10 Most Historically Important Boxers?

[QueensburyRules]

I picked Tyson because he's the most famous living boxer & on the short list of most famous athletes in the world & the last historically significant heavy.

Maybe not as great as Lennox, Evander, or Usyk, but he's the last one that was considered the "Baddest Man on the Planet".

- - Current IBRO ratings at the start of 2020. The dummies dropped Louis from 1 to 2 in favor of Ali who couldn't hold Louis' jock strap...

Anyway, historically significant modern boxers start with John L who ushered boxing into worldwide fame.

Heavyweight Results 1. Muhammad Ali (603) 2. Joe Louis (586) 3. Jack Dempsey (467) 4. Larry Holmes (452) 5. George Foreman (447) 6. Jack Johnson (432) 7. Rocky Marciano (412) 8. Sonny Liston (382) 9. Lennox Lewis (361) 10. Joe Frazier (349) 11. Mike Tyson (276) 12. Evander Holyfield (271) 13. James J Jeffries (264) 14. Gene Tunney (226) 15. Sam Langford (171) 16. Ezzard Charles (120) 17. Jersey Joe Walcott (88) 18. Wladimir Klitschko (86) 19. Vitaly Klitschko (83) 20. Rid**** Bowe (71)

Other Top Voters (50 or more votes): Harry Wills (64), Jim Corbett (58), Bob Fitzsimmons (53). Harry Wills who finished in the top 20 last time had the same amount of voters as did Rid**** Bowe with 12 but for less points at 64. Jim Corbett also fell out of the top 20 having been replaced by bigger and more modern heavyweights. He had support from 10 voters but low on the list except for a couple of voters. He finished with 58 points. Bob Fitzsimmons had the same issue with support of 11 voters but again low on the list except for a couple of voters. He finished with 53 points. No other heavyweight had 50 or more points

[Willow The Wisp]

1. Muhammad Ali - The most important athlete of all-time, period. One of the most important non-politicians in history.

2. Joe Louis - The first African-American to be an icon in America; was a symbol of fighting **** Germany; changed perceptions of Black people worldwide

3. Jack Johnson - Broke the color barrier of the HW division; highest paid man in sports in his age.

4. Jack Dempey - the 2nd most important athlete of sports initial "Golden Age"

5. Joe Gans - 1st Black champion

6. John L. Sullivan - the first "man who beat the man"

7. Mike Tyson - The last boxer to be considered "the baddest man on the planet"

8. Manny Pacquaio = brought the dawn of the "international superstar"

9. Sugar Ray Robinson - The GOAT

10. Roberto Duran - the greatest fighter of the past 50 years & brought about the dawn of the Latino superstar.

A good list. I'm not being critical; just a stickler. On # 5, George Dixon has Joe Gans beat by a dozen years (1890 vs. 1902).

I could go on, but I wouldn't be that guy unless I'm invited to.

[billeau2]

Any such list has to have a specific context to be excellent,,,. Needless to say I have seen some excellent lists presented. For me Such a list would be something like this:

1. Sullivan- Started the move to the modern sport with gloves, etc.
2. Johnson- Broke the color line, also developed the modern theory of the jab
3. Dempsey- Started modern theory of boxing, first modern superstar for sports along with Ruth
4. Tunney- participated in a watershed historical moment using tactics at least 50% from preclassical boxing against Dempsey, fighting using modern theory of boxing... Tunney represents the closest we will ever have of two professional ATG fighters from two distinct fighting epoches competing against each other. Thus at least partially telling us how "styles" compare... To this day people want to know how fighters from different eras compare... we actually have some proof.
5. Ray Robinson- Considered the Best fighter ever along with Hank Armstrong.
6. Hank Armstrong- see above
7. Joe Louis- Considered the Platonic ideal of punching perfection thus cementing the work started by Dempsey's theories and perfecting this method.
8. Muhammed Ali- Made boxing a renaissance sport, rebirthing it as a form of social activism thus cementing the legacy of being a boxing fan and being the true champion... The best, the greatest and a heavyweight!

And that is it for my list folks... Who knows what the future brings! But on my list? there are at least two spots to be continued.

