No active boxers compiled, retired boxers only.

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Record: Won: 103 Lost: 16 (70 KOs)

Boxing Era:1968-2001

Division: Lightweight / Middleweight

Roberto Durán was at the top of the elite boxing chain for over 30 years. For most true boxing fans, this man is definitely in the top 10 or 20. In short, he’s a fighter’s fighter. Seeing him in action confirms that, and the unique gift and light that he has kept him in the game for decades as his contemporaries retired. Durán is the only boxer in history to win fights with the world’s best in five different decades.

Roberto Durán had many of the things great fighters are made of. He had an aggressive fighting style and always brought an action packed, exciting fight to the table. His first 31 fights were mostly crowd pleasing knock outs without a loss.

Durán was an unstoppable light weight champion who dominated the light weight division for seven years. Eventually moving up in weight the great Roberto Durán handed a younger, but rising Sugar Ray Leonard his very first defeat to add the WBC Welter Weight Championship title to his collection. However, he took a humiliating loss to Leonard in the rematch which resulted in him quitting with the now famous words, “No mas.”

At 32 he moved up in weight again and battered Davey Moore to an 8th round KO and won the WBC Light-Middleweight Championship title. Durán eventually took rugged middleweight losses to Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler. Likewise however, Joe Frasier, another champion on this list was once an undefeated king but only took losses to a couple of guys named Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Point being for most legends, losses are just an eventual part of the game when you’re on top, especially if you don’t have various plan B dimensions to your style like the versatile Ali, Robinson, Floyd Mayweather, Roy Jones or the rising Andre Ward. If you’re a brawler with not too many other card tricks, the reality is you’re simply just not going to be able to stand center ring and out slug a Foreman or a Hagler or a Hearns in your 30’s and beyond. Regardless, years after his prime, and after moving up in weight, Durán was still there for all of them and helped give those future hall of famers their credibility. Durán was a fighter who would never run or try to strategize, stay distant, or try to win on points. He always came to fight and went in full force. Durán willingly faced the best in the sport that would probably beat him at the slug fest game with youth on their side. As a much older man, Durán fought the best in boxing in their primes.

For his entire crowd pleasing boxing career spanning multiple decades, Durán was always at the top and in contention for titles, winning the NBA Super-Middleweight Championship from Patrick Goossen in 2000 at 49 years old.

Roberto Durán continued to fight as boxing’s elite until he finally retired at 50 years old after a car crash. Roberto Durán won title belts in 4 different weight divisions. After scrutinizing all the exemplary fighters that have come and gone, in this generation right now many boxing experts still consider Roberto Durán the greatest lightweight of all time.

Certain attributes that offer advantages like speed, power and agility fade with time for all of us, but anointed gifts are visible always, in intricate or elaborate demonstrations, or in short flashes. Like Micheal Jackson performing and shocking an audience with his voice and talent at 10 years old, or Tiger Woods golfing and shooting ‘holes in one’ on the show “That’s Incredible” at 5, or the great Roberto Duran winning another world championship belt by aggressively beating up a young fighter at 49 years old. Those anointed gifts are predestined for greatness, always great to watch, and we all can just sit back and admire them. It’s safe to say that every man that beat Duran after he was 35 years old most likely would not be able to stand in the ring with him at the age he willingly fought them. Very popular among all true boxing fans, Duran is without a doubt an all time great.

Record: 183-24-10-1 (131 KOs)

Boxing Era: 1938-1963

Division: Light Heavyweight

Archie Moore is a special fighter with many unique distinctions: Nicknamed “The Old Mongoose”, Archie Moore has one of the longest careers in boxing. And at 48 years old, Moore was the oldest Light Heavyweight champion in boxing history, and he also has the most knockouts than any other boxer in history.

Moore moved up from middleweight to light heavyweight, but was still continuously passed over for title shots. Moore fought the best of the best his entire career, but finally got his first title shot at 39, an age when most fighters would’ve long been finished. And at 39 years old, he outpointed Joe Maxim to take the Light Heavyweight Championship. Moore held onto this Light Heavyweight crown for almost a decade.

In 1955, the ambitious 42 year old Moore attempted to move up in weight and take the Heavyweight crown from Rocky Marciano. Moore even dropped Marciano early in the fight, but Marciano rallied back and stopped him in the 9th.

Moore won most of his 220 fights, but he was a light heavyweight who lost taking on some heavy weight notables like Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson and then Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali). Muhammad Ali rhymed that “Moore would go down in four”, and he did just that. The bigger men were a tougher challenge for Moore.

