The 50 Greatest Boxers Of All Time Series

Nickname(s): Iron, Kid Dynamite, The Baddest Man on the Planet

From: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Michael Gerard Tyson was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 30, 1966, to Lorna Tyson and Jimmy Kirkpatrick. At the age of 12, Tyson was sent to reform school, where he began to box. In a whirlwind career begun in 1985, his spare, brutal style (36 knockouts in his first 41 wins) rescued him from the ghetto and made him history's youngest world heavyweight champion with his 1986 knockout of Trevor Berbick. His first loss (1990), to unheralded Buster Douglas, punctured his aura of invincibility.

Tyson's life since then has been marked by violence, instability, and antisocial behavior in and out of the ring. His conviction (in 1992) for the rape of a beauty contestant resulted in a sentence of 10 years in prison. Once released in 1995, Tyson returned to boxing, winning the World Boxing Council title in 1996. The same year, however, he lost to Evander Holyfield, and in a 1997 rematch bit Holyfield's ear, for which he was temporarily banned from boxing.

In 1999, he was briefly imprisoned in Maryland for assault. After he sparked a melee at a prefight conference with Lennox Lewis in 2002, Tyson was denied a license to fight by Nevada. The title challenge was relocated to Memphis, where Tyson lost, and subsequently he was not a significant contender.

Nickname(s): El Terrible (“The Terrible”)

From: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Érik Isaac Morales Elvira is a Mexican professional boxer. A tremendously popular Mexican warrior, whose fights frequently evoke technical brawls of old. He is the first Mexican-born boxer in history to win world titles in four different weight classes. Won WBC Super Bantamweight title from Daniel Zaragoza in September 1997 and defended nine times.

Won WBC Featherweight crown in September 2000, lost it to Barrera in June 2002, regained now-vacant title five months later. He also is a former WBC Light Welterweight Champion, IBF Super Featherweight, WBC Featherweight (x2) and WBC & WBO Super Bantamweight Champion.

Morales has defeated 15 different world champions during the course of his career. He is famous for his trilogies with fellow Mexican legend three-division champion Marco Antonio Barrera and Filipino octuple champion Manny Pacquiao.

Nickname(s): Pretty Boy, Money, TBE

From: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Floyd Joy Mayweather, Jr. (born Floyd Sinclair) is generally considered the greatest boxer in the sport today. Undefeated after 43 fights in a 16-year old career, his winning streak is one of the longest in the history of the game. He has won titles in 5 different weight classes, doing it in style. Peerless in the ring, Mayweather rarely struggles, having beaten his opponents with a dominance that rings of greatness.

Currently, Mayweather is the WBC Welterweight Champion, WBA Light Middleweight Champion and recipient of the WBC Diamond belt. He is also rated as the best pound for pound boxer in the world by most sporting news and boxing websites, including Sports Illustrated, ESPN, BoxRec, Fox Sports, Yahoo! Sports and About.com.

Nickname(s): The Executioner, The Alien, B-Hop

From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Bernard Humphrey Hopkins Jr. (nicknamed The Executioner), is regarded by experts to be one of the best middleweight fighters of all time, having defended a world middleweight title a record 20 times. Throughout his boxing career, the determined pugilist from the gritty streets of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has proven time and again that age is nothing but a number and certainly not a detriment to a boxing legacy that will be honored and celebrated as one of the best in the sport's history.

Becoming an outspoken advocate for fighters’ rights, Hopkins took every opportunity to try to right the wrongs committed against boxers, or at least make people aware of them. He even testified before Congress in support of the Muhammad Ali Act, making many enemies within the boxing industry in the process. But as long as Hopkins kept winning, no one could stop him from achieving his goals or speaking his mind on a world stage.

Nickname(s): Junior, Superman, RJ, Captain Hook

From: Pensacola, Florida, USA

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Roy Jones, Jr. (nicknamed RJ) is American boxer who is only the second light heavyweight champion to win a heavyweight title. At one time he held seven light heavyweight championship titles at the same time. Before turning professional, Jones represented the U.S. at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Jones left his mark in boxing history when he won the WBA Heavyweight title, becoming the first former middleweight champion to win a heavyweight title in 106 years.

With his supremacy in the middleweight and light heavyweight range, it is surprising that “Roy Jones” does not have universal name recognition. Part of the reason probably is his refusal to market himself as a spectacle… merely as a spectacular fighter. In many ways, he has refused to play the game by rules established by the media and starmakers such as Don King.

Nickname(s): Escopeta (“Shotgun”)

From: Santa Fe, Argentina

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Carlos Roque Monzón (nicknamed Escopeta (Shotgun)) was an Argentine professional boxer who held the Undisputed World Middleweight Championship (when he scored a 12th-round knockout of fellow Hall of Famer Nino Benvenuti in 1970) for 7 years, during which he successfully defended the title a division-record 14 times.

Monzón died in a car accident while on a prison furlough. Monzón is buried at Cementerio Municipal de Sante, in Santa Fe, Argentina. A life-size figure of Monzón, wearing his championship belt, with his hands raised in victory, stands atop his grave. Clearly one of the best middleweights ever, Monzón was unbeaten over the last 81 bouts of his career, a span of 13 years.

Nickname(s): Sweet Pea

From: Norfolk, Virginia, USA

Stance: Southpaw

Career Notes:

Pernell Whitaker (nicknamed Sweet Pea) was the lightweight silver medalist at the 1982 World Championships, followed by the gold medalist at the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1984 Olympics. Whitaker then embarked on a pro career in which he became world champion in four different weight divisions.

