Who are your favourite fighters?

[Addie]

Possibly one of the most popular questions on ESB is:

Who are top 5 favourite fighters of all time.

Rather than just listing your five favourite fighters, your reasoning for liking them would also be appreciated.

As such.



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#1: Marco Antonio Barrera

We all have that one fighter that was responsible for getting us interested in the fight game. That fighter for me was Barrera. The first of his fights was ironically the Manny Pacquiao fight, and I remember being severely dissapointed by the loss. However, in his third fight fight with Morales I couldn't watch the fight, but I remember the first thing I asked after being woken up the next morning to my dad. "Who won the fight?" I was impressed by his ability to slug like in the Morales fights, and then box like in the Naseem fight. I'm british, and it caused waves when he made Naz look like a level below him. Great fighter that gave us some of the most memorable bous in recent memory.



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#2: Muhammad Ali

My dad is a huge fan of Muhammad Ali, and him telling me stories about him has undeniably rubbed off on me. He would tell me how fast he was for a heavyweight, and how he dominated one of the best eras. We have like 5-6 pictures on the wall of Muhammad Ali, and I guess when you are at a young age it's really easy to follow your dads example. However, when I got older and became a legitimate boxing fan, I watched all of his fights on the internet and would see his fight with Foreman and Frazier 3 on ESPN Classic. He really was as good as my dad said, and I was in awe of his personality. Very funny individual.



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#3: Alexis Arguello

More of a recent thing, but over the past few weeks I have really began to appreciate the lesser names in world boxing. Although he is undeniably regarded to be an ATG and that was solified in his induction to the Hall of Fame, Alexis still remains one of the lesser appreciated fighters. When I watched his fights with Mancini, Escerela, and of course Pryor, I was really impressed with his technique. His right hand was unbelievable. Straight as an arrow, and would be knocking guys out like Rooney and Costello. His body work was just as beautiful, watching him throw in the left hooks and the uppercuts that looked as if it may have killed Mancini. Then you think about how humble he was outside of the ring telling Mancini how he loved his father. Hard not to like Alexis, and his ability was undeniable.


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#4: Wilfred Benitez

I haven't seen many fights from Benitez, mainly his losing efforts with Hearns and Leonard, but there's still enough there to make me curious. In his victory over Duran, I found it really impressive how this pure boxer was able to overcome the beast Duran who although slightly faded, was still a fantastic fighter. His defensive skills are probably what he is best known for, but he was equally renowned for neglecting training. This didn't stop him becoming the youngest world champion in boxing history at age 17. I'm older at 19, but becoming a world champion at that was truely special. I love the staredown before the Leonard fight. If I could have any image framed it would be that one. I still need to look deeper into Benitez's career, but I can't help but having some affection for him. Unexplainable.

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#5: Juan Manuel Marquez

It was really strange when he fought Barrera, because I just remember really wanting Dinamita to lose. He made a fan out of me big time when he was able to rail back in the first Manny Pacquiao fight to pull out a draw. I watched on a replay the morning after, and everybody thought it was over after he was knocked down for the third time. He shown unbelievable boxing ability in countering Manny's head off for the remainder of the bout. After that fight, I was a fan for life, and now that Barrera is a retired fighter, he carries the torch. I was severely dissapointed when he wasn't given the verdict in his rematch with Manny. I wish him goodluck in the future, and I can't wait to watch him fight Casamayor. It can't come soon enough so a third fight with Manny can be set up.

Who are your favourite fighters?

[Robbi]

1. Roberto Duran.

Duran's life outside the ring also weighs in heavily for him being my number one. So many tales throughout his career. One of the best was when Duran was sparring during the build-up to his 3rd fight with De Jesus. A Puerto Rican sparring partner was used and he insulted Duran at the end of a session. Duran wasn't too happy and off came the gloves, then all hell broke lose. Not only did the sparring partner get thumped but his trainer did as well. His pride was somewhat hurt after he lost for the first time to De Jesus at Madison Square Garden that pounded his fists against the walls until they bled. I've heard it was back in the locker room, other sources say at the hotel after the fight.

