Fightbeat top 20 since 1940, results.

I knocked this up rather hastily, just now...I've developed a similar list in the past, but this one has most of the core names, though the orders invariably change. With more time, I'm sure I'd refine it. However, I am relatively happy for the moment...

There were many, many names I hesitated on --- both including, & excluding. Fellows like Chavez, Holmes & Spinks were exceedingly difficult to drop. There will always be many unfair casualties.

1. Ray Robinson
2. Willie Pep
3. Ezzard Charles
4. Joe Louis
5. Roberto Duran
6. Ike Williams
7. Muhammad Ali
8. Kid Gavilan
9. Archie Moore
10. Sandy Saddler
11. Ray Leonard
12. Manny Pacquiao
13. Floyd Mayweather
14. Fighting Harada
15. Carlos Monzon
16. Jose Napoles
17. Emile Griffith
18. Alexis Arguello
19. Ricardo Lopez
20. Michael Spinks

 

Very interesting, thanks Ramonza. :bears: Floyd and Manny but no RJJ or B-Hop?

 

That was quite difficult. I reasoned Hopkins out by way of thinking I always felt him a somewhat (not dramatically) lesser version of Hagler, whom I could not make room for. Of course, Hopkins' achievements are more expansive & lasting than Hagler, but a lot of his competition pre-Trinidad is surprisingly poor, which is a factor (though, by inclusion of Lopez, you see I can forgive that in some instances). Jones was closer, & more difficult to leave off for me. Especially with Spinks right there, since those two would've had a great, great skirmish.

If I could name an, 'honourary top five' outside this list, Jones (& maybe Hopkins, too) would join Chavez, Hagler, & Holmes.

 

Sly has always preferred the "truth" he makes up over the actual truth.

 

The fact that Calzaghe is even on there is just fucking disgusting

If you had him on your list, you are a fucking idiot

 

Exactly

Its a fucking disgrace that Calzaghe is on there

FUCKING ridiculous

I knew there were a lot of idiots around here, but that is just insane

 

go shove a crucifix up your ass, you ignorant fuck

JOe Calzaghe doesnt belong in the top 40 since 1940

 

I think he could reasonably place top 40. Top 20, no.

 

Calzaghe in the top 25....after 10 years on internet boxing forums....i think my work is done

 

Or EUROPEAN...



REED:mj:

 

Calzaghe & Holyfield were the two which jumped out at me...Calzaghe being the worse.

 

I had Holy on my list (19th or 20th, can't recall exactly which) and I think it is perfectly justifiable. Holy at cruiser was a BEAST, one of the very best to ever fight there, and unbeaten in all efforts at the weight. This is then backed up by a very solid campaign at HW, where he fought on level terms with two top-ten HW's all time (Lennox and Tyson) and shared a notable trilogy with another supposedly top tier HW in Riddick Bowe.

Holy is a shoe-in top three cruiser all time and possibly a top ten all time HW. That entitles him to be considered and arguably included at the tail end of any top twenty list IMHO.

MTF

 

Or Stafford, who has become increasingly more erratic of late...

MTF

 

Agreed. I think I could find a spot for him in the top thirty five, between 30-35. He should be no higher than that, though, and I am one of Joe's biggest supporters here.

MTF

 

Thank you! I swear he has been having some sort of forum nervous breakdown as of late.

 

why is roberto duran so high???

 

I have to laugh at the resident hillbilly (how's bubba, billy bob and your momma's "night business"?) calling me ignorant.

Joe Calzaghe is merely underappreciated. These are all a matter of opinions, why be upset with an opposing point of view?

Now WATCH OUT...Twister is approaching...go hide in your bathtub!

 

::

How's the wife, dear friend? Tell her I said hello.

 

Because he's the greatest lightweight of all time who jumped two weights to beat the guy who's 3rd on the list? Might be that.

 

FUCK Roberto Duran.

I agree that he is the GLOAT....and he gets props for beating Leonard. But he got flattened by Hearns in 2 one-sided rounds when he was still close to prime and that goes against his all time ranking I'm afraid.

Hearns would have beat his ass every day of the week and four times on sunday. Any fighter who is THAT owned by another has to suffer somewhat in their all time ranking.

 

Your fucking OBSESSION with losses versus actual achievements continues. Duran was 34 odd, training intermittently, and 3 weights above his best against arguably the greatest fighter that division ever saw. It's the equivalent of the Hopkins of say 3 years ago (in terms of career arc) fighting a prime Holyfield at Cruiser, finding Holy to be a stylistic nightmare as well as younger and bigger and getting knocked the fuck out out. What would that say? Not a whole fucking lot. It counts against him, but the achievements of a fighters prime are what matters and the rest is the bonus section of the DVD.

 

I bet that post made sense in your head. You have been spouting more nonsense than normal. Have you suffered a head injury lately??

 

Fool. NO one knocks out Hopkins. Not Holyfield, George Foreman, The Grammercy Riffs, Superman, The Iron Giant or God. Have you learned NOTHING???

 

I know....just wanted to piss you off. :atu:

 

I'm fine, thanks for asking though.

 

:laughing: Ok, you got me GOOD.

 

Are you sure?? Because you have been rambling and making little sense even more than normal.

 

Your concern is appreciated. But even if I needed your help, you wouldn't be able to assist being all the way in Rhode Island.

Again, thanks buddy.

 

I have never been quite as high on Duran as many, & do not rank him at the top of the Lightweight tree (I cannot fathom how anyone, let alone so many, could call him, "easily," or, "hands down" the greatest LW of all-time), & I think his achievements at Welterweight are somewhat over-rated --- but, with that said, a peak Duran was as savage, as brilliant, & as legendary a fighting machine as just about anyone who's been in existence since 1940, & he deserves a very, very high placing.

 

Because he once knocked out a horse. It sure as fuck isn't based on his performances.