Who are your favourite fighters?

1. Roberto Duran.

Duran's life outside the ring also weighs in heavily for him being my number one. So many tales throughout his career. One of the best was when Duran was sparring during the build-up to his 3rd fight with De Jesus. A Puerto Rican sparring partner was used and he insulted Duran at the end of a session. Duran wasn't too happy and off came the gloves, then all hell broke lose. Not only did the sparring partner get thumped but his trainer did as well. His pride was somewhat hurt after he lost for the first time to De Jesus at Madison Square Garden that pounded his fists against the walls until they bled. I've heard it was back in the locker room, other sources say at the hotel after the fight.

Duran's career had everything. A long reign at lightweight throughout the 70's, his victory over Leonard, the lows of 'no mas' and the stunning knockout defeat to Hearns, right up to his sweet 4th title win over Barkley.

Duran is the type of fighter you need to study to appreciate. He doesn't look special on initial viewing, but the more you watch him you'll begin to realise how skilled he was for a furious brawler. Well, he was a brawler, but don't underestimate his boxing ability. Ray Arcel once said about Duran 'he has ring sense and it's something that can't be taught' Arcel and Brown took away Duran's rough edges and made him economical. They took a fire that was a burning blaze and simmered it down to a certain degree. They simply made him smarter. Duran wanted to take his opponents head off as quickly as possible early in his career. Arcel and Brown never took that way from him, the rawness. They just added bits to improve him. They influenced him to be patient, to box and look for opportunties to strike, worked on his defense; slipping under punches while attacking at the same time, and cutting off the ring.

 

1. Mike Tyson. Had the best blend of power and speed ever seen. Very solid chin as well and could of been regarded as the the clear number one of all time had he kept Rooney for just a few more years.

2. Sonny Liston. Big bad Liston has always been a favorite of mine due to his fascinating story in and out of the ring.

Those are my top 2 favorite fighters. After these two theres a number of fighters who I like and enjoy watching, but these stick out.

 

..........Always a fun topic, especially when posters actually take the time to do more than just make a list.


Salvador Sanchez is of course my favorite. I used to read about him as a teenager who was a ***** for boxing magazines, and long before the advent of the internet. I hadn't seen him fight, and it was a year and a half after he'd died, but there was something about the guy that stuck with me. He looked so stoic and serious, and I was intrigued by the fact that I never saw a photo of him in action where he had his mouth open (still haven't to this day). Goofy thing to remember I suppose, but whaddya do.....I liked the professionalism he brought to his game, and marveled at reading that he was so fit that his breathing and heartrate would return to normal resting levels in the minute rest period between rounds. He seemed superhuman.

A thinking man's fighter who was also tough as nails, he had a certain cool about him, always calm under fire and never shy about trading punches, though he was by design a counterpuncher.

To me, this was what professional boxing all boiled down to.


Bobby Chacon is another huge favorite. You couldn't pick much more of a polar opposite in demeanor or fighting style from Sanchez, but his story is compelling.

A former gang member whose youthful exuberance found an outlet in the ring, Chacon soon radiated good will and boyish charm as he made his rise up the featherweight rankings in the early-mid 70's.

All action all the time, Chacon was a fight fan's dream in that hotbed of southern California boxing, and he was their guy. Despite great skills and explosive power, Chacon carried with him a real vulnerability too; he cut, he could be hit and hurt, and he loved a night out. His fun-loving ways gave way to excess, and before long his lack of focus resulted in a few losses, and his star began to wane.

In 1982, Chacon's wife Valerie, despondent over her husband's refusal to give up his career, ended her own life with a shotgun. He fought three days later, knocking out Salvador Ugalde in three. Later that year he was matched yet again with Bazooka Limon for a fourth time, this time with a title at stake.

I've written a lot about that bout here, and what it's meant to me. In my opinion it remains the very pinnacle of fistic excitement. It is quite simply the best fight ever. After his last-gasp triumph, Chacon barely held back tears as he dedicated the fight to his late wife. He paused a moment before he said, "she couldn't wait for me."

His life remains today a tragic one, as Bobby suffers horribly from the beatings he took for so many years. He is cared for by his mother.

A more compelling figure has rarely been seen in this business.

 

Jordan Keepers
Tyrone Booze
Willy Wise
Dave Jaco
Fred Fernsmoggins

 

1. Pernell Whitaker
2. Roy Jones Jr.
3. Jose Napoles
4. Ezzard Charles
5. Alexis Arguello

 

I can't place fighters in order after Duran.

Larry Holmes
Pernell Whitaker
Oscar De La Hoya
Juan Manuel Marquez
Marvin Hagler
Ray Robinson
Willie Pep
Thomas Hearns
Donald Curry
Lennox Lewis.

 

Curry was one of the best 'pound for pound' fighters during the mid-80's. He was welterweight champion between 83-86. Technically he was among the finest fighters of the last 30 years, so fine that many had him marked down as the next Leonard. However, problems making the weight eventually caught up with him when he ran into Honeyghan. He wasn't quite the same fighter after that.

