Greatest Boxer of All Time?
- Thread starter JM
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Backwoods Presbyterian
Puritanboard Amanuensis
Pound-for-pound?
Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson
AThornquist
Puritan Board Doctor
The one in Animal Farm 
POOR BOXER!
POOR BOXER!
Reformed Thomist
Puritan Board Sophomore
In his prime? Tyson. He would have knocked out both Robinson and Ali. Just a beast in the ring; the most ferocious fighter I have ever seen.
Overall: Robinson.
Overall: Robinson.
JM
Puritan Board Doctor
Thoughts on Archie Moore, Sony Liston, Rocky Marciano, George Foreman or Joe Frazier?
Moore was one of the greatest with his weird peek a boo style, Liston's power was amazing but he fell apart like Ike Ibeabuchi...Rocky was an amazing puncher with dynamite in both hands, who doesn't love the post conversion George or his grill? Frazier's left hook?
Tyson was a beast when Cus was alive and you can see him slowly slide into a life of pure debauchery. A prime, disciplined Tyson, was a machine. His slip, slip, counter was amazing to watch.
j
Moore was one of the greatest with his weird peek a boo style, Liston's power was amazing but he fell apart like Ike Ibeabuchi...Rocky was an amazing puncher with dynamite in both hands, who doesn't love the post conversion George or his grill? Frazier's left hook?
Tyson was a beast when Cus was alive and you can see him slowly slide into a life of pure debauchery. A prime, disciplined Tyson, was a machine. His slip, slip, counter was amazing to watch.
j
R Harris
Puritan Board Sophomore
George Foreman!
To win the heavyweight title at age 42 is nothing short of remarkable. Plus, George confesses Christ, rare among boxers.
Do remember the scene in "Coming to America" where Arsenio Hall plays the barber and the other black characters in the barber shop arguing with that white old timer about Ali versus Rocky Marciano as to the greatest boxer of all time? That is a classic scene! He makes that comment, "of course you whites always have to bring up Marciano!" The way Hall does it is just hilarious.
I LOVE Paul's comment in Corinthians about the perseverance of the Christian walk compared to boxing: "I box, but not as to hit air." Wasted motion leads to expended energy. Very challenging indeed.
To win the heavyweight title at age 42 is nothing short of remarkable. Plus, George confesses Christ, rare among boxers.
Do remember the scene in "Coming to America" where Arsenio Hall plays the barber and the other black characters in the barber shop arguing with that white old timer about Ali versus Rocky Marciano as to the greatest boxer of all time? That is a classic scene! He makes that comment, "of course you whites always have to bring up Marciano!" The way Hall does it is just hilarious.
I LOVE Paul's comment in Corinthians about the perseverance of the Christian walk compared to boxing: "I box, but not as to hit air." Wasted motion leads to expended energy. Very challenging indeed.
fralo4truth
Puritan Board Freshman
Apart from yours truly, it's a toughie. 
Tyson in his prime was definitely a wrecking machine. One of the few heavyweights with the ability to knockout with ONE punch! If he would have played his cards better, he very well could have ended up as the greatest ever.
Right now I don't know. Cassius Clay, perhaps? Joe Lewis?
Tyson in his prime was definitely a wrecking machine. One of the few heavyweights with the ability to knockout with ONE punch! If he would have played his cards better, he very well could have ended up as the greatest ever.
Right now I don't know. Cassius Clay, perhaps? Joe Lewis?
JM
Puritan Board Doctor
I don't believe that is true.
As a life long martial artist I can say that styles make fights and a big puncher can always turn a fight around with one shot. It is true the modern Boxer tends to be bigger and that would be a factor.
-----Added 12/29/2009 at 02:33:14 EST-----
Did you know Rocky did spar with Ali and floored him? According to reports Rocky, who hadn't boxed in 14 years, trained hard losing 50 lbs and ended up getting the best of Ali.
Interesting history. He died in a plane crash shortly after.
fralo4truth
Puritan Board Freshman
If you will remember, Rocky Marciano did beat Joe Lewis, but only when Lewis was 137 years old!
I always enjoyed watching Roy Jones. I still remember how he was robbed of his Olympic Gold Medal. He beat the South Korean so badly that it's probably one of the biggest travesties in sports history.
The man made boxing look beautiful.
I think, even in boxing, we need to establish by what criteria we determine "The Greatest."
Personally, I think it has to be far more than a simple guess as to who is likely to win any given bout between the legends. I'm pretty sympathetic to Tim's line of thought, although in the cases of these greats, I wonder if the difference is as pronounced in boxing as it is elsewhere.
My criteria for the best: imagine a poll among the greats listed here, and ask them which possible opponent would give them the most physical and psychological fear to face. There's your answer.
It's not a question of which fighter is toughest to win a decision against. Or who is most technically refined. Or who is the most beautiful to watch. Nor who would likely gain/retain a title against another legend.
I think "The Greatest" would be the fighter that would make any of them get a lump of fear in the throat before stepping in the ring.
By that measure, my vote goes to Tyson.
