Readers Respond: What Do You Think of ESPN's Ranking of the 50 Greatest Boxers of All-Time?

Responses: 541

From Andrew Eisele, former About.com Guide

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Cant believe julio cesar chavez is that low. About 117 fights, 89 k.o. & he only lost six times. Undefeated for 13yrs. Most ko in title fights. First loss was 89th bout. Fought everybody, didn't avoid anybody. Has alot of boxing records still standing.
—Guest AE

how can anyone make a top pound for pound list and not put a fighter who was world champion for over a decade and won all of his 46 fights without defeat, Joe Calzaghe should easily be in the top 20 no questions asked, he beat fighters in massive events such as Chris Eubank, Mikel Kessler, Roy Jones Jr, Bernard Hopkins, Jeff Lacy, Richie Woodhall. Your list is useless.
—Guest karlo

Guest MickMac makes a lot of good observations. I'd say there's 40 now forgotten boxers in your list I'd avoid if I wanted to keep a boxing title. These 50 were not household names but-never-the-less they were champions and boxing fan favorites in their time. Thank you for ignoring boxer hype. I applaud you for including the sports best loved boxers such as Barney Ross, Harry Greb, Sam Langford and Jimmy Wilde, this shows how serious your research was.
—Guest BattlingBrook

I just have to say that the comments are pretty funny, Fan's of the past 20 years mostly. If you cut out hype and celebrity (As you should) when trying to rate and rank a fighter you'd find someone like Ali better suited at around #9 to #15. LaMotta should also be in the #10-15, Joe Gans at #5 and Langford #3...Couldnt complain about Robinson #1 and Joe Louis should be at #2. I also think you left of some top guys talent wise in Sabastien Carpantier, Joe Jeannett, Sam Mcveay, Tony Zale and i think Paul Spadafora is a true talent. The fight game has been getting softer and softer over the years, Fighters arent as hungry or willing to sacrifice...Personally i dont want to hear names like Mayweather, Pac-Man, Lennox Lewis or most fighters from the last 20 years mentioned with the likes of Robinson, Greb, Wilde ect. And Ali was 80% hype, 15% talent and 5% lack of quality compitition. Joe Louis would of absolutely destroyed him.
—Guest MickMac

Not even close, ali, liston, patterson, louis, holmes, fraizer, norton, shavers, holyfield, tyson, ray leonard, haggler, fraizer, norton, hearns,
—Guest jackie48

Let me start by saying that you did an awesome job collecting all this information of all Boxers famous or not so famous. My reason for looking you up was to find a great name for my rescued boxer. You have done such a great job that my job is now more difficult. I just want you to know that once you start reading you can not stop. Even if your not knowledgeable about boxing or boxers you will be when finished. Thank you.
—Guest Noel Briggs

I think chavez woulda been top 10 in this countdown,plus el finito lopez and the great Salvador sanchez they belong in this countdown too.
—Guest tigrillo

I really hope that this top 50 isn't ranked because having Mike Tyson at 50 is insane. Mike Tyson in his prime was the first boxer ever of his kind and one of the few that in his prime could destroy any heavyweight on this list on a good day even Muhammad Ali, but thats really wrong to compare because its two completely different decades and alot has changed. But there was no boxer before Tyson that threw with such ferociousness with hooks as Tyson. He was the one boxer and only that no one wanted to fight. The fear factor, in his prime from 20-26 years old he literally was the baddest man on the planet becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in history, holding 3 belts might I add. Tyson deserves much more respect than that, he might not have been a really smart guy but he was a VERY intelligent boxer that found a style of fighting that no boxer before him ever did. His dedication was unbelievable, running 3 or 4 in the morning every day. If you want to rank heavyweight, he's top 5.
—Guest Joey Gomez

I can't believe you left James "lights out" Toney out of the top fifty. when he trained hard he was unbeatable. do u remember what he did to all those contenders and fellow world champions, Jirov,Holyfield and more than a few more. never ducked anyone. though you guys called him a throwback fighter, give him his due. look how he destroyed The Blade Barkley. stop hating on James.
—Guest tamatra smith

floyd patterson - a great boxer, style, and k.o. artist, should be in top 10 rankings,
—Guest butch

So first they voted him nr 1 hardest hitter in heavyweight history and then he end up here on 50, bs if you ask me
—Guest Instram

I think fighters that haven't finished their careers or have only retired in recent years don't get considered. Mayweather should be much higher no doubt. Manny pac should clearly be in there (won titles from light fly to light middle, in all divisions). Juan manuel marquez should be in there on his talent alone. It's a crime felix trinidad and prince nas and ismael laguna aren't there. JOE CALZAGHE was undefeated and fought the best of his time and talent was boundless. Lennox lewis should definitely be there. Wilfred benitez? Pipino cuevas? And i think it's unfair to put hearns and hagler in the 30s when leonard's at 13. And tyson should be higher. I could go on and on but i'm sure nobody will read this whole thing!
—Guest Bobby J Warren

this list is less than a joke. it's an insult to the intelligence of the people who gave their so called expert opinion. and who are these so called experts........... have a reality check.... what are middleweights doing in an all time top 50. kings weight or not. the big boys rule the roost.... unless your decide which weight u want your top 50 in. get them out because they don't belong in a ring with an Ali in his prime..... because any top fifty heavy weight would chew his ass up.... on the flow or standing toe to toe.
—Guest karlos

TYSON AT 50!!!! Are you kidding? I know everyone wants their guy in top 10 but Tyson really needs to be up there. Go watch some YOUTUBE highlights to refresh memory. I actually scrolled back up twice before I got to 50 cause I thought I missed his name. In a weird way 50 is more of a slap then not being on the list.
—Guest Jersey

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