Archie Moore is also the only boxer to have fought competitively through the eras of Joe Louis, Marciano and Muhammad Ali. Moore was a well known staple in boxing for a very long time, and has been ranked by reputable boxing site, Boxrec, the best pound-for-pound boxer of all time.

Moore went on to have a successful acting career and can be seen in several memorable roles. He was also an activist who supported many African American causes.

Record: 76-5 (68 KOs)

Boxing Era: 1969-1997

Division: Heavyweight

“Big” George Foreman is an Olympic gold medalist who started his professional boxing career as a human wrecking ball. In his first 40 fights, he was undefeated and won 37 of those fights by way of crushing knock out. Ranked 4th by Ring Magazine, George Foreman is known as one the hardest hitters of all time.

Foreman banged his way right up to the heavyweight championship belt, plowing through Joe Frazier as if he was a small nuisance to swat away. Before the fight, Frazier was the undefeated heavyweight champ and favorite to win. Frazier got knocked down 6 times in 2 rounds. Frazier is a warrior who kept getting up and kept on trying until the referee had to stop the fight. Foreman continued to impress in his title defenses, knocking out Puerto Rican Heavyweight champion José Roman in 2 minutes, one of the fastest in boxing history. He also disposed of the highly decorated Hall of Fame boxer Ken Norton in 2 rounds. Foreman was easily swatting down the top-ranked fighters in boxing during the sport’s most competitive era of heavyweights. George Foreman was an unstoppable force to be reckoned with and the clear man on top of the chain.

Foreman’s first loss was handed to him of course by the great Muhammad Ali who outsmarted him in the famous “Rumble in the Jungle”. Ali employed his “rope-a-dope” strategy and allowed Foreman to pummel him until he punched and tired himself out. Ali fought off the ropes and exchanged just enough to stay up on points. Foreman bit the bait and Ali seized him and knocked him out in the 8th. Ali took the Heavyweight title from Foreman, winning the title an unprecedented 3rd time.

After the Rumble in the Jungle, Foreman regrouped after some time off and continued his winning ways two years later. His come back was a fight against another man Ali had defeated, Ron Lyle. Throughout the action packed fight they both knocked each other to the canvass and traded vicious haymakers until Foreman came away with the KO victory. The Fight was billed as “The Fight of the Year”. Foreman won 4 of his next 5 fights and won them by KO. The 5th was a decision loss to Jimmy Young. Foreman retired after this fight at 28 years old and a record of 45-2 because he found God and became a minister.

A different, older, heavier, and more jovial Foreman shocked the boxing world 10 years later announcing he was returning to the ring at 38 years old. Foreman looked heavy and out of shape and many thought his comeback would end bad, but he kept knocking fighters out clean and silencing the critics. Following the path of Archie Moore, Foreman was surprisingly still a very relevant fighter winning most of his fights by knock out. Foreman’s style changed and kept him on top. He could no longer throw fast combinations, but he still landed extremely powerful blows and took his time, which enabled him to go the distance in a way he never could before in the past.

In 1994 at 45 years old, Foreman remarkably knocked out Michael Moorer to win the heavyweight crown once again, the same belt he lost 20 years prior to Muhammad Ali. George Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history.

Foreman later became a successful entrepreneur with his George Foreman Grill and several other successful ventures. George Foreman remains one of the most famous boxers in the world.

Record: 85-5-1 (69 KOs) and 121 no-decisions

Boxing Era: 1911-1932

Division: Lightweight

Benny Leonard is the longest reigning lightweight champion in history. He is also featured in the top ten best boxers of all time on most lists.

Leonard has been compared to Muhammad Ali in that he was champion at a time when the division was no walk in the park. In the teens and twenties, boxing along with baseball, was the most popular sport in America, and it was stacked with talent.

Leonard fought a slew of great champions including Johnny Dundee (Featherweight champion 1922-1923, 1923-1924 and Jr. Lightweight champion 1921-1923 and 1923-1924), Freddie Welsh (Lightweight champion 1914-1916), Willie Ritchie (lightweight champion 1912-1914), Johnny Kilbane (Featherweight Champion 1912-1923), Rocky Kansas (Lightweight champion 1925-1926) and Lew Tendler, Ritchie Mitchell, Patsy Cline, Joe Welling and Charley White, and Leonard was the best of the bunch.

After beating all the elite fighters in his division defending his title since 1917, Leonard retired as lightweight champion in 1925.

After the stock market crash of 1929, Leonard returned to the ring in 1931 and he won 18 straight fights with 1 draw. He retired after he finally lost to Jimmy Mclarnin.

