With all the different opions, who is truly the best boxer of all time?
2006-06-25 15:37:49 · 26 answers · asked by Fundough 2 in Sports ➔ Boxing
Henry Armstrong was a marvel of the ring. He worked at a fast pace, had quick hands and unlike most fighters seemed to pick up speed as the rounds went on. He was also a strong puncher and defensively his bob and weave style kept him from receiving the full impact of his opponent’s blows. The truth of Henry Armstrong is that he had much better boxing skills than some give him credit for.
Most fighters tried to run from Henry, but he never let them get away. He stuck to his opponent’s like superglue and drove them into a corner or trapped them against the ropes and them proceeded to give them a good pasting. Fighters who tried to stand their ground against Hank had difficulty keeping up with his work rate. He would overwhelm them until they were forced to back up and then he would chase them down, pounding away until they were beaten men.
Upon his death it was discovered that Armstrong’s heart was a third larger than that of the average person (Schwartz). This allowed him to fight at a ferocious pace for 15 rounds without loss of breath. It seems certain that he could have done the same thing in a 20 round bout.
Gilbert Odd penned (1974, p 117), “Armstrong was a fistic phenomena. He had an abnormally slow heartbeat and had to warm up in the dressing room with ten rounds of fast shadow boxing before going into the ring to fight a torrid 15 round battle. He tossed punches incessantly and they came from all angles. He fought so furiously it was impossible to count the blows he struck.”
2006-06-26 02:59:57 · answer #1 · answered by Jax 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most people would say Muhammed Ali or Ray Robinson. Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano are also popular choices. While there are many great fighters through out history and the debate could go on forever, I think one of the gretaest of all time is Henry Armstrong, who held the featherweight, lightweight and Welterweight titles all at the same time.(of course this was done before they had the "tweener" divisions)
2006-06-26 02:11:57 · answer #2 · answered by mugsylv 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only undefeated Heavyweight Champion was Rocky Marciano who was a great FIGHTER! His record was 49-0-0 43 KO's. I think that welterweight/middleweight Champion Sugar Ray Robinson was probably the best pure boxer. He was very clever and fast with great footwork.
2006-06-25 22:56:44 · answer #3 · answered by toughguy2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Muhammad Ali, with Joe Louis a close second.
Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, Marvin Hagler, George Foreman, Hitman Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard are all great too.
2006-06-25 22:39:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think Roy Jones Junior is very deserving of this title. Problem is he never had any challenging contenders (yes I know he got knocked out in his last fight but time has proven that that was just a fluke for that fighter not skill).
He had amazing hand speed, his footwork is unmatched. And his left Jab ..wow!
Lennox Lewis also should be given the nod as a great fighter.
2006-06-25 22:46:06 · answer #5 · answered by curious student 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sugar Ray Leonard
2006-06-25 22:42:57 · answer #6 · answered by kengoward 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most people would say ali because its an ez answer. why ? he fought in the golden age of hvywieght boxing.ever heard of joe frazier most heart in history,big george hardest puncher many would attempt to argue that but as proof he came back 20yrs later and knocked out people 2 great jabbers sonny liston wooped him twice larry holmes lost to old age. ken norton could have been a champ in any era. jerry quarry head must have came out of a quarry patterson,spinks,there were so many great heavywieghts during the 60's and 70's and he made them all look like bufoons
2006-06-26 17:18:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's easy to say someone like Ali, or Robinson, or Marciano but
i have to throw Roberto Duran in this discussion.. he was
the WBC Lightweight Champion, WBC Welterweight Champion, WBA Light Middleweight Champion, WBC Middleweight Champion and WBA Junior Middleweight Champion, and held several minor
belts... his first professional fight was in 1967, his last was in
2001.... he may not have been the absolute best.. but has to
be mentioned along with the best.. i think that he was probably one of, if not the most.. feared opponents.. in the boxing world..
los manos de piedra.. :-)
2006-06-26 10:29:09 · answer #8 · answered by stormwatch 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Iron Mike Tyson
2006-06-26 02:49:37 · answer #9 · answered by Mr. Nart 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Rocky Marciano. He could take a punch like no one, and would just keep coming at you.
Also could be Jack Johnston, but only so much footage exists, and the politics of the time perhaps tainted his abilities.
2006-06-26 00:57:48 · answer #10 · answered by Kevin A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