The best boxers in the world. Famous boxers. Boxers are world champions. The most famous boxers Strength is not the main thing

There is no doubt that in boxing it is all about personality. Of course, it sometimes happens that the main characters are not in the ring, but in the shadows of the spotlight. Until now, promoters in their offices decide the fate of fights. Nevertheless, there is a series of boxing champions who have gone down in the history of this sport.

These are real personalities who fought legendary fights and achieved their fame in battles with really strong opponents. Today, aspiring boxers look up to these idols, dreaming of winning at least a share of their fame.

JOSEPH WILLIAM "JOE" FRASER

American professional boxer who competed in the heavy weight category. Olympic champion 1964. World heavyweight champion (WBC version, 1970-1973; WBA version, 1970-1973). Many reputable sports publications recognize him as one of the greatest boxers of all time, along with Muhammad Ali.

For a long time, there was no one on Joe's path who could beat him. Only Buster Mathis managed to do this. That victory gave him the right to go to the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. But a hand injury prevented Mathis, and in the end it was Fraser who represented the USA.

He became an Olympic champion, defeating the German Huber in the final. Since 1965, Fraser has been performing as a professional. His boxing style is quite tough; his signature blow is the left hook. In his first 11 fights, Fraser won, but in September 1966, the unyielding Oscar Bonavena stood in his way. During the round, this Argentine knocked Fraser down twice, but he managed to turn the tide of the fight and win. By the end of 1967, Frazier had an impressive 19 wins from 19 fights.

When Muhammad Ali was stripped of his title, the WBA fell into chaos over the determination of the champion. As a result, a special New York State tournament was held. Fraser was able to knock out his old friend Mathis and take the prestigious title. In 1968-1970, Joe repeatedly defended his status, and in 1970 he became the absolute world champion.

When Muhammad Ali's suspension was lifted in the summer of that year, it became unclear who should be considered number one in boxing? By the end of that year, Ali had won several fights and won the right to fight Frazier for the title of absolute champion. That fight caused a lot of excitement. Each boxer was promised $2.5 million for participation.

The 15-round fight took place on March 8, 1971 at Madison Square Garden. In that fight, Joe Frazier managed to inflict the first defeat in his career on Muhammad Ali. This decision was made unanimously by the judges. A year and a half later, Frazier was defeated by George Foreman in Jamaica and his career began to decline. Attempts to regain the championship title were not successful; in 1976, Fraser left boxing. By that time, he had lost to Ali twice and again to Foreman. Frazier tried to return to the ring in 1981, but it ended in failure. In 2011, the legendary boxer died of liver cancer.

MUHAMMED ALI

American professional boxer who competed in the heavy weight category; one of the most famous and recognizable boxers in the history of world boxing. Champion of the XVII Summer Olympic Games in 1960 in the light heavyweight category, absolute world champion in heavyweight (1964-1966, 1974-1978).

Winner of the title “Boxer of the Year” (five times - 1963, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978) and “Boxer of the Decade” (1970s) according to The Ring magazine; The second boxer in history to be awarded Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated (1974), he was recognized as the Athlete of the Century by several sports publications. At the end of his career, he was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame (1987) and the International Boxing Hall of Fame (1990). A bright speaker.

Muhammad Ali had the ideal physique of an athlete, he had a flexible mind and excellent intuition. But that was preceded by hard work. The younger brother threw stones at Cassius, honing his reaction. The then timid teenager began training with police officer Joe Martin.

For the sake of his love for sports, the athlete ignored problems with his blood pressure. In 1959, the promising boxer easily qualified for the US Olympic team. Cassius Clay easily won the 1960 Olympics, competing as a light heavyweight. From 1964 to 1974, Ali was a multiple world heavyweight boxing champion. For 20 years he was the king of the ring. With a height of 192 cm, the boxer weighed about 97 kg, he was very mobile. It is no coincidence that Ali wrote the following phrase: “I flutter like a butterfly, I sting like a bee.”

In total, the legend had 25 title or qualifying fights, which is second only to Joe Louis. In total, Ali suffered 5 defeats in the ring, the first of which was in the championship fight with Joe Frazier in 1971.

One of Muhammad Ali's greatest fights took place on October 30, 1974 in Kinshasa. He was up against current champion George Foreman. Muhammad Ali led the entire fight, and in the 8th round he punched his opponent. The powerful champion collapsed onto the platform. But he was a legendary fighter who managed to beat many strong opponents and achieve the title of champion! One can imagine the strength of Muhammad Ali.

In the early 80s, the great boxer ended his career, losing 3 of his last 4 fights. In total, he had 56 fights in the professional ring, winning 51 of them, 37 by knockout. Unfortunately, at the age of less than 40, the athlete was struck by Parkinson's disease. Throughout his life, the boxer also fought for the rights of blacks and for peace, and protested against the Vietnam War.

ROCKY MARCIANO

American professional boxer, world heavyweight champion from September 23, 1952 to November 30, 1956.
This boxer was born in 1923 in Massachusetts into the family of a disabled Italian. From childhood, Rocky grew up to be a brave boy. But to earn a living he had to work from a young age. He cleared the streets of snow, washed dishes, laid pipes, and dug the ground.

