B/R's Definitive Ranking of the Top 50 Boxers of All Time
To some, it's the "sweet science."
To others, the "manly art of self defense."
Names vary, but most agree on basic skills needed in the land of gloves, trunks, and tasseled shoes—speed, power, endurance, and mental fortitude, among others.
The good ones have them. The great ones not only have them, but they're able to lean on them in the most difficult situations against the most dangerous foes.
It's on that highest level where you'll find the all-timers, and the B/R combat team got together—following the recent 50th anniversary of the "Thrilla in Manila" and amid the run-up to Jake Paul's latest appearance—to compile a definitive list of the 50 greatest boxers to ever step through the ropes.
The criteria were many and included individual skill sets, longevity at the top of the sport, and results against the highest-end opposition, and the opinions of experts like Jim Lampley, Randy Gordon, and others were sought out and heavily considered.
Take a look at what we came up with and drop a thought in the app comments.
Worth Mentioning: Mike Tyson
1 of 51
Record: 50-7, 44 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Michael Spinks (KO 1), Trevor Berbick (KO 2), Frank Bruno (KO 5, KO 3)
Yes, he was a two-time heavyweight champion and probably the most recognizable and feared fighter of his generation (by many). And yes, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011, his first year of eligibility. But no matter how many times you scour our list of history's 50 greatest fighters, you'll not find "Iron Mike" included. If you're wondering about our reasoning, click here.
50. Canelo Alvarez
2 of 51
Record: 63-3-2, 39 KOs
Titles Won: Junior Middleweight, Middleweight, Super Middleweight, Light Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Gennady Golovkin (MD 12, UD 12), Sergey Kovalev (KO 11), Miguel Cotto (UD 12)
One of three active fighters on the list, the cinnamon-haired Mexican has been among the sport's biggest stars since taking the main stage against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013. Versatility allows him to switch from aggressive stalker to clever counterpuncher in the ring, and titles at four weights show an almost pathological ambition, not to mention the ability to perform in the biggest moments.
49. Andre Ward
3 of 51
Record: 32-0, 16 KOs
Titles Won: Super Middleweight, Light Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Sergey Kovalev (UD 12, KO 8), Chad Dawson (KO 10), Carl Froch (UD 12)
The "Son of God" was second to none in a pro career that followed gold at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He became a champion at 168 pounds with a win over a heavily favored Mikkel Kessler and defended the crown six times before injuries and promotional wrangling prompted a two-year hiatus. A return at 175 was just as successful, and he walked away pristine after consecutive defeats of Kovalev in 2016 and 2017.
48. Oleksandr Usyk
4 of 51
Record: 24-0, 15 KOs
Titles Won: Cruiserweight, Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Tyson Fury (SD 12, UD 12), Anthony Joshua (UD 12, SD 12), Daniel Dubois (KO 9, KO 5)
No active fighter has done more for his legacy over the past few years than Usyk, now 38, who was dismissed as too small when he rose from cruiserweight to challenge behemoth heavyweight king Anthony Joshua in 2021. Now, after two one-sided victories over "AJ" and two more defeats of an even larger Tyson Fury in 2024, it's not hard to find folks who consider him one of history's best big men.
47. Michael Spinks
5 of 51
Record: 31-1, 21 KOs
Titles Won: Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Larry Holmes (UD 15, SD 15), Gerry Cooney (KO 5), Dwight Muhammad Qawi (UD 15)
Another smaller man who climbed the ladder to gain fame and fortune, Spinks turned pro after gold at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and was a champion at 175 by his 17th fight. Ten successful title defenses followed before bigger purses and bigger foes beckoned, and two defeats of an aging Larry Holmes gave him a heavyweight foothold that he defended twice before encountering a young Mike Tyson.
46. Gennady Golovkin
6 of 51
Record: 42-2-1, 37 KOs
Titles Won: Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Daniel Jacobs (UD 12), David Lemieux (KO 8), Kell Brook (KO 5)
Few fighters in the 21st century have been as ferocious as "Triple-G," who rose from obscurity in Kazakhstan to become one of the sport's most popular fighters and TV attractions. His ruthless aggression yielded 23 consecutive KOs from 2008 to 2016, and he held significant shares of the middleweight crown from 2014 until a disputed loss to Canelo Alvarez in the second fight of their memorable trilogy series in 2018.
