Your top 5 Favorite Fighters & Why?

That sucks.

New avatar for now. Same girl.

 

Yes

 

Great topic, and great insight. I really need to start learning about the smaller guys. I'm seriously lacking in that regard and I'm sure you could steer me with some fights/fighters that I should be watching. I'm not quite sure what my 5 favorites... I imagine the list would should sometimes. I'll try, though. 4-5 for me are real tough. They could change or someone could overtake them.

1. Rocky Marciano - It's like learning about a real life Rocky. One that made his own way and never lost. The most determined fighter that ever lived. Great heart, will, and someone that could always seemingly find a way to win whatever the circumstance. Great power, chin, and a underrated defense. Non-stop punching machine... completely unparalleled display of stamina in the division.

2. Joe Frazier/Muhammad Ali - Interchangeable figures, almost opposite in personality and style. Both have their own charm and likability. Ali is brash, charismatic trash-talker. Frazier is humble, blue-collar hard-working consummate professional. Frazier will find you and bring you to your darkest place. Ali will psychologically put you there. Great Spartans and warriors to the sport, regardless of their difference in personality and fighting style.

3. Carmen Basilio - Don't **** this little bugger off. Because if you snub him in public he'll come back and kick your ass. Yes, that's exactly what Basilio did to Robinson. Unbelievable heart, stamina, chin... he had 2 battles with Tony DeMarco and he bullied the great punching tough DeMarco. Basilio on film gets stunned but always stays up and finds a way to punch back. Just a guy that does his job to his absolute best ability. And he had 2 grueling skilled fights with Robinson that should never really be forgotten. And his two fights with Saxton are great... Basilio got robbed, and proved himself by KOing Saxton in the rematch.

4. Jake LaMotta - I seem to be keen on the swarming aggressive styles. But there's some myth about the Raging Bull. He was willing to walk backwards in order to tire his man and slam body shots. Jake rolled, pulled, and slipped punches. He was truly a cagey swarmer/in-fighter. Watching his even his second fight against Bob Murphy when he is past his prime is something special. He had an iron-chin, great stamina, but he was a fairly light-hitting swarmer. His skills were vastly needed, and his legendary fights with Robinson and fight against Cerdan are top-notch stuff.

5. Arturo Gatti - Obviously I'm also keen on Italian fighters. Maybe it's their guts, their under-appreciated skills, and go for it mentality or the fact that I'm also Italian-American. Watching Gatti, even though not an elite fighter was something that sent shivers down my spine. Seeing him come back from punishment in these classic fights, only to come back and win was awe-inspiring stuff. Will never forget that 9th round against Ward.

HM: Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, George Foreman, Tony DeMarco, Nicolino Locche Willie Pep, Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Archie Moore, Miguel Cotto, Sugar Ray Robinson, Roberto Duran,

 

1. Joe Louis- The combination punching. The knockouts. The handspeed. I've never seen a more devastating puncher in the game, and he's scientific to boot. An interesting character in and out of the ring. the ultimate boxer puncher.

2. Henry Armstrong- Who can't love this guy, a raging windmill of punches that wrecked everything in his path from FW to WW. I love watching his perpetual motion style. To the untrained eye it doesn't look like anything educated, but in my opinion he is the greatest pure swarmer of all time. Period.

3.Ezzard Charles- Another great boxer puncher, with incredible fundamentals to boot. Interesting man as far as personality goes. I don't think anyone really understood him very well.

4.Roberto Duran-The greatest of the latino fighters. Great power. Great technique. One of the best resumes possible for a modern fighter. An inspiring backstory, to boot.

5.Benny Leonard- Fast. Huge lexicon of boxing knowledge. Knew all the tricks. Has some of the most educated hands and feet to ever grace the game. Underrated today in light of the guy I have placed above him, but I think B. Leonard may have been the greatest pure boxer to ever lace them up.

 

I definitely forgot a Henry Armstrong mention. If he was Italian, he would've been number 2.

 

I actually really wanted to put langford on the list but for some reason, I didn't. I guess his personality just doesn't interest me much.

 

Yep, always been partial to the Heavyweights. I think most fans are when they come onto the scene. The first fight I remember watching was Holyfield vs Tyson on PPV at family friends house. My first real experience was watching One Nation Divided with Frazier vs Ali. I saw Ali challenge and taunt Frazier and wondered why Ali challenged him in the streets in Phili (I 11-12 when I watched it). I remember liking Ali and also Frazier too. I wondered why Ali was a bit cruel toward Frazier. I remember asking my dad and he just said it was publicity. The first fights he bought me on VHS where Ali vs Foreman and Ali vs Frazier III. What a great introduction to the sport. I was hooked on both them from that point on.

Wohoo, the last part is very very gracious of you. It's almost too much, though. I may take you up on that though, but I live outside the UK so sending through the post would have to cost a little bit of moneys. I'd have to cover that to feel right about doing something like that. The offer is kind enough of you Addie. All I gotta do is mention Winona Ryder and the generous joyful Addie comes out.

And if he was Sicilian, he might be tied for my number 1 favorite. Rocky isn't Sicilian you know...

 

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Separated at birth?:think

 

charles is like the boxier less dancier but also less consistent version of sugar ray.

 

Kind of looks like him too.