Top 30 best boxers of all time: Legends of the ring that defined boxing history

Boxing is a combat sport that dates back to the earliest civilisations. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the sport became famous worldwide, and as a result, more fighters from all walks of life joined it. Over the past years, talented boxers have made names for themselves in the ring and have gone down in history as the best boxers of all time.

This list of the best boxers of all time is based on the number of wins recorded, tactics used, strength, reputation, and awards won. It features boxers who gave and continue giving their all whenever they enter the ring. These professionals have knocked down their opponents and won lucrative titles.

Overview of the best boxers of all time

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Best boxers of all time: top 30 list

Here is a list of the top 30 best boxers of all time. They have left a footprint in the sport and fans' hearts.

30. Sandy Saddler - 144 wins

• Full name: Joseph Saddler
• Date of birth: 23 June 1926
• Date of death: 18 September 2001
• Age at death: 75 years
• Place of birth: Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America

Sandy Saddler is regarded as one of the best boxers of all time. He was a two-time featherweight world champion. He held the super featherweight title at one point. Over his twelve-year career, Sandy Saddler scored 104 knockouts and 144 wins.

29. Bob Fitzsimmons - 61 wins

• Full name: Robert James Fitzsimmons
• Date of birth: 26 May 1863
• Date of death: 22 October 1917
• Age at death: 54 years
• Place of birth: Helston, United Kingdom

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The late Bob Fitzsimmons was a British professional boxer who was the sport's first three-division world champion. He achieved fame for beating Gentleman Jim Corbett. He is in The Guinness Book of World Records as the lightest heavyweight champion. He weighed 167 pounds when he won the title. He recorded 61 wins in his career.

28. Mickey Walker - 94 wins

• Full name: Edward Patrick Walker
• Date of birth: 13 July 1901
• Date of death: 28 April 1981
• Age at death: 79 years
• Place of birth: Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States of America

The late Mickey Walker held both the world welterweight and world middleweight championships at different points in his career. He was also an avid golfer and would later be recognised as a renowned artist. He recorded 94 boxing wins. Did you know he began his professional career in 1919?

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27. Tony Canzoneri - 137 wins

• Full name: Tony Canzoneri
• Date of birth: 6 November 1908
• Date of death: 9 December 1959
• Age at death: 51 years
• Place of birth: Slidell, Louisiana, United States of America

Boxer Tony Canzoneri was a three-division world champion. He held a total of five world titles. He was a member of the exclusive group of boxing world champions who have won titles in three or more divisions. He recorded 137 wins in his career.

26. Carlos Monzon - 87 wins

• Full name: Carlos Roque Monzón
• Date of birth: 7 August 1942
• Date of death: 8 January 1995
• Age at death: 52 years
• Place of birth: San Javier, Argentina

The late Carlos Monzon Carlos, nicknamed Escopeta, held the undisputed world middleweight championship for seven years. He began his professional boxing career in 1963. Fighting mainly in Europe, Monzon successfully defended his title 14 times against 11 opponents before retiring in 1977. He recorded 87 wins.

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25. Jack Dempsey - 61 wins

• Full name: William Harrison Dempsey
• Date of birth: 24 June 1895
• Date of death: 31 May 1983
• Age at death: 87 years
• Place of birth: Manassa, Colorado, United States of America

The late Jack Dempsey was nicknamed Kid Blackie and The Manassa Mauler. He competed from 1914 to 1927. He reigned as the world heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926. Jack is among the best heavyweight boxers of all time from the United States of America. He recorded 61 wins.

24. Rocky Marciano - 49 wins

• Full name: Rocco Francis Marchegiano
• Date of birth: 1 September 1923
• Date of death: 31 August 1969
• Age at death: 45 years
• Place of birth: Brockton, Massachusetts, United States of America

Rocco Francis Marchegiano, alias Rocky Marciano, competed from 1947 to 1955. He held the world heavyweight championship from 1952 to 1956. He remains the only heavyweight champion to finish his career undefeated. He recorded 49 wins.