45. Charley Burley
7 of 51Record: 83-12-2, 50 KOs
Titles Won: None
Biggest Wins: Archie Moore (UD 10), Fritzie Zivic (UD 10), Holman Williams (UD 10)
The third of many Hall of Famers on our list, Burley is a darling of the old-timer set thanks to a career that went from 1936 to 1950 and included 98 fights. He never secured a world title shot despite fighting many big names at both welterweight and middleweight—including a win over Archie Moore in 1944—but was labeled by legendary trainer Eddie Futch as the greatest all-around fighter he'd ever seen.
44. Aaron Pryor
8 of 51
Record: 39-1, 35 KOs
Titles Won: Junior Welterweight
Biggest Wins: Alexis Arguello (KO 14, KO 10), Antonio Cervantes (KO 2), Dujuan Johnson (KO 7)
Cincinnati's "Hawk" was only active from 1976 through 1985, but he was no less unforgettable than fighters with double the ring time. Denied a spot on what'd become the most heralded U.S. Olympic team ever, he turned pro as a lightweight but had to move up to 140 pounds to get a title shot. He won it by KO in 1980 and then defended it eight more times in a row, including two classics against Alexis Arguello.
43. Bernard Hopkins
9 of 51
Record: 55-8-2, 32 KOs
Titles Won: Middleweight, Light Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Felix Trinidad (KO 12), Antonio Tarver (UD 12), Oscar De La Hoya (KO 9)
A fighter who was around so long that he had two distinct nickname eras—initially as the "Executioner" during a 19-defense title run at 160 pounds and later as the "Alien" as he kept fighting (and winning) well into his 40s. Hopkins fought from 1988 through 2016 but had the guile of an old-timer, often bamboozling younger foes with his ring IQ. Case in point: He won his last title fight in 2014, at age 49.
42. James J. Corbett
10 of 51
Record: 11-4-3, 5 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: John L. Sullivan (KO 21), Joe Choynski (KO 27, UD 6), Jake Kilrain (UD 6)
The first of many who changed the sport, "Gentleman Jim" eschewed a stereotypical brawling style for one that emphasized movement and counterpunching. He became the first glove-wearing heavyweight champion in 1892 with a defeat of John L. Sullivan in which he eluded his foe's bullish charges and ultimately won by 21st-round KO. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990.
41. Stanley Ketchel
11 of 51
Record: 49-5-3, 46 KOs
Titles Won: Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Billy Papke (UD 10, KO 11, UD 20), Philadelphia Jack O'Brien (UD 10, KO 3), Jack Twin Sullivan (KO 20)
Regarded by some old-timers as the greatest middleweight who ever lived, Ketchel was another who burned bright over a short time (1903 to 1910) before he died at age 24, four months after his last fight. Perhaps his most memorable performance came in a challenge of then-heavyweight champ Jack Johnson in 1909, a fight Ketchel was winning into the 12th round before the bigger man scored a KO.
40. Lennox Lewis
12 of 51
Record: 41-2-1, 32 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Mike Tyson (KO 8), Evander Holyfield (UD 12), Vitali Klitschko (KO 6)
The last undisputed king of the heavyweights prior to Usyk and one of the most offensively gifted big men in history, Lewis parlayed Olympic gold at the 1988 Games into three reigns atop the division. He rallied from surprise losses to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman to win rematches by KO and eventually secured a super fight against Mike Tyson in 2002 that he ended with a brutal eighth-round finish.
39. Gene Fullmer
13 of 51
Record: 55-6-3, 24 KOs
Titles Won: Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Ray Robinson (UD 15, UD 15), Carmen Basilio (KO 14, KO 12), Benny Paret (KO 10)
A multiple-time champ at middleweight who battled some of the division's all-time greats, Fullmer began his first reign with a 15-round decision over Ray Robinson in 1957 and regained the belt by beating Carmen Basilio in 1959. Seven successful defenses followed in reign No. 2, including another win and a draw against Robinson and another KO of Basilio, before a loss to Dick Tiger ended his career in 1963.
38. John L. Sullivan
14 of 51
Record: 37-1-1, 31 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Jake Kilrain (KO 76), Paddy Ryan (KO 8), John Flood (KO 8)
The last bare-knuckle heavyweight champ, the aggressive and rugged "Great John L.," rose to late 19th-century fame with a claim he "could lick any man in the house." He earned wide recognition with a KO of American-based champion Paddy Ryan, then outlasted Jake Kilrain when his foe couldn't continue into Round 76. His reign ended against Corbett in 1892, and he joined him in the Hall of Fame in 1990.
