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Henry Armstrong

Who are the best boxers of the 20th century? This list of the best boxers of the 20th century contains some of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. From legends like Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Joe Louis to late-century stars like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield, this list of the greatest boxers of the 20th century will surely include some of your favorite fighters of all time!Now it's your turn to vote on who you think are the greatest boxers of the 20th century from the list below. See a great boxer from the 20th century missing from the list? Add them so that other boxing fans and Rankers can vote on your addition!

Boxing

Brian Mitchell

Boxing in the 1980s saw the exit of Muhammad Ali, the continuing rise of Don King as the sport's most famous promoter, as well as the rise of rival promoters like Bob Arum. The decade as saw a rivalry between five world champions - Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard, all of whom would eventually find themselves among the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-boxers-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest boxers of all time</a>. The 80s also saw the rise of Mike Tyson as a dominant fighter who would be crowned World Champion in 1986.<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-active-boxers/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Who is the best boxer</a> from the 1980s? Vote below with who you think is the greatest boxer from the 1980s is below and if you see anyone missing from the list, feel free to add them so that other boxing fans and Rankers can vote on your additions!

George Foreman

This list of the best boxers of all time is ranked by boxing fans worldwide. The goal is to determine the greatest boxers ever. The list establishes individual rankings of specific boxers and helps answer the question, &quot;<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-boxers-of-the-20th-century/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Who is the greatest boxer</a> of all time?&quot; This list includes some real legends of the boxing world.

Who are the best boxers of all time? Anyone can vote on the greatest&nbsp;boxers of all time, which means these boxers are truly fan favorites. From Olympic legends like Sugar Ray Leonard to sports idols like Muhammad Ali, there are numerous choices to examine when contemplating the question of who is the greatest boxer of all time. Vote now to help determine the greatest pound for pound boxers of all time.

Max Baer

The best heavyweight boxers of all time are not just the best boxers in that weight class but also arguably many of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-best-boxers-of-all-time" target="_blank">best boxers of all time</a>. These men dominated their matches during their respective times, won championships and even fought each other on occasion in some of the most well known boxing matches in history.Easily the best of all time, Muhammad Ali is undoubtedly the best heavyweight boxer to ever step in the ring. As the first and only three-time lineal World Heavyweight Champion, Ali fought many of the other members on this list in many of the greatest boxing matches ever such as when he duked it out with Joe Frazier and George Foreman and lost only five matches over his career which spanned over 20 years.Going beyond &quot;The Greatest,&quot; many other notable heavyweight boxers have earned their place on these rankings too. Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield are all easily among the best heavyweight boxers ever. Even current boxers made the list with the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-mma-heavyweights/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">current Heavyweight Champion</a> Wladimir Klitschko from the Ukraine a modern legend.Be them current champions or legends from yesteryear, these are surely <a href="/list/top-10-boxers-not-to-mess-with/annebel" target="_blank">boxers that should not be messed with</a>. Share your thoughts on which of these men are the best in their weight class by voting, adding to or re-ranking this list of the best heavyweight boxers of all time.

Sugar Ramos

Muhammad Ali emerged in the 1960s as one of the greatest boxers of all time or, as he put it, &quot;shock the world.&quot;&nbsp;There were plenty of other great boxers from the '60s who also became some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-boxers-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest boxers of all time</a>. Other great boxers from the decade that saw the sport grow globally included names like Joe Brown, Dick Tiger, Rubin &quot;Hurricane&quot; Carter, and Japanese boxers like Takeshi Fuji, Yoshiaka Numata, and Katsuyoshi Takayama.&nbsp;The first world champions from Venezuela and Thailand were crowned during the 1960s and the WBA and WBC began competing against each other. A new division was also created in the Junior Middleweights where a high school teacher, Freddie Little, was crowned world champion. Fights were also seen on color television for the first time.<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-active-boxers/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Who is the best boxer</a> from the 1960s. It's your time to vote for who you think are the greatest boxers from the 60s. If we missed anyone, feel free to add them to the list so that other boxing fans and Rankers can vote on your additions!&nbsp;

90s Sports

Tommy Morrison

Boxing in the 1990s saw Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis dominate the heavyweight division. Mike Tyson was also around, although he had to take a three-year hiatus after running into trouble with the law. Buster Douglas, Riddick Bowe, Pernell Whitaker, Julio Caesar Chavez, Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Roy Jones Jr., Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Michael Watson all rose to prominence in the decade to become some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-boxers-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest boxers of all-time</a>.Who is the greatest boxer of the 1990s? Vote below to improve our definitive rankings of the best boxers of the 1990s. If you think any fighters are missing, feel free to add them so that other boxing fans and Rankers can vote on your additions!

Andre Ward

Who are the best boxers of the 21st century? Is it Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Manny Pacquiao? How about Timothy Bradley, Oscar de la Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr., or Shane Mosely? Maybe you are a fan of Lennox Lewis or Wladimir Klitschko?Now's it's your turn to vote on who you think the greatest boxers of the 21st century below. if you see any fighters missing from the list, feel free to add them below so that other boxing fans and Rankers can vote on your additions!

