10. Lennox Lewis
When he walked away from boxing in 2003, Lewis had nothing left to prove. He had become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and beaten everyone he had ever fought as a pro – including the best of the new breed (Michael Grant and David Tua) and the best of his era (Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield).
An Olympic gold medallist in 1988, Lewis launched himself into the world scene in the paid ranks when he battered Donovan ‘Razor’ Ruddock in 1992.
He went on to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles, and avenged brutal knockout losses he suffered to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman.
A 2002 hammering of Mike Tyson was the icing on the cake for Lewis, who had already proven himself and all-time great. He retired after beating Vitali Klitschko on cuts, behind on the scorecards at the time.
Lewis was brilliant and on his day, with his ability, dimensions and mental dexterity, he would have been a handful for any heavyweight in history.
9. George Foreman
Foreman at his peak was one of the most destructive heavyweights in history. That he was able to reclaim the world heavyweight title 20 years after it confirms Big George as a living legend.
After blowout wins over Joe Frazier and Ken Norton – the only two men to have beaten Muhammad Ali at the time – Foreman was seen as invincible. Ali of course stunned Foreman in Zaire when they met in 1974.
A ridiculously brutal encounter with Ron Lyle followed a year later but Foreman then retired in 1977 after losing to Jimmy Young and became a preacher. He returned 10 years later, amassed a 24-0 (23) comeback record and was matched with new heavyweight champion Holyfield. Despite his age, Foreman took Holyfield’s best and even had him hurt at times, swinging until the final bell.
The fairytale looked over in 1993 when he dropped a wide decision to Tommy Morrison, but then he fought Michael Moorer. A huge left-right combo left Moorer Barely concious in the 10th and Foreman was king again.
8. Thomas Hearns
Afforded the opportunity of greatness by the rivals he got to fight, Hearns never shirked a challenge.
Tall with enormous reach, Tommy had thunderous power in both hands. Forged in the heat of Detroit’s Kronk Gym, he helped make the name of that intimidating production line.
His unforgettable tear-up with Marvin Hagler in 1985 remains has three of the greatest rounds in boxing history, and he had two showdowns with Sugar Ray Leonard while also destroying Roberto Duran in two rounds.
He claimed world titles at numerous weights and his warrior spirit saw him involved in some tremendous fights. Though he fought on past his best, Hearns’ legacy is solid gold.
7. Evander Holyfield
Arguably the greatest cruiserweight of all time, Holyfield truly became a star at heavyweight.
At cruiser, he wiped out Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Rickey Parkey and Henry Tillman before eventually moving to the banner division – where Mike Tyson ruled with iron fists.
Though Holyfield notched decent wins, he wasn’t decimating people the way Tyson was and few thought he would survive long if he ever fought ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’. Buster Douglas stunned Tyson and Holyfield knocked out Douglas, becoming heavyweight champion almost by default.
Tyson’s prison sentence delayed their inevitable meeting but even upon his return Mike looked too much for Evander. However, Holyfield looked sensational and stopped Tyson in 11 rounds before Mike waved a vile white flag of surrender in their rematch by chomping a chunk out of Holyfield’s ear.
Holyfield’s form dipped and he fought on way into his 40’s.
6. Larry Holmes
The right guy at the wrong time.
When Holmes turned professional in 1973, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman were hogging the limelight and no one seemed to notice Larry. He sharpened his tools during sparring with Ali, Frazier and Earnie Shavers.
Frazier and Foreman walked away while Ali was still squeezing every last drop out of his career in ’78 – it was time for Holmes to strike. He beat Shavers in a title eliminator and then faced WBC champion Ken Norton in one of the best heavyweight fights of all time.
After 15 brutal rounds, Holmes’ hand was raised and a legend should have been born – except the world was still captivated by Ali, who had just reclaimed the WBA title by beating Leon Spinks.
They eventually fought, and despite boxing as sympathetically as the rules would allow, Holmes gained few fans by publicly hammering a worldwide icon. The fractured state of the heavyweight division also weakened Holmes’ profile, despite wins over Trevor Berbick, Spinks and Gerry Cooney, all of whom were outclassed.
Michael Spinks beat Holmes in consecutive meetings to ruin his chances of matching Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 ledger before a peak Tyson smashed him inside four rounds. He returned in 1991, with the division still very strong, and did himself justice by remaining a contender, though naturally could not reclaim his peak form.
With one of the best jabs in history and an intelligence that shone through, Holmes was a special talent.
5. Pernell Whitaker
‘Sweet Pea’ was the perfect example of boxing’s key mantra: hit and don’t get hit.
A master of the sweet science, few have been able to make an art of not throwing punches the way Whitaker did. A 1988 points loss to WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Ramirez was a straight robbery and Whitaker avenged it a year later having already picked up the IBF title against Greg Haugen.
Azumah Nelson was scalped before Pernell moved to super-lightweight and then welterweight, winning world honours at both. He drew with Mexican great Julio Cesar Chavez, though the result is still disputed today – Whitaker looked to have won.
