Top 55 Fighters, All Time

"As much multi-division success"? Not in my oipinion. Langford has wins over ATG's from around 140lbs (Gans) through the MW division (Tiger Flowers) into LHW (Jack O'Brien,) and into the HW ranks (Wills, McVey). So he has wins over some of the greatest fighters of all time at what amounts to light-welter, where he kicks off, and he makes it all the way throgh to HW. Where is Wills on your all time list? He is 11 on mine. There isn't a great deal of difference in the weights that Langford and Robinson started of fighting at - but Langford became one of the most ducked HW's in the world, Johnson and Demspey both ducking him. Johnson and Dempsey. Despite the fact that he doesn't come to the title (Which means very little to me - Dempsey and Johnson are both examples of fighters who are great because of what they did BEFORE they came to their titles, not after)Langford built a resume that outstrips greats of the HW division like Liston. In terms of multi-division success, Robinson is not in the same league as Langford.

To me, Robinson, Greb, Armstrong and Langford are all reasonable choices for #1. Which one of these tops your list will generally be about how you weigh the various factors involved. For example, Robinson, my #2 - it concerns me that he managed to avoid facing fighters such as Holman Williams, Eddie Booker, Archie Moore and that he blatantly ducked Cocoa Kid and Charley Burley. That hurts him for me.

But, like I say, any one of four can be #1, but I don't see any reason at all why Langford should be excluded from that argument, least of all because racists/men who were frightened of him refused to give him that chance.

We agree on what makes Monzon special. What holds him back, in the main, is his one weight dominance. When you get to the very top of this list you need something special to give you the boost. On my list, his being locked into the top 15 would see him above Joe Louis, Joe Gans, Gene Tunney, guys like that - now, there is an argument, but is it really completely rock solid? Tunney has far and away the better resume and looks marginally better on film, for example.

Well i'm not having this argument again, but you'll be plesed to hear I think you may be right. This list went up a few months back. When I did my 100, Marciano was in the 60's, I think. I'd bet he'd be on this list if it was going up now.

Behind Lewis, of course

 

#58

#62

Why?! Loi is 115-3! Ortiz describes him as the best he ever fought...Loi certainly belongs on this list, though I agree with you that Gomez could certainly be higher.

Villa is one of the best ever to come from the East and with a win like Jimmy Wilde you're in contention.

 

Yeah, Sweet Pea was very grumpy about this too.

It's easy said, and i've said it once already, but I think I made a mistake and have probably underated him. I'm not saying he would definitely get on if I re-did the list, but it's certainly possible.

 

The problem with generalisations like this is it doesn't allow for the guys who are already above him. To move into my fifteen, Whitaker would have to leap-frog legends like Tunney, Gans, Saddler and Barney Ross!! I like Whitaker and he's a fighter that has gone up in my estimation this past year, but I can't find a way to move him above Barney Ross...

70's

No; it's not even currently accurate, I'd make one or two changes I think...I put it up a few months back. I like it, i'm mostly happy with it, but i'd make one or two changes I reckon.

 

90's. Would you rate him above Micheal Spinks? One of the greatest ever at 175 with a pair of wins over Holmes at HW? There are hundreds of great names in boxing, but only 55 can appear in a top 55.

I think that Wilfredo Gomez, Mariano and Kid Gavian would all be in contention for the bottom end of the 55, although I don't think all three would make it. Tunney to move above Louis. Burley down to 15, with the three directly below him moving up a slot each.