Who is/was the greatest/most complete pro boxer ever?

Question

Roy Jones Jr.

Joe Gans

Mike Tyson

Muhammad Ali

Willie Peep

Harry Greb

Benny Leonard

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Sam Langford

Suger Ray Robinson

Joe Louis

Jack Demsey

Rocky Marciano

Answer 1

history in world class championship boxing has taught us that fighters like  peter jackson, george dixon, joe walcott, joe gans, jack johnson, sam langford, sam mcvey, joe jeanette, harry wills, george godfrey were considered all around great fighters.

Answer 2

Sugar Ray Robinson without a doubt.  It's very simple.  He had fewer weaknesses than any other fighter.  Robinson could slug with a boxer or out-box him.   He could out-box a slugger.  He had it all.

By the way,  add Larry Holmes to that list you have there.   As a heavyweight a FEW could beat him but he had EVERYTHING.  Maybe not as much of any certain catagory as another but he could do a little of everything.   He would be hard for ANYONE to beat.  He could BOX  and FIGHT.

Answer 3

I would have to agree with Galactus. Sugar Ray Robinson would have to be the most complete boxer that i have ever seen, would outbox a boxer and out slug a slugger i really cant think of a more rounded fighter than Robinson.

Answer 4

No one beats Muhammed Ali... in all ways... not only an amazing boxer but a truly wonderful human being who stood up for what he believes in... besides that he has a great sense of humor about everything... including himself.

Answer 5

Props to Galactus for mentioning Larry Holmes.  He had a certain natural skillset, but Holmes obviously worked on aspects of boxing that weren't as natural and used them to bail himself out of a couple fights.  Holmes was a complete fighter.

But to answer your Q, it's Ali.  I remember reading a quote from Dundee saying that Ali would have been as great a slugger as a boxer, and actually exhorted Ali to sit down on his punches.  

Anyone can put Ray Robinson at the tops of the list as well.  I give Ali the nod because I believe Ali had the most difficult schedule of opposition ever, in any sport, in all of sports history.  

Roy Jones had all the physical tools, and I think he was probably the most gifted boxer ever, but because of those gifts, never fully developed a style outside of being faster than the opponent and outreacting the opponent.

You should have added Ray Leonard to the list as well.  His thrilling victory over Marvin Hagler proved he had a full chest of athletic and technical tools.

Answer 6

before you guys say robinson make sure you guys add that he lost alot of fights and before you say louis add that he always fought bums because he was slow.

the greatest of all time is muhammed ali.he beat frazier,norton,foreman,quarry,shavers,co... and was the first and for a while the only 3 time champ.

Answer 7

lots of say fighters you never seen ali-robbinson-langford-demsey-rocky-loui... thats ok if the book say there best its got to be rite?? i make my mind up myslef. who i have seen before i say who i rate  you must of seen an  old tyson  and  a washed  up ali ?  remenber when they was at there best. jones jr is old now to his  skills well you wont she them in you life time   jones jr  was class since he got cheated  out of gold as a kid with the US boxing  team speed he had the lot. but i have seen him so that will do for me,    i no he was not loved in us and some how he was only big in south and never had the fights.but thats not the question.  R J jr easy.   why do girls always say muhammad ali never a ramdon name!

Answer 8

Muhammed Ali. Without a doubt.