Whitaker was known for his outstanding defensive skills and for being a strong counterpuncher. He was not an over-powering hitter on offense but applied a steady attack while, at the same time, being extremely slippery and difficult to hit with a solid blow.

In his prime years, Whitaker was remarkably consistent in seeking out the toughest opponents and outclassing them with his exasperating head movement and crisp counter-punching. While Whitaker was a genius at presenting a scarce target, he did so not by retreating, but by slipping and countering from close range. Whitaker was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.

Nickname(s): Baby-Faced Assassin, El Barreta

From: Mexico City, Mexico

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Marco Antonio Barrera Tapia is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1989 to 2011. He held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the WBO junior featherweight title twice between 1995 and 2001, the Ring magazine and lineal featherweight titles between 2001 and 2003, and the unified WBC and IBF super featherweight titles between 2004 and 2007.

Barrera is well known for his trilogy with fellow Mexican legend Érik Morales, his duology with Manny Pacquiao, and his rivalry with Naseem Hamed and Juan Manuel Márquez. ESPN ranked Barrera as number 43 on their list of the 50 greatest boxers of all time. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2017.

Nickname(s): El Flaco Explosivo (“The Explosive Thin Man”), El Caballero del Ring (“The Gentleman of the Ring”)

From: Barrio Monseñor Lezcano, Managua, Nicaragua

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Alexis Argüello was a Nicaraguan professional boxer who competed from 1968 to 1995, and later became a politician. He was a three-weight world champion, having held the WBA featherweight title from 1974 to 1976; the WBC super featherweight title from 1978 to 1980; and the WBC lightweight title from 1981 to 1982.

Additionally, he held the The Ring magazine and lineal featherweight titles from 1975 to 1977; the Ring lightweight title from 1981 to 1982; and the lineal lightweight title in 1982. In his later career he challenged twice for light welterweight world titles, both times in famous fights against Aaron Pryor.

Argüello has regularly been cited as one of the greatest boxers of his era, having never lost any of his world titles in the ring, instead relinquishing them each time in pursuit of titles in higher weight classes. After his retirement from boxing, he became active in Nicaraguan politics and in November 2008 was elected mayor of his native Managua, the nation's capital city.

The Ring magazine has ranked Argüello as 20th on their list of “100 greatest punchers of all time”, while the Associated Press ranked him as the world's best super featherweight of the 20th century. He was named one of the 20 greatest fighters of the past 80 years by The Ring magazine.

Nickname(s): The Aldgate Sphinx

From: Parish of St George in the East, London

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Ted “Kid” Lewis (born Gershon Mendeloff) was an English professional boxer who twice won the World Welterweight Championship (147 lb). Lewis is often ranked among the all-time greats, with ESPN ranking him 41st on their list of the 50 Greatest Boxers of All-Time and boxing historian Bert Sugar placing him 46th in his Top 100 Fighters catalogue.

Statistical boxing website BoxRec ranks Lewis as the 17th best welterweight of all-time and the 7th best UK boxer ever. He is a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Nickname(s): The Real Deal, The Warrior

From: Atmore, Alabama, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Evander Holyfield is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2011. He reigned as the undisputed champion at cruiserweight in the late 1980s and at heavyweight in the early 1990s, and remains the only boxer in history to win the undisputed championship in two weight classes. Nicknamed “The Real Deal”, Holyfield is the only four-time world heavyweight champion, having held the unified WBA, WBC, and IBF titles from 1990 to 1992; the WBA and IBF titles again from 1993 to 1994 and between 1996 and 1999; and the WBA title for a fourth time from 2000 to 2001.

Holyfield retired in 2014, and is ranked number 77 on The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time and in 2002 named him the 22nd greatest fighter of the past 80 years. He currently ranks No. 9 in BoxRec's ranking of the greatest pound for pound boxers of all time. BoxingScene also ranked him the greatest cruiserweight of all time.

Nickname(s): The Golden Boy

From: East Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Oscar De La Hoya, is a Mexican-American former professional boxer who, in 2002, also became a boxing promoter and, in 2018, a mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter. As a boxer, he competed from 1992 to 2008, winning multiple world titles in six weight classes, including the lineal championship in three weight classes. He is ranked as the 11th best boxer of all time, pound for pound, by BoxRec. De La Hoya was nicknamed “The Golden Boy of boxing” by the media when he represented the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

De La Hoya was named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year in 1995, and was its top-rated fighter in the world, pound for pound, in 1997 and 1998. De La Hoya generated approximately $700 million in pay-per-view income, making him the top pay-per-view earner before being surpassed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. He announced his retirement as a fighter in 2009, following a professional career spanning 16 years.

Nickname(s): The Easton Assassin

From: Cuthbert, Georgia, U.S.

Weight Class: Heavyweight

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Larry Holmes is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 2002. He grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, which led to his boxing nickname of “The Easton Assassin”.

Holmes, whose left jab is rated among the best in boxing history, held the WBC heavyweight title from 1978 to 1983, The Ring magazine and lineal heavyweight titles from 1980 to 1985, and the inaugural IBF heavyweight title from 1983 to 1985. He made 20 successful title defenses, placing him third all time, behind only Joe Louis at 25 and Wladimir Klitschko at 22.

He also holds the record for the longest individual heavyweight title streak in the modern boxing history. Holmes is one of only five boxers‐along with Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks and Trevor Berbick‐to defeat Muhammad Ali; he is the only one to have stopped Ali (while Ali was suffering with early Parkinson's disease).

Holmes won his first 48 professional bouts, including victories over Norton, Ali, Earnie Shavers, Mike Weaver, Gerry Cooney, Tim Witherspoon, Carl Williams and Marvis Frazier. He fell one short of matching Rocky Marciano's career record of 49–0 when he lost to Michael Spinks in an upset in 1985. Holmes retired after losing a rematch to Spinks the following year, but made repeated comebacks.

