The 10 best boxers of all time

This broad question is almost impossible to ever agree on with so many different variables to consider, such as the eras the fighters fought in, the quality of their opponents, their ring achievements, the length of their reign, plus so much more to debate over.

When boxing fans argue over this impossible dispute, there’s always a regular line-up of usual suspects that appear, such as Jack Jonhson; Ezzard Charles; Bob Fitzsimmons; Emile Griffith; Tony Canzoneri; Jack Dempsey to name just a few.

Of more recent times, you’ll find Bernard Hopkins; Roy Jones Jr., Pernell Whitaker; Mike Tyson; Evander Holyfield; Lennox Lewis… again, just to list a small number of the countless credible candidates.

Here is SportsBoom’s list of top 10 boxers of all time with added descriptions explaining exactly why the praiseworthy pugilists have been picked in those primary positions.

List of 10 best boxers of all time

1. Sugar Ray Robinson

Born Walker Smith Jr., he borrowed another boxer’s membership card, named Ray Robinson, to enter his first tournament, aged 14. When an audience member remarked that he was as sweet as sugar, his name was forever immortalised in history.

With an amateur record of 85-0, 69KOs, with four Golden Gloves golds, he turned pro in 1940 and embarked on an incredible 91-fight winning streak, lasting over 100 months. He was the first boxer in history to ever win five world championships.

Known as a complete boxer who had it all, both No.2 and 3 in the list, Ali and Louis, each agree that he was the greatest of all time.

Image for Sugar Ray Robinson from Getty

2. Muhammad Ali

Nicknamed ‘The Greatest’, Muhammad Ali may not be considered as the best boxer of all time, but he is widely regarded as the best heavyweight, and even greater than that, he is considered to be the best sportsman of all time.

His ring achievements include winning gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics, a medal that he later famously threw into the Mississippi River when rebelling against racism in America. He was also crowned world heavyweight champion three times, but his charisma and revolutionary antics outside of the ring is what transcended the sport of boxing in his era.
Born Cassius Clay, Ali will forever remembered as ‘The People’s Champion’ who inspired the entire world.

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3. Joe Louis

‘The Brown Bomber’ set a record of 25 world title defences between 1937-1949. Just like Ali, he was revered both inside and outside the ropes, widely regarded as the first ever African-American to become a nationwide hero in the U.S. 

It began when he fought Max Schmeling in 1938, just before World War II. Alabama-born Louis knocked the German out in the first round to win the historic rematch which was seen as America vs Germany at a time when the Nazis were planning on taking over the world

Image for Joe Louis from Getty

4. Henry Armstrong

Born Henry Jackson in 1912, Armstrong won world titles in three different divisions, defending his welterweight championship 19 times. Many, such as Teddy Atlas, consider Armstrong to be the best boxer of all time.

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5. Julio Cesar Chavez

The Mexican competed for 25 years between 1980-2005. The triple champion holds the record for the most successful title defences (27), as well as title fight victories (31), and second most title defences won by KO (21).

However, he is most famed for his 90-fight unbeaten streak that went from 1980-1984.

Image for Julio Cesar Chavez from Getty

6. Willie Pep

Famous for his sublime defensive skills, Will o’ the Wisp boxed 1,956 rounds during his stellar career that extended from 1940 to 1966, starting out as a 17-year-old and retiring aged 43.

The 5ft 5in Italian-American from Connecticut was arguably the greatest featherweight of all time, holding championship twice between 1942-50.
 

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7. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

‘Money’ Mayweather retired unbeaten at 50-0, one victory more than Rocky Marciano’s famous perfect record, after winning 15 world championships.

His bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics is still seen as the biggest robbery in boxing history, but it remained his last ever loss in a boxing ring, as he managed to win every single professional bout, and is considered by many to be the best of recent times.

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8. Manny Pacquiao

The Filipino is the only ever eight-weight world champion in boxing history. He was the first ever boxer to win the lineal championship in four separate weight classes and is the only boxer to hold world titles across four decades – 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s. Very recently, he became the oldest welterweight world champion in history at the age of 40 in 2019-2021.

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9. Roberto Duran

Four-weight world champion Roberto ‘Hands of Stone’ Duran is widely regarded as the greatest lightweight of all time. 

He made his professional debut in 1968 and the young age of 16, after an amateur record of 29-3, notably losing his first three amateur bouts, but then he went his next 60 fights unbeaten.

He is only one of two boxers to ever compete over five different decades, behind Jack Johnson.

Image for Roberto Duran from Getty