Duran's career had everything. A long reign at lightweight throughout the 70's, his victory over Leonard, the lows of 'no mas' and the stunning knockout defeat to Hearns, right up to his sweet 4th title win over Barkley.

Duran is the type of fighter you need to study to appreciate. He doesn't look special on initial viewing, but the more you watch him you'll begin to realise how skilled he was for a furious brawler. Well, he was a brawler, but don't underestimate his boxing ability. Ray Arcel once said about Duran 'he has ring sense and it's something that can't be taught' Arcel and Brown took away Duran's rough edges and made him economical. They took a fire that was a burning blaze and simmered it down to a certain degree. They simply made him smarter. Duran wanted to take his opponents head off as quickly as possible early in his career. Arcel and Brown never took that way from him, the rawness. They just added bits to improve him. They influenced him to be patient, to box and look for opportunties to strike, worked on his defense; slipping under punches while attacking at the same time, and cutting off the ring.

[Muchmoore]

1. Mike Tyson. Had the best blend of power and speed ever seen. Very solid chin as well and could of been regarded as the the clear number one of all time had he kept Rooney for just a few more years.

2. Sonny Liston. Big bad Liston has always been a favorite of mine due to his fascinating story in and out of the ring.

Those are my top 2 favorite fighters. After these two theres a number of fighters who I like and enjoy watching, but these stick out.

[salsanchezfan]

..........Always a fun topic, especially when posters actually take the time to do more than just make a list.


Salvador Sanchez is of course my favorite. I used to read about him as a teenager who was a whore for boxing magazines, and long before the advent of the internet. I hadn't seen him fight, and it was a year and a half after he'd died, but there was something about the guy that stuck with me. He looked so stoic and serious, and I was intrigued by the fact that I never saw a photo of him in action where he had his mouth open (still haven't to this day). Goofy thing to remember I suppose, but whaddya do.....I liked the professionalism he brought to his game, and marveled at reading that he was so fit that his breathing and heartrate would return to normal resting levels in the minute rest period between rounds. He seemed superhuman.

A thinking man's fighter who was also tough as nails, he had a certain cool about him, always calm under fire and never shy about trading punches, though he was by design a counterpuncher.

To me, this was what professional boxing all boiled down to.


Bobby Chacon is another huge favorite. You couldn't pick much more of a polar opposite in demeanor or fighting style from Sanchez, but his story is compelling.

A former gang member whose youthful exuberance found an outlet in the ring, Chacon soon radiated good will and boyish charm as he made his rise up the featherweight rankings in the early-mid 70's.

All action all the time, Chacon was a fight fan's dream in that hotbed of southern California boxing, and he was their guy. Despite great skills and explosive power, Chacon carried with him a real vulnerability too; he cut, he could be hit and hurt, and he loved a night out. His fun-loving ways gave way to excess, and before long his lack of focus resulted in a few losses, and his star began to wane.

In 1982, Chacon's wife Valerie, despondent over her husband's refusal to give up his career, ended her own life with a shotgun. He fought three days later, knocking out Salvador Ugalde in three. Later that year he was matched yet again with Bazooka Limon for a fourth time, this time with a title at stake.

I've written a lot about that bout here, and what it's meant to me. In my opinion it remains the very pinnacle of fistic excitement. It is quite simply the best fight ever. After his last-gasp triumph, Chacon barely held back tears as he dedicated the fight to his late wife. He paused a moment before he said, "she couldn't wait for me."

His life remains today a tragic one, as Bobby suffers horribly from the beatings he took for so many years. He is cared for by his mother.

A more compelling figure has rarely been seen in this business.

[Seamus]

Jordan Keepers
Tyrone Booze
Willy Wise
Dave Jaco
Fred Fernsmoggins

[Sweet Pea]

1. Pernell Whitaker
2. Roy Jones Jr.
3. Jose Napoles
4. Ezzard Charles
5. Alexis Arguello

[Robbi]

I can't place fighters in order after Duran.