He was unsuccessful in three further attempts (against Mike Tyson in 1988, Evander Holyfield in 1992 and Oliver McCall in 1995) to regain the heavyweight title. Holmes fought for the final time in 2002, aged 52, against the 334lb Eric “Butterbean” Esch, and ended his career with a record of 69 wins and 6 losses. He is frequently ranked as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time and has been inducted into both the International Boxing Hall of Fame and World Boxing Hall of Fame.

Nickname(s): The Hitman, Motor City Cobra

From: Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Thomas Hearns is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1977 to 2006. Nicknamed the “Motor City Cobra”, and more famously “The Hitman”, Hearns’ tall, slender build and oversized arms and shoulders allowed him to move up over fifty pounds in his career and become the first boxer in history to win world titles in five weight divisions: welterweight, light middleweight, middleweight, light heavyweight and super middleweight.

Hearns was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America in 1980 and 1984; the latter following his knockout of Roberto Durán. Hearns was known as a devastating puncher throughout his career, even at cruiserweight, despite having climbed up five weight classes.

He is ranked number 18 on The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. He currently ranks #18 in BoxRec ranking of the greatest pound for pound boxers of all time. On June 10, 2012, Hearns was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Nickname(s): Galinho de Ouro (Golden Bantam), Jofrinho (Lil’ Jofre)

From: São Paulo, SP, Brazil

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Éder Jofre is a retired Brazilian professional boxer and former Bantamweight and Featherweight champion. He is ranked #85 on The Ring Magazine's 100 Greatest Punchers Of All Time list. He was named the 19th greatest fighters of the past 80 years by The Ring magazine. Jofre has since dedicated himself to being a boxing trainer in Brazil. He also owns businesses such as supermarkets and others.

Nickname(s): Marvelous

From: Newark, New Jersey, U.S.

Weight Class: Middleweight

Stance: Southpaw

Career Notes:

Marvelous Marvin Hagler (born Marvin Nathaniel Hagler) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 1987. He reigned as undisputed middleweight champion from 1980 to 1987, making twelve defenses of that title, and currently holds the highest knockout percentage of all undisputed middleweight champions, at 78%, while also holding the second-longest unified championship reign in boxing history at twelve consecutive defenses.

At six years and seven months, his reign as undisputed middleweight champion is the second-longest of the last century, behind only Tony Zale, whose reign included several years of inactivity during his service in World War II. In 1982, annoyed that network announcers often did not refer to him by his nickname “Marvelous”, Hagler legally changed his name to “Marvelous Marvin Hagler”.

Hagler is an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. He was named Fighter of the Decade (1980s) by Boxing Illustrated magazine, and twice named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. In 2001 and 2004, The Ring named him the fourth greatest middleweight of all time and in 2002 named him the 17th greatest fighter of the past 80 years.

The International Boxing Research Organization rates Hagler as the 6th greatest middleweight of all time, while BoxRec rates him the 12th greatest boxer of all time, pound for pound; and the 4th best middleweight of all time. Many analysts and boxing writers consider Hagler to have one of the most durable chins in boxing history.

From: Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Emile Alphonse Griffith was a professional boxer from the U.S. Virgin Islands who became a World Champion in the welterweight, junior middleweight and middleweight classes. His best known contest was a 1962 title match with Benny Paret. At the weigh in, Paret infuriated Griffith, a bisexual man, by touching his buttocks and making a homosexual slur. Griffith won the bout by knockout; Paret never recovered consciousness and died in the hospital 10 days later.

In 1963 and 1964, Griffith was voted Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. In 2002, he was listed #33 on Ring Magazine's list of 80 greatest fighters of the past 80 years. Griffith currently ranks #20 in BoxRec's ranking of the greatest pound for pound boxers of all time. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its initial year (1990) and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.

Nickname(s): El Púas, Rockabye, Mr. Knockout

From: Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Rubén Olivares Avila is a former Mexican boxer and current member of the Boxing Hall of Fame. A native of Mexico City, Olivares was a world champion multiple times, and considered by many as the greatest bantamweight champion of all time. He was very popular among Mexicans, many of whom considered him to be Mexico's greatest fighter for a long period.

He currently holds the record for the most wins in unified title bouts in bantamweight history, at 6. Olivares also had cameo appearances on Mexican movies, and he participated in more than 100 professional bouts.

Until Julio César Chávez came onto the scene, Olivares was considered Mexico's best boxer. He became a mainstream star, and had friends in the Mexican entertainment world. He frequently performed cameos in comic Mexican films. He remains a Mexican national hero. Olivares was voted as the #1 bantamweight (along with Carlos Zarate) of the 20th century by the Associated Press in 1999.

Nickname(s): Mantequilla

From: Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

José Ángel Nápoles, nicknamed Mantequilla (“Butter”, referring to his smooth boxing style), was a Cuban-born Mexican boxer and a World Welterweight Champion. He is frequently ranked as one of the greatest fighters of all time in that division and is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

His record of the most wins in unified championship bouts in boxing history, shared with Muhammad Ali, was unbeaten for 40 years. After debuting professionally in Cuba, he fought out of Mexico and became a Mexican citizen.

Nickname(s): The Pittsburgh Kid

From: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

William David “Billy” Conn was an Irish American professional boxer and Light Heavyweight Champion famed for his fights with Joe Louis. He had a professional boxing record of 63 wins, 11 losses and 1 draw, with 14 wins by knockout. His nickname, throughout most of his career, was “The Pittsburgh Kid.”

