Choose between Most famous boxers in history Is a task certainly difficult because of the large number of icons that have represented this sport. In fact, each fan could develop a list of his own and rare would be that match with another lover of boxing.
And is that famous boxers are usually very but very famous, mega stars whose light ignites the small size of the ring. In fact, the history of boxing is so huge that if we chose 100 famous boxers we would be short.
Controversial, violent, complex, poetic, boxing is one of the oldest sports in the world. And is that men have been clinging to the blows since prehistoric times, although to be fair boxing is much more than two men or women wanting to hit.
How to leave out, for example, the wonderful Julio César Chávez, considered the best Mexican boxer of all time? What excuse do we forget about Manny Pacquiao and Harry Greb? All these boxers and many more were left out of this list, but we can assure that those who are are without a doubt the most famous boxers in history.
Perhaps there is more, the truth is that the following can not be missing from any list. Without any particular order, here we go...
Top 30 most famous boxers in history
1- Muhammad Ali
(1942-2016, United States) What about this sport giant? Ali is universally considered the best boxer in history, but in addition, he was an influential social actor with a prominent role in politics and, particularly, in the struggle of African Americans.
In the 1960s, he opposed fighting in the Vietnam War and then became part of the controversial Nation of Islam organization.
2- Carlos Monzón
(1942-1995, Argentina) The Argentine boxer is considered by specialists not only the best in Argentina but the best of all time. He was world champion in 1970 and 1977 and in 1990 was incorporated into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
His busy life caught the attention of public opinion, especially when he was convicted of the death of his wife and sentenced to 11 years in prison. In one of the allowed exits of the prison, he died of an automobile accident. He was 52 years old.
3- Joe Calzaghe
(1972, England) Calzaghe is an English boxer who was several times world champion and retired some years ago without ever being defeated.
For some, he is the best English fighter of all time. However, Calzaghe may be more famous when caught by a hidden camera while consuming cocaine.
4- Jake LaMotta
(1921, United States) Giacobbe LaMotta was a huge American boxing middleweight champion who owes world fame to the film wild bull , Masterpiece of director Martin Scorsese based on the autobiography of LaMotta.
However, the boxer was already famous before the film, and not only for his sportsmanship, but for his scandalous and controversial personal life. For those who want to know more, we recommend not to miss the Scorsese movie.
5- Salvador Sánchez
(1959-1982, Mexico) This Mexican boxer was world featherweight champion and is considered one of boxing's greats in Mexico and the world.
The fight he played with Puerto Rican Wilfredo Gomez is one of the milestones in the history of world sport. In 1991 he entered the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
6- Mike Tyson
(1966, United States) He could not miss the controversial Tyson, perhaps the boxer best known today by those who do not closely follow the sport.
C When he started, he was famous for his fearsome power and for having beaten and crushed his first 37 opponents. Then his life of squandering, scandals and having ripped an ear to Holyfield in full fighting, kept him on the yellowed pages of the newspapers.
7- Wilfredo Gómez
Image via: AP
(1956, Puerto Rico) With a record of 44 wins (42 by knockout), three losses and a draw, Gomez is a national hero in his land, Puerto Rico. He was three-time world champion and entered the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.
8- George Foreman
(1949, United States) Foreman's private and professional life are hard to divide. He was twice world heavyweight champion and then became more famous as a businessman and... as a reverend! He is considered one of the best heavyweights in history.
His fight with Muhammad Ali in 1974 in Zaire, called 'The Rumble in the Jungle', is one of the most spectacular in history.
9- Joe Frazier
(1944-2011, United States) He defeated none other than Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Doug Jones and George Chuvalo, but is known worldwide for having participated in the Fight of the Century in 1971 with Muhammad Ali.
10- Rocky Marciano
(1923-1969, United States) This Italian-American boxer was the only one to retire undefeated in the heavyweight category. Marciano is also famous for his hard-hitting 43 knockouts and for having been world champion from 1952 to 1956.
eleven- Éder Jofre
(1936, Brazil) Jofre is a Brazilian idol worldwide known for being the best rooster-weight fighter in history. In his country, he also ventured into politics although today he is retired from both the boxing arena and politics.
12- Roberto Durán
(1951, Panama) This Panamanian giant, known by its nickname"Hands of Stone", is considered the best light weight in history. And what's more, many consider him the best Latin American boxer of all time.
13- Pernell Whitaker
Image via: Sports Illustrated
(1964, United States) Whitaker is one of the greatest amateur boxers of all time. He started boxing when he was nine, and won 201 of the 214 fights he fought, 91 of them by knockout. Then, in his professional career, he was twice world champion.
