The Ipswich Express Top 100 Fighters of All Time List

1981 vintage my friends As I've stated, the whole thing is open for criticism/argument and I encourage it. More to come...

 

94.


Masahiko Harada 55-7 (22)

Best Wins: KO11 Pone Kingpetch, W15 Eder Jofre x 2, W15 Alan Rudkin.

Good Losses: L15 Pone Kingpetch, L15 Lionel Rose, L15 John Famechon.

An absolute beast of a fighter that captured the World Flyweight crown before bowling over the legendary Jofre not once, but twice. Was beaten by a fantastic young Australian in Rose and was desperately unlucky in his first attempt with Famechon.

93.

Jack Berg 157-26-9 (61)

Best Wins: Kid Chocolate W15 & W10, Billy Petrolle W10, Canzoneri W10

Good Losses: Canzoneri L15, Petrolle D10, Sammy Fuller D12

I've never seen footage of Kid Berg, AKA the Whitechapel Windmill, but 2 defeats of Kid Chocolate as well as edging Canzoneri speaks volumes. One of Britain's finest, yet most overlooked fighters.

92.

Vincente Saldivar 37-3 (26)

Best Wins: W10 Ismael Laguna, W12 Sugar Ramos, W15 Howard Winstone x 2, TKO12 Winstone, W10 Jose Legra, W15 Johnny Famechon.

Southpaw Mexican Featherweight who's record stands up to many in the sport. His body shots were often brutal, in fact I would say few have been better. He also possessed exceptional strength in the later rounds.

91.

Tony Zale 67-18-2 (45)

Best Wins: W10 Al Hostack, KO13 Hostack, KO6 Rocky Graziano, KO3 Graziano.

Good Losses: L12 Billy Conn, KO6 Graziano, TKO11 Marcel Cerdan.

The question must be asked, has there ever been anyone tougher than "The Man of Steel"? Forget Ward v Gatti newcomers, his trilogy with Graziano is probably boxing's best. Tough as nails and always in a fight as long as he was breathing.

90.

Oscar De La Hoya 39-6 (30)

Best Wins: Vargas KO11, Carr KO11, Quartey W12, Camacho W12, Whitaker W12, Leija KO2, Molina W12.

Good Losses: Mayweather L12, Mosley L12 & L12, Trinidad L12.

De La Hoya makes the list for the standard of his opposition alone. He is a fighter that left as many questions as answers, with hotly disputes decisions over Pernell and Quartey, while losing fights just as close with Tito and Mosley. Excellent jab and left hook, he carried boxing through the last decade.

 

Hey mate. That's probably something I should've done, but I guess if someone catches your eye, you can google or boxrec. I've definitely favoured fighters that I've seen or read about over the old (and I mean very old) legends.

 

I've got an order written down on paper, albeit roughly. My top 20 is locked.

 

Yes mate it's a big task, but it's enjoyable. Obviously many are interchangeable almost and I'm sure someone could make a case for someone in the 90s on my list being in the 20s or whatever in theirs. Hopefully it brings back a few memories etc. I'm sure there'll be a few eyebrows raised along the way. I'll hopefully pump out the next 10 or so this arvo after the boxing.

Mate I don't profess to be an expert on all of them and I've learned stuff along the way. I'm certainly 'aware' of all of them though, if that makes sense, and the vast majority I've seen fight.

 

Great to hear you're enjoying it mate. It's a flip of a coin between Junmar, Justice Ganiza and Carlos Monzon for #20

 

89.


Ricardo Lopez 51-0-1 ( 38 )

Best Wins: KO2 Saman Sorjaturong, KO12 Andy Tabanas, KO5 Alex Sanchez, W12 Rosendo Alvarez.

Good Losses: D8 Alvarez.

It's hard to ignore the undisputed greatest Strawweight fighter of all time. "Finito" defended his strap 21 times, a division record. He could crack for a little guy and contested 26 world title fights without tasting defeat, a record he shares with Joe Louis.



88.

Jung Koo Chang 38-4 (17)

Best Wins: TKO3 Hilario Zapata, W12 Sot Chitalada, W12 x 3 German Torres.

Good Losses: L15 Zapata, L12 Chitalada.

"The Korean Hawk" was an all-action fighter that wore his opponents down. He made a then division record 16 successful title defences. He has four losses on his ledger and many of you may ask how he can be ranked higher than Lopez, but in my opinion his standard of opposition is superior. Chitalada and Zapata were about as good as it got and Chang beat both.



87.



Kid Chocolate 136-10-6 (51)

Best Wins: W15 Tommy Watson, W12 & W15 Fidel LaBarba, W10 Eddie Shea, TKO7 Benny Bass, W12 Al Singer.

Good Losses: L10 & L15 Jack Berg, L15 Canzoneri, L15 Battalino, L10 LaBarba.

Footage of Cuba's first boxing champion is extremely hard to come by. "The Cuban Bon Bon" fought some outstanding opposition at Feather and Jnr Lightweight. Perhaps held back by his party boy lifestyle.



86.


Eusebio Pedroza 41-6-1 (25)

Best Wins: W15 x 2 Rocky Lockridge , W15 Juan Laporte, TKO12 Ruben Olivares, TKO13 Royal Kobayashi, TKO13 Cecillio Lastra.

Good Losses: L15 Barry McGuigan.

"El Alacran" or "The Scorpion is the longest reigning Featherweight in history, both in terms of sucessful defences (19) and years (7). A lanky Feather at 5'7 he utilisied a great jab to great effect.


85.


Kid Gavilan 108-30-5 (28 )

Best Wins: W10 x 2 Ike Williams, W10 Beau Jack, W10 Laurent Dauthuille, W10 & W15 Billy Graham, W15 Bobby Dykes, W15 Carmen Basilio.

Good Losses: L10 Ike Williams, L10 Ray Robinson, L15 Robinson, L10 Billy Graham, L15 Bobo Olsen.

"The Cuban Hawk" will forever be remembered for his bolo punch. It was a blow that came naturally for Kid, as he developed it cutting tobacco in his native Cuba. His record is littered with great names and he beat them more often than not.