Nickname(s): Terrible Terry

From: Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Terrible Terry McGovern was an American professional boxer who held the World Bantamweight and Featherweight Championships. He was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania as John Terrence McGovern. Through most of his career he was managed by Sam H. Harris, who remained a lifelong friend. Many boxing historians considered McGovern's greatest attributes his punching ability and signature charges rather than his boxing style or defensive technique. That the majority of his wins were by knockout speaks to the power of his punch.

In his impressive career, McGovern took both the World Bantamweight and Featherweight Titles. He defended the World Featherweight Title at least five times against Joe Bernstein, Tommy White, Aurelio Herrera, and twice against Oscar Gardiner. He lost it to Young Corbett II who defeated him in World Featherweight Title fights on two separate occasions. His victory over Frank Erne, World Lightweight Champion, led some to claim he was also heir to the World Lightweight Title, though most sources today believe the bout was not a sanctioned title fight.

In his first 36 better-publicized bouts before taking the World Bantamweight Title, McGovern won an astounding 30, losing only to Johnny Snee and Tim Calahan. His winning streak did not end after taking the Bantamweight Title.

Nickname(s): Joey, Sandy

From: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Joseph “Sandy” Saddler was an American professional boxer. He was a two-time featherweight world champion, having also held the super featherweight title. Over his twelve-year career (1944–56), Saddler scored 103 knockouts and was stopped only once himself, in his second professional fight, by Jock Leslie. In 2003, Saddler was ranked number five on The Ring magazine's list of “100 Greatest Punchers of All Time”. His nephew is Grandmaster Flash.

Saddler fought several other notable opponents during his career. He knocked out future lightweight champion Joe Brown, as well as lightweight champions Lara Salas and Paddy DeMarco. Saddler beat lightweight champion Jimmy Carter, knocked out future junior lightweight champion Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, and lost to Larry Boardman.

Nickname(s): The Bronx Bull, The Raging Bull

From: The Bronx, New York, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Giacobbe “Jake” LaMotta was an American professional boxer, world middleweight champion, and stand-up comedian. Nicknamed “The Bronx Bull” or “Raging Bull”, LaMotta was a rough fighter who was not a particularly big puncher, but he would subject his opponents to vicious beatings in the ring. With use of constant stalking, brawling and inside fighting, he developed the reputation for being a “bully”; he was what is often referred to today as a swarmer and a slugger.

Due to his hard style of fighting, LaMotta often got as much as he was giving in an era of great middleweights. With a thick skull and jaw muscles, LaMotta was able to absorb incredible amounts of punishment over the course of his career, and is thought to have one of the greatest chins in boxing history.

LaMotta's six-fight rivalry with Sugar Ray Robinson was one of the most notable in the sport, but LaMotta won only one of the bouts. Although each fight was close, LaMotta dropped Robinson to the canvas multiple times. LaMotta, who lived a turbulent life in and out of the ring, was portrayed by Robert De Niro in the 1980 film Raging Bull. He was managed by his brother Joey LaMotta.

Nickname(s): Cincinnati Cobra

From: Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Ezzard Mack Charles, known as the Cincinnati Cobra, was an American professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion. Known for his slick defense and precision, he is considered one of the greatest fighters of all time by boxing critics. Charles defeated numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes.

He retired with a record of 95 wins, 15 losses and 1 draw. Although he never won the Light Heavyweight title, The Ring has rated him as the greatest light heavyweight of all time.

Charles was also a respected double bass player who played with some of the jazz greats in the 1940s and 1950s at such notable places as Birdland (jazz composer George Russell wrote the famous tune “Ezz-Thetic” in his honor). He was very close with Rocky Marciano and a neighbor and friend of Muhammad Ali when they both lived on 85th Street in Chicago. Charles also starred in one motion picture: Mau Mau Drums, an independent (and unreleased) jungle-adventure film shot in and around Cincinnati in 1960 by filmmaker Earl Schwieterman.

Nickname(s): Smokin’ Joe

From: Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Joseph William Frazier, nicknamed “Smokin’ Joe”, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1965 to 1981. He reigned as the undisputed heavyweight champion from 1970 to 1973, and as an amateur won a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics. Frazier was known for his strength, durability, formidable punching power, and relentless pressure fighting style.

Frazier emerged as the top contender in the late 1960s, defeating opponents that included Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Eddie Machen, Doug Jones, George Chuvalo, and Jimmy Ellis en route to becoming undisputed heavyweight champion in 1970, and followed up by defeating Muhammad Ali by unanimous decision in the highly anticipated Fight of the Century in 1971. Two years later, Frazier lost his title when he was defeated by George Foreman.

Frazier's style was often compared to that of Henry Armstrong and occasionally Rocky Marciano, dependent on bobbing, weaving and relentless pressure to wear down his opponents. His best-known punch was a powerful left hook, which accounted for most of his knockouts. In his career, he lost to only two fighters, both former Olympic and world heavyweight champions: twice to Muhammad Ali, and twice to George Foreman.

Nickname(s): Le Bombardier Marocain (The Moroccan Bomber), Casablanca Clouter

From: Sidi Bel Abbès, French Algeria (now Algeria)

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Marcellin “Marcel” Cerdan was a French Pied-Noir of Spanish origin, world boxing champion who was considered by many boxing experts and fans to be France's greatest boxer, and beyond to be one of the best to have learned his craft in Africa.

His life was marked by his sporting achievements, social lifestyle and ultimately, tragedy, being killed in an airplane crash while en route to a rematch with Jake LaMotta. The Palais des sports Marcel Cerdan is named in his honor.

