The Ipswich Express Top 100 Fighters of All Time List

Don't get sucked into the hype too much boys :good. As I said, his resume doesn't stack up.

 

84.

Duilio Loi 115-3-8 (26)

Best Wins: W15 x 2 Carlos Ortiz, W15 Eddie Perkins, W10 Orlando Zulueta, W10 Ray Famechon.

Good Losses: L15 Carlos Ortiz, D15 Eddie Perkins, L15 Perkins


A somewhat contentious decision. Loi was 2 time world Junior Welter champion who possessed little power but was a master boxer. Fought almost exclusively in his native Italy, but made a 3 fight pit-stop to Australia and is one of the best to grace our shores. During his loss to Perkins, he still managed to dump him on the canvas twice.


83.


Tommy Gibbons 57-4-1 (48 )


Best Wins: KO6 Kid Norfolk, W10 Georges Carpentier, W10 x 3 Billy Miske, W10 x 2 Harry Greb, W10 Battling Levinsky

Good Losses: KO12 Gene Tunney, L15 Jack Dempsey, L15 & L10 Greb, D10Miske.

Funnily enough, Gibbons is not rated by some as the best fighter in his family. That honour falls to his brother Mike. However I'm of the belief that Tommy's has the better record. He was an exceptional boxer, who despite sporting 13lbs to Jack Dempsey, managed to extend him the distance. "Nailing him was like trying to thread a needle in a high wind," said Dempsey.


82.


Mike McCallum 49-5-1 (36)


Best Wins: W12 Jeff Harding, W12 Sumbu Kalambay, KO11 Michael Watson, W12 Steve Collins, W12 Herol Graham, KO5 Donald Curry, TKO10 Milton McCrory, KO2 Julian Jackson, TKO13 Luigi Minchillo, TKO7 Ayub Kalule.

Good Losses: L12 x 2, D12 James Toney, L12 Kalambay.

The Bodysnatcher seemed to be the yardstick for greatness during the 80s and 90s. He was never able to land that big fight with one of the "Fab 4", but his demolitions of Curry and Julian Jackson speak volumes. His left hook that ended Curry's night is a thing of perfection. Look it up on youtube.



81.


James J Jeffries 18-1-2 (15)

Best Wins: KO3 Peter Jackson, W20 & W25 Tom Sharkey, KO11 & KO8 Bob Fitzsimmons, KO23 & TKO10 James J Corbett.

Good Losses: D20 Joe Choynski, L15 Jack Johnson.

One of the most overlooked Heavyweights of all time, "The Boilermaker" was probably the most feared man on the planet at the beginning of the 1900s. He fought 9 Hall of Fame fighters. Sam Langford famously advertised that he would "fight any man in the world, except James Jeffries" in newspapers across the US. Jeffries fought out of a crouch and possessed a leathal left hook. He became America's "Great White Hope" when taking on Jack Johnson, after 6 years of retirement.


80.


Jack Dempsey 66-6-11 (51)

Best Wins: KO7 Jack Sharkey, KO2 Luis Firpo, W15 Tommy Gibbons, TKO6 & KO12 Bill Brennan, KO3 & W6 Billy Miske, KO3 Jess Willard.

Good Losses: Tunney 2 UD10, Miske D10

A man who transcended the boundaries of sport. He was a wrecking ball inside the ring, with punching power that should not be humanly possible for a man that would be a small Cruiserweight by today's standards. His 3 round demolition of Jess Willard is perhaps the most brutal beating a champion has received from a challenger. Dempsey sported Williard 58lbs!

 

79.

Felix Trinidad 42-3 (35)

Best Wins: TKO 12 Vargas, TKO5 Joppy, W12 Reid, W12 De La Hoya, TKO8 Carr, KO2 Blocker, TKO4 Campas, W12 Camacho.

Good Losses: TKO12 Hopkins

Trinidad is a fighter who I feel has become somewhat underrated over the years. As a young Welterweight, he was simply awesome. He ran over some great contenders, handing a few their first "L" on the way. He was a ballsy fighter who never left anything in the change rooms. His slow footwork was a downfall, but his bone crunching power made up for it, more often than not.




78.


Bob Foster 56-8-1 (46)


Best Wins: W15 x 2 Pierre Fourie, KO14 Chris Finnegan, KO4 Dick Tiger, TKO9 & W12 Henry Hank, KO4 Mike Quarry.

After starching legendary Dick Tiger in 4, Foster made 14 successful defences of his 175lbs title. He made a number of ventures up to Heavyweight, getting blasted by Joe Frazier for the title and famously causing Muhammad Ali damage to his face. Ranked as the 8th greatest puncher by The Ring and 3rd as their Greatest Lt Heavy in 1994.



77.



Myung-Woo Yuh 38-1 (14)

Best Wins: W15 Joey Olivo, W15 & W 12 Jose De Jesus, W 12 x 2 Leo Gamez, W 12 Hiroki Ioka.

Good Losses: Ioka SD12

Appropriately nicknamed "Sonagi" or "Downpour" Yuh possessed little pop in his punches, but boy did he throw plenty of them. Yuh made a record 17 sucessful defences of his Lt Flyweight titles, a record. He avenged his only loss in Ioka's backyard. The fact that he is not in the IBHOF is an absolute travesty.


76.


Khaosai Galaxy 49-1 (43)

Best Wins: TKO10 Alberto Castro, TKO14 Ellyas Pical, KO5 Israel Contreras, TKO5 Rafael Orono, TKO8 Chang Ho Choi, KO6 Yong Kang Kim.

There's every chance "The Thai Tyson" should be ranked higher than I have him. An absolute beast of Super Flyweight, he was originally a Muay Thai fighter who developed into probably the best Thai boxer that ever lived. Defended his title 19 times over 7 years, with 16 punishing KOs. Listed at #19 in The Ring's Top 100 Punchers of all time. Enough said.


75.


Rocky Marciano 49-0 (43)

Best Wins: KO13 & KO1 Joe Walcott, W15 & TKO8 Ezzard Charles, KO9 Archie Moore KO9, W10 & TKO11 Roland LaStarza, KO2 Harry Matthews.

Boxing's most famous undefeated fighter. Always in shape and always trying to take his opponents' head off with every punch. Had difficulty with Charles and and Walcott despite being past their best, but so would anyone. Tough as nails and as exciting as they come.

 

You can make a case and a strong one at that. Yuh travelling to Japan to avenge his defeat probably gets him in front in my books. Plus Chang's win over Chitalada came very early in Sot's career. Not Chang's fault, but there you have it.