37. Carmen Basilio
15 of 51
Record: 56-16-7, 27 KOs
Titles Won: Welterweight, Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Ray Robinson (SD 15), Tony DeMarco (KO 12, KO 12), Billy Graham (UD 12)
One of the most popular fighters in boxing's golden age, the rugged, resilient Basilio emerged from meager surroundings to win championships in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions. He had two KO wins over Tony DeMarco in 1955 to win and defend the welterweight title, then defeated middleweight king Ray Robinson at Yankee Stadium and earned Fighter of the Year recognition in 1957.
36. Jack Johnson
16 of 51
Record: 53-11-8, 33 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Tommy Burns (KO 14), James J. Jeffries (KO 15), Stanley Ketchel (KO 12)
An all-time great because of his skills and an icon because he was the first African-American heavyweight champion, Johnson was 11 years into his pro career when he won the belt with a 14th-round KO of Tommy Burns. The new champ flaunted his fame and wealth, only to be forced to flee the U.S. and defend his title in Europe. He lost his crown to Jess Willard in 1915 and fought until he was in his early 50s.
35. Joe Gans
17 of 51
Record: 147-10-16, 101 KOs
Titles Won: Lightweight, Welterweight
Biggest Wins: Frank Erne (KO 1), Battling Nelson (DQ 42), Mike Twin Sullivan (KO 15, KO 10)
Another fighter from the late 1800s and early 1900s whose prodigious record seems mythical these days, Gans was one of the first to approach the sport with technique and science rather than brutality. He was the first native-born black American man to win a world championship and ultimately captured titles in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions before finally retiring, after 16 years, in 1909.
34. Mickey Walker
18 of 51
Record: 93-19-4, 59 KOs
Titles Won: Welterweight, Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Jack Britton (UD 15), Tiger Flowers (UD 10), Mike McTigue (KO 1)
One of the most popular fighters of his era, Walker was nicknamed the "Toy Bulldog" and was happy to put his 5'7" frame on the line against fighters from his natural 147 pounds all the way to light heavyweight and heavyweight. He fought a future heavyweight champ, Jack Sharkey, to a draw in 1931 and beat Paulino Uzcudun by decision a year before Uzcudun fought for the heavyweight title.
33. Sandy Saddler
19 of 51
Record: 145-16-2, 104 KOs
Titles Won: Featherweight, Junior Lightweight
Biggest Wins: Willie Pep (KO 4, KO 8, KO 9), Joe Brown (KO 2), Flash Elorde (KO 13)
A long, lanky fighter for a featherweight, Saddler was not built like your typical power puncher, but he clearly could crack, as evidenced by 104 KOs in a career that stretched from 1944 to 1956. He's best known for an epic four-fight series with Willie Pep, whom he beat inside the distance three times in featherweight title fights. He also won and defended a belt in the next class up at 130 pounds.
32. Jimmy Wilde
20 of 51
Record: 132-4-1, 98 KOs
Titles Won: Flyweight
Biggest Wins: Joe Symonds (KO 12), Tancy Lee (KO 11), Young Zulu Kid (KO 11)
Labeled by Gene Tunney as the best fighter he'd ever seen, Wilde was a frail-looking Welshman who stood a shade below 5'3" and surprised many opponents with the power he was able to generate from such a non-imposing frame. A series of wins helped him galvanize British, U.S., and ultimately world recognition as flyweight champion, which he held from 1916 to 1923.
31. Tony Canzoneri
21 of 51
Record: 137-24-10, 44 KOs
Titles Won: Featherweight, Lightweight, Junior Welterweight
Biggest Wins: Johnny Dundee (UD 15), Al Singer (KO 1), Jack Berg (KO 3)
Perhaps the best young fighter, or certainly one of them, in the sport's history, Canzoneri was a featherweight champion a month before he turned 19 and added the lightweight title just days after turning 22. He defeated Berg to defend his lightweight belt and win the junior welterweight title in 1931, becoming just the third fighter to capture championships in three weight classes.
30. Joe Calzaghe
22 of 51
Record: 46-0, 32 KOS
Titles Won: Super Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Jeff Lacy (UD 12), Bernard Hopkins (UD 12), Roy Jones Jr. (UD 12)
Call him the "Italian Dragon" or call him the "Pride of Wales," but one thing you can't call Calzaghe is beaten. The uniquely skilled southpaw piled up double-digit defenses of his WBO belt at 168 pounds before unifying with IBF champ Jeff Lacy in 2006. That fight made him a known commodity in the boxing world, and he parlayed it into wins over Hopkins and Jones at 175 pounds before retiring in 2008.
