By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com
I have been asked by many who I consider the greatest boxers of all time. I have my top, dynamite-dozen (12), greatest “pound for pound” listed alphabetically in my bio in the menu section of this website since its inception in July 2007, but not in order by ranking.
In this article, I rank these great fighters at the absolute prime/height/peak/pinnacle of their careers. I am not concerned with who-beat-who, and there is no bias shown for favorite fighters. For example, my two personal favorites are Marvin Hagler and Alexis Arguello; they were great but didn’t make the list.
The fighters that I have listed can be switched around to suit your ranking, but I truly believe that these twenty-five are in that first tier. The second tier of twenty-five includes, just to name a few, Hagler, Arguello, Sugar Ray Leonard, Aaron Pryor, Julio Cesar Chavez, Ruben Olivares, Carlos Zarate, George Dixon, Abe Attell, Jose Napoles, Terry McGovern, Bob Foster, Sandy Saddler, Fighting Harada, Flash Elorde and Tommy Ryan.
I have been involved in boxing for 55 years, since 1961, and I have been blessed with the opportunity within my work to research and interview many that actually lived in the eras before my time. I have interviewed three boxing historians – Al Nelson, Bert Sugar and Hank Kaplan – and I consider their opinions to be of the highest level of expertise. They each have helped me draw my conclusions, and this following much in depth study of my own.
Please know that I respect everyone’s opinion, and I have seen many on this very subject. Also, please note that this list does not include any currently active fighters. So, here are my twenty-five greatest boxers of all time:
1) Sugar Ray Robinson
2) Benny Leonard
3) Henry Armstrong
4) Willie Pep
5) Jack Johnson
6) Muhammad Ali
7) Joe Louis
8) Roberto Duran
9) Joe Gans
10) Harry Greb
11) Eder Jofre
12) Carlos Monzon
13) Jack Dempsey
14) Jimmy Wilde
15) Harry Wills
16) Barney Ross
17) Sam Langford
18) Tony Canzoneri
19) Jimmy McLarnin
20) Kid Chocolate
21) Rocky Marciano
22) Mickey Walker
23) Gene Tunney
24) Stanley Ketchel
25) Archie Moore
I can’t argue with anyone on the list. I have been waiting to read this. I am surprised you ranked Jack Johmson above Ali. Not that I disagree, but it’s rare that anyone rates Ali below any other heavy champ. Great article !!
ranking Johnson over Ali should NOT be any surprise if you ever read my article originally posted on this website on August 5, 2007 Rating The Heavies … I had Johnson #1 then, as I do now of the heavyweights … Ali was #2 … Louis was #3 – nothing (ZERO) has changed … rare that anybody rates Ali below any heavyweight – I am NOT just anyone!
great list David..
Hard to disagree with any of your picks. Would like to see a few more names on your second tier make it to the top 25, but don’t know who I’d take off to make room for them. Very good job, on a difficult task.
Not a terrible list . Not a great list either in my opinion .
My Top 25 boxers of all-time
1. Ray Robinson
2. Henry Armstrong
3. Muhammad Ali
4. Joe Louis
5. Harry Greb
6. Ezzard Charles
7. Sam Langford
8. Willie Pep
9. Roberto Duran
10. Benny Leonard
11. Ray Leonard
12. Archie Moore
13. Jimmy Wilde
14. Jack Johnson
15. Gene Tunney
16. Floyd Mayweather
17. Marvin Hagler
18. Pernell Whitaker
19. Barney Ross
20. Tony Canzoneri
21. Manny Pacquiao
22. Charley Burley
23. Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.
24. Carlos Monzon
25. Bernard Hopkins
Honorable mentions:
Joe Gans, Jimmy McLarnin, Aaron Pryor, Tommy Hearns, Roy Jones Jr., Salvador Sanchez .
Thank You for your input – all ranking lists I respect – hopefully my list is respected – I am secure with it!