Ali, Frazier, Marciano, etc. could beat you badly and make you look like a fool, and look pretty good themselves while doing it. But when Tyson says he's going to eat your children, you would have serious doubts over whether that was hyperbole.
Personally, I think it has to be far more than a simple guess as to who is likely to win any given bout between the legends. I'm pretty sympathetic to Tim's line of thought, although in the cases of these greats, I wonder if the difference is as pronounced in boxing as it is elsewhere.
My criteria for the best: imagine a poll among the greats listed here, and ask them which possible opponent would give them the most physical and psychological fear to face. There's your answer.
It's not a question of which fighter is toughest to win a decision against. Or who is most technically refined. Or who is the most beautiful to watch. Nor who would likely gain/retain a title against another legend.
I think "The Greatest" would be the fighter that would make any of them get a lump of fear in the throat before stepping in the ring.
By that measure, my vote goes to Tyson.
Ali, Frazier, Marciano, etc. could beat you badly and make you look like a fool, and look pretty good themselves while doing it. But when Tyson says he's going to eat your children, you would have serious doubts over whether that was hyperbole.
I think if we remove the "...because he might bite my ear off..." factor then Tyson might not get the nod.
You're quite right. But is it really fair to remove that factor? He spent a lot of time and effort making it a credible threat.
You know that it was that fight that is the only PPV fight I've ever purchased. I still remember watching that fight in my living room with my Dad and a good friend and thinking: "He did what?!"
I still remember the hamburger he fought in his big comeback. The guy had his 5 minutes of fame with commercials showing his trainer throwing in the towel.
Watched this a few days ago - good documentary getting inside the mind of a very disturbed man. Mike Tyson – Beyond the Glory | Watch Free Documentary Online
Soonerborn
Puritan Board Freshman
Rocky Balboa. Ivan Drago is a close 2nd.
awretchsavedbygrace
Puritan Board Sophomore
I always enjoyed watching Roy Jones. I still remember how he was robbed of his Olympic Gold Medal. He beat the South Korean so badly that it's probably one of the biggest travesties in sports history.
The man made boxing look beautiful.
I loved Roy Jones. I refuse to believe that Antonio Tarver knocked him out. It looks so fake.
jrdnoland
Puritan Board Freshman
I agree with Rocky Balboa, but thought Mr T or Apollo Creed would be the close second.
I believe you meant to say Clubber Lang or Apollo Creed...
I agree with Rocky Balboa, but thought Mr T or Apollo Creed would be the close second.
jrdnoland
Puritan Board Freshman
I believe you meant to say Clubber Lang or Apollo Creed...
I agree with Rocky Balboa, but thought Mr T or Apollo Creed would be the close second.
You got it, but he'll always be Mr T to me.
The rocky series movies were very inspirational to me, keep trying, keep fighting, no matter what the odds! I related that to Philippians 4:13
JM
Puritan Board Doctor
LawrenceU
Puritan Board Doctor
I used to love watching Sugar Ray fight. He was so incredibly fast, smooth, an artist.
I loved watching Foreman. He could just stand there and take it and then that seemingly slow motion punch would knock a man to the mat. Amazing.
Clay, he was an artist. I couldn't stand his schtick, but he could almost always back up his mouth.
Roy Jones: yep, he made boxing beautiful.
Holyfield was another beautiful fighter to watch.
I could never enjoy watching Tyson, even in his prime. Yes, his punch was amazing, but that was about it.
Frankly, I don't think boxing today is nearly the sport it was in the past.
Anyone else remember the Tate / Weaver fight? That was something else.
I think that every young man should learn to box. There are great lessons to be learned in the ring. For some it is overcoming fear. For others it is overcoming aggression. Yet again, self control. And, much more.
I loved watching Foreman. He could just stand there and take it and then that seemingly slow motion punch would knock a man to the mat. Amazing.
Clay, he was an artist. I couldn't stand his schtick, but he could almost always back up his mouth.
Roy Jones: yep, he made boxing beautiful.
Holyfield was another beautiful fighter to watch.
I could never enjoy watching Tyson, even in his prime. Yes, his punch was amazing, but that was about it.
Frankly, I don't think boxing today is nearly the sport it was in the past.
Anyone else remember the Tate / Weaver fight? That was something else.
I think that every young man should learn to box. There are great lessons to be learned in the ring. For some it is overcoming fear. For others it is overcoming aggression. Yet again, self control. And, much more.
SemperEruditio
Puritan Board Junior
I always enjoyed watching Roy Jones. I still remember how he was robbed of his Olympic Gold Medal. He beat the South Korean so badly that it's probably one of the biggest travesties in sports history.
The man made boxing look beautiful.
I loved Roy Jones. I refuse to believe that Antonio Tarver knocked him out. It looks so fake.
I thought so too but once Jones tasted defeat he's never been the same. So I would say he was definitely knocked out....TWICE!
He was so good he made it appear as if there was no competition whatsoever. Unfortunately with time athleticism slows and the only way you realize you've gotten slower is when you're on your back.
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