Sugar Ray Robinson

The best middleweight boxers of all time are those greatest men ever to compete at the 160-pound weight class in the history of boxing. These marvelous athletes&nbsp;are the worldwide champions of yesteryear and the stars of today but overall, they are the top boxers to ever head into the ring for a middleweight match as well as some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-boxers-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest boxers of all time</a>.Though he saw most of his success in the welterweight class, many would argue that Sugar Ray Robinson is both the best middleweight boxer of all time and pound-for-pound among one of the best boxers ever. The five-time middleweight champion had a long and glorious career including an 85-0 amateur record, a 91-fight unbeaten streak and the title as the only boxer to win a divisional world championship five times. In 200 total fights, he had only 19 losses and six draws.Besides Robinson, there are many other great boxers who made a name for themselves in the history of middleweight boxing. Carlos Monzon, Harry Greb, Marvin Hagler, and Freddie Steele are among the classic middleweight boxers that are considered the best of all time while more recent stars like James Toney, Bernard Hopkins, Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. and Jermain Taylor each deserve some love for their success.How do you compare the classic middle weight boxers with those famous stars of today who are primed to make legacies of their own? What about those greatest fighters who also fought in other weight classes, perhaps better? However you rank them amongst each other, do so below by voting on, adding to or re-ranking this list of the greatest middleweight boxers of all time. When you're done, head over to rank the <a href="/list/best-lightweight-boxers-of-all-time/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best lightweight boxers of all time</a> too!

Hispanic-Latinx

Sergio Martínez

A list of the best Hispanic boxers, ranked by boxing fans from around the world. For years, boxing has been intertwined with Hispanic culture. The boxers listed on here are some of the most <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-male-professional-boxers/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">well known boxers</a> in the boxing history. They are some of the biggest names and most popular fighters of their time. There are champions, title contenders, and boxers who are famous in their own right. The best Hispanic boxers aren't limited to a certain weight class. The top boxers on this list are middleweights, light heavyweights, heavyweights, welterweights and the like. Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez and Oscar De La Hoya are three of the biggest Hispanic fighters in boxing history. They are known for their blend of brute force, punishing punches and quick feet. They are known as some of the greatest Hispanic boxers of all time. There are a few familiar names on here that can be called the most <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-hispanic-boxers/famous-hispanics">famous Hispanic boxers</a> as well.&nbsp;Vote and re-rank this list according to who you think should be consider the best Hispanic boxer of all time. If you notice someone is missing from this list, feel free to add him.&nbsp;

Ezzard Charles

This <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-male-professional-boxers/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">list of boxers</a> from the 1950s consists of a number of names that would go on to become some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-boxers-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest boxers of all time</a>. The decade saw the transition from fighters like Willie Pep, Joe Louis, Sandy Saddler, and Ezzard Charles to the rise of Sonny Liston, Joe Brown, Rocky Marciano, and Carmen Basilio. Two of the greatest boxers of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta continued their feud into the '50s. LaMotta later joked with <a href="http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/interviews/a17593/jake-lamotta-quotes-0113/" target="_blank">Esquire magazine</a> that he fought Sugar Ray so many time, &quot;it's a wonder I don't have diabetes!&quot;Who is the best boxer from the 1950s? Vote below on who you think the greatest boxer from the 1950s is and if we missed any fighters, feel free to add them to the list so that other boxing fans and Rankers can vote on your addition! &nbsp;

Canada

<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-male-professional-boxers/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">List of famous boxers</a> from Canada, listed alphabetically with photos of the boxers when available. Canada has produced some very talented boxers over the years, including heavyweights, light heavyweights, cruiserweights, featherweights and flyweights. These are some of the best Canadian boxers to ever live, so if you're a native of Canada and are aspiring to box professionally then these people should be your idols. If you're searching for a particular popular boxer from Canada then you can use the &quot;search&quot; box to find who you're looking for.The list you're viewing is made up of different boxers like William Irwin and Andrew Kooner.This list answers the questions, &quot;Who are the greatest Canadian boxers?&quot; and &quot;Which boxers are from Canada?&quot; You can click on the names of these legendary boxers of Canada in order to get more information about each one. If you box or just love the sport then use this list of talented Canadian boxers to find some new athletes to watch.

Ike Williams

The best lightweight boxers of all time are the elite and best ever boxers who fought in the lightweight division, which generally is between 130 and 135 pounds. These top lightweight boxers are former World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and Olympic champions plus some of the greatest lightweight boxers in the game today. While they cannot all square off in the ring to determine an ultimate best lightweight boxer of all time, they can be ranked and voted on below to name the best of the bunch.Just like with the <a href="/list/best-heavyweight-boxers-of-all-time/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best heavyweight boxers of all time</a>, there are a few favorites among these elite fighters that come to mind when discussing the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-boxers-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top boxers</a> in the lightweight division. Roberto Duran, Benny Leonard, Joe Gans, Pernell Whitaker and Ike Williams all fall into that category with numerous titles and accolades between them.Moving more into modern times, names like Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. are all among the top lightweight boxing stars who saw success more recently. But they have plenty of competition with current top boxers like Manny Pacquiao, Adrien Broner and Vasyl Lomachenko each making a name for themselves in the division and the sport.So how do you compare the classic boxers who held titles for years at a time to those with the potential to have even better careers in the future? However you rank these famous lightweight boxers, do so below by voting, adding to or re-ranking this list of the best lightweight boxers of all time. When you're done there, head over and see how these men stack up against the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-boxers-of-all-time" target="_blank">best boxers of all time</a> too.