29. Oscar De La Hoya
23 of 51
Record: 39-6, 30 KOs
Titles Won: Junior Lightweight, Lightweight, Junior Welterweight, Welterweight, Junior Middleweight, Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Julio Cesar Chavez (KO 4, KO 8), Pernell Whitaker (UD 12), Arturo Gatti (KO 5)
The first of the modern-day boxing businessmen, De La Hoya parlayed his good looks and talent into Olympic gold in 1992 and professional success soon after. He won his first world title at 130 pounds and ultimately conquered weight classes up to 160, joining Manny Pacquiao as the only fighters to win major belts in six or more. After retirement, the "Golden Boy" became a powerful promoter.
28. Joe Frazier
24 of 51
Record: 32-4-1, 27 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Muhammad Ali (UD 15), Bob Foster (KO 2), Oscar Bonavena (SD 10, UD 15)
Forever known as the winner of the "Fight of the Century," Frazier's career was defined by a classic three-fight rivalry with Ali, whom he knocked down on the way to a unanimous decision in 1971. "Smokin' Joe" had been a known commodity even before that, winning Olympic gold in 1964 and snatching a share of the heavyweight crown in 1968 and defending eight other times before losing it in 1973.
27. Gene Tunney
25 of 51
Record: 65-1-1, 48 KOs
Titles Won: Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Jack Dempsey (UD 10, UD 10), Harry Greb (UD 15), Battling Levinsky (UD 12)
The "Fighting Marine," Tunney didn't take up boxing until his teenage years, and he furthered his craft while serving in World War I. A title at light heavyweight came in 1922, and he thrived in the weight class until the lure of heavyweight became too strong and he chased Jack Dempsey. A clear win over the "Manassa Mauler" in 1926 gave him the belt and preceded the controversial "Long Count" win in 1927.
26. Jack Dempsey
26 of 51
Record: 53-6-8, 43 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Jess Willard (KO 3), Georges Carpentier (KO 4), Luis Angel Firpo (KO 2)
The first of boxing's crossover superstars, Dempsey's savage style made him one of the great American sports heroes in the Roaring '20s. The "Manassa Mauler's" showdown with French export Georges Carpentier provided the sport's first million-dollar gate in 1921, and he defended twice more—including a memorable KO of Firpo—before the famous two-fight series with Tunney.
25. George Foreman
27 of 51
Record: 76-5, 68 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Joe Frazier (KO 2, KO 5), Ken Norton (KO 2), Michael Moorer (KO 10)
When it comes to memorable heavyweights and their KOs, few can join the conversation with "Big George," who turned pro after winning Olympic gold in 1968. Howard Cosell's famous "Down goes Frazier!" call came from Foreman's savage beatdown of the then-champ in Jamaica in 1973, and Jim Lampley's iconic "It happened!" stemmed from the stunning wipeout of Moorer that made Foreman a two-time titleholder at age 45.
24. Salvador Sanchez
28 of 51
Record: 44-1-1, 32 KOs
Titles Won: Featherweight
Biggest Wins: Danny Lopez (KO 13, KO 14), Wilfredo Gomez (KO 8), Azumah Nelson (KO 15)
His generation's most tragic story, Sanchez was the preeminent featherweight and among the world's best fighters when he died in a car crash at just 23 years old. He was 21 when he won his title with a 13th-round KO of the popular Lopez, and he repeated the feat in 14 four months later. The smashing of Gomez came in the "Battle of the Little Giants" in 1981, and his death came three weeks after he overcame Nelson.
23. Terence Crawford
29 of 51
Record: 42-0, 31 KOs
Titles Won: Lightweight, Junior Welterweight, Welterweight, Junior Middleweight, Super Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Canelo Alvarez (UD 12), Errol Spence Jr. (KO 9), Shawn Porter (KO 10)
"Bud" landed his career-defining victory with a clinical 12-round defeat of 168-pound king Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. It made him an undisputed champ in his third weight class and a titleholder in his fifth, two fights after he'd blown away Spence in nine at welterweight. He's won 20 consecutive championship fights, including 15 by KO.
Is his win over Canelo the end of a storied career? Crawford announced his retirement from boxing on Dec. 16, but one can never to be sure in the world of boxing.
