1. PERNELL ‘SWEET PEA’ WHITAKER
Regarded as one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time, Whitaker was a tremendous technician who claimed world titles at lightweight through to super-welterweight, as well as winning Olympic gold.
2. GEORGES ‘THE ORCHID MAN’ CARPENTIER
A former world light-heavyweight champion, the supremely gifted Carpentier famously challenged Jack Dempsey for the world heavyweight championship in what was boxing’s first-ever million-dollar gate.
3. TIGER FLOWERS
The first African-American to win the world middleweight crown, Flowers took the title from Harry Greb, before successfully defending against the same man. He lost the belt to Mickey Walker in controversial circumstances.
4. ‘CHRYSANTHEMUM’ JOE CHOYNSKI
A member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame like Whitaker, Carpentier and Flowers, the dynamite-fisted Choynski fought the best heavyweights of his day, including Jack Johnson, whom he defeated via KO.
5. LIONEL ROSE
Rose’s defining night came when he dethroned Fighting Harada on away turf in Japan to become the world bantamweight king. With the victory, he was also recognised as the first Aboriginal boxer to secure world honours.
6. CALEB PLANT
Plant is the reigning IBF super-middleweight champ, having taken the title from Jose Uzcategui. He is set to make the third defence of his strap later on this month against previous titlist Caleb Truax.
7. JOSEPH ‘POPPY’ DECICO
After fighting to a draw in his opening European bantamweight title attempt against Nicolas Petit-Biquet, Decico went one better in his second tilt at the belt. A win over Maurice Dubois saw him crowned champion.
8. HEATHER HARDY
Hardy became the WBO female featherweight boss after prevailing against Shelly Vincent. In her initial defence of the title against Amanda Serrano, she suffered the first loss of her career.
9. BRIAN ROSE
Prior to challenging Demetrius Andrade for the WBO super-welterweight strap, Rose boxed his way to a Lonsdale Belt for keeps at 154lbs, having retained the British title on three separate occasions.
10. DAISY LANG
Lang enjoyed significant success when competing for Women’s International Boxing Federation titles. She collected WIBF belts at super-flyweight, bantamweight and super-bantamweight.
