favourite all time boxer

[big e]

ello MAPers
who would be your favourite top 3 all time boxers and why?
ill tell u mine after i get a few answers. hehehe

[YODA]

Sounds like a new topic to me :D

[TkdWarrior]

who else than muhammad ali then tyson(i hate it when he admits that lennox was the best ;)) and third of course myself :D :p
-TkdWarrior-

[big e]

m o d e s t

- lol

[binski20]

I'll give a vote for Muhammed Ali, but not Tyson. He wasn't one of the best. He had alot of power, and strted off well, but look at what happened with Holyfield and Lewis.
Eric Morales is one of the best fighters out there right now. Does anyone else know who he is?
I gotta give a vote for Mickey Ward too, a guy with that much heart deserves the recogniton.
Roy Jones jr, although he hasn't been challenged significantly lately, he will move up to heavyweight anf fight Ruiz.
This list could go on.

[TkdWarrior]

yup i agree with u binski...remember last fight against lennox...after fight i heard tyson...he was like lennox is god... i know tyson had some very very good days... but admitting that sort of defeat ...i didn't expected from the kind guy tyson was...
i hav heard about Eric morales but didn't knew much about him..
-TkdWarrior-

[binski20]

Tysons words after the Lewis fight just showed me hw much of an act everything before the fight was, just to drive up the cash value.

[TkdWarrior]

lol yup i agree binski20...
-TkdWarrior-

[stump]

Tyson should have gone the whole way and asked Lewis if he could spare him any change :(

my favourite boxers of all time would have to be

Barry McGuigan
Steve Collins
Ricky Hatton

i never seen any of the greats like Ali fight so I can't really speak about them. I've always preferred the lighter divisions boxers....all heavyweight fights I've seen become slugfests. I guess my list only proves how little I follow boxing.

[wayofthedragon]

Ali, Tyson, and....well, those are the only two as my favorite
Unless I turn to female boxers, Lelia Ali (did I misspell her first name:confused: )

[YODA]

I don't think any heavyweight past or present could have stood up to a 19 year old Mike Tyson.

What a waste :(

[binski20]

That would depend. 19 year old Tyson against another in their prime????
I think he could have been beaten. Tyson had talent, no doubt about it. Alot of power, lightening reflexes and lightening speed for a heavy weight. However, he was very one dimensional. Seek and destroy. When a taller fighter can keep him at bay, he's lost.
There is no way to tell for sure, but I think Ali could have handled him. He beat a young george foreman which no one thought he could. Foreman had more power in his prime than Tyson, just by his size.
Of course, nothing can ever be proven, and remains opinions and debates.
I will agree with you that young Tyson was amazing.
But not the most amazing ever.

[Cain]

Hmm...ok here's mine -

Bruce Lee :D [He also boxed remember?]
Mike Tyson
Umm....me :D
|Cain|

[YODA]

Originally posted by cain_charlie
Hmm...ok here's mine -

Bruce Lee :D [He also boxed remember?]
Mike Tyson
Umm....me :D
|Cain|

Bwaaahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa.........

:p :p :p :p :p

[Cain]

hmm.....I did'nt get u :confused:
|Cain|

[morphus]

I have to say Mike Tyson v Rocky Marciano
Two great sluggers - i would love to have seen a fighyt between these two in there prime.
Gorra say i think Marciano would have won on a KO!
Tyson could take less of a punch than Marciano could.
I don't think it would have lasted long both going for the KO!
Any opinions on this one particular fight?

[Jay]

Ok, here's my favourites :

No 1 .... Gotta be Muhammad Ali ( ALI BUMBAYA !!!! )
No 2's .... All of these - George Foreman (he was an absolute MONSTER !!) - Ken Norton (Strange guard ... I've tried using it during sparring but only manage to get a good dig in the ribs! And he broke Ali's Jaw) - Young Tyson (Scary Scary Dude !!!)
No 3 .... Marco Antonio Barrera ( Mexican who destroyed Prince Naseem - No messing around just a PROPER boxer )

Jay

[cyclepath]

1. Muhammad Ali, obviour reasons
2. Tyson, before his split with Cus Damato(sp?) he was awesome
3. Roy Jones pure class

[binski20]

It was truly a shame that damato could not finish what he started with Tyson. He moulded him into a great fighter, but in my eyes, he never was able to finish. Tyson had alot of natural ability and talent. However, I believe that if damato had lived to finish what he had started, we would see a more well rounded Mike Tyson today. In the eyes of other trainers, he was already Iron Mike!! What more did he need??? I always felt damato could have given him some depth. Mike Tyson is famous for some of the same reasons as Ali, although in a different way. They both had a great amount of natural skill. However, both are also known for there actions inside the ring as well as out. I AM NOT saying Tyson is to be compared to Ali. Tyson's actions outside of the ring were less desireable, but nonetheless, have helped boost him to superstardom. That along with the way he tossed aside anyone and everyone in his prime.

