10 Fighters With the Most Wins in History

This list below displays 10 fighters with the most wins in professional boxing history, but due to many records being lost to time, there could be several others out there with a claim to being in the top 10.

Most of the listed pugilists fought over a century ago, in a time when back-room bar fights were not licensed or recorded. Many ‘Newspaper Decisions’ are lost to history also, as are a lot of ‘No Contests’.

Regardless of the authenticity of older boxing records, SportsBoom have compiled a list of legendary boxers that the likes of will never be seen again.

For perspective, right now there’s a trio of active fighters who are rated as the best in the world for being the only unbeaten two-weight undisputed champions in boxing history, in a four-belt era.

Those modern record-breakers are Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, Japan’s Naoya Inoue and American Terence Crawford, but the reason for mentioning their accolades in relation to a list that concentrates on quantity over quality is that their combined records only total 90-0. The top 3 in our list amount to well over 1,000… see in full below:

Len Wickwar – 470 fights

Not only can Leicester’s Len Wickwar boast having the most victories in boxing history at 340, but also the most bouts ever.

The British boxer fought between 1928-1947, debuting aged 17 and operating between flyweight to welterweight, and competed in over 4,000 rounds during his 19-year career! In 1934, Len had 58 fights within that one year, once fighting three times in a single night.
Despite the sheer volume of bouts, Wickwar only fought outside the UK three times – in Guernsey and Rotterdam – and won just three regional titles – Leicester flyweight, Leicestershire bantamweight and Midlands welterweight titles.

He died at the age of 69 in 1980 on June 1st, which was the exact same day as Tish Marsden, a stablemate of his, both managed by George Biddles.

Billy Bird – 356 fights

Although Chelsea’s black cabbie Billy Bird has 80 less wins than No.1 on this list and 111 less bouts fought, the welterweight can actually boast more knockouts – 45 more!

With 139 to his name, Bird holds the world record for knockouts, with the iconic Archie Moore just behind with 132. This is a record that will very likely never be beaten.

He was 49 years old in his last pro boxing bout, 28 years after debuting in 1920 as a 21-year-old.

Sam Langford – 314 fights

Despite being born and bred in Canada, Sam Langford became known as ‘The Boston Bonecrusher’ during his career that spanned from 1902-26.

He was denied a chance to become a world champion back in a time when he was only able to win the ‘World Coloured Heavyweight Championship’.

He escaped to Boston from Nova Scotia to get away from his abusive father. Finding work as a janitor in the local Lenox Athletic Club, he was soon boxing, sparring, and then winning amateur championships. 

Despite being a ‘Coloured’ world champion, he is widely remembered as the best boxer to never win a world title. Another all-time great, Jack Dempsey once said, “I think Sam Langford was the greatest fighter we ever had.”

Harry Greb – 299 fights

“The Pittsburgh Windmill” Harry Greb was an American light-heavyweight champion from 1922-23, before conquering the world championship at middleweight from 1923 to 1926.
In his 299 bouts, he took on the best during the talent-rich 1910s and 20s, in a time when there were far fewer obstacles when making fights.

His nickname was earned due to his swarming style of fighting, burying his foes in a blizzard of unyielding punches. He wasn’t known for knocking opponents out, but he also wasn’t known for being knocked himself either. His only stoppage defeats came against a far heavier foe in his seventh bout, then another when he broke his arm and had to retire. 
It’s even more remarkable knowing he started as welterweight and later took on and defeated heavyweights, just part of the reason the ‘Wildcat’ is widely considered one of the best boxers of all-time.

Willie Pep – 241 fights

One of the most famous and recognisable names on this esteemed list, ‘Will o’ Wisp’ is not only accepted as one of the greatest featherweights ever, but he also holds the record for the only fighter in history to ever have two unbeaten streaks of over 60 wins.

Pep boxed in almost 2,000 rounds during his 26-year career that spanned from 1942-1950, and was known for his speed, finesse and elusiveness, likened to a ballet dancer with gloves! There’s that age-old boxing fable that claims Willie once won a round without even throwing a punch.

Buck Smith – 229 fights

Oklahoma’s ‘Tombstone’ Buck Smith stands out on this list of winners as a modern boxing great, fighting from 1987-2009.

He’s also remarkable for having his first-ever professional bout with zero experience or preparation. Despite never boxing before, Buck volunteered to step in for a no-show with just 15 minutes to get ready, fighting a boxer named Ali Smith in his street shorts and basketball trainers.

Despite spending his career as a journeyman, fighting in quick succession all over America, mostly a couple of times each month, he once beat Britain’s highly-regarded Kirkland Laing and also knocked out an Olympic gold medallist, Robert Wangila.

At one point in his career, he was ranked within the world’s top 15 after fighting the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez, Buddy McGirt and Antonio Margarito.
Aged 59, he is the only surviving name on this list.

Archie Moore – 219 fights

“The Mongoose” is widely regarded as the greatest light-heavyweight of all time, who had one of the longest careers in boxing, stretching over four decades from 1935-1963.

Winning 186 from 220 bouts, Mississippi’s Moore was one of the most important figures in American black history, becoming one of the first African-American heroes, paving way for future stars such as Muhammad Ali, who he actually moved up to heavyweight to share the ring with shortly before his 49th birthday when his opponent was just a 20-year-old prospect named Cassius Clay.

Moore is regularly found on many lists like these as either one of the best boxers or greatest punchers in history.

Sugar Ray Robinson – 219 fights

A man who requires no introduction, Walker Smith Jr. fought from 1940-1965 and left behind a legacy that may never be bettered, often regarded as the best boxer ever – see what SportsBoom thinks about this claim on their list of The 10 Best Boxers of All Time.

It’s reported he ran his amateur record to 85-0 with 69 knockouts and won four Golden Gloves. When he was too young to compete he borrowed another boxer named Ray Robinson’s licenced card, then after a spectator called him “as sweet as sugar”, his boxing alias stuck forever after.

He became the first boxer in history to be crowned a five-weight world champion. The phrase “pound for pound” was created just for him during his career as a way to compare boxers irrespective of weight class.

Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard have all ranked Sugar Ray Robinson as the greatest boxer in history. And that’s all the proof that’s needed, right there.

Henry Armstrong – 181 fights

Whether you knew him as ‘Hurricane’, ‘Homicide’ or ‘Hammerin’ Hank, Henry Armstrong was one of the first-ever fighters to win a world championship in three different weight classes – feather, light and welterweight. He defended his welterweight championship 19 times!

He was frequently named ‘Fighter of the Year’ by various magazines and organisations; revered trainer Teddy Atlas considers Armstrong to be the greatest boxer of all time.
After his career ended, he went on to become a Baptist minister and run a boxing club for young boys, where he was known as Reverend Armstrong.

Peter Maher – 177 fights

‘The Irish Giant’ from Kilbannon was active two centuries ago, debuting in 1888. He famously lost his world championship to Bob Fitzsimmons in 1896, but he holds the record for the highest number of first-round knockouts – 50.

Ironically, his world heavyweight title fight against British boxing legend, Bob Fitzsimmons, also ended in the first round, although reversed against him. Maher was only able to last 95 seconds with boxing’s first-ever three-weight world champion.

Despite that notable defeat, Maher was a two-weight Irish champion – at middle and heavyweight. He also moved to America to win the World heavyweight championship in 1985 by knocking out Steve O’Donnell in the first round.