10. Don Cockell
This Battersea man is best known for his valiant ninth-round 1955 world title loss to Rocky Marciano, but before that he had notched some good wins in the USA over the likes of Roland La Starza, Harry Matthews and Wales’ Tommy Farr.
He spent the majority of his career at light-heavy where he was British and European champion and beat quality American Lloyd Marshall at the weight.
9. Bruce Woodcock
Like so many British heavies, this Yorkshireman fell short at world level, but he was good enough to round up national, Empire and European crowns in the late 1940s.
Popular Woodcock was good enough to beat some decent American opposition in the shape of Lee Savold, Gus Lesnevich and Lee Oma.
8. Joe Bugner
Built superbly but without a devastating punch, Joe nevertheless went the distance with Muhammad Ali (twice) and Joe Frazier at his peak.
In 1971 a young Bugner won a razor-thin decision over a 36-year-old Henry Cooper. Veteran Cooper was a national treasure and many felt he had done enough to earn the verdict.
Joe holds triple nationality, being a citizen of Hungary and a naturalized citizen of both Australia and the United Kingdom.
7. Tommy Farr
Renowned chiefly for taking a peak Joe Louis the distance in 1937, this Welshman was a brainy fighter who lacked a hard dig.
The ‘Tonypandy Terror’ also held his own in the company of James J Braddock, Max Baer and Lou Nova.
6. Bob Fitzsimmons
Held the world title from 1897-99 even though he weighed only what would now be super-middleweight. Tough and a hurtful hitter despite his wiry build.
He won his first world title (middleweight) in 1891 by knocking out Nonpareil Jack Dempsey, he won the world heavyweight crown in 1897 by knocking out James J Corbett and became the first ever fighter to win titles in three divisions by outpointing George Gardiner for the light-heavyweight belt in 1903.
Also beat the likes of Joe Choynski, Tom Sharkey, Philadelphia Jack O’Brien and Gus Ruhlin before losing to legends James J Jeffries and Jack Johnson.
5. Frank Bruno
Big hitter improved his stamina to become world champ (WBC version) at the fourth attempt by outpointing Oliver McCall at Wembley Stadium, holding it for six months (1995-96).
He was unlucky to challenge feared champions Mike Tyson (1989) and Lennox Lewis (1993) prior to his emotional title winning effort in 1995.
The much-loved Bruno’s finest victories came over the likes of Gerrie Coetzee, Carl Williams and Joe Bugner.
4. David Haye
The Hayemaker peaked at cruiserweight, but in the supreme division he wrested the WBA belt from man mountain Nikolai Valuev.
He lost his version of the crown in a hugely disappointing unification showing against dominant rival champioin Wladimir Klitschko. He returned with a blistering showing against Dereck Chisora (rsf 5) before retiring from the sport.
His comeback against Mark de Mori last month sparked intense interest in the dynamite-punching south Londoner’s quest to regain the crown.
3. Henry Cooper
British champion a record 10 years five months (1959-69), Henry lost his only world title bid to Muhammad Ali on one of his frequent cuts.
Most famous for flooring the young Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) in 1963 at Wembley Stadium. ‘Enery’s Hammer’ – his fabled left hook – detonated on the brilliant youngster’s jaw in the dying seconds of the fourth round. Quick thinking from Clay’s trainer, Angelo Dundee, bought his fighter crucial seconds of recovery time before the fifth round by claiming Clay’s gloves were damaged.
Retired after close loss to Joe Bugner.
2. Tyson Fury
Love him or loathe him, Morecambe’s fighting huge gypsy dethroned a long-reigning unified champion in his own back yard in Wladimir Klitschko.
Two victories over Dereck Chisora also stand out as he heads toward a rematch with Klitschko.
1. Lennox Lewis
The big Londoner won 15 world title fights across two reigns as global king, licking Holyfield, Tyson and Vitali Klitschko among others.
Sensationally reversed his defeats (rsf 2 Oliver McCall & KO 5 Hasim Rahman) with stoppage victories and when he beat Mike Tyson in 2002, the contest became the highest-grossing heavyweight fight in pay-per-view history.