Wilfred Benítez

The best welterweight boxers of all time are the fighters who are the legends of the weight class in the history of the sport. These are those current and former welterweight boxing champions as recognized by the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization as the absolute best at any given time. Looking back on the early days of the welterweight class, fighters like Jack Britton, Ted &quot;Kid&quot; Lewis, Mickey Walker, Jackie Fields, and Jack Thompson dominated the sport in the early 20th century as they won bout after bout, often against one another. These early fighters set the stage for another generation of boxers like Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Robinson, Kid Gavilan, Tony DeMarco, and Jose Napoles, who saw a great deal of success during the middle of the century. More recently, top welterweight boxers such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have taken over as the top names in the weight class with many still fighting in the class to this day. Of course these stars also compete in other weight classes, like Mayweather Jr. who is also among the <a href="/list/best-lightweight-boxers-of-all-time/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best lightweight boxers of all time</a>. So while we can't get all of these current and historical welterweight boxers in the ring to duke it out for an all-time title, we can rank these best welterweight right here instead. Vote up the ones you love, add those not listed or re-rank these best welterweight boxers of all time. Then, head over and give your say on how they stack up against the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-best-boxers-of-all-time" target="_blank">best boxers of all time</a> too!

List of the most popular, renowned or famous boxers from South Africa. List includes the most notable boxers from South Africa, along with photos when available. This list of South African boxers is alphabetical, but can be sorted by any column and answers the question &quot;what famous boxers are from South Africa?&quot; You can click on the names of the famous boxers of South Africa in order to get more information about each one. List contains boxers like Owethu Mbira and Young Pluto. You can use this list to create a new list, re-rank it to fit your views, then share it on Facebook, Twitter or any other social networks you belong to. {#nodes}

Alexis Argüello

The best featherweight boxers are all time are the most successful and most legendary boxers ever to compete in the weight class in the history of the sport. Typically with a weight limit of 126 pounds, the featherweight class has seen its fair share of stars throughout the years between the champions who helped the sport rise to prominence many decades ago to the top featherweight boxers of today. Looking back into the history books, many names pop up as among not only the best featherweight boxers ever but the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-best-boxers-of-all-time" target="_blank">best boxers of all time</a>. The likes of Willie Pep, who is regarded by many as the best featherweight boxer ever, Henry Armstrong, Sandy Saddler, Abe Attell, George Dixon, Young Griffo and Terry McGovern all saw success in the late 19th century and early 20th century. While which of these boxers should be regarded higher than another is debated, all set the tone for many generations of featherweight boxers to come.Fast forward to modern times and the men who are dominating the weight class have quickly made their place as among the greats of yesteryear. Juan Manuel Marquez, Naseem Hamed and even Manny Pacquiao, who often fights in other weight classes and is also considered one of the <a href="/list/best-lightweight-boxers-of-all-time/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best lightweight boxers of all time</a>, are all names both to watch now and later when their career accomplishments are stacked up against other all-time greats.So whether you rank the classic boxers above the stars of today or vice versa, share your rankings for the top featherweight boxers of all time below by voting for your favorites, adding any not already listed or clicking re-rank to put these best featherweight boxers in your own order.

Billy Conn

Sugar Ray Robinson, Jake LaMotta, and Rocky Graziano are all names that land on our list of the greatest boxers of the 1940s. This list of boxing greats includes boxing champions like Willie Pep, Manuel Ortiz, and Sal Bartolo who all fought in the decade that World War II broke out in.&nbsp;<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-active-boxers/ranker-sports?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Who is the best boxer</a> from the 1940s? It's time for you to decide which of these fighters you think is the top boxer from the '40s. Vote below and feel free to add any boxers that we might have missed so that other boxing fans and Rankers can vote on your addition! After you are finished, head on over and vote for the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-1990s-boxers/ranker-sports?ref=collections&amp;l=2090610&amp;collectionId=1583" target="_blank">best boxers of the 1950s</a>.