22. Marvin Hagler
30 of 51
Record: 62-3-2, 52 KOs
Titles Won: Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Thomas Hearns (KO 3), Roberto Duran (UD 15), John Mugabi (KO 11)
One of the defining fighters of the 1980s, "Marvelous" Marvin honed his craft away from the spotlight in the '70s before winning the middleweight title from Alan Minter in 1980 and defending 12 times—including high-profile defeats of Duran and Hearns—before the eternally controversial loss to Ray Leonard in 1987 prompted him to walk away from the sport, never to return.
21. Thomas Hearns
31 of 51
Record: 61-5-1, 48 KOs
Titles Won: Welterweight, Junior Middleweight, Middleweight, Super Middleweight, Light Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Roberto Duran (KO 2), Pipino Cuevas (KO 2), Wilfred Benitez (MD 15)
The second of the "Four Kings" to make our list, Detroit's Hearns was an '80s icon thanks to paralyzing power in his right hand and his laundry list of high-profile foes. The "Hitman" won a welterweight belt with a second-round squash of Cuevas in 1980 and became the top man at 154 by obliterating Duran before adding titles in three more classes. Loss aside, his body of work puts him a nudge past Hagler.
20. Bob Fitzsimmons
32 of 51
Record: 60-8-4, 56 KOs
Titles Won: Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: James J. Corbett (KO 14), Jack Dempsey (KO 13), George Gardner (UD 20)
Though he didn't have a monster's frame, Fitzsimmons is among the greatest power punchers in boxing history thanks to a 93.3 percent KO rate over a 29-year career. He was also the first to win titles in three weight classes, starting at middleweight with a KO of Dempsey in 1891, followed by a stunner over Corbett at heavyweight in 1897, and adding light heavyweight over Gardner in 1903.
19. Ezzard Charles
33 of 51
Record: 95-25-1, 52 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Archie Moore (KO 8), Joe Walcott (UD 15, UD 15), Joe Louis (UD 15)
A terrific light heavyweight who beat a collection of elites at 175, Charles never won a belt in that division and instead moved up to become a champion among the heavyweights. He won a vacant title there after Louis's retirement, then beat the returning legend in 1950 among his eight successful defenses. A shocking KO loss to Walcott in 1951 preceded two foiled challenges of Rocky Marciano.
18. Manny Pacquiao
34 of 51
Record: 62-8-3, 39 KOs
Titles Won: Flyweight, Junior Featherweight, Junior Lightweight, Lightweight, Welterweight, Junior Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Oscar De La Hoya (KO 9), Ricky Hatton (KO 2), Juan Manuel Marquez (SD 12, MD 12)
The greatest weight-class climber in the sport's history, the Filipino "Pac Man" began his run at 112 pounds and earned major sanctioning body belts at 122, 130, 135, 147, and 154, too, not to mention Ring Magazine laurels at 126 and 140. He retired in 2021 but returned in July to chase another title and is rumored to be pursuing a big-ticket rematch with 2015 conqueror Floyd Mayweather Jr.
17. Larry Holmes
35 of 51
Record: 69-6, 44 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Ken Norton (SD 15), Muhammad Ali (KO 11), Gerry Cooney (KO 13)
A chronically underappreciated heavyweight heir to Ali, the "Easton Assassin" didn't have the personality of his ex-training partner, but he did have one of the sport's best jabs, a good right hand, and enough mettle to climb off the deck in title defenses against Earnie Shavers and Renaldo Snipes. Speaking of defenses, he racked up 19 straight before a surprise loss to Michael Spinks in 1985.
16. Rocky Marciano
36 of 51
Record: 49-0, 43 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Joe Walcott (KO 13, KO 1), Ezzard Charles (UD 15, KO 8), Joe Louis (KO 8)
The author of the most famous perfect record in heavyweight history, Marciano's 49-0, was most notably challenged by Holmes, who was 48-0 before his first loss. The "Brockton Blockbuster" KO'd an aging Louis on the way to his title run, then beat Walcott and Charles twice apiece while winning the championship and defending six times before retiring unbeaten in 1955 and never returning.