The developed teenager was noticed by boxing coach Gene Caggiano. But in 1943, Rocky was drafted into the army. While serving in the navy, he fought for money in pubs while on leave, developing his fist skills. Marciano was agile, sharp and decisive. His blows were accurate and strong. It was like a bulldog who was ready to fight to the last drop of blood.

Both in his personal and everyday life, Rocky Marciano was quite modest. He eschewed luxury, devoting a lot of time to his family. But behind these hid a man with incredible willpower. In total, Rocky had 49 professional fights, without losing even one. The debut took place in 1947.

In 1951, Marciano met the legendary Joe Louis. The aged champion resigned his powers to a young, assertive competitor. In 1952, Marciano was knocked down for the first time in a fight against another champion, Jersey Joe Walcott, but was able to get up and knock out his opponent in the 13th round.

Victories were not easy for Marciano; he often left the ring with a bloodied and disfigured face. But 83% of his fights ended early, by knockout. Rocky was one of the first to practice his punches in the water. Marciano's preparation for the fight was carried out at the highest level of professionalism.

The undefeated champion's last fight took place in 1956; his career was ended due to back problems.
And in 1969, Rocky Marciano died tragically in a plane crash. It is believed that it was he who served as the prototype for Rocky Balboa, the protagonist of the Rocky film series that made Sylvester Stallone famous.

GEORGE FOREMAN

American professional boxer who competed in the heavy weight category. Olympic champion 1968. World heavyweight champion (WBC version, 1973-1974; WBA version, 1973-1974 and 1994; IBF version, 1994-1995) weight category.

This legendary boxer had a long and glorious career, during which he fought 81 fights, losing only 5 of them. The future champion was born in 1949 in Texas. Foreman began boxing at a school for troubled teenagers. At the age of 19, Foreman performed successfully at the Olympics, winning gold there. The road to becoming a professional was open.

In 1969, in just six months of performances, Foreman managed to win 13 victories. He stood tall at 195cm and had strong hands, making him a tough fighter. The rising star meets champion Joe Frazier on January 2, 1973.

He was able to hold out for only 4.5 minutes, during which time he was knocked down 7 times. Frazier gave up his title only on October 30, 1974, when he lost to Muhammad Ali. After that fight, George felt a connection with God. The second call came after his 1977 loss to Jimmy Young. Foreman left sports and became a preacher. He built a church and collected donations. 10 years outside of boxing changed the athlete, but in 1987 he said that he dreams of returning.

Foreman was going to become a champion again. After a year of training, the boxer regained his shape. Foreman won 24 fights in a row, all by knockout.

In April 1991, he lost to Evander Holyfield only on points, never becoming the undisputed champion. But soon Foreman received the WBA belt for his victory over Michael Moorer in 1994. The boxer finally left the sport in 1997. Currently, Foreman has returned to his previous activities - he gives sermons and helps the disadvantaged.

JOE LOUIS

Legendary American professional boxer, world heavyweight champion. The boxer was born into a poor family in 1914. His father picked cotton in Alabama, but in 1924 the family moved to Detroit. Here the future athlete got a job with his father at the Ford plant. Joe's mother loved him very much and raised money for him to study music. But he took all his savings to the boxing club. What motivated Joe is unclear, because he was not a fighter.

An experienced tall fighter was released against a newcomer to the club. He began to beat Louis, but suddenly Joe sent his offender to the floor with a counter blow. Soon there were no equals to the young boxer in the rather large Detroit. The promising athlete was noticed by coach Jack Blackburn, who promised to pull Louis out of the ghetto and make him a professional.

At the age of 22, Joe began his career in the big ring. He literally broke into the elite. Louis, known as the "Brown Corporal", won his first 27 fights, 24 of them by knockout. The coach selected opponents for him, gradually increasing their level. However, Louis swept both experienced boxers and ex-champions out of the ring.

Before the outbreak of World War II, Joe defended his title of absolute champion 25 times. Equal opponents never appeared, and the fees for fights with a decided outcome became less and less. In 1948, Louis decided to retire from the sport.

A year later, the undefeated champion was returned to the ring - a new generation of fighters had grown up. Louis lost his first fight to Ezzard Charles, and a brutal defeat from Marciano in 1951 finally put an end to it. At that time, the great boxer's fortune was a fantastic 4.5 million dollars.

But Louis quickly squandered that capital. At the end of his life, the former boxer worked as a gatekeeper at a Las Vegas casino. The legendary athlete died in this city in 1981.

Various boxing organizations and polls call Joe Louis the best puncher in history. He fought 27 fights for the championship, holding the title of the strongest boxer in the world for 11 years. Of his 70 fights, Louis won 66.

MICHAEL TYSON

American professional boxer who competed in the heavy weight category; one of the most famous and recognizable boxers in the history of world boxing. Olympic champion among juniors in the first heavyweight division (1982). Absolute world champion in the heavy weight category (1987-1990).

