Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

BOXING: THE TOP FIGHTERS OF THE CENTURY

Wednesday 15 December 1999 00:02 GMT
Comments

As voted by a five-member panel of experts assembled by Associated Press. First-place votes are in parenthesis; points based on 10 points for a first-place vote down to one point for a 10th-place vote. When a division has five selections, a first-place vote is worth five points. POUND-FOR-POUND

1 Sugar Ray Robinson (2) 45

2 Muhammad Ali (2) 38

3 Henry Armstrong 30

4 Joe Louis 29

5 Willie Pep (1) 27

6 Jack Dempsey 20

7 Roberto Duran 14

8 Benny Leonard 13

9 Billy Conn 12

10 Harry Greb 7

HEAVYWEIGHTS

1 Muhammad Ali (2) 46

2 Joe Louis (2) 45

3 Rocky Marciano (1) 38

4 Jack Dempsey 28

5= Jack Johnson 22

5= Larry Holmes 22

7 Sonny Liston 14

8 Joe Frazier 13

9= *Sam Langford 8 9= Jersey Joe Walcott 8

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS

1 Archie Moore (2) 41

2 Billy Conn (2) 34

3 *Ezzard Charles (1) 29

4 Roy Jones Jnr 26

5= *Jimmy Bivins 24

5= Bob Foster 24

7 Harold Johnson 21

8= Philadelphia Jack O'Brien 13

8= *Tiger Jack Fox 13

10 Maxie Rosenbloom 11

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

1 Sugar Ray Robinson (4) 49

2 Harry Greb (1) 42

3 Marvin Hagler 28

4 Mickey Walker 26

5 Carlos Monzon 21

6 *Charley Burley 20

7 Jake La Motta 19

8 Stanley Ketchel 15

9 Marcel Cerdan 12

10 Tony Zale 11

WELTERWEIGHTS

1 Sugar Ray Robinson (4) 40

2 Henry Armstrong (1) 31

3 Sugar Ray Leonard 28

4 Jose Napoles 23

5 Barney Ross 21

6 Carmen Basilio 19

7 Mickey Walker 16

8 Emile Griffith 15

9 Kid Gavilan 14

10 Luis Rodriguez 12

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHTS (Five Selections)

1 Aaron Pryor (1) 14

2 Barney Ross (2) 13

3 Tony Canzoneri 11

4 Wilfred Benitez (1) 10

5 Antonio Cervantes 7

Jack "Kid" Berg received the other first place, but got no other points

LIGHTWEIGHTS

1 Roberto Duran (3) 41

2 Benny Leonard 37

3 Tony Canzoneri 33

4 Ike Williams 28

5 Joe Gans (2) 21

6= Lou Ambers 20 6= Alexis Arguello 20

8 Julio Cesar Chavez 13

9 Beau Jack 12

10 Carlos Ortiz 7

JUNIOR LIGHTWEIGHTS (Five Selections)

1 Alexis Arguello (2) 19

2 Kid Chocolate (1) 16

3 Julio Cesar Chavez (1) 12

4 Johnny Dundee (1) 8

5 Sandy Saddler 6

FEATHERWEIGHTS

1 Willie Pep (3) 47

2 Sandy Saddler (1) 42

3 Salvador Sanchez 28

4 Tony Canzoneri 17

5 Chalky Wright 16

6= Henry Armstrong (1) 15

6= Vicente Saldivar 15

8= Wilfredo Gomez 13

8= Azumah Nelson 13

10 Abe Attell 10

BANTAMWEIGHTS

1= Ruben Olivares 36

1= Carlos Zarate (1) 36

3 Eder Jofre (1) 33

4 Panama Al Brown (1) 27

5 Manuel Ortiz (1) 18

6= Lionel Rose 15

6= Fighting Harada 15

8 Alfonso Zamora 14

9 Sixto Escobar (1) 13

10 Jimmy Carruthers 9

FLYWEIGHTS

1= Miguel Canto (1) 26

1= Pancho Villa 26

3 Jimmy Wilde (2) 25

4 Fidel La Barba (1) 24

5 Frankie Genaro 15

6 Small Montana 13

7 Charchai Chionoi 12

8 Ricardo Lopez 11

9= Corporal Izzy Schwartz 10

9= Jackie Patterson 10

* fighter was never a champion in division in which he is ranked.

one panelist declined to vote for the flyweight division.

THE PANELISTS

Members of the panel that selected the greatest boxers of the century for Associated Press

ANGELO DUNDEE

Best known as the trainer of Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard. Dundee has also worked with several other champions, including the welterweight and middleweight Carmen Basilio, the welterweight Jose Napoles, the light heavyweight Willie Pastrano, the featherweight Sugar Ramos and the welterweight Luis Rodriguez. Revered as one of boxing's great cut men.

LOU DUVA

The long-time promoter, manager and trainer. Duva has worked with such champions as the heavyweights Evander Holyfield and Michael Moorer, the junior welterweight Meldrick Taylor, and Pernell Whitaker, a champion in four weight classes.

DON CHARGIN

The long-time promoter who is based in California. Also has worked as a second and manager. Given a second's licence in 1945 and promoted first show in 1950.

EDDIE FUTCH

The Detroit Golden Gloves lightweight champion in 1933, Futch trained at same gym as Joe Louis. Often sparred with Louis when Louis needed speed work. The Hall of Famer trained 19 world champions, including the heavyweight Joe Frazier, the welterweight Don Jordan, the heavyweight Larry Holmes, the light heavyweight Michael Spinks, Alexis Arguello, a champion in three weight classes, and the welterweight Marlon Starling.

GIL CLANCY

Trained and managed Emile Griffith, the welterweight and middleweight champion. Also guided the careers of the middleweight champion Rodrigo Valdez and the heavyweight contender Jerry Quarry, and briefly trained George Foreman. Serves as a boxing adviser to Oscar De La Hoya. In 1978- 80, was the matchmaker for Madison Square Garden. Has worked as a boxing analyst for several TV networks. Is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in