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23. Larry Holmes - 69 wins

• Full name: Larry Holmes
• Date of birth: 3 November 1949
• Age: 74 years (as of April 2024)
• Place of birth: Cuthbert, Georgia, United States of America

Retired boxer Larry Holmes competed from 1973 to 2002. He was world heavyweight champion from 1978 until 1985. He is often considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, with a record of 69 wins. He was known for his solid defence.

22. Gene Tunney - 65 wins

• Full name: James Joseph Tunney
• Date of birth: 25 May 1897
• Date of death: 7 November 1978
• Age at death: 81 years
• Place of birth: Manhattan, New York, United States of America

James Joseph Tunney, alias Gene Tunney, 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. Tunney began boxing while working as a clerk for the Ocean Steamship Company. He recorded 65 wins in his career.

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21. Julio César Chávez - 107 wins

• Full name: Julio César Chávez González
• Date of birth: 12 July 1962
• Age: 61 years (as of April 2024)
• Place of birth: Ciudad Obregón, Mexico

Julio César Chávez competed from 1980 to 2005. A multiple-time world champion in three weight divisions, he was listed by The Ring magazine as the world's best boxer, pound for pound, from 1990 to 1993. Julio César Chávez recorded 107 wins.

20. Pernell Whitaker - 40 wins

• Full name: Pernell Whitaker Sr.
• Date of birth: 2 January 1964
• Date of death: 14 July 2019
• Age at death: 55 years
• Place of birth: Norfolk, Virginia, United States of America

The late Pernell Whitaker was a left-handed boxer who excelled at the defensive aspect. He had an impeccable amateur boxing career as a lightweight. He won the U.S. Golden Gloves and a silver medal in the World Boxing Championships in 1982. He also won gold medals at the Pan American Sports Games in 1983 and the Olympic Games in 1984.

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19. Marvin Hagler - 62 wins

• Full name: Marvelous Marvin Hagler
• Date of birth: 23 May 1954
• Date of death: 13 March 2021
• Age at death: 66 years
• Place of birth: Newark, New Jersey, United States of America

Marvelous Marvin Hagler, commonly known as Marvin Hagler, competed in boxing from 1973 to 1987. He reigned as the undisputed champion of the middleweight division from 1980 to 1987. Marvin made twelve successful title defences, all but one by knockout.

18. Barney Ross - 72 wins

• Full name: Barney Ross
• Date of birth: 23 December 1909
• Date of death: 17 January 1967
• Age at death: 57 years
• Place of birth: New York, United States of America

The late Barney Ross became a world champion in three weight divisions. He was a decorated veteran of World War II. In his time, he was known as the Pride of the Ghetto. His battles with Canzoneri and McLarnin revitalised public interest in boxing.

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17. Abe Attell - 72 wins

• Full name: Abraham Washington Attell
• Date of birth: 22 February 1883
• Date of death: 7 February 1970
• Age at death: 86 years
• Place of birth: San Francisco, California, United States of America

Nicknamed The Little Hebrew, Abe Attell became known for his record-setting. He had a six-year consecutive reign as World Featherweight Champion from 1906 to 1912. Attell was from a poor Jewish family and began his boxing career at 15 as a means of supplementing the family’s income.

16. Manny Pacquiao - 62 wins

• Full name: Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao
• Date of birth: 17 December 1978
• Age: 45 years (as of April 2024)
• Place of birth: Kibawe, Philippines

Nicknamed PacMan, Manny Pacquiao is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time. He became world-famous for winning boxing titles in more weight classes than any other boxer in history. He served as a senator of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022.

