Boxing, as we know it today, originated in England in the 18th century. Rules have been adopted, many of which are still being implemented today. Boxing is currently one of the most popular sports. The most popular are heavyweight fights.
We have compiled a list of the top 10 the best boxers of the world. It contains truly talented athletes, whose names are associated with brilliant victories and incredible achievements.
10. Willie Pep
Willy Pep is a great athlete who performed in the ring from 1940 to 1966. He has a very impressive track record: Willy Pep played 242 matches in the ring, of which he lost only 11. The victory ended in 229 fights (65 knockouts).
Willy Pep performed in the featherweight category and was undoubtedly the best in it. He was a true master of defense: he moved well in the ring, worked perfectly with the body, shifted and counterattacked. In 1946, he became a featherweight champion and after that was able to defend his title 35 times. In 1990, Willie Pep was admitted to the Boxing Hall of Fame - this is the best award in the world for any boxer.
9. Henry Armstrong
Henry Armstrong is a great boxer who shone from 1931 to 1945. He performed in the light and medium weight categories and in both categories became a champion. Many experts consider Armstrong one of the best, brightest and most talented boxers in history.
Armstrong won three championship titles in three weight categories at once, and held them for a long time. Agree, such an achievement is worth a lot. He defended the championship title in one of the weight categories nineteen times. His career in the professional ring did not start very well, but he performed better and better every performance. Another record that belongs to this boxer is 27 victories in a row, obtained by knockout.
8. Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano - was born in a poor family of Italian immigrants. In boxing, his best time was from 1948 to 1955. In 1952, he became the heavyweight champion and remained in this title until 1956. Rocky Marciano did not know the bitterness of defeat. All 49 fights conducted by him in a professional ring ended in his victory, in 43 cases a knockout was recorded. He left boxing undefeated, and few succeeded. After the end of his boxing career, Marciano became a successful businessman.
At a certain period, he was undoubtedly the best boxer, although it is worth recognizing that among his rivals there were no athletes of the level of Muhammad Ali or Tyson.
7. Julio Cesar Chavez
This is a brilliant Mexican professional boxer who performed in the light weight categories. His track record is very eloquent: 107 victories in the ring, of which 80 were obtained by knockout. For ten years, Julio Cesar Chavez did not know defeat. He can surely be called one of the most talented boxers of the 80-90s of the last century. His manner of battle was very tough, but the public really liked it.
Julio Cesar Chavez was very loved by the public and very popular in his homeland.
6. Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson is one of the most powerful and furious fighters in the history of world boxing. He was also called the Iron Mike. The era of Michael Tyson lasted almost two decades: from 1985 to 2005. In 1982, Tyson became an amateur boxing champion. Then his professional career began, and it was brilliant. Tyson is one of the most recognizable boxers in the world. In 1990, Tyson was able to conquer all the famous championship belts. Tyson took the least time after his debut in the professional ring to win the championship title. He has the most quick knockouts (less than a minute after the start of a fight). However, Tyson can be called not only the best, but also the most scandalous boxer.
Tyson won 50 fights, 44 of his matches ended with a knockout, 6 fights ended in defeat for Tyson.
In addition to a brilliant track record, Tyson is also known as a boxer who bit off part of his opponent’s ear. His press conferences often ended in scandals. Also, this boxer was serving a prison term for rape. In total, Tyson has three convictions: he received a second conviction for beating people, and a third for driving in a state of severe drug intoxication. Based on the biography of Mike Tyson, several films, feature and documentary, were shot.
5. Jack Dempsey
Talented boxer, heavyweight champion. Jack Dempsey was one of the most popular American boxers, he was very fond of the public. His fights set records for attendance and the number of fees. During his performances in professional boxing, Dempsey won 66 fights, 56 of which ended ahead of schedule, 6 fights were lost. He came up with several new combat techniques that are used today.
At the same time, Dempsey is considered one of the “dirtiest” boxers in the world. He very often used not very honest tricks. Only the next member of our list was able to surpass him in this capacity. Jack Dempsey was the first boxer to allow his promoter to earn $ 1 million in one fight.
4. Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson was a boxing star from 1897 to 1945. He was the first American heavyweight champion, before Roy Jones and Mohammad Ali. He tried to humiliate his adversary and was the most hated and most famous African American on earth. Johnson scored a record 73 wins, of which 40 were knocked out and won 13 times and was the best boxer of his time.
3. Sugar Ray Robinson
Ray Robinson - the brightest star in the boxing horizon from 1940 to 1960, opens the top three in our ranking the best boxers in the world. This black boxer performed in seven different categories, from the light to the light heavy category. During the performances, Robinson gained 173 wins (109 of them by knockout), 6 fights ended in a draw, and 19 fights ended in defeat for him.
Robinson had a surprisingly strong blow. According to the boxing magazine "Ring", he is the best boxer in the world in the history of boxing (in all weight categories).
2. Mohammed Ali
His real name is Cassius Clay. This is another great black champion, whose peak career occurred in the 60-70 years of the last century. In a certain period, Mohammed Ali really was the best boxer, he exceeded his rivals in all aspects: in speed, in endurance, in strike force and in battle tactics. He moved well during the battle. His track record has 57 wins, 37 of which are knocked out. Mohammed Ali was only five times defeated. Twice he became the absolute champion in the heavyweight division, was the repeated owner of the title “Boxer of the Year”.
In 1964, Cassius Clay joined the Muslim movement and changed his name. He began to call Mohammed Ali.
The championship fight with Joe Fraser and Mohammed Ali is one of the most famous fights in boxing history. For refusing to serve in the American army, Ali was temporarily (for three years) suspended from participating in professional fights. After the end of his career, he took up social activities and charity work. His name is in the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
1. Joe Louis
A black boxer from a poor family who became world heavyweight champion. In 2003, the magazine “Ring” recognized Louis as the best puncher in the history of boxing. He was called the "Black Bomber" and he really was an idol of America. A simple black guy who achieved world fame and became an American national hero. Luis won 66 matches (52 of them by knockout) and lost 3 matches.
The peak of Luis’s career came in the years of World War II. His victories were of particular importance: they once again proved to the world that a black athlete can be the best on the planet, and Nazi racial theories are complete nonsense. The most famous fights of Joe Louis are his meetings with German boxer Max Schmelling. Max Schmelling was Hitler's favorite. In the first fight, Schmelling sensationally knocked out Louis. The return match took place in 1938 and this time Louis knocked out Schmeling in the first round. Louis is considered the best boxer, he became the world champion for over eleven years.