A Blacksmith by trade, Fitzsimmons had incredible upper body strength, resulting in pulvarising power.

Born in Cornwall, England before traveling to New Zealand and then Australia where his professional career is believed to have started. Fitzsimmons then traveled to the United States and knocked out Jack Dempsey for the world Middleweight title. He then moved up to Heavyweight and eventually engaged in an 14 round war with James J Corbett, who weighed 16 pounds greater. Fitzsimmons was behind in the bloody battle when his straight right hand to the solar plexis felled the bigger man. He lost his title to Jeffries and was leading in the rematch before being stopped.

Fitzsimmons moved down an annexed the Light Heavyweight title, completing his triple crown. Incredibly he was 40 years old at the time.

 

13.


Ray Leonard 36-3-1 (25)

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Best Wins: W12 Marvin Hagler, TKO14 Thomas Hearns, TKO9 Ayub Kalule, TKO8 Roberto Duran, TKO15 Wilfred Benitez, KO1 Andy Price, TKO4 Pete Ranzany.

Good Losses: L15 Roberto Duran, D12 Thomas Hearns.

"Sugar" Ray filled the void left in boxing after the retirement of Muhammad Ali. He won 5 world titles in 5 weight classes (although the Super Middle / Lt Heavy contested against Lalonde must have an asterisk) and was seen as the fighter of the 1980s.

He first won the world Welter title in a brilliant tactical battle against Wilfred Benitez, stopping him in the final round. He lost the title after one defence, to Roberto Duran who would not be denied that night in Montreal.

Leonard promptly reclaimed the title and stepped up to defeat Kalule for his Lt Middle strap. Leonard returned to Welt and would face Thomas Hearns, stopping him in 14 breath taking rounds.

Leonard retired soon afterwards, making a short lived comeback against Kevin Howard. Marvin Hagler's challenge was finally answered and Leonard defied the odds to pull off a remarkable victory. The Lalonde fight for the Light Heavyweight and Super Middle titles (Lalonde was forced to weigh in at Super Middle) was followed by the return match with Hearns, ending in a controversial draw. Leonard followed this with a thorough effort against Duran, winning on points.

Leonard is a fighter with very few weaknesses. He had blinding speed, sensational footwork and outstanding recuperative powers. His place in boxing history is secure. I have no doubts that it would be even higher if it weren't for injuries and his unwillingness to grant returns to some opponents.

 

Completely agree. I've been doing a fair bit of research and some of his battles sound like absolute war!

 

12.


Joe Louis 65-3 (51)

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Best Wins: KO11 & W15 Jersey Joe Walcott, KO13 Billy Conn, W15 & TKO8 Arturo Godoy, TKO1 Max Schmeling, TKO6 Lou Nova, TKO11 & W10 Bob Pastor, W15 Tommy Farr, KO8 James Braddock, KO4 Max Baer.


Considered by many to be the greatest Heavyweight of all time, "The Brown Bomber" made an incredible 25 defences of his crown, over nearly a dozen years. An excellent combination puncher, with every single shot designed to break an opponent down. His jab was vicious and his right cross separated many boxers from their senses. Ring Magazine calls him the greatest puncher of all time.

Louis dispatched so many challengers to his title, they became known as "The Bum Of The Month Club". He was an excellent rematch fighter, the most famous of which was his one round blitz of Schmeling.

Even past his best, he was still good enough to beat contenders such as Jimmy Bivens and Lee Savold. His career was eventually ended by Marciano. Louis was respected by all Americans, something which can't be said of many African-American athletes during those times. Reporter Jimmy Cannon once wrote that, "Louis was a credit to his race ... the human race."