Larry Holmes
Pernell Whitaker
Oscar De La Hoya
Juan Manuel Marquez
Marvin Hagler
Ray Robinson
Willie Pep
Thomas Hearns
Donald Curry
Lennox Lewis.

[Addie]

I can't place fighters in order after Duran.

Larry Holmes
Pernell Whitaker
Oscar De La Hoya
Juan Manuel Marquez
Marvin Hagler
Ray Robinson
Willie Pep
Thomas Hearns
Donald Curry
Lennox Lewis.

Tell me about Donald Curry. Didn't he have only a short period of supremacy?

[Robbi]

Tell me about Donald Curry. Didn't he have only a short period of supremacy?

Curry was one of the best 'pound for pound' fighters during the mid-80's. He was welterweight champion between 83-86. Technically he was among the finest fighters of the last 30 years, so fine that many had him marked down as the next Leonard. However, problems making the weight eventually caught up with him when he ran into Honeyghan. He wasn't quite the same fighter after that.

He put together a couple of wins at 154lbs then challenged McCallum for the WBA title. IMO he was getting the better of McCallum for as long as the fight lasted, before pulling out of an exchange with his hands down which left his jaw exposed to a sweeping left hook from McCallum. That really was the final nail in his coffin.

Curry never accomplished what his talent deserved. He was as good a 'punch picker' as you'll ever witness. He wasn't the type of boxer who would be on his bicyle behind then jab. He tended to stand within range behind a high guard, slam home jabs at long distance, work his way inside, pound the body with both hands, and keep his elbows tucked into his ribs. He was equally good inside as he was at long range. Didn't matter to him if it was long range stuff or fighting in a telephone box. His workrate was steady and his punches accurate.

[Nick Balsamo]

I must answer this question every 3 or 4 months but it's always a pleasure :D


1. Marvin Hagler

That guy is a true professional badass and really, a nightmare to fight. It's impossible to have an easy night against him. No one would ever do that. He looked impresive on film in his prime and showed that he didn't have any real weakness. He was absolutely destroying average opposition and did pretty good vs noteworthy opponents. He was a strong switch hitter with movement, with good enough speed, power and combination punching and most of all, he was impossible to KO. No middleweight would ever knock him out period. Hearns threw everything but the kitchen sink at him but you saw the result. I liked the way Hagler was coming forward to hurt the Hitman, we saw that he was ready to take punishment of such a deadly puncher, which is insane.


2. Aaron Pryor

Mr. Excitement himself. Cocky, awkward, unusual boxer-puncher who never stopped moving or throwing punches. Pryor never had the career he should have because of drug problems and ducking and missed opportunities. The guy is a tough customer at 140 lbs. His stamina and recuperative powers could be compared to some ATG's. Add to that natural all-around athleticism, speed, confident attitude and he's one of my favorites. His careless style (caused by the fact he thought he was invincible) always gave the opponent an opportunity to floor him but everytime he bounced back like nothing happened. The Dujuan Johnson fight is awesome.


3. Nigel Benn

I wasn't interested by boxing when Nigel Benn was in his prime.. I've always been a big hockey fan but I discovered boxing with TV replays of Ali-Foreman and Holyfield-Tyson I about 10 years ago. Yeah, I knew the big names but I never payed attention to boxing. It then became a big passion and Nigel Benn was the first fighter I really liked. He never backs up, never quits and he's lethal when he's hurt. That is a fighter. A true warrior in every sense. His huge, powerful attacks are spectacular and his own vulnerability brings danger in any fight. His chin is average as his stamina but his heart is the biggest I've ever seen besides Arturo Gatti (for a vulnerable fighter) His defense isn't a strenght but learned to duck and to pace himself later in his career. He carried heavy hands at later stages of a fight, which is interesting too.


