5 Most Exciting Fighters In The World
Marvelous Marvin Hagler
Marvelous Marvin Hagler (born Marvin Nathaniel Hagler; May 23, 1954) is an American former professional boxer who was Undisputed World Middleweight Champion from 1980 to 1987. Hagler made twelve undisputed title defenses and holds the highest KO% of all middleweight champions at 78%. At six years and seven months, his reign as undisputed middleweight champion is the second longest of the last century, behind only Tony Zale. In 1982, annoyed that network announcers often did not refer to him by his nickname, “Marvelous”, Hagler legally changed his name to “Marvelous Marvin Hagler.” Hagler is an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.
He was named Fighter of the Decade (1980s) by Boxing Illustrated and twice named Fighter of the Year by Ring Magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. In 2001 and 2004 the Ring named him the 3rd greatest middleweight of all time and in 2002 named him the 17th-greatest fighter of the past 80 years. The International Boxing Research Organisation rates Hagler as the sixth-greatest middleweight of all time. Boxrec rates Hagler the sixth-best middleweight of all time. Many analysts and boxing writers, consider Hagler to have one of the best chins in boxing history.
Julio Cesar Chavez
Julio César Chávez González (Born July 12, 1962) is a retired Mexican professional boxer. He is considered by acclamation as the greatest Mexican fighter of all time and as one of the best boxers of all time. Chávez is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
In a career that spanned over 25 years, Chávez won the WBC Super Featherweight in 1984, WBA Lightweight in 1987, WBC Lightweight in 1988, WBC Light Welterweight in 1989, IBF Light Welterweight in 1990, and WBC Light Welterweight in 1994. He holds records for most successful defenses of world titles (27), most title fight victories (31), most title fights (37), and he is after Joe Louis (with 23) for most title defenses won by knockout (21). Chávez also has the longest undefeated streak in boxing history, 13 years.
His record was 89-0-1 going into his first official loss to Frankie Randall and had an 87 fight win streak until his draw with Pernell Whitaker. Chávez also set the record for the largest attendance for a boxing match, with 132,274 people at the Estadio Azteca against Greg Haugen in 1993.
Julio César Chávez was known for his outstanding punching power, devastating body attack, remarkably strong chin and his relentless stalking on the opponents. He ranks 24 on ESPN’s 50 Greatest Boxers Of All Time. On December 7, 2010, he was inducted in the prestigious International Boxing Hall of Fame for the Class of 2011. He is the father of prospect Omar Chávez and former WBC Middleweight Champion Julio César Chávez, Jr.
Sugar Ray Robinson
Sugar Ray Robinson (May 3, 1921 – April 12, 1989) was an American professional boxer. Frequently cited as the greatest boxer of all time, Robinson’s performances in the welterweight and middleweight divisions prompted sportswriters to create “pound for pound” rankings, where they compared fighters regardless of weight. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Robinson was 85–0 as an amateur with 69 of those victories coming by way of knockout, 40 in the first round. He turned professional in 1940 at the age of 19 and by 1951 had a professional record of 128–1–2 with 84 knockouts. From 1943 to 1951 Robinson went on a 91 fight unbeaten streak, the third longest in professional boxing history.
Robinson held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, and won the world middleweight title in the latter year. He retired in 1952, only to come back two and a half years later and regain the middleweight title in 1955. He then became the first boxer in history to win a divisional world championship five times, a feat he accomplished by defeating Carmen Basilio in 1958 to regain the middleweight championship.
Robinson was named “fighter of the year” twice: first for his performances in 1942, then nine years and over 90 fights later, for his efforts in 1951. Renowned for his flamboyant lifestyle outside the ring, Robinson is credited with being the originator of the modern sports “entourage”. After his boxing career ended, Robinson attempted a career as an entertainer, but struggled, and was challenged financially until his death in 1989. In 2006, he was featured on a commemorative stamp by the United States Postal Service.
Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano (born September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969) was an American professional boxer and the World Heavyweight Champion from September 23, 1952, to April 27, 1956. Marciano is the only person to hold the heavyweight title without a bout tie or defeat during his entire career. Marciano defended his title six times, against Jersey Joe Walcott, Roland La Starza, Ezzard Charles (twice), Don Cockell, and Archie Moore.
Marciano had a short, blazing career usually accustomed to pressure fighters, and at the end of it he retired with a record of 49-0, a record which stands to this day. Known for his relentless style, incredible stamina and a cast iron chin, Marciano has been ranked by many boxing historians as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time. He was also known for his ferocious punching power, for a man of just 190 pounds; his knockout percentage of 87.75 is the highest in heavyweight history.
Roy Jones Jr.
Roy Jones, Jr. (born January 16, 1969) is an American professional boxer, rapper and actor. As a professional, he has captured numerous world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. He is the only boxer in history to start his career as a light middleweight (154 lbs) and go on to win a heavyweight title. Jones left his mark in boxing history when he won the WBA Heavyweight title, becoming the first former middleweight champion to win a heavyweight title in 106 years.
Jones was named “Fighter of the Decade” for the 1990s by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Selected Awards: Ring Sports Magazine—1993 Fighter of the Year; 1995 Man of the Year; 1996 Sportsman of the Year. Ring, Boxing Illustrated, and Boxing Scene magazines—1994 Fighter of the Year. International Boxing Federation—1995 Fighter of the Year and 1995 Fighter of Unlimited Potential. ESPN ESPY Award—1995 Boxer of the Year. The Sports Network-Boxer of the Decade. Boxing Illustrated’s Budweiser ratings, June 1995 onward—Best Pound-for-Pound Fighter in the World.
March of Dimes—1995 Honorary Chairman. KO—1996 Best Pound-for-Pound Fighter in the World and 1996 Best Fighter in the World. Congress of Racial Equality—1996 Outstanding Achievement Award. American Association for the Improvement of Boxing (the Marciano Foundation)–1996 Humanitarian of the Year. Boxing 1996—Best Pound-for Pound Fighter in the World. Harlem Globetrotters—Honorary Ambassador of Goodwill (1997). Escambia-Pensacola Human Relations Commission—1997 Olive Branch Award, for humanitarianism.