Nickname(s): J.C. Superstar, El César del Boxeo (“The Caesar of Boxing”), El Gran Campeón Mexicano (“The Great Mexican Champion”), Mr. KO, El León de Culiacán (“The Lion of Culiacán”)

From: Obregón, Sonora, Mexico

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Julio César Chávez González, also known as Julio Cásar Chávez Sr., is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 2005.

A multiple-time world champion in three weight divisions, Chávez was listed by The Ring magazine as the world's best boxer, pound for pound, from 1990 to 1993. During his career he held the WBC super featherweight title from 1984 to 1987, the WBA and WBC lightweight titles between 1987 and 1989, the WBC light welterweight title twice between 1989 and 1996, and the IBF light welterweight title from 1990 to 1991.

He also held the Ring magazine and lineal lightweight titles from 1988 to 1989, and the lineal light welterweight title twice between 1990 and 1996. Chávez was named Fighter of the Year for 1987 and 1990 by the Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring respectively.

Nickname(s): Baby Faced Assassin, Beltin’ Celt, Dublin Dynamiter, Dublin Destroyer, Murderous Mick, The Belfast Spider, The Jew Killer, The Jew Beater, Hebrew Scourge, The Irish Lullaby

From: Hillsborough, County Down, United Kingdom

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

James Archibald McLarnin was an Irish-Canadian professional boxer who became a two-time welterweight world champion and an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. McLarnin has been referred to as the greatest Irish boxer of all time. BoxRec ranks McLarnin as the 11th best pound-for-pound fighter of all-time, the second best Canadian boxer of all time after Sam Langford, and the third greatest welterweight of all time.

McLarnin never returned to the ring despite large incentives for him to do so. Unlike many boxers, McLarnin invested his money wisely and retired a wealthy man. He opened an electrical goods store, and also did some acting, golfing, and lecturing.

From: New York City, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Barney Ross (born Dov-Ber “Beryl” David Rosofsky) was an American professional boxer. Ross became a world champion in three weight divisions and was a decorated veteran of World War II.

Ross is unique in boxing as one of its few triple division champions—lightweight, light welterweight and welterweight. He was never knocked out in 81 fights and held his title against some of the best competition in the history of the sport. Ross defeated great Hall-of-Fame champions like Jimmy McLarnin and Tony Canzoneri in epic battles that drew crowds of more than 50,000.

Ross was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the World Boxing Hall of Fame, the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. He was inducted into the Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in the Class of 2006.

From: Slidell, Louisiana

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Tony Canzoneri was an American professional boxer. A three-time world champion, he held a total of five world titles. Canzoneri is a member of the exclusive group of boxing world champions who have won titles in three or more divisions.

Nickname(s): Big George

From: Marshall, Texas, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

George Edward Foreman is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1969 and 1997. Nicknamed “Big George”, he is a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. Outside of boxing, he is also an author and entrepreneur.

After a troubled childhood Foreman took up amateur boxing and won a gold medal in the heavyweight division at the 1968 Summer Olympics. Having turned professional the next year, he won the world heavyweight title with a second-round knockout of then-undefeated Joe Frazier in 1973. Two successful title defenses were made before Foreman's first professional loss to Muhammad Ali in “The Rumble in the Jungle” in 1974. Unable to secure another title opportunity, Foreman retired after a loss to Jimmy Young in 1977.

Foreman has been inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame and International Boxing Hall of Fame. The International Boxing Research Organization rates Foreman as the eighth greatest heavyweight of all time. In 2002, he was named one of the 25 greatest fighters of the past 80 years by The Ring magazine. The Ring ranked him as the ninth greatest puncher of all time. He was a ringside analyst for HBO's boxing coverage for twelve years until 2004. Outside boxing, he is a successful entrepreneur and known for his promotion of the George Foreman Grill, which has sold more than 100 million units worldwide.

Nickname(s): Michigan Assassin

From: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Stanisław Kiecal, better known in the boxing world as Stanley Ketchel, was an American professional boxer who became one of the greatest World Middleweight Champions in history. He was nicknamed “The Michigan Assassin.”

He's the only boxer to beat twin brothers in consecutive bouts: knocked out Mike Sullivan in February 1908, and his twin brother, Jack, two and a half months later. Ketchel is now enshrined in the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.

The Ring in 2004 ranked Ketchel as the eighth-greatest middleweight of all time, behind Harry Greb, Sugar Ray Robinson, Carlos Monzon, Marvin Hagler, Jake LaMotta, Charley Burley, and Tiger Flowers. The Ring also named Ketchel number six on their list of 100 Best Punchers of All Time.

Nat Fleischer, the late ring historian and founding editor of The Ring, considered Stanley to be the greatest middleweight in history.

Nickname(s): The (Old) Mongoose, Ancient Archie

From: Benoit, Mississippi, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Archie Moore (born Archibald Lee Wright) was an American professional boxer and the longest reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion of all time (from December 1952 to May 1962). He had one of the longest professional careers in the history of the sport, competing from 1935 to 1963. Nicknamed “The Mongoose”, and then “The Old Mongoose” in the latter half of his career, Moore was a highly strategical and defensive boxer, with a great chin and durability.

Archie Moore ranks fourth on The Ring's list of “100 greatest punchers of all time”. Moore is rated by prominent boxing website BoxRec as the 3rd greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all-time. Moore was also a trainer for a short time after retirement, training boxers such as Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and James Tillis.

A native of Benoit, Mississippi, Moore was raised in St. Louis, Missouri and grew up in poverty. A victim of racism for much of his career, Moore was denied a shot at the world title for over ten years, and spent many of those years fighting on the road with little to show for it. An important figure in the American black community, he became involved in African American causes once his days as a fighter were over. He also established himself as a successful character actor in television and film.