He put together a couple of wins at 154lbs then challenged McCallum for the WBA title. IMO he was getting the better of McCallum for as long as the fight lasted, before pulling out of an exchange with his hands down which left his jaw exposed to a sweeping left hook from McCallum. That really was the final nail in his coffin.

Curry never accomplished what his talent deserved. He was as good a 'punch picker' as you'll ever witness. He wasn't the type of boxer who would be on his bicyle behind then jab. He tended to stand within range behind a high guard, slam home jabs at long distance, work his way inside, pound the body with both hands, and keep his elbows tucked into his ribs. He was equally good inside as he was at long range. Didn't matter to him if it was long range stuff or fighting in a telephone box. His workrate was steady and his punches accurate.

 

I must answer this question every 3 or 4 months but it's always a pleasure


1. Marvin Hagler

That guy is a true professional badass and really, a nightmare to fight. It's impossible to have an easy night against him. No one would ever do that. He looked impresive on film in his prime and showed that he didn't have any real weakness. He was absolutely destroying average opposition and did pretty good vs noteworthy opponents. He was a strong switch hitter with movement, with good enough speed, power and combination punching and most of all, he was impossible to KO. No middleweight would ever knock him out period. Hearns threw everything but the kitchen sink at him but you saw the result. I liked the way Hagler was coming forward to hurt the Hitman, we saw that he was ready to take punishment of such a deadly puncher, which is insane.


2. Aaron Pryor

Mr. Excitement himself. Cocky, awkward, unusual boxer-puncher who never stopped moving or throwing punches. Pryor never had the career he should have because of drug problems and ducking and missed opportunities. The guy is a tough customer at 140 lbs. His stamina and recuperative powers could be compared to some ATG's. Add to that natural all-around athleticism, speed, confident attitude and he's one of my favorites. His careless style (caused by the fact he thought he was invincible) always gave the opponent an opportunity to floor him but everytime he bounced back like nothing happened. The Dujuan Johnson fight is awesome.


3. Nigel Benn

I wasn't interested by boxing when Nigel Benn was in his prime.. I've always been a big hockey fan but I discovered boxing with TV replays of Ali-Foreman and Holyfield-Tyson I about 10 years ago. Yeah, I knew the big names but I never payed attention to boxing. It then became a big passion and Nigel Benn was the first fighter I really liked. He never backs up, never quits and he's lethal when he's hurt. That is a fighter. A true warrior in every sense. His huge, powerful attacks are spectacular and his own vulnerability brings danger in any fight. His chin is average as his stamina but his heart is the biggest I've ever seen besides Arturo Gatti (for a vulnerable fighter) His defense isn't a strenght but learned to duck and to pace himself later in his career. He carried heavy hands at later stages of a fight, which is interesting too.


4. Salvador Sanchez

A smooth, effortless and brilliant tactician. There's no style he could not handle. Could do it all himself. Unholy stamina matched with a granite jaw, hard cold self belief and mad boxing skills make me think he could have beat both Pedrozia and Arguello. Some may disagree but you gotta admit he had an impressive run during his shortened prime. His counter-puncher skill were so effective. Just slightly moving the head was enough to avoid punches and then he was in terrific position to strike back which I like a lot. Always square on his feet, ready to throw that radar-like right hands. His inside fighting skills are something to watch for when he needed it. The Gomez fight is a amazing.


5. Sugar Ray Robinson

He's magnificent in his prime, he's poetry on the ring. The perfect blend of power, punching arsenal, speed, agility, ring generalship and toughness. At welterweight, he was taller, faster, more powerful and even stronger than most of his opponents. It looks like Robinson could ice you out of nowhere with brutal combinations. His jab is quick as hell, his right hook to the body is legendary and his left hook is highly destructive. He fought and beat some ATG's, many of them while he was past his prime. Robinson is the greatest fighter ever.

 

Barney Ross
Rocky Marciano
Joe Louis
Ray Robinson and Basilio.

 

My fave has always been Duran, there's not much i can say about him than Robbi may have already mentioned. He was unique imo, truly one of a kind, i dont think there will ever be another quite like him. As a fighter he was so vicious in the ring, and i cant say enough how great i think the style he employed was, pure class for me. As a person, like i said, one of a kind.

PS- McGrain you have done it again, great avatar!!

 

What made me a huge fan of Marco Antonio Barrera was his amazing performance against Hamed. That fight is a thrill for me to watch, not just because of the humiliating comeuppance that the obnoxious punk Hamed recieved, but the classic, brilliant demonstration of the art of BOXING that MAB put on. One of the finest performances in all of boxing history. Too bad it wasn't for the classic limit of 15 rounds so that MAB could have prolonged the torture. He positively OWNED the "prince" Hamed. That was truly the ART of boxing.