List of the most popular, renowned or famous boxers from the United States. List includes the most notable boxers from the United States, along with photos when available. This list of American boxers is alphabetical, but can be sorted by any column and answers the question &quot;what famous boxers are from the United States?&quot; You can click on the names of the famous boxers of the United States in order to get more information about each one. This list below has a variety of boxers, like {X} and {Y}, in it. You can use this factual list to create a new list, re-rank it to fit your opinion, then share it with your Twitter followers, Facebook friends or with any other social networks you use on a regular basis. {#nodes}

Get in the ring with a list of the most popular, renowned, and famous boxers from England. This list includes the most notable boxers from England, along with photos when available. This list of English boxers is alphabetical, making it an easy-to-use factual resource on British boxers. The list helpfully answers the questions, &quot;Which famous boxers are from England?&quot; and &quot;Who are the most <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-boxers-from-united-kingdom/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">famous UK boxers</a>?&quot;For a country with a rich sporting history like England, it shouldn't be too surprising that they have a slew of famous boxers, including several champions. Some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-male-professional-boxers/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">well known boxers</a> to hail from England include former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, retired light-welterweight champ Ricky Hatton, and the old-fashioned boxing legend Bob Fitzsimmons. Boxers also include everyone from Matthew Hatton to Frankie Gavin. Click on the names of these famous boxers of England in order to view more information about each, including their places of birth, so you can see which British boxers hail from London and which come from far corners of the United Kingdom.

List of the most popular, renowned or famous boxers from Australia. List includes the most notable boxers from Australia, along with photos when available. This list of Australian boxers is alphabetical, but can be sorted by any column and answers the question &quot;what famous boxers are from Australia?&quot; You can click on the names of the famous boxers of Australia in order to get more information about each one. List features boxers like Neilson Taione, Daniel Dawson and more! You may copy this factual list to build your own just like it, re-rank it to fit your views, then publish it to share with your friends. {#nodes}

Jeff Fenech

The best bantamweight boxers of all time are the best men to ever enter the ring and compete at the weight class, which has limited participants to 118 pounds or 53.5 kilograms since its formation in 1894. Featuring world champions and fan favorites, many of these best bantamweight boxers are also among the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-best-boxers-of-all-time" target="_blank">best boxers of all time</a>. Like many sports, those deemed the best are some of those who were the first to see success when the sport, or in this case weight class, was introduced. George Dixon, Terry McGovern, Pete Herman and Joe Lynch are some of the men who increased the popularity of the sport and the class with their success during the early 20th century. But the boxer who is described by many as the very best bantamweight boxer of all time saw his time in the spotlight later in the century in the 1960s. Brazilian boxer Eder Jofre, who is also one of the <a href="/list/best-featherweight-boxers-of-all-time/ranker-sports" target="_blank">best featherweight boxers of all time</a>, competed in 87 fights between 1957 and 1976, winning 72 of them including several which earned him championships. There are many more where that came from though and to this day there are plenty of great bantamweight boxers looking to put their name on this list too. Think a name deserves to be here or be in a different spot? Add or vote for your favorite bantamweight boxers below!

Boxing: The Perfect Sport

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1970s

Boxing in the 1970s was dominated by legendary champions and history-making rivalries. Ruben Olivares dominated the Bantamweights while Wilfredo Gomez ruled the Super Bantamweight division. Meanwhile, Roberto Duran ruled the Lightweights, Antonio Cervantes held the Welterweight division twice, Carlos Monzon dominated the Middleweights, and Bob Foster topped the Light-Heavyweights. The <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-boxers-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest of all time</a>, Muhammad Ali&nbsp;ruled the Heavyweight division twice between 1974 and 1979.Duran and Esteban De Jesus had a historic rivalry as did Monzon and Rodrigo Valdez and who could forget the trilogy of fights between Ali and Joe Frazier. There were plenty of great fighters in the 1970s but we want to know who you think are the best boxers of the 1970s.Vote below for the boxers from the 1970s who you think were the greatest fighters of the '70s and if we missed any, feel free to add them so that other boxing fans and Rankers can vote on your addition!&nbsp;

Best 1970s Boxer | List of Top Boxers of the 70s

The Best Boxers of the 1970s

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Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer, activist, and philanthropist. Nicknamed "The Greatest," he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century and as one of the greatest boxers of all time.
Ali was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and began training as an amateur boxer at age 12. At 18, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics, and turned professional later that year. He converted to Islam and became a Muslim after 1961, and eventually took the name Muhammad Ali. He won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston in a major upset at age 22 in 1964. In 1966, Ali refused to be drafted into the military, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War. He was arrested, found guilty of draft evasion, and stripped of his boxing titles. He appealed the decision to the Supreme Court, which overturned his conviction in 1971, but he had not fought for nearly four years and lost a period of peak performance as an athlete. His actions as a conscientious objector to the war made him an icon for the larger counterculture generation, and he was a high-profile figure of racial pride for African Americans during the civil rights movement. As a Muslim, Ali was initially affiliated with Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam (NOI). He later disavowed the NOI, adhering to Sunni Islam, and supporting racial integration like his former mentor Malcolm X.
Ali was a leading heavyweight boxer of the 20th century, and he remains the only three-time lineal champion of that division. His joint records of beating 21 boxers for the world heavyweight title and winning 14 unified title bouts stood for 35 years. Ali is the only boxer to be named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year six times. He has been ranked the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, and as the greatest athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated, the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC, and the third greatest athlete of the 20th century by ESPN SportsCentury. He was involved in several historic boxing matches and feuds, most notably his fights with Joe Frazier, such as the Thrilla in Manila, and his fight with George Foreman known as The Rumble in the Jungle which has been called "arguably the greatest sporting event of the 20th century" and was watched by a record estimated television audience of 1 billion viewers worldwide, becoming the world's most-watched live television broadcast at the time. Ali thrived in the spotlight at a time when many fighters let their managers do the talking, and he was often provocative and outlandish. He was known for trash-talking, and often free-styled with rhyme schemes and spoken word poetry, anticipating elements of hip hop.Outside the ring, Ali attained success as a musician, where he received two Grammy nominations. He also featured as an actor and writer, releasing two autobiographies. Ali retired from boxing in 1981 and focused on religion and charity. In 1984, he made public his diagnosis of Parkinson's syndrome, which some reports attribute to boxing-related injuries, though he and his specialist physicians disputed this. He remained an active public figure globally, but in his later years made increasingly limited public appearances as his condition worsened, and he was cared for by his family. Ali died on June 3, 2016.