15. Benny Leonard
37 of 51
Record: 90-6-1, 71 KOs
Titles Won: Lightweight
Biggest Wins: Freddie Welsh (KO 9), Johnny Kilbane (KO 3), Lou Tendler (UD 15)
Another who eschewed aggression in favor of technique and ring IQ, Leonard found success and mainstream popularity with fast hands, good footwork, and a strong jab. He became champion at 135 pounds as a 21-year-old and reigned for nearly seven years before retiring in 1924. He returned in 1931 and was 20-0-1 in his comeback before losing to Jimmy McLarnin and exiting for good.
14. Sam Langford
38 of 51
Record: 178-30-38, 126 KOs
Titles Won: None
Biggest Wins: Joe Gans (UD 15), Jack O'Brien (KO 5), Jack McVicker (KO 5)
Considered by many to be the greatest fighter to never win a world title, Langford fought for more than two decades against foes from lightweight to heavyweight. He had a six-round no-decision against middleweight champ Stanley Ketchel but was never given a title shot, and also went 15 rounds with future heavyweight champ Jack Johnson, but never got a title-bout rematch.
13. Pernell Whitaker
39 of 51
Record: 40-4-1, 17 KOs
Titles Won: Lightweight, Junior Welterweight, Welterweight, Junior Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Azumah Nelson (UD 12), Buddy McGirt (UD 12, UD 12), Greg Haugen (UD 12)
One of the most incredible amateurs in U.S. history, "Sweet Pea" won gold at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and parlayed it into a pro debut on network television alongside the likes of Evander Holyfield. He was lightweight champion within five years and ultimately added belts at 140, 147, and 154 pounds, thanks in no small part to his defensive wizardry and elite hand speed.
12. Julio Cesar Chavez
40 of 51
Record: 107-6-2, 85 KOs
Titles Won: Junior Lightweight, Lightweight, Junior Welterweight
Biggest Wins: Meldrick Taylor (KO 12, KO 8), Edwin Rosario (KO 11), Hector Camacho (UD 12)
One of the greatest to emerge from boxing-mad Mexico, Chavez had a relentlessly aggressive style that saw him break down opponents with wicked body work. He reached the championship level at 130 pounds in 1984, moved to lightweight in 1987, and added a third weight class, 140 pounds, in 1989. His unification bout with Taylor, which stopped with two seconds left, was an instant classic in 1990.
11. Roy Jones Jr.
41 of 51
Record: 66-10, 47 KOs
Titles Won: Middleweight, Super Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: James Toney (UD 12), Bernard Hopkins (UD 12), John Ruiz (UD 12)
One of the most physically gifted fighters of any era, Jones turned pro after a historic robbery gave him a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics, despite being named the event's best fighter. He went on to defeat a laundry list of elites, including Toney, Hopkins, Virgil Hill, Felix Trinidad, and others, but his most impressive feat may have been climbing to heavyweight to outclass John Ruiz for the WBA title in 2003.
10. Harry Greb
42 of 51
Record: 109-9-3, 50 KOs
Titles Won: Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Gene Tunney (UD 15), Johnny Wilson (UD 15), Mickey Walker (UD 15)
Another old-school fighter who faced foes across multiple weight classes, Greb was known as the "Pittsburgh Windmill" and wasn't afraid to mix in some dirty tactics throughout much of his career, despite being blind in his right eye. He won a title at middleweight after beating Wilson in 1923, a year after he'd become the first and only man to defeat Tunney in the first of their five-bout series.
9. Archie Moore
43 of 51
Record: 186-23-10, 132 KOs
Titles Won: Light Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Joey Maxim (UD 15, UD 15, UD 15), Harold Johnson (UD 10, UD 10, UD 10, KO 14), Yvon Durelle (KO 11)
Few fought more, and no one won more by KO than the "Ol' Mongoose," who turned pro in 1936 and logged more than 200 bouts before hanging up the gloves in 1963. Moore was the top man at light heavyweight for nearly a decade, but fell short in two bids for the heavyweight crown against Floyd Patterson and Rocky Marciano. He briefly trained Cassius Clay and later lost to him in a 1962 fight.
8. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
44 of 51
Record: 50-0, 27 KOs
Titles Won: Junior Lightweight, Lightweight, Junior Welterweight, Welterweight, Junior Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Manny Pacquiao (UD 12), Canelo Alvarez (MD 12), Oscar De La Hoya (SD 12)
He's not quite "TBE" (The Best Ever) as his hype men would suggest, but the man also known as "Pretty Boy" and "Money" is on the near-miss list for that title. He won bronze at the 1996 Olympics, turned pro later that year, and was a champion in the first of five weight classes by 1998, ultimately becoming a pay-per-view superstar thanks to sublime defense, pinpoint punching, and a polarizing persona.