Champion according to WBC (1986-1990, 1996), WBA (1987-1990, 1996), IBF (1987-1990), The Ring (1988-1990). Lineal champion (1988-1990). “The most promising boxer” of 1985 according to Ring magazine. The best boxer, regardless of weight category (1987-1989) according to Ring magazine.

“Boxer of the Year” according to Ring magazine (1986, 1988). "Boxer of the Year" according to the BWAA (1986,1988). BBC Sports Personality of the Year (1989) BBC Foreign Sportsman of the Year (1989). Best athlete abroad (1987-1989) according to the BBC.

Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (2011), the World Boxing Hall of Fame (2010), the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (2013), and the WWE Hall of Fame (2012). At the 49th annual WBC convention in Las Vegas, Michael Tyson was inscribed in the Guinness Book of World Records and in a solemn ceremony received two certificates: for the largest number of fastest knockouts and for becoming the youngest world heavyweight champion.

Tyson was born in 1966 in New York. His father had separated from his mother by that time. In the future, Michael took his mother’s surname. The family lived in Brooklyn, in a poor neighborhood. The young guy grew up big and tough, but at first his voice was high and lisping. Mike had to fight a lot to teach his offenders a lesson.

Soon everyone in Brownsville knew this unyielding black guy. When he was furious, he could knock down an adult with his blows. Over time, Michael became involved in many dubious stories - thefts, attacks, robberies. To correct the troubled teenager, the authorities sent him to a boys' school on the outskirts of the state. Here Tyson had a happy meeting with coach Bobby Stewart. He himself was once a professional and managed to teach the young guy the basics of boxing.

In 1980, Stewart brought his ward to New York to show that manager D'Amato. The coach entered the ring with his ward, and soon it became clear to everyone that Tyson would be the new world champion. Michael entered the professional ring for the first time on March 5, 1985. In total, the boxer fought 15 fights that year, winning all by knockout. Tyson managed to become the youngest world champion, winning this title at the age of 20. At the age of 21, Michael managed to become the youngest absolute world champion. Failures in your personal life inevitably affected your career "Iron Michael".

He was arrested for assault and rape, and in 1992, Tyson went to prison. The return to the ring in 1995 was not triumphant. Moreover, in the match against Holyfield, the boxer also managed to cause a scandal by biting off a piece of his opponent’s ear. The champion's last fight took place in 2005, after a defeat from the little-known Kevin McBride, Tyson decided not to disgrace himself and leave the sport. Today Tyson acts in films, he has 3 convictions, 3 marriages and 8 children. The talented boxer quickly climbed to the top of success, but also quickly squandered his gift.

MAX SCHMEELING

German professional boxer who competed in the heavy weight category. The first (and until 2007 only) German world heavyweight champion (1930-1932). “Boxer of the Year” according to Ring magazine (1930). After completing his boxing career, he worked as a sports judge for several years.

This boxer lived a glorious and long life. He was born in 1905 in Germany. Schmeling made his first fight in the professional ring at the age of 19. At the age of 21, he became the German lightweight champion, in 1927 he won the continental championship, and the very next year Max had no equal in his country in the heavyweight division.

In 1930, Schmeling defeated the American Sharkey in New York, winning the world title. The title was soon lost due to a questionable decision by the judges. But in 1936, the German again became champion, defeating the young talent Joe Louis. But the bets on the American’s victory were 10 against 1. At that moment, the Aryan athlete becomes the pride of Nazi propaganda. They call him the ideal German, the white man defeated the black man. Hitler saw the rematch with Lewis in 1938 in New York as an opportunity to prove to the world the superiority of his nation.

70 thousand spectators gathered at the stadium, Max himself was perceived as nothing less than a Nazi, insulting him and throwing garbage at him.

Schmeling lost crushingly in the first round; for millions, that victory became a symbol of the defeat of fascism. In Germany they tried not to remember the name of their former favorite. An angry Hitler, having learned that the boxer also supported the Jews, sent his former favorite to the front. Schmeling managed to survive the meat grinder of World War II. After her, he went into business and even helped his former rival Louis financially. Throughout his life, the boxer was a model of decency and respect for opponents. His compatriots loved Schmelling for his beautiful victories in the ring. In total, Max had 70 fights, of which he won 56, and the boxer died at the age of 99.

LENNOX LEWIS

Canadian and British professional boxer who competed in the heavy weight category. Champion of the XXIV Olympic Games in the weight category over 91 kg (as part of the Canadian team). North American amateur champion in the over 91 kg category (1987). Absolute world heavyweight champion among professionals (1999).

World champion in the heavy weight category according to WBC (1993-1994, 1997-2001 and 2001-2003), IBF (1999-2001 and 2001-2002), WBA (1999). Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame.

The athlete was born in London in 1965. At the age of 12, Lennox and his family moved to Canada. Lewis grew up very athletic as a child, playing football, volleyball, basketball and boxing. He had offers to continue competing for college in gaming disciplines, but Lennox chose amateur boxing.