14- Marvin Hagler
(1954, United States) This former boxer was world champion in middleweight and throughout his career was never knocked out. That alone deserves eternal fame in this sport. But in addition, it has a record 62 victories, three draws and two defeats.
fifteen- Rubén Olivares
(1947, Mexico) Olivares is incredibly popular in Mexico, and not just for his wonderful boxing skills: he is also a movie actor. The"Púas"was several times champion of the world and was a star of the bantamweight.
16- José Nápoles
(1940, Cuba) This Mexican nationalized Cuban boxer is nicknamed"El Mantequilla"for his subtlety when boxing. His story of Cuban exile made him even more famous. Some consider him one of the 10 best boxers of all time.
17- Archie Moore
Image via: nndb.com
(1916-1998, United States) Moore was world champion in the light heavyweight category, but is world famous for having won by knockout in no less than 131 fights. An absolute record.
18- Ezzard Charles
(1921-1975, United States) He was an American boxer heavyweight champion. He defeated many of the world's most famous boxers and retired with a record of 93 wins, 25 losses and a draw.
19- Pipino Cuevas
(1957, Mexico) Former Mexican welterweight champion, he is famous for owning a restaurant and a security company in Mexico City, and for having an impressive collection of luxury cars.
He is also recognized for being one of the first boxers to wear a gold tooth. In 2001 he was accused of being part of organized crime in Mexico, but was acquitted in 2002. He won 35 fights, 31 of them by knockout.
twenty- Oscar de la Hoya
(1973, United States) De La Hoya is a boxer of Mexican origin who was born in the United States and was champion in six different categories. He rose to fame in 1992, when he won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Barcelona. He is considered one of the best fighters of all time. He is also a singer.
twenty-one- Héctor Camacho
(1962-2012, Puerto Rico) Nicknamed"El Macho", this boxer is famous for his quality and extravagant personality.
He was never knocked out and became champion in three different categories. In addition, he is the first boxer who was champion seven times. He is also frequent in television programs, and even had his own reality show:"Its Macho Time."
22- Sugar Ray Leonard
(1956, United States) Leonard is, for a large majority, one of the best fighters in history. He was the first to win five world titles in different categories and is the protagonist of some of the most exciting fights of the sport. His historic rivalry with"Mano de Piedra"Durán made him even more famous.
2. 3- Henry Armstrong
(1912-1988, United States) and N the decade of the 80's, the prestigious The Ring Placed him as the second best boxer of all time, a distinction seconded by journalist Bert Sugar.
In his professional career, Henry was the only boxer to win three championships simultaneously.
24- Floyd Mayweather Jr.
(1977, United States) Controversial, extravagant and successful, this American boxer may be the most famous of today, but retired in 2015 after beating the best placed opponents in his category.
Mayweather is considered one of the great pugilists of the last years and of the history, after finalizing his professional race without defeats. In addition, he became famous for the wealth he got in the ring: only for the confrontation with Manny Pacquiao pocketed about 5 million dollars.
25- Kid Sparrow
(1926-2003, Cuba) Former Cuban boxer who had nothing more or less than 143 professional fights, of which he won 107, 27 by knockout. He lived in Mexico and the United States and in 1966 was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame.
26- Emile Griffith
(1938-2013, United States) Griffith was a great American boxer who won world championships but whose fame is also due to a lamentable incident he suffered in 1992 when he was savagely beaten as he left a gay bar in New York.
For the blows received, he was hospitalized for four months. Years later, the boxer clarified in an interview that he liked both men and women:"But I do not like the word gay, gay or queer. I do not know what I am. I love men and women alike."
Also in his autobiography he spoke on the subject:"I keep wondering how strange all this is. I kill a man and most of them understand and forgive me. However, I love a man and those same people consider it an unforgivable sin."
27- Marcel Cerdan
(1916-1949, French) Not all boxers on this list are Latino or American. Cerdan was a French boxer, world middleweight champion and France's only representative at the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Its fame also is due to the romance that maintained with the singer Édith Piaf and by its rivalry with Jake La Motta.
28- Nino Benvenuti
(1938, Italy) And as representative of Italy we have the great Nino Benvenuti, the best Italian boxer of all time. He had 120 victories and no defeats throughout his long career.
29- Nicolino Locche
(1939-2005, Argentina) Argentine Locche was told"El Intocable"for his incredible defensive skills. For many, no one in the history of boxing was defended like Nicolino.
He was super lightweight world champion and in 2003 he joined the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Its popularity was so great that it has been dedicated songs and even artistic paintings.
30- Joe Louis
(1914-1981, United States) Known as"The Detroit Bomber", this American boxer is one of the best heavyweights in history.
He was champion in that category for eleven years!, a record that no one has yet been able to overcome. It was a symbol of improvement for African Americans and during World War II enlisted in the army.