7. Willie Pep
45 of 51
Record: 229-11-1, 65 KOs
Titles Won: Featherweight
Biggest Wins: Chalky Wright (UD 15, UD 15, UD 10, KO 3), Sandy Saddler (UD 15), Manuel Ortiz (UD 10)
The sport's prototype defensive wizard, Pep was elusive and skillful in the ring and was said to have once won a round without ever throwing a punch. He won 63 straight fights to begin his career, including a defeat of Wright to begin his first title reign at featherweight. He held the belt until he was KO'd by Saddler in 1948, then held it for another 19 months after winning a rematch in early 1949.
6. Roberto Duran
46 of 51
Record: 103-16, 70 KOs
Titles Won: Lightweight, Welterweight, Junior Middleweight, Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Ray Leonard (UD 15), Davey Moore (KO 8), Iran Barkley (SD 12)
Few in history had as many distinct eras as Duran, who began as a ferocious lightweight before graduating to welterweight and handing Leonard his first loss in 1980. His reputation was in ruins after he walked away from their rematch later that year, but he reinvented himself with a KO of Moore on his 32nd birthday in 1983 and returned from oblivion to beat Barkley in another shocker six years later.
5. Joe Louis
47 of 51
Record: 66-3, 52 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Jim Braddock (KO 8), Max Schmeling (KO 1), Billy Conn (KO 13, KO 8)
The heavyweight champion of a generation, Louis won the title from Braddock in 1937 and defended it 25 times over nearly 12 years before retiring in 1949. The "Brown Bomber" famously avenged a 1936 loss to Schmeling with a one-round blowout in his fourth title defense in 1938. His 15-month retirement ended in 1950, and he was defeated by champion Ezzard Charles and future champ Rocky Marciano.
4. Ray Leonard
48 of 51
Record: 36-3-1, 25 KOs
Titles Won: Welterweight, Junior Middleweight, Middleweight, Super Middleweight, Light Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Marvin Hagler (SD 12), Thomas Hearns (KO 14), Roberto Duran (KO 8, UD 12)
"Sugar Ray" transitioned from 1976 Olympic champ to mainstream superstar thanks to a winning smile and ring skills that included fast hands and a fighter's heart. He became preeminent at welterweight before an eye injury prompted an early retirement in 1982, but he returned to shock Hagler in 1987 and added two more titles, amid a few more retirements, before leaving for good in 1997.
3. Muhammad Ali
49 of 51
Record: 56-5, 37 KOs
Titles Won: Heavyweight
Biggest Wins: Sonny Liston (KO 7, KO 1), Joe Frazier (UD 12, KO 14), George Foreman (KO 8)
He called himself "The Greatest" and spent most of a 21-year career backing it up with three heavyweight title reigns and countless memorable performances. Initially known as Cassius Clay, Ali bamboozled the menacing Liston in 1964 and handled him again the following year. He lost to Frazier in their trilogy opener in 1971, but beat him in fights two and three, sandwiched around an upset of Foreman in Zaire.
2. Henry Armstrong
50 of 51
Record: 149-21-10, 99 KOs
Titles Won: Featherweight, Lightweight, Welterweight
Biggest Wins: Barney Ross (UD 15), Lou Ambers (UD 15), Petey Sarron (KO 6)
It's no shock that a man nicknamed "Homicide Hank" ought not be trifled with, but Armstrong more than capably backed it up. He's the only fighter to hold titles in three weight classes simultaneously, and only a disputed draw against Ceferino Garcia kept him from a fourth, at middleweight, when there were only eight in the sport. His 1937 alone is the stuff of legend, with a 27-0 record and 26 KOs.
1. Ray Robinson
51 of 51
Record: 174-19-6, 109 KOs
Titles Won: Welterweight, Middleweight
Biggest Wins: Jake LaMotta (UD 10, UD 10, UD 10, SD 12, KO 13), Carmen Basilio (SD 15), Gene Fullmer (KO 5)
The standard by which all others are measured, the original "Sugar Ray" was a near-perfect blend of dynamic athleticism and jolting power. Robinson won his first 40 fights as a pro before LaMotta beat him in 1942, and he went unbeaten in his next 91. He reigned atop the welterweights from 1946 to 1951, had five runs as middleweight champ through 1960, and won 21 fights against fellow Hall of Famers. Simply the best.
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