[FISH]

Early Cassius Clay/Ali when he kept his damn hands up hard to beat someone that fast with an 82 inch reach :D

Early to middle Tyson before the Buster Douglas scam ala Don King promotion lol :D After that prison,steroids,and a ballooned 240lb. slowpoke came out.Tyson fans know he was 210 to 215 tops in all his previous fights.

Sugar Ray Robinson can't believe no one mentioned him:p Perhaps the greatest combo of speed and power that boxing has or will ever see:cool:

[DeeTee]

Ok,

Ali,
Sugar Ray Leonard,
Roy Jones Jr

All pure class boxers who could really turn it on when they had to and were / are a pleasure to watch.

I remember having a bet with my Guvnors brother on the Leonard Hagler fight, 20 - 1 that leonard would get it on points. Went in to work the following day never to see him again!

Oh well...

[Vincenzo]

if i may
Rocky Marciano
Thomas "Hitman"Hearns
Jake Lamotta

[Vincenzo]

if i may
Rocky Marciano
Thomas "Hitman"Hearns
Jake Lamotta

[Vincenzo]

sorry about posting that twice ( i'm no computer wiz)

[KenpoDavid]

thase are not who i think is teh best, it's who I like to watch. the list are slightly different...

Roy Jones jr.
Lennox Lewis
Arturo Gatti (did you see tha fight in June holy cow!!!)

[boyforsale]

My all time favorite are the Klitchko brothers, mostly Vitali. He is an amazing boxer, can take on anyone.

[wuchang79]

Okay. . I gotta say ALI too. c'mon watching the man in the ring was pure art! Ali wasn't an athlete. . .he was an Artist (Martial Artist) He used his mind and body in the ring.

TYSON no matter what. I know he can take lewis. during the count he picked his head up @ 6 and then laid back down. He was also pushed to go down, not knocked out. after the 10 count he was up, walking and concious. During the first three rounds Lewis wasn't as confident. When Lewis noticed TYSON wasn't throwing any punches back he got cocky. (watch the tape. ..tyson was dancing, not boxing. You can count how many punches tyson threw in ur head.) The fight was dirty, If had any integrity left and wasn't looking @ the paycheck he would've knoacked Lewis smooth-the-hell-out! TYSON was an Absolute Beast when he's on. No doubt!

Third was SUGAR RAY LEONARD. Roy jones jr came close but his style is too familiar to LEONARD for me. . .SUGAR RAY was poetic. ..speed, power, agility.. . .more than great comboninations.

I've said my peace

[Ghandi]

Muhammed ali was the best ever dont even try and doubt it please!
Other than that prince Nazeem Hammed(if thats the right spelling) was awesum at his best and for the third ummm probably george foreman or that american guy who won 50 fights in a row.

[Ziggy_789]

I'd have to say Ali, and Joe Louis. Any of those bare knuckle boxers before the queensbury rules would have to be tough SOBs as well:woo:

[saikyou]

ali, tyson, marciano. no need for explanations.

[aikiMac]

Hard to limit it to 3, but I really like

1) M. Ali (undeniable champion)
2) Sugar Ray Leonard (personal favorite)
3) Oscar de la Hoya (awesome fighter)

[Andy Murray]

1/ Ali
2/ Tyson
3/ Sugar Ray Leonard
4/ Chris Eubanks
5/ Jim Watt
6/ Prince Naseem Ahmed
7/ George Foreman
8/ Sugar Ray Robinson
9/ Frank Bruno
10/ Nigel Benn

[sercuerdasfight]

1. marvin hagler
2. roy jones
3. tapia

[Floorismyfriend]

ROY JONES JR. BABY!!!!!!
Kung fu fighting!!!
His punch is fast AS LIGHTNING!!!!
Oscar de la hoya knows bjj and learned from royce gracie himself.

[pimphand]

My favourite fighter to watch is James Toney.

He isn't the greatest fighter of all time, or the most athletically gifted, but his complete mastery of his counter punching style is fantastic to watch.

He has the best counter right hand in boxing IMO.

