The sport of boxing has remained popular for a vast number of years, attracting fans from all over the world who each have their own opinion on who is the best in the ring. Though there is the potential for the debate to continue endlessly, many boxing enthusiasts will agree that there are a few boxers who would fall under the heading of the five most popular in history.
Muhammad Ali
Arguably the most well-known and well-loved boxer of all time, this heavyweight champion began life as Cassius Clay before changing his name to Muhammad Ali on converting to Islam in 1964. During a long career, Ali fought in 61 bouts and knocked out his opponent in 37 of them. Loved as much for his charismatic, out-spoken attitude as for his fighting style, Muhammad Ali has earned life-long fans from his ability to follow-through on his clever patter. The most legendary of his fights were the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ against George Foreman and the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ against Joe Frazier.
Marvin Hagler
Also known as Marvellous Marvin, Hagler is a notable boxer who held the world middleweight championship title in the 1980s. With the highest number of knock outs amongst middle weight boxers, Hagler was inducted into the World and International Boxing Hall of Fame. 2002 saw him named as one of the greatest fighters of the past 80 years by Ring Magazine, coming in at number 17.
Sugar Ray Leonard
After a long amateur career that began in the early 1970s, Ray Charles Leonard, also known as Sugar Ray, became a professional boxer. A member of the International Hall of Fame, Leonard was voted Fighter of the Year in 1979 by the Boxing Writers Association of America. In 40 fights, Leonard won 36, lost 3 and drew 1.
Sugar Ray Robinson
Walker Smith Jr. Was Sugar Ray Robinson’s real name and he had a successful amateur career before becoming professional. Holding both the welter and middle weight titles, Robinson’s professional record 128 wins with 84 knock outs.
Rocky Marciano
Rocky ‘The Brockton Blockbuster’ Marciano is also known as Rocco Marchegiano. Marciano was named as the 10th greatest heavyweight boxer by Ring Magazine in 1971 and was voted boxer of the year by them 3 times. Of 49 bouts, Marciano won 49 times with 43 of them being knock outs, making him the only heavyweight champion never to have been defeated.
Picture: Wikimedia: Bust portrait of Muhammad Ali, World Journal Tribune photo by Ira Rosenberg