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15. Jimmy Wilde - 131 wins

• Full name: William James Wilde
• Date of birth: 15 May 1892
• Date of death: 10 March 1969
• Age at death: 76 years
• Place of birth: Quakers Yard, United Kingdom

The late Jimmy Wilde competed from 1911 to 1923. He held the IBU world flyweight title in 1916 and the EBU European flyweight title twice. He also held the BBBofC British flyweight title in 1916 and the National Sporting Club's British flyweight title from 1916 to 1918.

14. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - 50 wins

• Full name: Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr.
• Date of birth: 24 February 1977
• Age: 47 years (as of April 2024)
• Place of birth: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States of America

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a boxing promoter and former professional boxer. He competed between 1996 and 2017. He retired with an undefeated record and won 15 major world championships, from super featherweight to light middleweight. Floyd Mayweather Jr. recorded 50 wins in his career.

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13. Archie Moore - 185 wins

• Full name: Archie Moore
• Date of birth: 13 December 1913
• Date of death: 9 December 1998
• Age at death: 84 years
• Place of birth: Benoit, Mississippi, United States of America

Did you know Archie Moore was the longest reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion of all time? He had one of the longest professional careers in the history of the sport. He competed from 1935 to 1963 and recorded 185 wins. Many middleweight and light-heavyweight champions considered him too formidable to compete against.

12. Ray Leonard - 36 wins

• Full name: Ray Charles Leonard
• Date of birth: 17 May 1956
• Age: 67 years (as of April 2024)
• Place of birth: Wilmington, North Carolina, United States of America

Ray Leonard is a former professional boxer, motivational speaker, and occasional actor. Known for his agility and finesse, he won 36 of 40 professional matches and various titles. Ray Leonard bagged an Olympic gold medal in the light-welterweight class at the 1976 Games in Montreal.

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11. Ezzard Charles - 93 wins

• Full name: Ezzard Mack Charles
• Date of birth: 7 July 1921
• Date of death: 28 May 1975
• Age at death: 53 years
• Place of birth: Lawrenceville, Georgia, United States of America

Nicknamed the Cincinnati Cobra, Ezzard Charles was a World Heavyweight Champion. He was known for his slick defense and precision. Often regarded as the greatest light heavyweight of all time, he defeated numerous Hall of Fame fighters in three different weight classes.

10. Benny Leonard - 90 wins

• Full name: Benny Leonard
• Date of birth: 7 April 1896
• Date of death: 18 April 1947
• Age at death: 51 years
• Place of birth: Lower East Side, New York, United States of America

The late Benny Leonard held the world lightweight championship for eight years, from 1917 to 1925. He is regarded as one of the cleverest defensive boxers in the history of professional boxing. He died while refereeing a bout in the St. Nicholas Arena, New York.

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9. Roberto Duran - 103 wins

• Full name: Roberto Durán Samaniego
• Date of birth: 16 June 1951
• Age: 72 years (as of April 2024)
• Place of birth: El Chorrillo, Panama City, Panama

Roberto Duran is among the top 10 greatest boxers of all time. He is a former professional boxer who competed from 1968 to 2001. He held world championships in four weight classes. These are lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight, and middleweight. Roberto Duran won the first 32 matches of his career.

8. Sam Langford - 179 wins

• Full name: Samuel Edgar Langford
• Year of birth: 1885
• Date of death: 12 January 1956
• Age at death: 71 years
• Place of birth: Weymouth Falls, Canada

Sam Langford is among ESPN's top 10 boxers of all time. In fact, ESPN called him the Greatest Fighter Nobody Knows. He fought from lightweight to heavyweight and defeated many world champions and legends of the time in each weight class. Unfortunately, Sam Langford was denied a shot at many World Championships, due to the colour bar.

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7. Jack Johnson - 53 wins

• Full name: John Arthur Johnson
• Date of birth: 31 March 1878
• Date of death: 10 June 1946
• Age at death: 68 years
• Place of birth: Galveston, Texas, United States of America

Nicknamed the Galveston Giant, Jack Johnson recorded 53 wins in his career. He was the first black world heavyweight boxing champion. Johnson fought professionally from 1897 to 1928 and engaged in exhibition matches as late as 1945.

