Boxing has a rich history filled with legendary fighters, starting with John L. Sullivan over 139 years ago. But who is truly the best boxers of all time? Let’s explore!
The Challenge of Choosing the Best Boxers of all time
Determining the best boxers of all time is a tough task, as many factors come into play. These include the time periods the fighters competed in, the quality of their opponents, their achievements in the ring, the duration of their reigns, and much more.
When boxing fans debate this topic, certain names always come up. Historical figures like Jack Johnson, Ezzard Charles, Bob Fitzsimmons, Emile Griffith, Tony Canzoneri, and Jack Dempsey are often mentioned. In more recent times, names like Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr., Pernell Whitaker, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Lennox Lewis also frequently appear on lists of top contenders.
Here is list of the top 10 best boxers of all time, along with explanations for their rankings.
List of the 10 Best Boxers of All Time
| Rank | Boxer | From | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sugar Ray Robinson | America | 174-19-6, 109 KOs |
| 2 | Muhammad Ali | America | 56-5, 37 KOs |
| 3 | Joe Louis | America | 66-3, 52 KOs |
| 4 | Henry Armstrong | America | 149-21-10, 99 KOs |
| 5 | Julio Cesar Chavez | Mexico | 107-6-2, 85 KOs |
| 6 | Willie Pep | America | 229-11-1, 65 KOs |
| 7 | Floyd Mayweather Jr. | America | 50-0, 27 KOs |
| 8 | Manny Pacquiao | Philippines | 62-8-2, 39 KOs |
| 9 | Roberto Duran | Panama | 103-16, 70 KOs |
| 10 | Archie Moore | America | 186-23-10, 132 KOs |
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1. Sugar Ray Robinson
Born Walker Smith Jr., Robinson is considered one of the best boxers of all time. He adopted another boxer’s name to enter his first tournament at age 14. A spectator once called him “sweet as sugar,” and the nickname stuck. With an impressive amateur record of 85-0, including 69 KOs, he turned professional in 1940 and achieved a remarkable 91-fight winning streak over more than 100 months. Robinson was also the first boxer to win five world titles. Both Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis regard him as the greatest boxer ever.
2. Muhammad Ali
Known as “The Greatest,” Muhammad Ali is often regarded as the best heavyweight boxer and one of the best boxers of all time. Although he may not be labeled the best overall, his achievements speak volumes. He won a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics, which he famously discarded in protest against racism in the U.S. Ali became the world heavyweight champion three times, and his charisma and activism left a lasting impact beyond the boxing ring. Born Cassius Clay, he is fondly remembered as “The People’s Champion,” inspiring individuals around the world.
3. Joe Louis
Known as “The Brown Bomber,” Louis is regarded as one of the best boxers of all time. He defended his world title 25 times from 1937 to 1949. Like Ali, he was admired both inside and outside the ring and is considered the first African-American national hero in the U.S. His famous victory against Max Schmeling in 1938, just before World War II, symbolized America against Germany during a time when the Nazis were rising and is viewed as a significant moment in history.
4. Henry Armstrong
Born Henry Jackson in 1912, Armstrong won titles in three different weight classes and defended his welterweight title 19 times. Many experts, including Teddy Atlas, regard him as the best boxer of all time.
5. Julio Cesar Chavez
Chavez, a Mexican boxer, fought for 25 years from 1980 to 2005. He holds records for the most successful title defenses (27) and the most title fight wins (31), along with the second-most KOs in title defenses (21). He is especially famous for his 90-fight unbeaten streak from 1980 to 1984.
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6. Willie Pep
Renowned for his outstanding defensive skills, Pep boxed for 1,956 rounds from 1940 to 1966, starting at 17 and retiring at 43. Standing at 5 feet 5 inches, he is often considered the greatest featherweight of all time and held the championship title twice between 1942 and 1950.
7. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather retired with an unbeaten record of 50 wins and no losses, making him one victory more than the legendary Rocky Marciano’s famous perfect score. He is often regarded as one of the best boxers of all time and is considered the best boxer of recent years. Throughout his career, Mayweather won 15 world titles.
His bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics is frequently cited as one of the biggest unfair decisions in boxing history. However, that was his last defeat in a boxing match, as he went on to win every professional fight afterward.
8. Manny Pacquiao
The Filipino boxer is the only athlete in boxing history to become an eight-weight world champion. He was the first boxer to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes. Additionally, he is the only boxer to hold world titles in four different decades: the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. Recently, he set a record as the oldest welterweight world champion at the age of 40, achieving this between 2019 and 2021.
9. Roberto Duran
Duran, known as “Hands of Stone,” is regarded as one of the best boxers of all time and is a four-weight world champion. He debuted professionally in 1968 at just 16 years old, after losing his first three amateur fights. Duran then went on an impressive unbeaten streak of 60 fights. He is also recognized as the best lightweight ever and is one of only two boxers to compete across five decades.
10. Archie Moore
Known as “The Mongoose,” Moore held the light-heavyweight title for over ten years, from 1952 to 1962, making him one of the best boxers of all time. He faced racial barriers that delayed his shot at the title for more than 15 years, ultimately winning it at age 39. During his career, Moore fought notable boxers such as a young Cassius Clay, Floyd Patterson, and Rocky Marciano. Later, he became a trainer for boxing greats like George Foreman and Muhammad Ali.
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