Nickname(s): Toy Bulldog

From: Elizabeth, New Jersey

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Edward Patrick “Mickey” Walker was an American professional boxer who held both the World Welterweight and World Middleweight Championships at different points in his career. Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, he was also an avid golfer and would later be recognized as a renowned artist.

Walker is widely considered one of the greatest fighters ever, with ESPN ranking him 17th on their list of the 50 Greatest Boxers of All-Time and boxing historian Bert Sugar placing him 11th in his Top 100 Fighters catalogue. Statistical website BoxRec rates Walker as the 6th best middleweight ever, while The Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer placed him at No. 4.

The International Boxing Research Organization ranked Walker as the No. 4 middleweight and the No. 16 pound-for-pound fighter of all-time. Walker was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1957 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame as a first-class member in 1990.

Nickname(s): The Fighting Marine

From: New York City, New York, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

James Joseph “Gene” Tunney was an American professional boxer who competed from 1915 to 1928. He held the world heavyweight title from 1926 to 1928, and the American light heavyweight title twice between 1922 and 1923. A highly technical boxer, Tunney had a five-fight rivalry with Harry Greb in which he won three, drew once, and lost once. He also knocked out Georges Carpentier and defeated Jack Dempsey twice; first in 1926 and again in 1927.

Tunney's successful title defense against Dempsey remains one of the most famous bouts in boxing history and is known as The Long Count Fight. He retired undefeated as a heavyweight after his victory over Tom Heeney in 1928, after which Tunney was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine.

Nickname(s): The Mighty Atom, The Tylorstown Terror, Ghost with the Hammer in his Hand

From: Quakers Yard, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

William James Wilde was a Welsh professional boxer who competed from 1911 to 1923. He held the IBU world flyweight title in 1916, the EBU European flyweight title twice; firstly in 1914 and again from 1916 to 1917, the BBBofC British flyweight title in 1916 and the National Sporting Club’s British flyweight title from 1916 to 1918.

Often regarded as the greatest British fighter of all time, he was the first official world flyweight champion and was rated by American boxing writer Nat Fleischer, as well as many other professionals and fans including former boxer, trainer, manager and promoter, Charley ‘Broadway’ Rose, as “the Greatest Flyweight Boxer Ever”. Wilde earned various nicknames such as, “The Mighty Atom,” “Ghost with the Hammer in His Hand” and “The Tylorstown Terror” due to his bludgeoning punching power.

While reigning as the world's greatest flyweight, Wilde would take on bantamweights and even featherweights, and knock them out. As well as his professional career, Wilde participated in 151 bouts judged as ‘newspaper decisions’, of these the results were: Won 7 and lost 1, with 143 being declared as ‘no decisions’. Wilde has the longest recorded unbeaten streak in boxing history, having gone 92-0-1.

Nickname(s): The Brockton Blockbuster, The Rock from Brockton

From: Brockton, Massachusetts, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Rocco Francis Marchegiano, best known as Rocky Marciano, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1947 to 1955, and held the world heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956. He is the only Heavyweight champion to have finished his career undefeated. His six title defenses were against Jersey Joe Walcott, Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles (twice), Don Cockell and Archie Moore.

Known for his relentless fighting style, formidable punching power, stamina, and exceptionally durable chin, Marciano has been included by boxing historians in lists of the greatest boxers of all time, and is currently ranked by BoxRec as the fifth greatest heavyweight boxer in history. His knockout-to-win percentage of 87.76% remains one of the highest in heavyweight boxing history.

Nickname(s): The Pittsburgh Windmill

From: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Edward Henry “Harry” Greb was an American professional boxer. Nicknamed “The Pittsburgh Windmill”, he was the American light heavyweight champion from 1922 to 1923 and world middleweight champion from 1923 to 1926. He fought a recorded 298 times in his 13 year-career, which began at around 140 pounds. He fought against the best opposition the talent-rich 1910s and 20s could provide him, frequently squaring off against light heavyweights and even heavyweights.

Widely considered one of the best fighters of all time, Greb was named the 7th greatest fighter of the past 80 years by The Ring Magazine, the 5th greatest fighter of all-time by historian Bert Sugar and ranked as the #1 middleweight and the #2 pound-for-pound fighter of all-time by the International Boxing Research Organization. Statistical boxing website BoxRec lists Greb as the #3 ranked middleweight of all-time and #17 greatest pound-for-pound fighter ever.

Nickname(s): Sugar

From: Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Ray Charles Leonard, best known as “Sugar” Ray Leonard, is an American former professional boxer, motivational speaker, and occasional actor. Often regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he competed from 1977 to 1997, winning world titles in five weight divisions; the lineal championship in three weight divisions; as well as the undisputed welterweight title. Leonard was part of “The Fabulous Four”, a group of boxers who all fought each other throughout the 1980s, consisting of himself, Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler.

“The Fabulous Four” created a wave of popularity in the lower weight classes that kept boxing relevant in the post-Muhammad Ali era, during which Leonard defeated future fellow International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees Hearns, Durán, Hagler, and Wilfred Benítez. Leonard was also the first boxer to earn more than $100 million in purses, and was named “Boxer of the Decade” in the 1980s.

The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1979 and 1981, while the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) named him Fighter of the Year in 1976, 1979, and 1981. In 2002, Leonard was voted by The Ring as the ninth greatest fighter of the last 80 years; BoxRec ranks him as the 14th greatest boxer of all time, pound for pound.