Already at the age of 17, he managed to become the world champion among juniors. At the age of 18, the young boxer competed at the Olympics in Los Angeles, representing Canada. He lacked experience, and Lewis only reached the quarterfinals. Even then, the promising fighter began to be invited to become a professional. But Lewis himself dreamed of becoming an Olympic champion, which he succeeded in 4 years.

In the final, American Riddick Bowie was knocked out in the second round. Lewis's professional career began in 1989. He becomes the heavyweight champion of England, then wins the European championship. On October 31, 1992 in London, Lewis defeated the dangerous Razor Ruddock in just 2 rounds, and 2 months later the Briton became the WBC world champion.

In September 1994, Lennox lost his title, but in early 1997 he managed to regain his title, becoming the first Briton to do so.

Then there were impressive victories over Andrew Golota, Shannon Briggs, Zeiko Mavrovik. In 1999, an interesting fight took place with Evander Holyfield for holding the champion title in three versions at once. The fight was watched by 150 million television viewers. Then a draw was recorded, the re-match brought the title of absolute champion to Lennox Lewis.

Then there were victories over Hasim Rahman, Michael Tyson, Vitali Klitschko. After a dubious victory over the Ukrainian, the Englishman announced the end of his career. In total, Lewis fought 44 fights, winning 41 of them. The boxer entered the elite club of those heavyweight champions who sooner or later beat all their opponents. The Englishman walked away undefeated, holding the championship title.

SUGAR RAY ROBINSON

American professional boxer who competed in the lightweight, first welterweight, welterweight, first middle, middle, second middle and light heavyweight categories. World champion in welterweight (1946-1950) and middleweight (1951, 1951-1952, 1955-1957, 1957 and 1958-1960) weight categories. The best boxer of all time, regardless of weight category, according to Ring magazine (2002).

This American athlete was born in 1921 in the town of Ailey, Georgia, under the name Walker Smith Jr. The boy was the third child in the family; his father had to work hard and a lot. After his parents' divorce, Walker ended up with his mother in New York, in the Harlem area.

School wasn't going well, and the teenager decided to devote all his energy to boxing. The young fighter was once called by his coach as sweet as sugar. This is how the first part of his nickname appeared. And to participate in underground battles, he borrowed the name and card of his friend, Ray Robinson. This is how the young boxer got his nickname, which would soon become famous. As a featherweight, the athlete won all of his 90 fights, receiving the Golden Gloves award.

Since 1940, Sugar Ray Robinson has turned professional. He literally blew up the boxing world with his appearance. In 1946, the young athlete became the world champion in the second welterweight. In 1951, he won the middleweight title. As a champion, Robinson retired from the sport in 1952, losing only 3 fights. However, boxing did not let him go so easily.

The return to the sport took place in 1955 and turned out to be triumphant. Sugar Ray Robinson became the first boxer to regain his championship title after officially retiring from his career. In 1958, the boxer again became the middleweight champion. However, in 1960 the belt was lost to Paul Pender.

Sugar Ray Robinson is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. He stood out from the crowd with his somehow ideal appearance. The boxer's face is without scars or grins, his hair is carefully pomaded. The speed and accuracy of Robinson's strikes, the quick transition from defense to attack, confused the enemy.

After finishing his career, the great boxer tried to prove himself in the entertainment industry and business. But the athlete never succeeded anywhere outside the ring. Robinson suffered from Alzheimer's disease in his final years, dying in poverty in 1989.

HENRY ARMSTRONG

American professional boxer and world boxing champion, who is known as Henry Armstrong. Considered one of the greatest boxers of all time by many critics and fellow professionals.

The world boxing legend was born in 1912 in Columbus, Mississippi. At birth he received the surname Jackson. He entered the history of world boxing as the holder of three simultaneous champion titles in different weight categories. At the age of 17, Armstrong began participating in amateur fights, and the transition to professionals took place in 1933. At that time, the boxer had won 58 of his 62 fights. In 1937, Armstrong became the featherweight champion by knocking out Sarron.

A year later, multiple champion Barney Ross in the second welterweight division was defeated. 10 weeks after that victory, Lou Ambers won the lightweight belt. In 1937-1938, Armstrong eventually won 46 fights in a row, 7 of them title fights.

Boxing managers agreed to fight with any opponents, they said that bets on Armstrong at that moment were the most correct. At that time, boxing glory belonged entirely to Joe Louis, which is why Armstrong and his managers decided to collect three titles in their hands at the same time.

According to the rules of the American Boxing Association, an athlete had to vacate the title if he became a champion in a different weight. Therefore, Armstrong gave up his titles without a fight. In total, during his professional career, the boxer fought 174 fights, scoring 145 victories. He was nicknamed “perpetual motion machine” and “California comet” for his speed and strength.

Hank the Hurricane was a machine that punched nonstop, more rhythmically than purposefully.

In 1945, Armstrong retired from sports, deciding to become a preacher. Since 1951, the athlete became a Baptist priest, starting to work with the poor. The famous champion died in 1988.

Multimillion-dollar prize money, crowds of fans, fame, ring, training - all these words unite boxing. Its popularity is growing every day.