Ranker Community

George Edward Foreman (born January 10, 1949) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1969 to 1977, and from 1987 to 1997. Nicknamed "Big George", he is a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. Outside the sport he is an ordained minister, author, and entrepreneur.
After a troubled childhood Foreman took up amateur boxing and won a gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Having turned professional the next year, he won the world heavyweight title with a second-round knockout of then-undefeated Joe Frazier in 1973. Two successful title defenses were made before Foreman's first professional loss to Muhammad Ali in "The Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974. Unable to secure another title opportunity, Foreman retired after a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977.
Following what he referred to as a religious epiphany, Foreman became an ordained Christian minister. Ten years later he announced a comeback and, in 1994 at age 45, he regained a portion of the heavyweight championship by knocking out 26-year-old Michael Moorer to win the unified WBA, IBF, and lineal titles. Foreman remains the oldest world heavyweight champion in history, and the second oldest in any weight class after Bernard Hopkins (at light heavyweight). He retired in 1997 at the age of 48, with a final record of 76 wins (68 knockouts) and 5 losses.
Foreman has been inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame and International Boxing Hall of Fame. The International Boxing Research Organization rates Foreman as the eighth greatest heavyweight of all time. In 2002, he was named one of the 25 greatest fighters of the past 80 years by The Ring magazine. The Ring ranked him as the ninth greatest puncher of all time. He was a ringside analyst for HBO's boxing coverage for twelve years until 2004. Outside boxing, he is a successful entrepreneur and known for his promotion of the George Foreman Grill, which has sold more than 100 million units worldwide. In 1999, he sold the naming rights to the grill for $138 million.

Joe Frazier

Joseph William Frazier (January 12, 1944 – November 7, 2011), nicknamed "Smokin' Joe", was an American professional boxer who competed from 1965 to 1981. He reigned as the undisputed heavyweight champion from 1970 to 1973, and as an amateur won a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics. Frazier was known for his strength, durability, formidable punching power, and relentless pressure fighting style.
Frazier emerged as the top contender in the late 1960s, defeating opponents that included Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones, George Chuvalo, and Jimmy Ellis en route to becoming undisputed heavyweight champion in 1970, and followed up by defeating Muhammad Ali by unanimous decision in the highly anticipated Fight of the Century in 1971. Two years later, Frazier lost his title when he was defeated by George Foreman. He fought on, beating Joe Bugner, losing a rematch to Ali and beating Quarry and Ellis again.
Frazier's last world title challenge came in 1975, but he was beaten by Ali in their brutal rubber match, the Thrilla in Manila. He retired in 1976 following a second loss to Foreman. He made a comeback in 1981, fighting just once before retiring. The International Boxing Research Organization rates Frazier among the ten greatest heavyweights of all time. The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1967, 1970 and 1971, while the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) named him Fighter of the Year in 1969, 1971 and 1975. In 1999, The Ring magazine ranked him the eighth greatest heavyweight. BoxRec ranks him as the 18th greatest heavyweight of all time.  He is an inductee of both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
Frazier's style was often compared to that of Henry Armstrong and occasionally Rocky Marciano, dependent on bobbing, weaving and relentless pressure to wear down his opponents. His best known punch was a powerful left hook, which accounted for most of his knockouts. In his career he lost to only two fighters, both former Olympic and world heavyweight champions: twice to Muhammad Ali, and twice to George Foreman.
After retiring, Frazier made cameo appearances in several Hollywood movies, and two episodes of The Simpsons. His son Marvis became a boxer—trained by Frazier himself—but was defeated by an up-and-coming Mike Tyson in 1986. His daughter Jackie Frazier-Lyde also boxed professionally. Frazier continued to train fighters in his gym in Philadelphia. His attitude towards Ali in later life was largely characterized by bitterness and contempt, interspersed with brief reconciliations.
Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer in late September 2011 and admitted to hospice care. He died of complications from the disease on November 7, 2011.

