The top 20 best boxers of all time: Legends of the ring that defined boxing history

Boxing is a combat sport that dates back to the earliest civilizations. 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 in the sport.

Like any other sport that has champions, boxing is no different. Top boxers give their all whenever they enter the ring, hoping to knock down their opponents and win lucrative titles. They must be fast, have high punching power, and have excellent physical endurance to last long in the ring.

Top 20 best boxers of all time

When ranking the greatest boxers of all time, factors such as the achievements and accolades of a particular athlete are essential. According to various online analysts, here is a list of the top 20 best boxers of all time who have left a footprint in the sport and the fans' hearts.

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Football

20. Gene Tunney

• Weight(s) category: Light-heavyweight, heavyweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 49

Gene was one of the best boxers of all time ever to grace the ring. In his fighting career, he participated in 88 competitions and won 82, 49 by knockout. He defeated legends such as Bobby Dawson, Harry Greb, and Jack Dempsey in both light-heavyweight and heavyweight tournaments.

19. Barney Ross

• Weight(s) category: Lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 22

Barney was among the other two athletes in the sport's history to bag more than two weight divisions simultaneously in the world's championships. In his career, he engaged in 81 fights and won 74 of them, losing only four times.

18. Lennox Lewis

• Weight(s) category: Heavyweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 32

Lennox is one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time who currently holds the championship undisputed heavyweight record. The legendary ring fighter won the WBC title in the heavyweight category and defended his title 3 times before losing to Oliver McCall.

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17. Pernell Whitaker

• Weight(s) category: Lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, light middleweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 17

Pernell went down memory lane as one of the best boxers of all time who participated in various class categories. He is famous for winning gold in the 1984 Olympics and for his record of being a four-weight world champion.

16. Archie Moore

• Weight(s) category: Middleweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 132

In the boxing arena, Archie is one of the greatest boxers of all time who revolutionised the art of boxing. The renowned athlete is the longest-serving and reigning champion in the light heavyweight category. He participated in over 200 fights and won 186, losing only 32.

15. Ezzard Charles

• Weight(s) category: Middleweight, light-heavyweight, heavyweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 52

On his journey to be the best boxer of all time, Charles defeated Joe Louis and became among only two other athletes to do so in a one-on-one match. He won the world heavyweight title in 1950 after pinning his opponent Joe Walcott.

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UFC

14. Benny Leonard

• Weight(s) category: Lightweight, welterweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 70

With over 200 fights, Benny won 185, losing only 22. He was among the best boxers of all time, famously known for his quick moves and unannounced power knockout punches.

13. Harry Greb

• Weight(s) category: Welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 49

It is without a doubt that Harry had the most excellent stamina with the most unpredictable power punches in history. When he was in his best form, he was a nightmare to his opponents in all competitive categories that he took part in.

12. Sam Langford

• Weight(s) category: Lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, heavyweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 126

Sam was a legend during his time, and at his peak, he was regarded as the greatest fighter in the world, even though he was not well-known. He participated in 210 competitions in his career and won 126, his greatest accomplishment.

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UFC

11. Jack Johnson

• Weight(s) category: Heavyweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 38

Although he was the first man of colour to take home the World Heavyweight title, he did not make it to the 10 best boxers of all time that are ranked on the list. He faced racism while defending his title until he lost it in 1915 to Jess Willard.

10. Marvelous Marvin Hagler

• Weight(s) category: Middleweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 52

Marvin holds the record for being the world's middleweight champion for seven consecutive years. At his best, he fought like a machine giving breath-taking performances to everyone who watched him.

9. Manny Pacquiao

• Weight(s) category: Flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 39

Despite being one of the best boxers of all time, Manny is also one of the best in the arena right now. He holds the record for winning eight world titles in different weight categories and is also the first to do so in 40 years.

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UFC

8. Floyd Mayweather

• Weight(s) category: Super featherweight, lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, light middleweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 27

Among the most famous boxers in the world is Floyd Mayweather. The legend has participated in a record 50 fights and won them all. To his name is the 1996 Olympics bronze medal, which he won during his amateur years.

7. Henry Armstrong

• Weight(s) category: Featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 101

Henry is the only athlete in history to hold world titles in 3 different weight class categories. In his career, he participated in 181 tournaments and won 151 of them, thus going down in history as one of the ring-best boxers of all time.

6. Mike Tyson

• Weight(s) category: Heavyweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 44

As of 2023, Mike Tyson is one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. He is a social media personality who has transformed his life through his boxing career, winning 19 back-to-back knockouts.

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Boxing

5. Sugar Ray Leonard

• Weight(s) category: Welterweight, light middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 25

After Muhammed Ali retired, Sugar rose to stardom and became one of the most famous boxers in history. The renowned legend won the 1976 Olympics gold medal and later in his career also took home the WBC welterweight title when he defeated Winfred Benitez.

4. Roberto Duran

• Weight(s) category: Super featherweight, lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, light middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 70

Duran participated in a total of 119 fights in his career, and in doing so, he won 103 of them. With his technical fighting style, the famous legend is known for winning the world championship title in four different weight class categories.

3. Joe Louis

• Weight(s) category: Heavyweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 52

As an extraordinary genius, Joe ranks as one of the greatest boxers in history and holds the record for the most defences in the heavyweight class category. His defensive title reign lasted over a decade, with 25 challenges.

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2. Sugar Ray Robinson

• Weight(s) category: Lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 109

Sugar ranks second among the top 10 best boxers of all time. He held the welterweight title for five years and later in his career won it back two times, in 1951 and 1955, before retiring.

1. Muhammad Ali

• Weight(s) category: Heavyweight
• Record win(s) by knockout: 37

Finally, topping the list is Muhammad Ali, the greatest of all time. The legend had numerous achievements in his career, and to this day, whenever boxing is mentioned, he is the first person that comes to mind. He bagged the heavyweight champion title and defended it for years, beating the then-undefeated champion, Sonny Liston.

Is there any boxer who has never lost a fight?

According to various sources, there are many boxers with an undefeated record. Among them is Edwin Valero. He participated in 27 matches and won all of them in eight years without stopping.

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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 debate about who tops the list of the best boxers of all time is yet to end since it is a subjective topic where top names are up for the challenge by the upcoming stars. Most die-hard fans worldwide have a particular fighter they consider the best in boxing history, and it would be hard to convince them otherwise without statistics.

READ ALSO: A list of the 10 best Mexican boxers of all time: Find out who tops the list

Sports Brief has compiled a list of the top 10 best Mexican boxers of all time. Mexico has a rich history of boxing, and so far, it has produced some of the best athletes in the arena who are known globally.

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Since Mexico started to pay immense attention to boxing in the past few years, more than 200 athletes have joined the crusade and are aiming for lucrative titles. Click the link above for more details about the top 10 all-time best Mexican boxers.