Why does everyone say SRR was the best of all time

I havn't seen a whole lot of him, but what i have seen is incredible and he has a great record and resume.

 

The fighters he fought speak for themselves wins over some of the best of his time like graziano,maxim,and basilio

 

H2H he is not the best of all time. Resume - era/era, he absolutely is.

 

I for one favor Homicidal Hank over Ray Robinson for the top spot in the P4P ratings, but when you see the resume of Ray Robinson and look at all the greats he fought and beat, sometimes dominated its incredible. ESPN classic shows occasionally the greatest hits of SRR and its amazing to see the fast feet and hands, the power, the generalship, its breathtaking. he could fight going forward, backwards, lead, counter, slug, fight defensivley, etc. Ray Robinson was the total package. #2 on my list but #1 on most.

 

I think you make some valid points. Many people will say that SRR is the best simply because that is what they're conditioned to believe so(that doesn't mean that it isn't true). Most people have not seen SRR fight live in his prime which can make judgeing his greatness difficult. One day I'll probably tell my kids and grandkids that Michael Jordan was he greatest basketball player of all time. Being that they weren't alive during his reign it will be hard for them to understand exactly what he meant to the game, and how he eleveated his play when his team needed it the most. At the same time I'll be more likely to remember the good parts of Jordan's game and ignore his flaws. I think the same can be said about SRR.

 

Robinson was 128-1-2 as a pro at one stage. Add that to a 85-0 amatuer career and he lost 1 of his first 216 fights combined....

Robinson had more fights and wins with world class opposition than some world class fighters of this era have fights period:

He beat the following fighters who were rated in The Ring top 10 of their respective weight divisions at the time of the fight:

Peter Lello
*Sammy Angott (three times)
*Fritzie Zivic (twice)
Norman Rubio
Tony Motisi
*Jake LaMotta (five times)
Izzy Jannazzo (three times)
Jackie Wilson (twice)
Ralph Zannelli
*Henry Armstrong
Vic Dellicurti (twice)
Jose Basora
Jimmy McDaniels
Tommy Bell (as well as win when Bell was not top 10)
George Abrams
Jimmy Doyle
Bernard Docusen
*Kid Gavilan (twice)
Steve Belloise
George Costner
Ray Barnes
Robert Villemain
Charley Fusari
*Bobo Olson (three times; as well as a win when Olson was not top 10)
*Rocky Graziano
Rocky Castellani
*Gene Fullmer
*Carmen Bassilio
Denny Moyer
Ralph Dupas

*A member of the IBHOF

I make that 44 victories over top 10 fighters; 19 wins over IBHOF members...

And that is before mentioning the championships won...

 

His resume is just amazing for his context and era. I would only rank Henry Armstrong above Robinson.

 

Jordan? Flaws? What you talkin bout Willis?

 

Although I think that Robinson is the GOAT, what you said could confuse some people. Robinson beat 41 Top10 fighters in 200 fights. Today, a fighter could beat 20 Top10 contenders in 50 fights. You have to consider a proportion.

 

**** me, if you saw him fight live how old are you!

 

Yes, but along with that proportion we must take into consideration what a top ten contender meant then and means now.

Top 10 then was for ONE belt, one list. Top 10 now is at LEAST for 3 belts, sometimes 4, creating 4 different lists NOT counting Ring.

It dilutes is just a bit IMO.

 

Who Ray Robinson beat:

Sammy Angott 3 times
Marty Servo twice
Fritzie Zivic twice
Jake LaMotta 5 times
Henry Armstrong
Artie Levine
Tommy Bell
Jimmy Doyle
Kid Gavilan twice
Charley Fusari
Carl 'Bobo' Olson 4 times
Randy Turpin
Rocky Graziano
Gene Fullmer
Carmen Basilio

Robinson was easily beating heavyweight champ Joey Maxim when he succumbed to the heat after 14 rds. He arguably had just 3 losses in his prime - to the lt heavy champ, to Randy Turpin (who he beat in the rematch), and to La Motta, whom he beat 5 times.

I compare that to the resumes and accomplishments of other ATG's, and to me, Robinson stands above the rest.

 

Greb, Armstrong, and Pep have pretty good resumes.