[flippedout6]

1 marvin hagler
2 suger ray leonard
3 jack dempsey

[Pika]

1. Ali. Lets not forget that he wasn't boxing in his prime, and we missed possibly some of the best years of his career. Don't like a lot of the things he stood for, but you cant deny his talent.

2. Tyson. This thread is favs, not best. He inspired me to box. Never has there been a champ like Tyson. In his youth, he was unstoppable. I would back a 19 year old Tyson cornered by Damato against any heavyweight in history.

3. Gatti. Heart, heart, heart.

[Patrick Bateman]

Can i withdraw my vote for Jones, (submitted in my previous incarnation as cyclepath) after watching that travesty of a fight and judges, i use the term loosely, decision this weekend.

[Stuart H]

Ali, Marciano and the quintessential bare-knuckle fighter, James Figg.

[shootodog]

1) rjj. hands down. speed, power, resistance, and movement. he is a work of art!

2) muhammad ali. he is the posterboy of boxing.

3) this is a toss-up between these middlewieghts that have brought countless hours of joy and entertainment: a) "marvelous" marvin hagler, b) thomas "hitman" hearns, c) roberto "el maso" duran, d) "sugar" ray leonard, e) leonard sphinx.

[Tomanak]

Favorite Boxers:

CURRENT:

Vitali Klitschko -- In my opinion (mine only), the greatest heavyweight fighter at the moment.

Antonio Tarver -- Not a fluke. Not as naturally gifted as the phenomenal and prodigious Roy Jones, Jr., but he is a better fighter and a better boxer (uh-oh. here come the violent disagreements!)

Bernard Hopkins -- Hitman reloaded

Wayne Braithwaite -- Power and grace, seamlessly packaged

LEGENDS:

Sugar Ray Robinson -- Pound for pound, the best who ever lived

Teofilo Stevenson -- Often overlooked when ranking the best heavyweights of all time. Big mistake

Henry Armstrong -- Boxing's "sweet science" personified

and of course,

Muhammed Ali -- Transcends boxing altogether

[pimphand]

Ali, Marciano and the quintessential bare-knuckle fighter, James Figg.

How did you settle upon James Figg as a favourite fighter? He is from an era in the distant annuls of the sport - do you have any articles or essays on his fighting style/record you could point me towards? Thanks.

[shootodog]

Favorite Boxers:

CURRENT:

Vitali Klitschko -- In my opinion (mine only), the greatest heavyweight fighter at the moment.

Antonio Tarver -- Not a fluke. Not as naturally gifted as the phenomenal and prodigious Roy Jones, Jr., but he is a better fighter and a better boxer (uh-oh. here come the violent disagreements!)

Bernard Hopkins -- Hitman reloaded

Wayne Braithwaite -- Power and grace, seamlessly packaged

LEGENDS:

Sugar Ray Robinson -- Pound for pound, the best who ever lived

Teofilo Stevenson -- Often overlooked when ranking the best heavyweights of all time. Big mistake

Henry Armstrong -- Boxing's "sweet science" personified

and of course,

Muhammed Ali -- Transcends boxing altogether


it's a miracle you didn't name the cubans. felix savon and his teacher mr. stevenson.

[Tomanak]

it's a miracle you didn't name the cubans. felix savon and his teacher mr. stevenson.

Look again, shooto :) Teofilo Stevenson is right there under Sugar Ray Robinson. And you're right about Felix Savon. If Teofilo is the King, he's the crown prince. Believe it or not, one of my most cherished possessions is an autographed picture of me and Alcides Segarra.

How did you settle upon James Figg as a favourite fighter? He is from an era in the distant annuls of the sport - do you have any articles or essays on his fighting style/record you could point me towards? Thanks

You can try this link, pimphand:

James Figg (http://www.ibhof.com/figg.htm)

[Diego_Vega]

If I had to pick 3 of my "favourite", as opposed to "the best", fighters ... my three would be a couple of champions and a character:

3) Matthew Saad Mohamed (though, I think I actually liked him more as Matt Franklin) -- involved in some of the most exciting back and forth, give and take, about to get ko'd but makes a comeback, fights I can remember against Yaqui Lopez, John Conteh and Dwight Mohamed Quawi. In everyone one of these fights he looked like he was about to get ko'd then he'd comeback. It was like watching a Rocky movie. Finally, couldn't make anymore comebacks against Quawi. Great (to watch) light heavyweight champion from the 80's.

