I have no arguments about the experts' undisputed expert choices!
The criteria is no fights before 1943 so that eliminates Jack Johnson Joe Walcott Barbados Stanley Ketchel and Bob Fitzsimmons.
1 Sugar Ray Robinson
2. Henry Armstrong
3. Roberto Duran
4.Julio Cesar Chavez
5.Archie Moore
6.Ricardo Lopez
7.Willie Pep
8. Marvin Hagler
9.Sandy Saddler
10. Eder Jofre
11. Carlos Monzon
12.Ray Leonard
13.Roy Jones Jr.
14.Pernell Whitaker
15.Muhammad Ali
16. Wilfredo Gomez
17.Ike Williams
18. Alexis Arguello
19. Rocky Marciano
20. Joe Louis
Being this list begins with 1943 Louis had his best years in the 1930s. That is why I put him at the bottom. I tried to list the best fighters of various countries and also men who were pound for pound title holders in there careers. I score the great heavyweights lower. The reason being the heavyweight division over the years has not generally and historically been a great division. The lighter weights are all around better fighters. As I said in other forums Floyd Jr does not make my top 25 and I mean it. I think the IBHOF is a good list.
Sugar Ray Robinson
Henry Armstrong
Roberto Duran
Julio Cesar Chavez
Archie Moore
Ricardo Lopez
Willie Pep
Marvin Hagler
Sandy Saddler
I can agree with the majority of those on this list. I'm sure if I comb through it I might replace five of them. For the most part, I tend to view champions on how I feel they would perform In the Ring, as well as Historically. For that reason, I often have two separate lists. If you compare fighters of the same weight class, I tend to favor In the Ring over History.
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I certainly think most of the fighters belong on the list. It's good to see Jones Jr. and Mayweather there because, if you're talking 20 champions, they certainly belong. Both tend to get short-changed by historians, partly because of Jones' late career losses and the fact that Mayweather is still fighting.
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I certainly can't argue with the first six. I'm having a bit of trouble with Leonard being ranked so far above Hagler. Hagler lost their fight but Ray didn't do much in the way of winning it.
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Also, if you exclude all fights before 1943, that excludes a sizable chunk of Louis' career. I'm assuming that any fighter whose career goes into 1943 is included.
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I want to squeeze Salvador Sanchez somewhere in there but I must admit I'm biased and can't argue with those on the list. I could cheat and create a #21.
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I'm ok with the list for the most part. However, I'm sure it's more of an Historical list because Marciano is only the 3rd ranked heavyweight, at #18. You'll never convince me that any number of people, who know boxing, would agree that Marciano would beat Klitschko, Lewis or Foreman in the ring. That's only to name a few of the post 1943 fighters he'd lose to.
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Ask me in a day or two and I might juggle a few names, below 10, around.
Decent list, but what defines ''modern era'' in boxing?
When segregation ended? When the 10 count was introduced? When fighters had to go to the neutral corner? When gloves got bigger? When gloves were introduced? It seems to me the true ''modern era'' began when film was decent enough to make out what the fighters were doing [not that old film which skipped 2 seconds at a time, made fighters look like they jumped around].
All of these factors changed the game and how the game could be played effectively. Aside from that; boxing has always been a major money making sport attracting the best athletes, some who cheated, since John L. Sullivan made the sport mainstream in the USA.
I'd have Louis before Duran and no way should Marciano come after Saddler. I'd definitely have Hagler before Mayweathet Jr. too.
Good list though. Nice to see that people remember Jofre.
That's a hard list to make to many great boxers some of my favorites Ali, Chavez, Wilfredo Gomez, Duran, Hagler, Hearns, sugar ray Leonard , sugar ray Robinson, may weather, Tyson, marciano, hopkins,
No Larry Holmes? No Tyson? No Chavez? No Evander Holyfield ?
I never thought Ike Williams was one of the top lightweights, but otherwise I don't have a problem with the list.
not a bad list. dont quite agree with all the rankings. joe louis and mayweather jr should be a little higher
This means having no fights earlier than 1943 (per the IBHOF).
1) Ray Robinson 2) Henry Armstrong 3) Muhammad Ali 4) Roberto Duran 5) Joe Louis 6) Ray. Leonard 7) Willie Pep 8) Archie Moore 9) JC Chavez 10) Ezzard Charles 11)Pernell Whittaker 12) Floyd Mayweather Jr. 13) Marvin Hagler 14) Carlos Monzon 15) Eder Jofre 16) Sandy Saddler 17) Roy Jones Jr. 18) Rocky Marciano 19) Bernard Hopkins 20) Ike Williams
What do you think?
And no Sonny Liston either.
b.a.f.a