Carlos Monzón

Carlos Roque Monzón Ledesma (Santa Fe, Argentina; 7 August 1942 – Santa Fe, Argentina; 8 January 1995) nicknamed Escopeta (Shotgun in Spanish) was an Argentine professional boxer who held the undisputed world middleweight championship for 7 years. He successfully defended his title 14 times and is widely regarded as not only one of the best middleweights in history but also one of the greatest boxers of all time pound-for-pound. Known for his speed, punching power and relentless work rate, Monzon ended his career with a record of 87-3-9 with 59 knockouts, each one of his losses were early in his career and were avenged. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990, he was chosen by The Ring magazine in 2002 as the 11th greatest fighter of the last 80 years and voted him as the best middleweight title holders of the last 50 years in 2011. As of January 2018, Monzón holds the 2nd longest unified championship reign in middleweight history at 9 consecutive defenses.
Argentines adored Monzon throughout his career. His glamorous and violent life was avidly followed both by the media and Argentine people. He was, however, accused many times of domestic violence by his two wives and many mistresses, and of beating paparazzi. Charged with killing his wife Alicia Muñiz in Mar del Plata in 1988, the former champion was sentenced to 11 years in jail. He died in a January 1995 car crash during a weekend furlough.

Ken Norton

Kenneth Howard Norton Sr. (August 9, 1943 – September 18, 2013) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1967 to 1981, and held the WBC heavyweight title in 1978. He is best known for his trilogy with Muhammad Ali, in which Norton won the first fight by split decision, and lost the latter two fights by split and unanimous decision, respectively. Norton also fought a slugfest with Larry Holmes in 1978, narrowly losing a split decision. Having officially retired from boxing in 1981, Norton was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.

Alexis Argüello (April 19, 1952 – July 1, 2009) was a Nicaraguan professional boxer who competed from 1968 to 1995, and later became a politician. He was a three-weight world champion, having held the WBA featherweight title from 1974 to 1976; the WBC super featherweight title from 1978 to 1980; and the WBC lightweight title from 1981 to 1982. Additionally, he held the Ring magazine and lineal featherweight titles from 1975 to 1977; the Ring lightweight title from 1981 to 1982; and the lineal lightweight title in 1982. In his later career he challenged twice for light welterweight world titles, both times in famous fights against Aaron Pryor.
Argüello has regularly been cited as one of the greatest boxers of his era, having never lost any of his world titles in the ring, instead relinquishing them each time in pursuit of titles in higher weight classes. After his retirement from boxing, he became active in Nicaraguan politics and in November 2008 was elected mayor of his native Managua, the nation's capital city.
The Ring magazine has ranked Argüello as 20th on their list of "100 greatest punchers of all time", while the Associated Press ranked him as the world's best super featherweight of the 20th century. He was named one of the 20 greatest fighters of the past 80 years by The Ring magazine.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Ray Charles Leonard (born May 17, 1956), best known as "Sugar" Ray Leonard, is an American former professional boxer, motivational speaker, and occasional actor. Often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he competed from 1977 to 1997, winning world titles in five weight divisions; the lineal championship in three weight divisions; as well as the undisputed welterweight title. Leonard was part of "The Fabulous Four", a group of boxers who all fought each other throughout the 1980s, consisting of himself, Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler.
"The Fabulous Four" created a wave of popularity in the lower weight classes that kept boxing relevant in the post-Muhammad Ali era, during which Leonard defeated future fellow International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees Hearns, Durán, Hagler, and Wilfred Benítez. Leonard was also the first boxer to earn more than $100 million in purses, and was named "Boxer of the Decade" in the 1980s. The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1979 and 1981, while the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) named him Fighter of the Year in 1976, 1979, and 1981. In 2002, Leonard was voted by The Ring as the ninth greatest fighter of the last 80 years; BoxRec ranks him as the 27th greatest boxer of all time, pound for pound.

Larry Holmes

Larry Holmes (born November 3, 1949) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 2002. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which gave birth to his boxing nickname of "The Easton Assassin".
Holmes, whose left jab is rated among the best in boxing history, held the WBC heavyweight title from 1978 to 1983, The Ring magazine and lineal heavyweight titles from 1980 to 1985, and the inaugural IBF heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985. He made 20 successful title defenses, placing him third all time, behind only Joe Louis at 25 and Wladimir Klitschko at 22. He also holds the record for the longest individual heavyweight title streak in the modern boxing history. Holmes is one of only five boxers—along with Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks and Trevor Berbick—to defeat Muhammad Ali; he is the only one to have  stopped Ali (while Ali was suffering with early Parkinson's disease). 
Holmes won his first 48 professional bouts, including victories over Norton, Ali, Earnie Shavers, Mike Weaver, Gerry Cooney, Tim Witherspoon, Carl Williams and Marvis Frazier, and falling one short of matching Rocky Marciano's career record of 49–0 when he lost to Michael Spinks in 1985. Holmes retired after losing a rematch to Spinks the following year, but made repeated comebacks. He was unsuccessful in three further attempts (against Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Oliver McCall) to regain the heavyweight title, the last in 1995. Holmes fought for the final time in 2002, against the 334lb Eric "Butterbean" Esch, and ended his career with a record of 69 wins and 6 losses. He is frequently ranked as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time and has been inducted into both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame.