Oscar De La Hoya outpointed him in a close fight in 1997 before he was handed his first conclusive loss in 1999 at the hands of a bigger, fresher Felix Trinidad. Carlos Bojorquez stopped Whitaker in 2001 and he hung them up for good.
4. Julio Cesar Chavez
Mexico’s greatest ever fighter, Chavez went 90 fights unbeaten before Frankie Randall toppled him in 1994.
He had beaten any and everyone from super-feather to super-lightweight in that time, though a questionable draw with Whitaker blemished his record. It also included Chavez’ most infamous win – a 12th round stoppage of Meldrick Taylor that came with just two seconds left in the fight.
Behind on the cards, Chavez was wearing Taylor down when he bombed him off his feet with a massive right hand in the final round. Referee Richard Steele waved it off when looking at a groggy Taylor, who had found his feet.
The Randall loss was immediately avenged in ’94 and and uninspired Taylor was beaten in a rematch.
Eventually, Chavez gave way to the next generation but he had set the bar extraordinarily high for his countrymen – Julio was everything a Mexican fighter should be.
3. Marvin Hagler
A phenomenal fighter, Hagler proved himself one of – if not the – greatest middleweights of all time. His losses to Bobby Watts and Willie Monroe have become a footnote (both were avenged via knockout) due to Hagler’s dominance.
Even before he got his first crack at a world title in 1979, the bald-headed southpaw was viewed as the best middleweight on the planet. He only came away with a draw when he fought WBC and WBC champion Vito Antuofermo in Las Vegas, and the Italian would go on to relinquish his titles to Alan Minter.
Hagler travelled to London and thrashed Minter, sparking embarrassing riots from the British crowd in attendance. Hagler then went on a strong championship run. Roberto Duran gave him a handful, there was of course his three-round war with Hearns he emerged victorious from and he knocked John Mugabi out in the 11th of a thrilling fight.
He finally got a fight with Sugar Ray Leonard in ’87 and was a big favourite – some even feared for Leonard’s health. However Sugar Ray walked away with a highly contentious split decision, after which Hagler retired and moved to Italy.
Hagler added his ‘Marvelous’ moniker to his name by deed poll in 1982, and no one can disagree with the sentiment behind it.
2. Roberto Duran
Born into poverty in Panama, Duran would go on to fight his way from the streets of El Chorrillo to the hallowed pages of boxing history.
A venomous seven-year reign atop the lightweight division marks him out as the finest fighter to ever grace the weight class, despite suffering a loss in it (to Esteban De Jesus, which he later avenged).
He stormed onto the scene at the age of 21 when he dethroned lightweight champ Ken Buchanan and ‘Manos De Piedra’ refused to loosen his stranglehold on the division afterward. He turned away challenges from several outstanding fighters; Hector Thompson, Ray Lampkin and Ishimatsu Suzuki to name a few.
He vacated his lightweight titles and moved up in weight – securing a 1980 superfight with Sugar Ray Leonard which would indelibly link the two legends. Duran hated everything the flashy Leonard stood for and that loathing poured out on the night. After 15 scintillating rounds, a rampant Duran was the victor, but he would not embrace Ray. Instead, he blew mock kisses at him.
Roberto quit during their immediate rematch and it almost ruined him. Almost. Davey Moore was destroyed aty super-welterweight before Hagler was pushed surprisingly hard at 160lbs. In 1989, way past his best, Duran produced an astonishing performance to beat WBC middleweight champion Iran Barkley on points before once again losing to Leonard and then fighting on for way too long, retiring in 2001 – though only after suffering serious injuries in a car crash.
Roberto loved to fight, and he was seriously good at it.
1. Sugar Ray Leonard
In full flow, Leonard was breathtaking. Part of the standout US Olympic team who ran riot at the 1976 Games in Montreal, Ray won gold and turned pro to significant fanfare and a lot of pressure.
He took it all in his graceful stride and, with a smile on his face, dazzled and destroyed in equal measure. He stopped the brilliant Wilfred Benitez to win his first world title, the WBC welterweight crown, in 1979 and would conquer another four weight classes during his career.
Duran bullied Leonard in their first fight but the American learned from it, took stock and came back a better fighter. A mix of sublime skill and showboating embarrassed Duran, who downed tools in the eighth and wanted no more of it.
Ray stepped up and won the WBA super-welter crown from Ayub Kalule a year later before moving back to welter to unify the WBC and WBA titles against Tommy Hearns. It was another classic and Leonard, behind on the cards, produced an incredible 14th round stoppage.
A couple of retirements followed but then Leonard confirmed he would jump up and fight Hagler in 1987. Despite the controversial scoring, Leonard had achieved a phenomenal feat, but he wasn’t satisfied. He jumped in weight again and stopped Donny Lalonde to win the WBC light-heavyweight and super-middleweight titles, before drawing with Hearns in a rematch many felt Tommy won.
Duran was beaten in a lacklustre rubber match before consecutive losses to Terry Norris and Hector Camacho – six years apart – convinced Ray to retire.