The best boxers in the world get into the ring for money or fame and put on a real show. People have always wanted two things - bread and circuses. As long as there are athletes who are able to provide the latter, this sport will live.

In order to become the best, they worked for a long time and worked on themselves, improving themselves every day. Before presenting the ranking of world boxers, it is necessary to understand “where the legs grow from.”

Boxing history

Officially, a sport such as boxing was recognized only in 1719 in England. An interesting fact is that from that moment this country is still counting all its tournaments and championships, steadily publishing reports in newspapers.

Unofficially, we can say that boxing is at least more than 5 thousand years old. This is exactly what is confirmed by archaeologists who found 2 tablets in the vicinity of Baghdad, which depicted boxers with wrestlers.

In the Olympic program, such competitions appeared only in 23 games. Many years have passed since that time and boxing has undergone constant changes until it acquired its final form, which we can see at the moment.

How are the best boxers in the world selected?

To have an idea of how the best boxers in the world are selected, it is necessary to consider the criteria by which an athlete is determined.

Of course, the number of fights held is taken into account, victories are analyzed in relation to defeats, draws and fights won ahead of schedule. In addition, not only the style is important, but also the manner of fighting, along with the average number of points. Despite this, many world champion boxers are not included in this list, and those who were stripped of their belts and titles (for example, Muhammad Ali) top it. This is due to the fact that there is no specific list of requirements as such, but the best one is selected, relative to certain non-prize associations, by popular vote.

Top boxers in the world of all time

Willie Pep takes 10th place in the ranking. He performed well during his career (1940-1966), having a large number of victories and a minimum number of defeats. Competing as a lightweight, he set a kind of record, having fought 69 fights in a row without defeat.

9th place. This boxer is famous not only for the fact that he began his career as a lightweight and finished as a middleweight. Twenty-seven knockouts in a row, 3 championship awards in different weight categories. He was recognized as a great boxer not only by his fans and experts, but also by other athletes with famous names.

Rocky Marciano - 8th place. Didn't receive a single defeat. He competed in the heavyweight division and gained fame due to his daring character and cruelty.

Julio Cesar Chavez - 7th place. One of the most famous boxers in Mexico, who took part in competitions in 3 weight criteria. Defeated a large number of famous boxers. He became famous due to the fact that he constantly controlled all the actions of his opponent and managed to defeat them using his power.

Jack Dempsey - 6th place. A large number of people were always present at his fights. This athlete can even be called the favorite of all America. It was his aggressiveness and power that made him the most famous boxer. For 7 years he was the undisputed champion.

The famous Mike Tyson is in 5th place. There are probably no people who do not know his name. His fame is beyond doubt, and all thanks to his phenomenal aggression during the fight, which allowed him to win fights either in the first seconds, after the bell hit, or in the first 2-3 rounds. The bets on the fights with Mike were only on how long it would take for him to knock out his opponent. There is a line about him in the Guinness Book of Records.

Jack Johnson and a respectable fourth place. For 10 years he was the undisputed heavyweight champion. Not only boxers, but also spectators did not like him, and all because of his technique and fighting style. Despite all the negativity, he emerged victorious from almost every fight.

Top three

Sugar Ray Robinson - bronze in the ranking. He was a boxer with a capital B. He combined the best qualities that allowed him to compete in seven weight categories. Despite his large size, he had amazing endurance and was invested in every blow.

Muhammad Ali - silver. Of all the famous boxers, this is perhaps the most famous. He was named boxer of the decade five times in a row. Olympic champion in the heavyweight category. The controversial boxer was the de facto world champion, but de jure he was deprived of these titles because of his character, and most importantly, because he went to the Vietnam War. He was invincible. Neither society, nor the country, nor rivals could break him.

He ranks first in the ranking of boxers of all time not because he was the best heavyweight boxer, but because he set a record that has never been broken by anyone. The championship title belonged to him for 11 years, eight months and seven days.

in boxing

In fact, the strongest boxer in the world cannot be determined if we are talking specifically about the strength of his punch. This is due to the fact that no one has ever measured the impact force of all athletes in order to compile some more or less acceptable statistics. It is worth understanding that when delivering a blow, not only muscle strength is important, but also its knockout component. This is what makes it very difficult to make concrete calculations. At the same time, pushing and sharp blows can be absolutely identical in their strength, but their knockout components are completely different.

The impact force of the average man is in the region of 200-1000 kg. Moreover, the lower figure is a good blow for a boxer weighing 60 kg, while the upper figure is for a super heavyweight. For a knockout, 15 kg to the chin area is enough.

Despite this, there is an opinion in the world that Mike Tyson had the strongest blow of all the boxers who once existed.

The strongest blows

Many boxers dream of a crushing blow. World champions and contenders for this title in all weight categories always hope to finish the fight ahead of schedule, but unfortunately not everyone has the required punch. Despite the fact that Mike Tyson's right cross is considered the most powerful blow, in fact there are several other boxers who had, if not stronger, then clearly no weaker punch.