Vicente Saldivar

Vicente Samuel Saldívar García (May 3, 1943 – July 18, 1985) was a Mexican boxer. He was a former WBC and a two-time WBA Featherweight Champion. Saldivar has frequently been ranked amongst the greatest in the history of that division by many noted boxing historians and critics. He currently holds the record for the most wins in unified featherweight title bouts and the longest unified featherweight championship reign in boxing history at 8 title bouts and 7 title defenses respectively. Saldívar fought in front of the fourth largest crowd ever, 90,000 in Estadio Azteca, and has also regularly been cited as one of the finest left-handed fighters of all time.



Bob Foster

Robert Wayne "Bob" Foster (December 15, 1938 – November 21, 2015) was an 20th century American professional boxer who fought as a light heavyweight and heavyweight. Known as "The Deputy Sheriff", Foster was one of the greatest light heavyweight champions in boxing history. He won the world light heavyweight title from Dick Tiger in 1968 via fourth-round knockout, and went on to defend his crown fourteen times in total from 1968 to 1974. Foster challenged Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali during his career, but was knocked out by both (the fight with Ali was not for a world heavyweight title, but for the regional NABF version).

Roberto Durán

Roberto Durán Samaniego (born June 16, 1951) is a Panamanian former professional boxer who competed from 1968 to 2001. He held world championships in four weight classes: lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight, as well as reigns as the undisputed and lineal lightweight champion, and the lineal welterweight champion. He is also the second boxer to have competed over a span of five decades, the first being Jack Johnson. Durán was known as a versatile, technical brawler and pressure fighter, which earned him the nickname of "Manos de Piedra" ("Hands of Stone") for his formidable punching power and excellent defense.In 2002, Durán was voted by The Ring magazine as the fifth greatest fighter of the last 80 years, while boxing historian Bert Sugar rated him as the eighth greatest fighter of all time. The Associated Press voted him as the best lightweight of the 20th century, with many considering him the greatest lightweight of all time. Durán finally retired in January 2002 at age 50 (having previously retired in 1998) following a car crash in October 2001, with a professional record of 119 fights, 103 wins, and 70 knockouts. Up until his fight with Wilfred Benítez in 1982, he was trained by legendary boxing trainer Ray Arcel.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler

Marvin Hagler (born Marvin Nathaniel Hagler; May 23, 1954) also known as Marvelous Marvin Hagler  is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 1987. He reigned as the undisputed middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987, making twelve defenses of that title, and currently holds the highest knockout percentage of all undisputed middleweight champions, at 78%, while also holding the second longest unified championship reign in boxing history at twelve consecutive defenses. At six years and seven months, his reign as undisputed middleweight champion is the second longest of the last century, behind only Tony Zale, who reigned during World War II. In 1982, annoyed that network announcers often did not refer to him by his nickname, "Marvelous", Hagler legally changed his name to Marvelous Marvin Hagler.Hagler is an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. He was named Fighter of the Decade (1980s) by Boxing Illustrated magazine, and twice named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. In 2001 and 2004, The Ring named him the fourth greatest middleweight of all time and in 2002 named him the 17th greatest fighter of the past 80 years. The International Boxing Research Organization rates Hagler as the 6th greatest middleweight of all time, while BoxRec rates him the 12th greatest boxer of all time, pound for pound; and the 4th best middleweight of all time. Many analysts and boxing writers consider Hagler to have one of the most durable chins in boxing history.

Emile Griffith

Emile Alphonse Griffith (February 3, 1938 – July 23, 2013) was a professional boxer from the U.S. Virgin Islands who became a World Champion in the welterweight, junior middleweight and middleweight classes. His best known contest was a 1962 title match with Benny Paret. At the weigh in, Paret infuriated Griffith, a bisexual man, by touching his buttocks and making homosexual slurs. Griffith won the bout by knockout; Paret never recovered consciousness and died in the hospital 10 days later.In 1963 and 1964, Griffith was voted Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. In 2002, he was listed #33 on Ring Magazine's list of 80 greatest fighters of the past 80 years. Griffith currently ranks #20 in BoxRec's ranking of the greatest pound for pound boxers of all time.

Wilfred Benítez (born September 12, 1958) is an American-born Puerto Rican former professional boxer and the youngest world champion in the sport's history. Earning his first of three career world titles in separate weight divisions at the age of seventeen, he is best remembered as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities, along with his fights with Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard. 
Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1996, he is considered among the best Puerto Rican boxers of all time, sharing the honor with Félix Trinidad, Wilfredo Gómez, Carlos Ortiz, Héctor Camacho, and Miguel Cotto.