Benny Leonard went on to become a popular referee until he had a heart attack and died in the ring in 1947 at 51 years old, 1 day after his birth day.

With a superior boxing style, a great record and great talent faced, Benny Leonard is still regarded as one of the best of all time in the sport.

Record: 61-1-1-1 (45 KOs)

Boxing Era: 1915-1928

Division: Light Heavyweight / Heavyweight

Gene Tunney was a former US marine who was the winner of one of the most famous, and highest paid fights in boxing history against Jack Dempsey, known as “The Long Count”. This fight as well as the rematch were the biggest fights in boxing for decades.

Gene Tunney never fully got the respect that he deserved because he beat beloved American all time favorite, Jack Dempsey. Not only did he beat Dempsey, he did it in a more calculated and strategic manner opposed to the usual entertaining slug fests. Employing this style, he beat Dempsey for the heavyweight championship by unanimous decision twice. In fact, the only loss he ever had was a decision loss to Harry Greb which he later avenged with a unanimous decision win. Tunney was Ring Magazine’s very first “Fighter of the Year” in 1928.

Gene Tunney’s respect was slow coming because he was more of an intelligent fighter, and didn’t have the charm or the brutal, entertaining killer instinct as did the the premier boxers of the day like Dempsey or Harry Greb. Regardless, he was eventually the man on top.

Tunney also beat other notable fighters also beating Tommy Gibbons, Georges Carpentier both by impressive knock out.

Gene Tunney beat Hall of Fame boxers, one of them the most famous boxer of his era, and finished his boxing career in style as an uncontested Heavyweight Champion of the World.

When preparing for their fight, Jack Dempsey wanted to pay Harry Greb $1000 a day to get him ready for the Gene Tunney. Greb didn’t want to take Dempsey’s money considering it theft because he felt “nobody can beat Gene Tunney.”

Gene Tunney appeared on US stamps and has been mentioned in several TV shows, comedy skits and plays.

Record: 38-6 (32 KOs)

Boxing Era: 1992-2008

Division: Lightweight / Welterweight / Middleweight

Oscar Dela Hoya was without a doubt one of the contemporary super stars and biggest draws of the sport. He had the looks, the appeal, and the skills to stay at the forefront of boxing for most of his career. In both 1997 and 1998 he was Ring Magazine’s best pound for pound fighter, and The Ring’s “Fighter of the Year” in 1995.

Dela Hoya’s impact on boxing is unprecedented to say the least. He won 10 world titles in 6 weight divisions, and he conquered an astonishing 17 world champions. Sealing the justification of his ranking, Dela Hoya also generated more money than any other boxer in history in Pay-per-view cash earning close to a whopping 700 million dollars. Truly “golden”.

Dela Hoya got his nickname “Golden Boy” after fulfilling his mother’s dying wish and won an Olympic gold medal in Barcelona.

Dela Hoya’s career was unfolding in excellent fashion and he was on his way to boxing super stardom. He fought tested warriors in the living legend Julio César Chávez, Pernell Whitaker, and Héctor Camacho and he beat them all.

Then in one of the biggest pay days in boxing history for non heavyweight fighters, he faced Felix Trinidad who was an undefeated IBF champion. Dela Hoya smacked up and outclassed Trinidad in an extremely obvious manner. Regardless the judges awarded Trinidad the victory confusing boxing fans everywhere. Furious fans were curious to know which fight the judges were watching. It was a disgrace. The judge’s decision fell under very heavy scrutiny and a rematch was demanded, but never happened. Dela Hoya was robbed, perhaps because he destroyed Trinidad early but then decided to coast the last 4 rounds assuming the fight was in the bag.

Dela Hoya continued his winning ways still beating the best in Arturo Gatti, and then Fernando Vargas who later came up positive for steroids.

At middleweight, Dela Hoya went as far as he could go being defeated by Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. In his final bout, he took a fight with Manny Pacquiao and it was clear it was over after an embarrassing loss. Analysts thought he was supposed to beat up on the smaller man but he had no answers for Pacquiao’s speed and aggression. He retired shortly thereafter.

People have forgotten how good Dela Hoya really was. Mainly because he lost many of his biggest fights later in his career.Truth is and if nothing else, he didn’t really lose to Trinidad. Had very close fights with a prime Mosley that many think he won. Nor would he have ever lost to Pacquiao. He fought him a little too old and past his prime, in addition to a huge hydrating mistake entailed with his dropping down to Pacquiao’s weight that cost him a lot of energy. Dela Hoya doesn’t get credit for his boxing resume, taking on everybody. Similar to Roberto Duran, he courageously fought hall of famers, future hall of famers, and a who’s who’s of the best top ranked light weights, welter weights and middle weights. Styles make fights and eventually something had to give. Regardless, Dela Hoya single handedly gave an unprecedented spark to boxing in a way no one else had attracting new fans everywhere. His outstanding pay-per-view earnings speak for itself.