George Foreman - right uppercut.
Ernie Shavers - right cross.
Max Baer (rumored to have knocked out a real bull).
Joe Frazier - left hook.

Strength is not the main thing

Even a boxer who has a devastating blow cannot win without having the necessary tactical plans for each fight. All opponents are different and have their own style and strategy, and where a counterattack takes place, a forceful emphasis cannot always go through. Famous boxers become so not only because of their impeccability, which, of course, is also important. But a boxer also cannot do without a coach and a special psychological mood before a fight. It is important to beat your opponent already at the weigh-in stage.

Modern boxing

Despite the fact that the best boxers in the world of all time have been announced, modern boxing dictates its own rules. If we talk about the achievements of an athlete, regardless of his weight category, then at the moment it is worth noting Floyd Mayweather. He holds the World Boxing Council welterweight title.

The ranking of famous fighters is headed by this American boxer, followed immediately by Ukrainian Vladimir Klitschko. Further, the ranking of the best modern boxers, regardless of their weight category, is as follows:

Juan Manuel Marquez.
Saul Alvarez.
Gennady Golovkin.
Carl Froch.
Danny Garcia.
Adonis Stevenson.
Sergey Kovalev.

Grand meeting

Despite the achievements of boxers of the last century, when talking about the best, we cannot ignore the 2015 meeting where Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will meet. There is probably no fan of this sport who would not talk about a future fight. The truly great boxers of the world meet in a head-to-head fight, the stakes of which will be respect and an unprecedented nine-figure salary. In addition, the athletes will finally decide who is the great fighter of our time and take home three titles.

George Foreman, known by the nickname “Big George” (born January 10, 1949) is an American boxer, 1968 Olympic heavyweight champion, WBC heavyweight champion (1973–1974), WBA (1973–1974, 1994) and IBF (1994–1995). He is the oldest world heavyweight champion in boxing history (he won the title at age 45), as well as the most devastating heavyweight of all time. In 1997, after a controversial decision loss to Shannon Briggs, he retired and became a pastor. He has his own church, where he preaches and helps the disadvantaged. In total, Foreman fought 81 fights, of which he won 76 (68 by knockout).

Sugar Ray Leonard, known by his nickname "Sugar" (born May 17, 1956) is an American professional boxer, world welterweight champion (WBC, 1979-1980 and 1980-1982; WBA, 1981-1982), 1st middleweight (WBA , 1981), middle (WBC, 1987), 2nd middle (WBC, 1988-1989) and light heavyweight (WBC version, 1988) weight categories. He is the 1976 Olympic champion and one of the strongest boxers of the 80s of the last century. During his professional career, Leonard fought 40 fights, winning 36 of them (25 by knockout), one draw.

Eighth place in the ranking of the best boxers of all time goes to Marvin Hagler, nicknamed “The Amazing” (born May 23, 1954) - a former American professional boxer, the absolute world champion in the middle weight category (1980–1987). One of the strongest boxers of the 1980s. In 1993 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. During his professional career, Hagler had 67 fights, of which he won 62 (52 by knockout), two draws.

Archie Moore, known as "Old Mongoose" (December 13, 1916–December 9, 1998) was an American professional boxer, two-time world light heavyweight champion (December 1952–May 1962), and one of boxers' longest careers. He also holds the record for the most knockouts in a career (131). Archie Moore was one of the most aggressive boxers of all time, with an extremely heavy right hand. He had 219 fights, winning 185 of them and drawing eleven. After completing his career, for a short period of time he trained such famous boxers as Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, James Tillis.

Roy Jones Jr., nicknamed “Superman”, “Captain Hook”, “Junior” (born January 16, 1969) is a famous American professional boxer, world champion in middleweight (IBF, 1993-1994), second middleweight (IBF, 1994 -1996), light heavyweight (WBC, 1997, 1997-2002 and 2003-2004; WBA, 1998-2002; IBF, 1999-2002), first heavyweight (WBU, 2013 - present) and heavyweight (WBA, 2003 ) weight categories. Silver medalist at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He is the only boxer in history to begin his professional career as a middleweight and then win the heavyweight title. In the 1990s he was named "Boxer of the Decade". During his professional career, Jones fought 71 fights, of which he won 62 (45 by knockout). Apart from boxing, he is also known for his music and acting career.

In fifth place in the list of the best boxers in the world is Joseph Louis Barrow, nicknamed “The Brown Bomber” (May 13, 1914–April 12, 1981), an American boxer, the absolute world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949. Considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, he set a record of defending his championship belt 25 times (from June 22, 1937 to March 1, 1949). Throughout his career, Joe Louis fought 70 fights, winning 66 of them (52 by knockout), and drawing one.

Julio Cesar Chavez, known by the nicknames "El Leon de Culiacan" and "JC" (born July 12, 1962) is a Mexican professional boxer, world champion in the 2nd featherweight (WBC, 1984-1987), lightweight (WBC, 1987 -1988; WBA version, 1988), 1st welterweight (WBC, 1989-1994, 1994-1996; IBF, 1990-1991) weight categories. In 2011, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Julio Cesar Chavez is considered the greatest Mexican boxer and one of the greatest boxers of all time. During his professional career, which lasted 25 years, he fought 115 fights, winning 107 of them (86 knockouts), two draws.