Antonio Cervantes

Antonio Cervantes aka Kid Pambelé (born December 23, 1945 in San Basilio de Palenque, Bolívar) is a Colombian boxing trainer and former two time world Jr. Welterweight champion. He successfully defended the title 16 times. Cervantes fought 21 world title fights, keeping the 140 pounds title for almost 8 years. Cervantes, who is Afro-Colombian, was born in Palenque, also known as the first site of a slave rebellion in the Americas. Cervantes used to sell contraband cigarettes and shine shoes as a child to survive. 
In 2002, Cervantes was chosen for the Ring Magazine's list of 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years. Boxrec also ranked him the 50th greatest pound for pound boxer of all time.

Jerry Quarry

Jerry Quarry (May 15, 1945 – January 3, 1999), nicknamed "Irish" or "The Bellflower Bomber", was an American heavyweight boxer. Quarry was rated by Ring magazine as the most popular fighter in the sport, from 1968 to 1971, during the peak of his career. His most famous bouts were against world champions Floyd Patterson, Jimmy Ellis, Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton. His professional career record of 53 wins–9 losses–4 draws included wins over some of the best heavyweights of his era, 1965–75. Quarry also had a remarkably successful amateur boxing career.
Also briefly a Hollywood actor, Quarry appeared in a number of television roles, and also played a recurring character on the show Adam-12. His younger brother, Mike Quarry, was also a high-ranked contender in the light heavyweight division.

José Cuevas

José Cuevas may refer to:

José Cuevas (boxer) (born 1957), Mexican former world champion boxer
Jose Cuevas (soccer) (born 1989), American soccer player
José Luis Cuevas (1934–2017), modernist painter, printmaker, sculptor, and writer

Lupe Pintor

José Guadalupe Pintor Guzmán (born April 13, 1955), better known as Lupe Pintor, is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1974 to 1995. He won the WBC bantamweight title in 1979 after defeating Carlos Zárate Serna, and made eight defenses. In 1985, Pintor defeated Juan Meza to win the WBC super bantamweight title, but lost to Samart Payakaroon in his first defense the following year.

Ken Buchanan

Ken Buchanan MBE (born 28 June 1945) is a Scottish retired professional boxer from Edinburgh and the former undisputed world lightweight champion.

Rubén Olivares

Rubén Olivares Avila (born January 14, 1947) is a former Mexican boxer and current member of the Boxing Hall of Fame. A native of Mexico City, Olivares was a world champion multiple times, and considered by many as the greatest bantamweight champion of all time. He was very popular among Mexicans, many of whom considered him to be Mexico's greatest fighter for a long period. He currently holds the record for the most wins in unified title bouts in bantamweight history, at 6. Olivares also had cameo appearances on Mexican movies, and he participated in more than 100 professional bouts.

Carlos Zárate Serna

Carlos Zárate Serna (born May 23, 1951 in Tepito, a borough of Mexico City) is a retired Mexican boxer. He and fellow Mexican and world Bantamweight champion Ruben Olivares have the distinction of being the only two professional boxers in history to put together two streaks of 20 or more knockout wins in a row.
Zárate was voted Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine in 1977. Zárate was ranked #21 in The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. and voted as the #1 bantamweight (along with Rubén Olivares) of the 20th century by the Associated Press in 1999. He is also the father of once-defeated Light Welterweight prospect, Carlos Zárate, Jr.

Rodrigo Valdéz

Rodrigo Valdéz (December 22, 1946 – March 14, 2017) was a Colombian boxer who was the undisputed world middleweight champion, whose rivalry with Carlos Monzón has long been considered among the most legendary boxing rivalries. Valdez was trained by International Boxing Hall of Fame coach Gil Clancy. Many people consider him, Antonio Cervantes and Miguel "Happy" Lora to be the three greatest boxers ever to come from that country. He is 29th on Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

Éder Jofre

Éder Jofre (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈɛdeɾ ˈʒofɾi]; born March 26, 1936) is a retired Brazilian professional boxer and former Bantamweight and Featherweight champion. He is ranked #85 on Ring Magazine's 100 Greatest Punchers Of All Time list. He was named the 19th greatest fighters of the past 80 years by The Ring magazine.

Jimmy Young

Jimmy Young (November 14, 1948 – February 20, 2005) was an American heavyweight professional boxer. Young was known for his awkward, defensive style and counterpunching. He had his greatest success during the mid-1970s, most notably earning a victory over George Foreman in 1977 and losing a unanimous decision against Muhammad Ali. Young fought many significant fighters of his era, including twice outpointing Ron Lyle and losing only by a split decision to then-number one contender Ken Norton in a title eliminator in late 1977.

José Nápoles

José Ángel Nápoles, nicknamed Mantequilla ("Butter", referring to his smooth boxing style), (April 13, 1940 – August 16, 2019) was a Cuban-born Mexican boxer and a World Welterweight Champion. He is frequently ranked as one of the greatest fighters of all time in that division and was a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. His record of the most wins in unified championship bouts in boxing history, shared with Muhammad Ali, was unbeaten for 40 years. After debuting professionally in Cuba, he fought out of Mexico and became a Mexican citizen.

Boxing in the 1970s was dominated by legendary champions and history-making rivalries. Ruben Olivares dominated the Bantamweights while Wilfredo Gomez ruled ...