10. Frank Bruno
Desperate for a world heavyweight champ, Britain got behind likeable Frank, who had three failed attempts at the big prize before succeeding at Wembley Stadium and took thousands with him when he fought Mike Tyson twice in Las Vegas.
9. Laszlo Papp
The great triple Olympic king from Hungary was on course for a world title – EBU champ and unbeaten as a pro – before his country revoked permission for Papp to box pro.
8. Henry Cooper
Our Sir ‘Enery packed in the crowds at outdoor venues in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, including two huge fights with Muhammad Ali.
7. Alexis Arguello
When he died, tragically committing suicide, thousands turned out for his funeral in Managua, where the former three-weight ‘world’ champ from Nicaragua, known as the “Explosive Thin Man”, was mayor.
6. Marcel Cerdan
Algerian-born former middleweight king became an idol in France, winning the world title in New York in the late 1940s. His legend became greater when he died, at his peak, in a plane crash.
5. Carlos Monzon
Santa Fe, from where Argentina’s former world middleweight champ came, was at a standstill when Carlos died. A physical freak who was tough and canny, Monzon didn’t lose for 13 years before retiring as champ.
4. Teofilo Stevenson
The way the Cuban idol was treated at home is why he resisted the urge to turn pro, shunning millions. In Cuba he was king, not the dollar.
3. Manny Pacquiao
The Philippines stops moving when Pacman hits the ring with crime becoming non-existent while everyone sits in front of the TV or in the cinemas.
2. Ricky Hatton
The numbers speak for themselves. In a mixed haze of blind patriotism and optimism around 25,000 Brits travelled to Las Vegas to watch the “Hitma”. Despite losing, 58,000 attended his next fight, at home in Manchester.
1. Julio Cesar Chavez
A record crowd for a fight – 130,000 at the Azteca Stadium – came to see Culiacan’s finest. Chavez was a god to his Mexican faithful.