Henry Armstrong, nicknamed "Killer Hank" (December 12, 1912 – October 22, 1988) was an American boxer and world champion in the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions. The only boxer to simultaneously hold three championship titles in different weight categories for a short period in 1938. As a welterweight he defended his title nineteen times. Henry Armstrong fought 181 fights during his career, winning 150 of them (101 by knockout), ten draws. After retiring from boxing in 1946, he opened a nightclub.

Muhammad Ali, known by the nickname "The Greatest", "The People's Champion" (January 17, 1942 - June 3, 2016) - legendary American professional boxer, champion of the 1960 Summer Olympics in the light heavyweight category, absolute world heavyweight champion (1964-1966 , 1974-1978). He is one of the most recognizable and famous boxers in history. Five-time winner of the title “Boxer of the Year” (1963, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978) and “Boxer of the Decade” (1970s). In 2002, he was awarded a star of fame on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During his professional career, Ali fought 61 fights, winning 56 of them (37 by knockout). After completing his sports career, he was involved in charitable and social activities. Since 1984 he suffered from symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Sugar Ray Robinson, nicknamed "Sugar" (May 3, 1921 - April 12, 1989) - American professional boxer, world champion in welterweight (1946-1950) and middleweight (1951, 1951-1952, 1955-1957, 1957 and 1958-1960 ) weight categories. In 1990 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. According to many journalists, coaches and other fighters, he is considered the greatest boxer of all time. During his professional career, Robinson had 200 fights, winning 173 of them (108 by knockout) and six draws. After leaving boxing, he tried to make a career as an entertainer, but he never succeeded.

1. Sugar Ray Robinson 175-19-6 (109) 2 NC. Not only the greatest according to The RING magazine, but also one of the most productive. He could box, punch, and had a jaw like granite. Set the standards by which all boxers are judged. The emergence of the term “pound-for-pound” is associated with his name.

2. Henry Armstrong 150-21-9 (100). The only person in boxing history to simultaneously hold titles in three different weights. A merciless and tireless puncher who shocked opponents with continuous attacks. He fought a series of 27 fights, winning all of them by knockout.

3. Muhammad Ali 56-5 (37). A symbol of the crazy 60s and perhaps the most charismatic athlete the world has seen. Love him or hate him, they always followed him in the ring. He revolutionized the heavyweight division. A heavyweight with the speed of a middleweight. First to win the heavyweight title three times.

4. Joe Louis 68-3 (54) Possibly the most feared knockout artist in the heavyweight division. He set a record for heavyweight title defenses that has not been broken to this day. He became a national hero of two Americas at once: white and black.

5. Roberto Duran 104-16 (69). The Panamanian native became the first Latin boxer to gain stardom in America. He crushed everyone in the lightweight division for six years, and then was able to achieve amazing success in the heavier categories.

6. Willie Pepp (Wille Per) 229-11-1 (65) One of the greatest fighters who knew how to box. Won all of his first 62 matches. He possessed such skill in defense that he once won a round without throwing a single blow.

7. Harry Greb 115-8-3 (51) 183 fights without a winner declared. He was nicknamed "Windmill" because he continuously struck. As a middleweight, he defeated the best welterweights, light heavyweights and heavyweights of his time without having a knockout blow. He lost only two fights ahead of schedule.

8. Benny Leonard 85-5-1 (69) 121 fights without a winner being declared. His boxing skill and powerful punch allowed him to dominate the lightweight division when there were many talented fighters there. Lost by knockout only four times in over 200 fights. Could have won the welterweight title if he hadn't hit Jack Britton when he was already down.

9. Sugar Ray Leonard 36-3-1 (25) Won the Olympics in 1976 and turned pro in the post-Ali era. Just like Ali, he relied on speed and improvisation. Just like Ali never avoided strong opponents. He defeated boxers of all styles.

10. Pernell Whitaker 40-4-1 (17) 1984 Olympic champion. He was a champion in four weight categories. He had such boxing talent that fights with his participation often turned into one-sided beatings. Many believe that in fact he did not lose a single fight until he was 35 years old.

It's hard to believe that boxing is an ancient form of martial arts that dates back to 688 AD. This sport developed worldwide in the 16th and 17th centuries, and in modern times boxing is known to almost everyone across the planet.

In ancient times, leather belts were used to protect against enemy blows, and now special gloves are used. If you want to win this game, under the supervision of the referee, you need to make fierce blows on your opponent continuously for 2 to 3 minutes. The game ends only when the referee declares the winner. The referee also monitors compliance with the rules in the ring and the health of the competitors.

Boxing comes in two main categories, amateur and professional, and in both cases boxers spend hundreds of hours training and use a variety of techniques and tactics.

In this article we have compiled the top ten best boxers of all time. People who made history thanks to their success in this sport are on our list.

