The Ipswich Express Top 100 Fighters of All Time List

The countdown is definitely the way to go. More of a chance of "I thought he'd be higher" etc that way. And Leon, that's enough of that!!

 

1,625th.

 

That's fair enough too. I just feel Rock had trouble with guys past their prime. Even though he beat these guys, I feel they are the better fighters, if you catch my drift. But you can certainly make a very strong case for pushing him further up. Cheers for the feedback.

 

Was that you outside the window before??!!:admin

 

I have no problems what-so-ever with that mate. In fact, as I typed it this morning, I was thinking the same. :good

 

Sorry my friend, I believe Tito's body of work is better than Oscar's.

 

59.

Carmen Basilio 56-16-7 (27)

Best Wins: W 15 Ray Robinson, TKO2 & TKO9 Johnny Saxton, TKO12 x 2 Tony DeMarco, W10 Gil Turner, W12 Billy Graham, W10 Ike Williams, W10 Lew Jenkins.

Good Losses: L15 Paul Pender, TKO12 & TKO14 Gene Fullmer, L15 Ray Robinson, L15 Johnny Saxton, L15 Kid Gavilan, D12 & L10 Billy Graham.

Perhaps Robinson himself summed up Basilio's fortitude, when he was not interested in facing him a third time. Often dismissed as reckless and crude, Basilio fought and beat many of the best to lace them up. His bouts with Fullmer were brutal... The NY Times wrote:

"When the referee intervened Basilio screamed, 'What do you mean? What are you talking about?' Then cocking his fist, he said to the referee, 'I'll give you one.' Two policeman entered the ring and led Basilio to his corner still protesting."


58.


Wilfred Benitez 53-8-1 (31)

Best Wins: W15 Roberto Duran, TKO12 Maurice Hope, W10 Pete Ranzany, W15 Harold Weston, W15 Carlos Palomino, W15 Antonio Cervantes.

Good Losses: L15 Thomas Hearns, TKO15 Ray Leonard.

For mine, Benitez was like a shooting star, bright, fast and short lived. An incredible defensive fighter, he rose to prominence by beating the legendary Cervantes at just 17 years and 5 months! He was a 3 division champion by the time he was 22, beating great fighters along the way.


57.


James Toney 72-6-3 (42)

Best Wins: TKO9 Holyfield, W12 Vassiliy Jirov, W12 x 2 Mike McCallum, KO12 Charles Williams, TKO10 Iran Barkley, W12 Reggie Johnson, KO11 Michael Nunn, W12 Merqui Sosa

Good Losses: L12 Sam Peter, D12 John Ruiz, L12 x 2 Montell Griffin, D12 McCallum.

The skill-set owned by "Lights Out" is quite simply one of the best of modern times. Sure, his dedication could've been far better. That's not in question. His counter punching was sublime when he was on his game. I'm certain that many trainers will be digging out tapes of Toney's shoulder roll when showing their budding pugilists how to defend. A world champion at Middle, Super Middle, Cruiser and a successful venture up to Heavyweight.


56.


Shane Mosley 46-5 (39)

Best Wins: TKO9 Antonio Margarito, W12 x 2 Oscar De La Hoya, W12 Luis Collazo, TKO10 & KO6 Fernando Vargas, KO10 Wilfredo Rivera, TKO9 Jessie James Leija, TKO8 John John Molina, W12 Phillip Holiday.

Good Losses: L12 Miguel Cotto, L12 x 2 Winky Wright.

Sugar Shane made nine successful Lightweight title defences before moving up two divisions to face and defeat De La Hoya. A couple of successful defences followed before being dethroned by Vernon Forrest. He moved to Lt Middle where he again beat De La Hoya, making him a 3 division champion. After being beaten by Wright twice, it looked like the writing was on the wall for Shane.

He rebounded however to batter Vargas twice and was defeated in a game effort by Cotto. Perhaps his most impressive victory came against Margarito, where as a 4-1 underdog, he stomped Tony in one of the most one sided beat downs in boxing history. Slated to face Mayweather, where a win will further shoot him up the list of all time greats.


55.


Wilfredo Gomez 44-3-1 (42)

Best Wins: W12 Juan La Porte, TKO14 Lupe Pintor, TKO6 Juan Meza, TKO5 Carlos Zarate, KO3 Royal Kobayashi, KO9 Alberto Davila.

Good Losses: TKO8 Salvador Sanchez, KO11 Azumah Nelson.

Gomez is ranked 13th by The Ring on their "All Time Punchers" list and with good reason. The "Bazooka" won an incredible 88% of his bouts before the final bell. His 32 knockout wins in a row is the most amongst any world champion. Gomez owned a record 17 defences in the Jnr Feather division, winning all inside the distance. He also won world titles at Feather and Jnr Light before retirement.