Who are the top ten Greatest Middleweights ever, in order, and in your opinion?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by JonOli, Nov 20, 2008.


  1. JonOli

    JonOli Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Who are the top ten Greatest Middleweights ever, in order, and in your opinion?


    *Perhaps make 2 lists if you like; achievement wise, and H2H wise.*
     
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Robinson
    Monzon
    Hagler
    Hopkins
    Greb
    Walker
    Fitzsimmons
    Charley Burley
    Holman Williams
    Stanley Ketchel




    These would be my ten, I guess. I hope I don't **** you off by making some honourable mentions:

    Dick Tiger
    Tiger Flowers
    Sam Langford
    NP Jack Dempsey
    Tommy Ryan
     
  3. JonOli

    JonOli Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    No, not at all McGrain - I'm not entirely sure of my list at the moment (interested in hearing peoples views). I changed the title to include, "in order", as well.
     
  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    OK, in order:

    1 - Sugar Ray Robinson
    2 - Carlos Monzon
    3 - Harry Greb
    4 - Marvin Haggler
    5 - Bernard Hopkins
    6 - Bob Fitzsimmons
    7 - Charley Burley
    8 - Holman Williams
    9 - Mickey Walker
    10-Stanley Ketchel.

    Something like that.
     
  5. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    A fine list McGrain, but I've never bought into the arguments for Robinson being #1 of all time at MW, nor of Hagler's name being spelled with two G's ;) . Ray was past his prime for most of his MW reign and was fairly inconsistent past a certain point. His reign was never as dominant or thorough as guys like Monzon, Hagler, etc. Even if he did manage to beat, at his best, better MW's than either (arguably), he still held losses to most of those same MW's, a few of them lesser fighters than the ones Monzon and Hagler consistently beat.

    Also, is your low (relatively) ranking of Greb based on the lack of footage or the fact that he did most of his best work at higher weights against larger opposition, despite he himself being a natural MW?
     
  6. the cobra

    the cobra Awesomeizationism! Full Member

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    #1. Carlos Monzon
    #2. Harry Greb
    #3. Ray Robinson
    #4. Marvin Hagler
    #5. Bernard Hopkins
    #6. Charley Burley
    #7. Stanley Ketchel
    #8. Dick Tiger
    #9. Holman Williams
    #10. Mickey Walker

    I don't rate fighter that had the basis of their careers before 1900, so no Fitz, Ryan, Dempsey, etc. Also, after Burley I think it's basically wide open for finishing out the top 10, I just went with this order for now. There are a couple of fighters that I could see sliding into the bottom of the top 10 and replacing the last 3.

    I also generally don't rate Langford by divisions, it's too difficult for me to do, especially when I don't have a set top 10 list.

    Greb could be argued over Monzon, but for what they did at 160 I like Monzon for the #1 spot.
     
  7. StreetsOfGold

    StreetsOfGold Boxing Addict Full Member

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    5 - Bernard Hopkins ???? a headbutting hugging spoiler ? who lost every fight against a decent opponent his own size ?
     
  8. Rock0052

    Rock0052 Loyal Member Full Member

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    1. Greb
    2. Monzon
    3. The Nonpareil Jack Dempsey (although he usually weighed in as a welterweight in a number of his MW fights)
    4. Hagler
    5. Fitzsimmons
    6. Sugar Ray Robinson
    7. Charley Burley
    8. Mickey Walker
    9. Stanley Ketchell
    10. Bernard Hopkins

    Too many honorable mentions to list. This weight class is almost too deep in terms of being able to come up with who should be top 10.
     
  9. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    1. Robinson
    2. Greb
    3. Monzon
    4. Hagler
    5. Tiger
    6. Burley
    7. Roy Jones
    8. Hopkins
    9. Fitzsimmons
    10. (tie) Tiger Flowers & Mickey Walker
     
  10. USboxer1981

    USboxer1981 The Real Def. MVP Full Member

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    Mine is the same, besides one big difference.... I have Monzon ahead of SRR. I think at MW Monzon is the greatest.. SRR was great at MW and I would put him number 2.. but I would have Monzon beating SRR at 160 so I put him above SRR.
     
  11. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    :lol:

    **** you.

    4 time champ and some wonderful wins takes him into the stratosphere. His skillset and the fact that I see him as a h2h favourite versus the other 4 that make up the top 5 drag him to the #1 spot. You read that right, I pick him to beat HagGler, Monzon, Hopkins and Greb. I could be underestimating Greb, but I think the one that gives him the most trouble is HagGler.

    If you don't make these picks you can't put him at #1, but if you believe it, like me, you can't put him at #2, either.

    The second one. Even though he probably is a natural MW (And he did struggle to make the weight now and again) I rate him at the same spot p4p as at his best weight, middle.
     
  12. pit

    pit Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    to add to your Honourable mention list ....Marecl Cerdan had this man not injured his shoulder during his match with Jake LaMatta and died before the rematch , I wonder if Robinson would have won the title ..
     
  13. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Doesn't even crack my top 15. For a fighter with no footage, reports of his skill aren't enough to convince, he has to at least have the resume to back up the claims, and his level of opposition was quite poor for someone rated so highly (though probably better than a simple Boxrec check would suggest, as their records are very incomplete, especially with fighters and fights of that era). I just can't see the justification. Even a guy like Marcel Cerdan, whose resume is a tad short and often gets criticized, has a better case than him.
     
  14. Sweet Pea

    Sweet Pea Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    :think Fair enough old chap.

    Indeed, I just used a snooty British term.
     
  15. JonOli

    JonOli Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Good to see peoples views so far. :good