4. Salvador Sanchez

A smooth, effortless and brilliant tactician. There's no style he could not handle. Could do it all himself. Unholy stamina matched with a granite jaw, hard cold self belief and mad boxing skills make me think he could have beat both Pedrozia and Arguello. Some may disagree but you gotta admit he had an impressive run during his shortened prime. His counter-puncher skill were so effective. Just slightly moving the head was enough to avoid punches and then he was in terrific position to strike back which I like a lot. Always square on his feet, ready to throw that radar-like right hands. His inside fighting skills are something to watch for when he needed it. The Gomez fight is a amazing.


5. Sugar Ray Robinson

He's magnificent in his prime, he's poetry on the ring. The perfect blend of power, punching arsenal, speed, agility, ring generalship and toughness. At welterweight, he was taller, faster, more powerful and even stronger than most of his opponents. It looks like Robinson could ice you out of nowhere with brutal combinations. His jab is quick as hell, his right hook to the body is legendary and his left hook is highly destructive. He fought and beat some ATG's, many of them while he was past his prime. Robinson is the greatest fighter ever.

[Dempsey1238]

Barney Ross
Rocky Marciano
Joe Louis
Ray Robinson and Basilio.

[Addie]

Curry was one of the best 'pound for pound' fighters during the mid-80's. He was welterweight champion between 83-86. Technically he was among the finest fighters of the last 30 years, so fine that many had him marked down as the next Leonard. However, problems making the weight eventually caught up with him when he ran into Honeyghan. He wasn't quite the same fighter after that.

He put together a couple of wins at 154lbs then challenged McCallum for the WBA title. IMO he was getting the better of McCallum for as long as the fight lasted, before pulling out of an exchange with his hands down which left his jaw exposed to a sweeping left hook from McCallum. That really was the final nail in his coffin.

Curry never accomplished what his talent deserved. He was as good a 'punch picker' as you'll ever witness. He wasn't the type of boxer who would be on his bicyle behind then jab. He tended to stand within range behind a high guard, slam home jabs at long distance, work his way inside, pound the body with both hands, and keep his elbows tucked into his ribs. He was equally good inside as he was at long range. Didn't matter to him if it was long range stuff or fighting in a telephone box. His workrate was steady and his punches accurate.

There's a video of him on youtube knocking some guy out with a single left hook. It's a beautiful shot.

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Did Curry produce one punch knockout power often or was this a one-off?

[McGrain]

Charley Burley. It's said that Burley was offered the opportunity to take a three match series with Sugar Ray Robinson on the fly some months after Sugar ducked "The Giant Killer". The catch? He had to dump the first fight, suffering something that no fighter from welter to heavy could inflict upon Charley in earnest - a knockout loss. Burley, whose biggest payday was $3,000, refused. "I don't regert it. You keep that part of yourself" Burley said some thirty years after his premature retirement from the ring having been totally unable to find fights, even at heavy. 30 years emptying the bins of Pittsburgh tax payers hadn't made him bitter. The man Futch decribed as one of the best ever and the fighter Archie Moore picks as the best he ever fought never really got to prove to the rest of us that these two men were right - but there are devotees amongst boxing fans who believe it anyway. My favourite fighter was one of the the best of all time, too.

Sonny Liston. It's said that graduating police cadets in St.Louis were issued a photograph of Sonny Liston along with their badge and gun, and were instructed never to tackle Sonny alone, to always radio for back up if they needed to tackle him. Indeed, once in Philadelphia, a police officer who wasn't offered this advice was disarmed and hammered by Liston when the officer made the mistake of trying to arrest one of LIston's friends. And that's the contradiction of the man. He was a violent criminal with a disturbing attitude to women, beloved by old people and children and those who knew him. In the ring, he was a monster, a box puncher of skill and extraordinary power.

Mickey Walker. There are three heavyweights on this list and Walker would have fought any of them. He probably would have beaten any version of Braddock outside of the guy who beat Baer and lost to Louis!

Joe Louis. Maybe the most perfect puncher in the history of the ring.