Nickname(s): Old Master

From: Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Joe Gans was an American professional boxer. Gans was rated the greatest Lightweight boxer of all-time by boxing historian and The Ring magazine founder, Nat Fleischer. Known as the “Old Master”, he became the first African-American World Boxing Champion of the 20th century, reigning continuously as World Lightweight Champion from 1902-1908. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.

He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. A bronze statue of Joe Gans stands in the lobby of Madison Square Garden. Modern day boxers traditionally rub the statue's outstretched left fist for good-luck before matches.

Nickname(s): Boston Tar Baby, Boston Terror, Boston Bonecrusher

From: Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia, Canada

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Samuel Edgar Langford, known as the Boston Tar Baby, Boston Terror, and Boston Bonecrusher, was a Black Canadian boxing standout of the early part of the 20th century. Called the “Greatest Fighter Nobody Knows”, by ESPN, many boxing historians consider Langford to be one of the greatest fighters of all time.

He fought from lightweight to heavyweight and defeated many world champions and legends of the time in each weight class. Considered a devastating puncher even at heavyweight, Langford was rated No. 2 by The Ring on their list of “100 greatest punchers of all time”. One boxing historian described Langford as “experienced as a heavyweight James Toney with the punching power of Mike Tyson”.

He was denied a shot at many World Championships, due to the color bar and by the refusal of Jack Johnson, the first African-American World Heavyweight Champion, to fight him in a rematch. Langford was the World Colored Heavyweight Champion, a title vacated, by Johnson, after he won the World Championship, a record five times.

Alongside this, Langford also defeated the reigning Lightweight Champion Joe Gans, the first African-American World Champion in boxing history and widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, in a non-title bout. Many boxing aficionados consider Langford to be the greatest boxer not to win a world title. BoxRec ranks him as the 3rd greatest heavyweight boxer of all-time, 9th greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all-time and the greatest Canadian boxer of all-time.

Nickname(s): Kid Blackie, The Manassa Mauler

From: Manassa, Colorado, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

William Harrison “Jack” Dempsey, nicknamed “Kid Blackie”, and “The Manassa Mauler”, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1914 to 1927, and reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. A cultural icon of the 1920s, Dempsey's aggressive fighting style and exceptional punching power made him one of the most popular boxers in history. Many of his fights set financial and attendance records, including the first million-dollar gate, and pioneered the live broadcast of sporting events in general, and boxing matches in particular.

Dempsey is ranked tenth on The Ring magazine's list of all-time heavyweights and seventh among its Top 100 Greatest Punchers, while in 1950 the Associated Press voted him as the greatest fighter of the past 50 years. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, and was in the previous Boxing Hall of Fame.

Nickname(s): Galveston Giant, Jack

From: Galveston, Texas, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

John Arthur “Jack” Johnson, nicknamed the Galveston Giant, was an American boxer who, at the height of the Jim Crow era, became the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion (1908–1915). Among the period's most dominant champions, Johnson remains a boxing legend, with his 1910 fight against James J. Jeffries dubbed the “fight of the century”.

According to filmmaker Ken Burns, “for more than thirteen years, Jack Johnson was the most famous and the most notorious African-American on Earth”. Transcending boxing, he became part of the culture and the history of racism in America.

Throughout his career, Johnson built a unique fighting style of his own, which was not customary to boxing during this time. Though Jack would typically strike first, he would fight defensively, waiting for his opponents to tire out, while becoming more aggressive as the rounds went on. He often fought to punish his opponents through the rounds rather than knocking them out, and would continuously dodge their punches.

He would then quickly strike back with a blow of his own. Jack often made his fights look effortless, and as if he had much more to offer, but when pushed he could also display some powerful moves and punches. There are films of his fights in which he can be seen holding up his opponent, who otherwise might have fallen, until he recovered. His style of playing with his opponents was very effective.

Nickname(s): Ghetto Wizard, The Great Bennah, Benny the Great

From: Lower East Side, New York City, New York, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Benny Leonard was a Jewish American professional boxer who held the world lightweight championship for eight years from 1917-25. Widely considered one of the all-time greats, he was ranked 8th on The Ring magazine's list of the “80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years” and placed 7th in ESPN's “50 Greatest Boxers of All-Time”.

In 2005, the International Boxing Research Organization ranked Leonard as the #1 lightweight, and #8 best pound-for-pound fighter of all-time. Statistical website BoxRec rates Leonard as the 2nd best lightweight ever, while The Ring magazine founder Nat Fleischer placed him at #2. Boxing historian Bert Sugar placed him 6th in his Top 100 Fighters catalogue.

Leonard was known for his speed, lightning reflexes, excellent boxing technique, and ability to think fast on his feet. Equally important, he taught himself to be a powerful hitter, who scored 70 Knock Outs from his 89 wins. He was defeated only six times in his career and was held to a draw on few occasions.

As was common in the era in which he fought, he engaged in many no-decision matches and is believed to have engaged in around 96 bouts. He most distinguished himself by decisively winning over 90% of his career matches in his prime between 1921-32, and all of his matches decided by judges and based on points.

Nickname(s): Manos de Piedra (“Hands of Stone”), El Cholo, Rocky

From: El Chorrillo, Panama

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Roberto Durán Samaniego is a Panamanian former professional boxer who competed from 1968 to 2001. He held world championships in four weight classes: lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight, as well as reigns as the undisputed and lineal lightweight champion, and the lineal welterweight champion.

He is also the second boxer to have competed over a span of five decades, the first being Jack Johnson. Durán was known as a versatile, technical brawler and pressure fighter, which earned him the nickname of “Manos de Piedra” (“Hands of Stone”) for his formidable punching power and excellent defense.