6. Harry Greb - 108 wins

• Full name: Edward Henry Greb
• Date of birth: 6 June 1894
• Date of death: 22 October 1926
• Age at death: 32 years
• Place of birth: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Nicknamed The Pittsburgh Windmill, The Smoke City Wildcat, or The Pittsburgh Bearcat, Harry Greb recorded 108 wins in his career. He was known for his non-stop punching style of boxing. He normally fought as a middleweight, but in May 1922, he won the U.S. light heavyweight title.

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5. Willie Pep - 229 wins

• Full name: Guglielmo Papaleo
• Date of birth: 19 September 1922
• Date of death: 23 November 2006
• Age at death: 84 years
• Place of birth: Middletown, Connecticut, United States of America

The late Willie Pep is ranked among the top 5 boxers of all time. He held the World Featherweight championship twice between the years of 1942 and 1950. His rivalry with American Sandy Saddler is considered one of the greatest reasons for watching the sport.

4. Henry Armstrong - 150 wins

• Full name: Henry Jackson Jr.
• Date of birth: 12 December 1912
• Date of death: 22 October 1988
• Age at death: 75 years
• Place of birth: Los Angeles, California, United States of America

The late Henry Armstrong was one of the few fighters to win in three or more different divisions, i.e., featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight. He defended his welterweight title a total of nineteen times. Early in his career he boxed under the name Melody Jackson.

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3. Joe Louis - 66 wins

• Full name: Joseph Louis Barrow
• Date of birth: 13 May 1914
• Date of death: 12 April 1981
• Age at death: 66 years
• Place of birth: Chambers County, Alabama, United States of America

Nicknamed the Brown Bomber, Joe Louis recorded 66 wins in his career. He competed from 1934 to 1951 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. He was the world heavyweight champion from 1937 until his temporary retirement in 1949.

2. Ray Robinson - 174 wins

• Full name: Walker Smith Jr.
• Date of birth: 3 May 1921
• Date of death: 12 April 1989
• Age at death: 67 years
• Place of birth: Ailey, Georgia, United States of America

Walker Smith Jr., alias Sugar Ray Robinson, competed from 1940 to 1965. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Some people have argued that he is the best boxer in the world of all time, pound-for-pound. He was a six-time world champion.

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1. Muhammad Ali - 56 wins

• Full name: Muhammad Ali
• Date of birth: 17 January 1942
• Date of death: 3 June 2016
• Age at death: 74 years
• Place of birth: Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America

Nicknamed the Greatest, Muhammad Ali is the world's no 1 boxer of all time. He is regarded as one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century and the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He held the Ring magazine heavyweight title from 1964 to 1970.

Who are the best boxers right now?

The top boxers right now include Terence Crawford, Naoya Inoue, Oleksandr Usyk, Dmitry Bivol, Canelo Alvarez, Gervonta Davis, Artur Beterbiev, and Tyson Fury.

Who was the greatest boxer in history?

Muhammad Ali is regarded by millions of people as the greatest boxer in history. He held the Ring magazine heavyweight title from 1964 to 1970.

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Who is number 1 in boxing history?

Muhammad Ali is regarded by many people as the top boxer in history.

Who would win, Ali or Tyson?

It is challenging to determine who would beat the other between Ali and Tyson. One is late, while the other is alive. Besides, their age gap is pretty wide.

Who defeated Ali?

The final ring contest of Ali's career was a loss by decision to Trevor Berbick in 1981.

How many fights did Ali lose?

In his career, Ali participated in 61 competitions and won 56, losing only five matches. He is known for his tactics that he learned from Bruce Lee and remembered for his manner of delivering powerful punches.

The best boxers of all time are prominent athletes who have won multiple titles. Many of them are long gone, but their legacy lives.

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