Jame J Braddock. His backstory is incredible, and his build towards the Baer fight - the fight he was meant to win - was indescribable, it's enough to make a man believe in fate. Braddock was supposedly an inch taller for that fight than for any fight previously. Perhaps the bravest losing effort on film outside of Walker-Schmeling when he dropped his title to the Brown Bomber a few months later.

[teeto]

My fave has always been Duran, there's not much i can say about him than Robbi may have already mentioned. He was unique imo, truly one of a kind, i dont think there will ever be another quite like him. As a fighter he was so vicious in the ring, and i cant say enough how great i think the style he employed was, pure class for me. As a person, like i said, one of a kind.

PS- McGrain you have done it again, great avatar!!

[red cobra]

What made me a huge fan of Marco Antonio Barrera was his amazing performance against Hamed. That fight is a thrill for me to watch, not just because of the humiliating comeuppance that the obnoxious punk Hamed recieved, but the classic, brilliant demonstration of the art of BOXING that MAB put on. One of the finest performances in all of boxing history. Too bad it wasn't for the classic limit of 15 rounds so that MAB could have prolonged the torture. He positively OWNED the "prince" Hamed. That was truly the ART of boxing.

[McGrain]

PS- McGrain you have done it again, great avatar!!

:lol:

Cheers buddy. Robi thinks he keeps me company for avatars, but his are not quite as good ;)

[Robbi]

:lol:

Cheers buddy. Robi thinks he keeps me company for avatars, but his are not quite as good ;)

:lol: :lol: :lol: Your taste is unique, I'll give you that. But nah, mines are the tops. Different eras.

Yours are more historic, but not as smart. My avatars are as rare as rocking horse shit even though they aint as old historically as yours.

[teeto]

:lol: :lol: :lol: Your taste is unique, I'll give you that. But nah, mines are the tops. Different eras.
On the subject of your avatars Robbi, i would just like to say-

WHHHHEEEEEEYYYYYYYY!!!!!

I see you have finally picked one of Duran beating on Leonard for a change! I know your a big Duran fan!

[groove]

Ali is the greatest cuz he was a heavyweight who could throw a jab faster than sugar ray robinson who is regarded as the best pound for pound of all time. It's funny people don't realise how great he was at his peak in the 60s. The 70s version could still beat the best but he was nothing compared to the 60s version. He toyed with his opponents and correctly predicted which rounds they fell. Liston knew he was gonna go in the 8th but retired before his prediction came true. What a fighter.

[Addie]

:lol: :lol: :lol: Your taste is unique, I'll give you that. But nah, mines are the tops. Different eras.

Yours are more historic, but not as smart. My avatars are as rare as rocking horse shit even though they aint as old historically as yours.

I could outdo all of you for avatars :)

[Robbi]

I could outdo all of you for avatars :)

:lol:



:hi:

[BoppaZoo]

1. Kostya Tszyu

2. Jeff Fenech

3. Marvin Hagler

4. Mike Tyson

5. Les Darcy (Although theres no real footage ive read 3 books on Darcy).

[Sweet Pea]

5. Les Darcy (Although theres no real footage ive read 3 books on Darcy).There actually is footage of him.

[McGrain]

Yours are more historic, but not as smart. My avatars are as rare as rocking horse shit even though they aint as old historically as yours.

That's a nice one you have just now, anyway.

[teeto]

Now that's an avatar Robbi. It's hotting up McGrain!!! Kidding!

[PhillyPhan69]

1 Joe Frazier- Joe came to fight...always!!!! I loved his bob and weave style and agresiveness.

2 Azumah Nelson- Able to box or fight...the professor/warrior always entertained me.

3 Alexis Arguello- seems to me to be the text book boxer. he never seemed to be the quickes or strongest, but I don't favor many to beat him. Very precise.