9. On a personal note: I agree with Marg on Marciano: Some in the know consider Marciano what Marg called " a seven generation talent." A rarity, combining exceptional will power, physical ability to win, regardless of physical qualities... What makes Marciano so special being his ability to use his weaknesses as strengths and not only win the heavyweight crown, but remain unbeaten in doing so.

[Mr Mitts]

Who captured everyone's attention and held it even after death, is a lot of it for me. One is not dead yet. More or less in historical order. Had to make it top 11.

Sullivan
Corbett
Johnson
Dempsey
Louis
Marciano
Ali
Armstrong
Robinson
Pep
R Leonard

[The D3vil]

A good list. I'm not being critical; just a stickler. On # 5, George Dixon has Joe Gans beat by a dozen years (1890 vs. 1902).

I could go on, but I wouldn't be that guy unless I'm invited to.

It's all good, brother.

I was always told Gans broke the color barrier.

[Willow The Wisp]

17446759536387322208103461329456.jpgBoth GREAT fighters who were both among the very best of their respective eras. The Jason Winders book about George Dixon is very interesting, and details an important part of our world sports history. Love your contributions here, by the way.

[Willie Pep 229]

ChatGPT

Carnival of Champions, a three-night boxing event in New Orleans in September 1892 that showcased some of the most important prizefights of the 19th century.

George Dixon vs. Jack Skelly

Date: September 5, 1892
Championship: World Featherweight Title
Result: Dixon won by TKO in Round 8

George Dixon, the first Black world boxing champion in any weight class, defended his featherweight title against Jack Skelly.

Dixon was a master of defense and ring generalship. He dominated Skelly from the opening round.

The fight was stopped in the 8th round after Dixon had punished Skelly severely.

Dixon’s performance was seen as an artistic display of scientific boxing, very different from the brawling style that characterized earlier eras.

End ChatGPT

Me

The progressive newspapers who wanted integration of the fight game stated that the 'all white crowd' rushed the ring and carried champion Dixon around the ring on their sholders, chanting his name.

The racist newspapers who were trying to ban "mixed bouts" clsimed that the streets erupted into racial violence.

I tend to believe the former.

[BattlingNelson]

The ten most important fighters; based on their impact on the fight game.

1. Jack Dempsey
2. Joe Louis
3. Muhammad Ali
4. John L. Sullivan
5. James J. Corbett
6. Jack Johnson
7. Sugar Ray Leonard
8. Mike Tyson
9. Lennox Lewis
10. Rocky Marciano

A very short explanation:

1. Dempsey: A new explosive style created the first million dollar gate; ushered in the Golden Age of Sport.

2. Louis: Taught 'white society' to embrace the athletic prowess of the Black man.

3. Ali: The triumph of the individual fighter over the system.

4. Sullivan: America's first sports hero; they legitimized the fight game around him.

5. Corbett: Learn the martial art of boxing or don't expect to succeed. Thugs no longer need apply.

6. Johnson: Made (for better or worst) prize fighting part of the national consciousness.

7. Leonard: Brought about economic parity for the little guys.

8. Tyson: There is no such thing as bad press.

9. Lewis: Taught America to embrace a new international domination of the game.

10. Marciano: The definitive white hope; for the first television generation he kept white audiences interested in the game.



P.S. #11 Primo Carnera: first "marketed" fighter; not necessarily a good thing but still important to the game.

Fine list. There's a few I wouldn't have on the list such as Corbett, Lewis and arguably Marciano. I'd also shuffle the list a bit.

One fighter I would add, would be De La Hoya who really brought back the attention and money to the sport and the lower weights.

I may also add Duran for his contribution and iconic status in latin america.

Ray Robinson isn't on the list. That know you know your boxing, so surely that's a mistake? He was famous globally for being the original p-4-p and is the GOAT on many peoples list.

Then theres Harry Greb who should be there for the best record ever in a single year as well as arguably the greatest record of all time.

[travestyny]

In no order, I think mine would look something like this:

Ali
Louis
Robinson
Dempsey
Sullivan
Johnson
Armstrong
Greb
Langford
Leonard

[JAB5239]

Ali
Loius
Johnson
Dempsey
Dixon
R. Leonard
Gans
Sullivan
Tyson
Robinson