In 2002, Durán was voted by The Ring magazine as the fifth greatest fighter of the last 80 years, while boxing historian Bert Sugar rated him as the eighth greatest fighter of all time. The Associated Press voted him as the best lightweight of the 20th century, with many considering him the greatest lightweight of all time.

Durán finally retired in January 2002 at age 50 (having previously retired in 1998) following a car crash in October 2001, with a professional record of 119 fights, 103 wins, and 70 knockouts. Up until his second fight against Sugar Ray Leonard in 1980, as well as in his fight against Wilfred Benítez in 1982, Durán was trained by legendary boxing trainer Ray Arcel.

Nickname(s): Will o’ the Wisp

From: Middletown, Connecticut, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Guglielmo Papaleo was an American professional boxer, better known as Willie Pep who held the World Featherweight championship twice between the years of 1942 and 1950. Pep boxed a total of 1,956 rounds in the 241 bouts during his 26-year career, a considerable number of rounds and bouts even for a fighter of his era.

His final record was 229–11–1 with 65 knockouts. Pep, known for his speed, finesse and elusiveness, is considered to be one of the best fighters of the 20th century; after his 199th win, Kid Campeche described his experience by saying, “Fighting Willie Pep is like trying to stamp out a grass fire.”

Pep was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Pep was voted as the No. 1 featherweight of the 20th century by the Associated Press and ranked the No. 1 featherweight of all-time by the International Boxing Research Organization in 2005.

Nickname(s): The Brown Bomber, Chappy

From: LaFayette, Alabama, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Joseph Louis Barrow, known professionally as Joe Louis, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1934 to 1951. He reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, and is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. Nicknamed the “Brown Bomber”, Louis’ championship reign lasted 140 consecutive months, during which he participated in 26 championship fights.

The 27th fight, against Ezzard Charles in 1950, was a challenge for Charles’ heavyweight title and so is not included in Louis’ reign. He was victorious in 25 consecutive title defenses. In 2005, Louis was ranked as the best heavyweight of all time by the International Boxing Research Organization, and was ranked number one on The Ring magazine's list of the “100 greatest punchers of all time”.

Louis’ cultural impact was felt well outside the ring. He is widely regarded as the first person of African-American descent to achieve the status of a nationwide hero within the United States, and was also a focal point of anti-Nazi sentiment leading up to and during World War II. He was instrumental in integrating the game of golf, breaking the sport's color barrier in America by appearing under a sponsor's exemption in a PGA event in 1952.

Nickname(s): Homicide Hank, Hurricane Hank, Hammerin’ Hank

From: Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Henry Jackson Jr. was an American professional boxer and a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong.

Armstrong was one of the few fighters to win in three or more different divisions: featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight. He defended his welterweight title a total of nineteen times.

The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1937. The Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) named him Fighter of the Year in 1940. In 2007, The Ring ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of the last 80 years. Historian Bert Sugar also ranked Armstrong as the second-greatest fighter of all time. ESPN ranked Armstrong as number 3 on their list of the 50 greatest boxers of all time.

Nickname(s): The Louisville Lip, The Champ, The Greatest

From: Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.) was an American professional boxer, activist, and philanthropist. Nicknamed “The Greatest,” he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and celebrated sports figures of the 20th century and as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

At 18, he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics, and turned professional later that year. He converted to Islam and became a Muslim after 1961, and eventually took the name Muhammad Ali. He won the world heavyweight championship from Sonny Liston in a major upset at age 22 in 1964. In 1966, Ali refused to be drafted into the military, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War. He was arrested, found guilty of draft evasion, and stripped of his boxing titles.

Ali was a leading heavyweight boxer of the 20th century, and he remains the only three-time lineal champion of that division. His joint records of beating 21 boxers for the world heavyweight title and winning 14 unified title bouts stood for 35 years. Ali is the only boxer to be named The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year six times. He has been ranked the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, and as the greatest athlete of the 20th century by Sports Illustrated, the Sports Personality of the Century by the BBC, and the third greatest athlete of the 20th century by ESPN SportsCentury. He was also known for trash-talking, and often free-styled with rhyme schemes and spoken word poetry, anticipating elements of hip hop.

Nickname(s): The Prince of Harlem, Sugar

From: Ailey, Georgia, U.S.

Stance: Orthodox

Career Notes:

‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson (born Walker Smith, Jr., he borrowed the name of a fighter named Ray Robinson to box as an amateur so his mother wouldn't find out) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1940 to 1965. Robinson's performances in the welterweight and middleweight divisions prompted sportswriters to create “pound for pound” rankings, where they compared fighters regardless of weight. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. He is widely regarded as the greatest boxer of all time, and in 2002, Robinson was ranked number one on The Ring magazine's list of “80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years”.

Robinson was 85–0 as an amateur with 69 of those victories coming by way of knockout, 40 in the first round. He turned professional in 1940 at the age of 19 and by 1951 had a professional record of 128–1–2 with 84 knockouts. From 1943 to 1951 Robinson went on a 91-fight unbeaten streak, the third-longest in professional boxing history. Robinson held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, and won the world middleweight title in the latter year.

He retired in 1952, only to come back two-and-a-half years later and regain the middleweight title in 1955. He then became the first boxer in history to win a divisional world championship five times (a feat he accomplished by defeating Carmen Basilio in 1958 to regain the middleweight championship). Robinson was named “fighter of the year” twice: first for his performances in 1942, then nine years and over 90 fights later, for his efforts.

Renowned for his flamboyant lifestyle outside the ring, Robinson is credited with being the originator of the modern sports “entourage”. After his boxing career ended, Robinson attempted a career as an entertainer, but it was not successful.