Floyd Mayweather

He is a great boxing promoter and fighter, but one thing he is famous for is that he has turned down many fights due to the fear of being beaten. It is for this reason that he ranks last in our ranking of the world's leading boxers. But at the moment, Mayweather is the highest paid boxer in the world.

Leonard is one of the top ten boxers thanks to his elegant power, smooth movements around the ring, leg strength and wise fighting tactics. He is also one of the heaviest boxing champions. He became champion in five categories, which is really cool.

Three categories in lineal championships are also his achievement, which allows him to be included in the list of the top ten boxers of all time. One interesting thing is that he is named after the singer Ray Charles and is the godfather of Khloe Kardashian.

George Foreman

Boxing fans know George Foreman as “Big George,” and he also cannot be left out of the list of the best boxers. This boxer won the world heavyweight title twice. He also became a gold medalist at the Mexico City Olympics.

This is indeed a very talented person, as he is an entrepreneur and preaching pastor. According to IBRO, he is included in the list of the eight greatest boxing world champions in the world, and that is the reason why he is on our list.

Roy is a man with many talents; perhaps, this is something that the rest of the participants on our list cannot boast of. He is a rapper, boxing trainer, promoter and actor. Roy began his career with the very basics of boxing and eventually won the heavyweight title.

Moving from middleweight to heavyweight is truly an achievement. In 2003, Roy was declared the best fighter of the year, and therefore it is worth mentioning in our ranking. An interesting fact: in addition to American, Roy also has Russian citizenship.

In the boxing world, Joe was known as Bomber Brown. Ring magazine ranked him number one on its list of the 100 best boxer-punchers of all time. Born in 1914 and died in 1981, he lived through both boxing's golden era and World War II.

When he began his professional boxing career, he was known as the first African American to achieve such success in the boxing ring. Another of his achievements is striking - he held the world heavyweight champion title from 1937 to 1949, and this is truly amazing. Therefore, he is without a doubt one of the ten best boxers in the world.

Rocky is another one of the top ten, and what makes him special is the fact that no opponent has ever been able to defeat him in his entire boxing career. He is also known for retaining the world heavyweight title for four years.

Since childhood, Rocky has been accustomed to a variety of jobs, from clearing snow to laying gas pipes. Another life shock - due to injury, his baseball career did not work out, but as a result he became a world famous boxer. By the way, this Rocky became the prototype of another, cinematic Rocky performed by Sylvester Stallone.

Manny Pacquiao

Manny is another of the greatest athletes of our time. The WBC, WBO and the Boxing Association of America have declared Manny Pacquiao "Fighter of the Decade." He became a champion in eight! categories, and in five categories he is the only linear five-time champion.

Manny is truly an excellent boxer - several times the Association of Boxing Journalists chose him as “Boxer of the Year.” Manny was so fierce and powerful in his boxing attacks that Floyd Mayweather even refused to fight Manny, fearing his defeat. Pacquiao is not only one of the best boxers in the world, but also a great politician - he currently works as a senator in the Philippines, the country where he was born.

Mike Tyson

At birth he received the name Michael Gerard and became known to the world as Mike Tyson. And now his name is Malik Abdul Aziz. This athlete has won many victories, he has won many controversial fights and heavyweight championships. He is the youngest fighter to become a heavyweight champion. He was only 20 years old when he won the title and was declared the youngest boxer by the IBF, WBA and WBC.

Tyson is also known in the boxing world for his incredible speed around the ring. His contribution to world boxing history may be underrated, but according to our list, he is one of the three most talented boxers in history. His career had 5-6 glorious years when he defeated almost every boxer in the ring. Perhaps he should have ended his career a little earlier so as not to tarnish his reputation with some scandalous defeats.

Sugar Ray Robinson

Sugar Ray was one of the outstanding fighters, if only because the number one on this list, boxer Muhammad Ali, once stated that Sugar Ray was one of the greatest boxers of his time. Robinson competed in several weight categories and won champion titles in each. He was called a pound-for-pound fighter.

Robinson always had a flamboyant lifestyle outside the ring in everyday life, and it was for this reason that he was so famous that even the mafia did not try to cooperate with him. But he is rightfully considered one of the ten best boxers due to his excellent boxing skills and physical strength.

Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali is not only the best boxer in history, but also a great man. His real name is Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. When he converted to Islam, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali. He was not only physically strong, but also spiritually strong. He was only 12 years old when he started boxing and at the age of 18 he received his first gold medal, which was truly a great achievement for a boxer at such a young age.

At that time he was engaged in amateur boxing, and in 1960, when he defeated Tunny Hunsaker, he began his journey in professional boxing. It was a great win after 6 rounds. The opponent was also an excellent boxer, but Ali was different from him in that, using brutal attacks, he always relied on cold-blooded calculation to bring down his opponent. Mohammed Ali is also the author of many quotes about life, sports and human destiny.

Conclusion

This sport is considered very difficult, as boxers have to fight with great courage and patience to win. Throwing brutal, wild punches at your opponent while keeping your cool is a very difficult task, but in boxing, if you follow this rule, you can come out victorious.

Who do you think is the best boxer in the world? You can answer in the comments.