4 Ismael laguna- Forgotten by many..I was always impressed by how fluid and slick he was.

5 Boom Boom Mancini- Gatti before there was Gatti.

6 Tony The Tiger Lopez- I loved watching him go to war

[Loewe]

1. Bernard Hopkins

Well, i came to boxing in the mid-90s here in Germany with names like Maske, Ottke and so on but i never got really hooked up but watched nearly all fights shown over here. Then Felix Sturm became a beltholder and had his fight with Oscar. During the fight the commentator started telling about Hopkins and that DLH would fight this 39-year-old man if he wins. That got me interested in Hopkins, i started to watch every fight of him available and finally got hooked up. He has it all. A phenomenal career and an interesting life.

2. Roberto Duran

Everywhere i read something about boxing one name occurred, the name of Roberto Duran. Robbi said already nearly everything about him. Like hopkins he combines a great career with an extraordinary life. I like that.

3. Gustav "Bubi" Scholz

He became a pro at age 18 shortly after WWII when amateur boxing was forbidden in Germany by the Allies. So, he started as a pro but didn´t get a licence first because he was thought of as beeing too small and too weak. Well, during his career he proved them wrong. He fought as a lw, ww, mw and lhw during his career but his greatest wins were all at mw and lhw. After fighting the first 25% of his career as a light- and welterweight he stepped up to mw and won the German mw title very fast but had to drop out of boxing from 1954 till 1957 due to tubercolosis. He came back and beat the who is who of the European mw scene but while some of the guys he beat were allowed to box the great Americans of his time, he never got a shot. When he wanted to fight for the European mw title against Charles Humez, he first had to lose a non-title fight against him before he was allowed to fight for the title, which he won by TKO in round 12 in 1958. His only chance at a world title came in 1962 two weight classes above his prime weight and already past his prime against lhw champ Harold Johnson which he lost by a close decision. Scholz wasn´t really up to his game in this fight and never got over this loss. 1964 he became the European lhw champion but retired after that fight. After his career he would become an alcohol abuser and in 1984 he shot his wife through the bathroom door while beeing drunk and so hat to go to prison. He died in 2000 after some strokes and having Alzheimer´s disease.
He was a strong southpaw with his greatest assets being endurance, stamina and will. His final record was 88 wins, 2 losses and 6 draws with 46 knockouts.
During his active time he was not only the most successful German fighter but also the symbol for the rebuild after WWII and an icon. A guy who fought through poverty and disease to become wealthy, loved and admired just to fall to his own weaknesses.

4. Pernell Whitaker

Whitaker was an absolut magician in the ring, the best defensive fighter i saw in the ring. The most recent fighter who you could make an argument for beeing a top10 p4p fighter of all-time. His record seems to be the who is who of the great fighters of his time, never really beaten until he ran into Felix Trinidad while beeing years past his best and having some problems with coke. He still put on a great fight. While some disliked him for his clowning, i like him for it. Watching him fight is like poetry in motion. Out of this 5 fighter he is the only which is placed here only due to his skills inside the ring.

5. Max Schmeling

I don´t think i have much to write about his boxing career or his live after outside the ring and after boxing. I´m sure most of you know all the stories about him. Fact is that Max Schmeling was, and still is, greater than live. A great fighter and an even greater person. He was an icon during his career and he is one till now. Over here everybody knows him and when you here people talking about him their eyes seems to shine and in their voices are awestruck. He was vowed to be the greatest German sportman of the last hundred years and got dozens awards for his charitiy work, including the "Bundesverdienstkreuz" - the highest award there is in Germany. Well, thinking about it i should put him a bit higher.

I want to execuse me for some mistakes i surely made in the text.

[natonic]

Ali is the greatest cuz he was a heavyweight who could throw a jab faster than sugar ray robinson who is regarded as the best pound for pound of all time. It's funny people don't realise how great he was at his peak in the 60s. The 70s version could still beat the best but he was nothing compared to the 60s version. He toyed with his opponents and correctly predicted which rounds they fell. Liston knew he was gonna go in the 8th but retired before his prediction came true. What a fighter.

Agreed. The mid 60's Ali was the greatest fighting machine I've ever seen.

[Robbi]

Now that's an avatar Robbi. It's hotting up McGrain!!! Kidding!

Nothing hotting up. No contest.