2) Orlando Canizales -- punches in bunches, all combos all the time. Boxing the way it's supposed to look, bob and weave, and everything in combinations from every conceivable angle. A 5 ft 3 inch bantamweight champion who bobbed under and around his taller opponents (single) punches, jabbed his way in and then threw combo's to the head and body. An artist in a world of paint by the numbers hacks.

1) Bruce "the mouse" Strauss -- fought as Bruce "the Mouse" Strauss, "Pretty Boy" Floyd Bernstein, "Machine Gun" Kelly Jones, Reuben Bardot. Fought 134 fights (winning 76) as the mouse, but probably over 200 altogether. Been knocked out in 6 continents (except North Pole -- Strauss' words, I think he may have meant South Pole); fought 4 or 5 times a week at times, and a couple of times twice in one day; got ko'd by 3 world champs (Starling, McCallum, and Czyz) in three different weight divisions; had especially designed shorts to hide lead bars so he could fight as a welterweight one day and a heavyweight the next day; drank beer in his corner that fans offered him; chatted up ring girls; hid injuries to fight; faked injuries so he could stay in the hospital because there was a nurse he liked (actually married her later) ; never actually trained, but worked on 3 round principle where he would look for a soft spot on the convas to land after the 3rd round; later became a manager and trainer and turned down training one fighter because he was "too good" and he did'nt know how to get him fights; had a movie made about him called, "The Mouse". Not a great, er... even good fighter, but a character and one of my favourites.

[Stuart H]

http://iainabernethy.com/articles/article_6.htm

[Speed]

Iron Mike (Mike Tyson): He was a monster in the 80s. He was aggressive like no other, he didn't dance around like a fairy, he was direct and to the point.

Others worth mentioning..

Muhammad Ali (Cassius Marcellus Clay)
RJJ (Roy Jones Jr.)
Gentleman Jim (James John Corbett)
Jack Dempsey (William Harrison Dempsey)

[J.C]

would Rocky count? I like Rocky hehe.

[Blevunly]

Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, and Joe Frazier

[kenpfrenger]

Jack Dempsey
Daniel Mendoza
Jack Dempsey again:D His Championship Fighting book is my bible!

[G_Man]

1) Ali
2) Foreman
3) Tex Cobb

[TM77]

I haven't been a huge fan of boxing but here are the ones that left the biggest impacts.

1. Muhammed Ali - He was certainly one of a kind, not just as far as fighting goes but persona wise as well.

2. Sugar Ray Leonard - for speed and technique

3. Mike Tyson - fascinating to watch all that animalistic rage in the ring.

[cxw]

BEST
1 - Rocky Marciano. Never defeated, what else can you say?

2 - Joe Louis.

3- Ali.

FAVOURITES
- Roy Jones Junior

- Lennox Louis

- George Foreman. As an aside, it's hilarious how his children are called George 1, George 2 etc

[Guy Mendiola]

3 words Roy Jones Jr.

[ANVIL]

good q...these are my 3 personal faves, not neccessarily the best but i enjoyed watching them (apart from when they lost!)

1. ali - watching him against cleveland williams was awesome
2. lloyd honeyghan - he was flash, brash and he whupped don curry's arse!
3. marvin hagler - he was marvellous!

i also loved watching hearns, duran, leonard, tyson and benn - balboa put on a pretty good show too

[alex_000]

Tyson. My other favourites are light years away..

[binski20]

i have alot of favourites. Ali, not because of the popurlarity, but for the man he was. This was a guy you couldn't shake. He stood up to the biggest man around then (foreman), stood up to the government among other things.

Smokin Joe- i love his style. he NEVER stops moving, always side to side, very quick. i always thought there was some smokin joe in tyson during his prime

arturo gatti- simply because of the heart and determination the guy has. he has 5 fights of the year....and probably still counting. need i say more?

roy jones jr- only one word....amazing.

marco antonio barerra- if you haven't seen him fight, you need to.

i'll end it there for now.

[GojuKJoe]

out of the ones i've seen fight, my top ones would be

Rocky Marciano (against Tyson, who would win? There's aninteresting thought)
Erik Morales
Mohammed Ali
Jack Dempsey

I can't only pick 3, there's loads more

[BangkokBabay]

Tough Call! My top 3 are:

1. Rocky Marciano
2. Oscar De La Hoya
3. Mike Tyson

I love to watch
Floyd Mayweather, Fernando Vargas, Lennox Lewis, Mummhamd Ali, Gabriel Ruelas....

There are many more!