Dela Hoya has become an even larger presence in boxing with his promotional company, Golden Boy Promotions. Golden Boy Promotions is a new staple in boxing that promotes some of the best boxers in the sport including Bernard Hopkins, David Haye, Librado Andrade, Amir Khan and Victor Ortiz. Golden Boy Promotions has also acquired various boxing publications like The Ring, KO Magazine, World Boxing Magazine. Very well done.

Record: 83-19-4 (30 KOs)

Boxing Era: 1941-1954

Division: Middleweight

This list isn’t just a bland assortment of the best pound-for-pound boxers of all time, but the creme of the crop that also captured the world’s attention for many years to come. Jake LaMotta is one of those boxers.

Jake Lamotta is most credited for being the first fighter to ever beat who many view as the greatest boxer of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson. Even though he only won 1 of 6 wars with Robinson, each were great fights worthy of respect, and losses to the best boxer of all time.

In 1949, LaMotta beat who many considered the greatest champion ever in France, Marcel Cerdan, and LaMotta became the Middleweight Champion of the World.

LaMotta eventually became a bar owner, stand up comedian, and starred in several films.

Jake LaMotta became immortalized in the hit film by Martin Scorcese, Raging Bull,played by Robert De Niro. “I could’ve been a contender!” After this, LaMotta secured his place in Pop culture.

LaMotta’s ranked as one of the 10 greatest middleweights of all time.

Record: 32-4-1 (27 KOs)

Boxing Era: 1965-1981

Division: Heavyweight

Joe Frazier is another Olympic gold medalist who can boast of being the Heavyweight Champion of the world during the sport’s toughest cast and crew in the 1970s. History was made in every other fight. And the only guys Frazier ever lost to were a couple bums named Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.

Joe Frazier was a warrior who rose to dominance in the absence of Muhammad Ali. He beat a solid group of fighters and became an undefeated Heavyweight Champion of the world in 1970. With Ali gone however, no one gave him credit as the real champ. Unbeknownst to Frazier, this became the albatross and reoccurring thorn in his side that would fuel him for the rest of his boxing career.

Ali came back, slightly out of his prime and a little heavier, but still the crème of the crop. A Frazier and Ali showdown was inevitable, but these two men had no idea of the boxing history they were about to make. The fight was billed as “The Fight of the Century”. The fight was ferocious, suspenseful, and by far one of the best fights in the history of the sport. They each had completely different styles; Ali was a boxing technician who aggravated Frazier with pretty combinations and accurate blows. Frazier was tough enough to eat those combos and keep coming with pressure and an occasional monstrous left hook. Frazier eventually walked away with the decision and shocked the world. This was the pinnacle of Frazier’s career, never to beat Ali again.

Frazier cruised to two more knockout victories and then had to face “Big” George Foreman. Although Frazier was favored to win, the heavy hitting Foreman dropped him hard. He wouldn’t be able to pass this test and Frazier lost the belt. Frazier was still able to KO others in the field like Joe Bugner, Jerry Quarry and Jimmy Ellis but couldn’t beat Foreman or Ali again to recapture the title. Still Frazier won a place in the hearts of every boxing fan and in boxing history with his intense will and relentless tenacity. In boxing’s golden age, Frazier gave boxing something never to be seen again in a long time.

Frazier was still remembered and seen in countless movies, TV shows and documentaries for years to come.

Record: Won 55 (KO 40)-Lost 8

Boxing Era: 1989-2011

Division: Light Heavyweight

You have to look at this man’s stats compared to any other light heavyweight in the history of the sport: Roy Jones, Jr. held a record 7 belts at the same time. He’s also the only fighter to start out at junior middleweight, and move all the way up to winning a heavyweight title. He’s the only boxer to win a Middleweight Championship of the world, and move up and also win a Heavyweight Championship of the world in 106 years. He is boxing history. The Boxing Writers Association of America named him “The Fighter of the Decade” for the 1990’s.

Jones was an amazing force of nature. Jones won The National Junior Olympics and the National Golden Gloves. In 1988, he was robbed of the Olympic Gold Medal and was given the silver because of corrupt, bribed judges who were later suspended. As consolation he was awarded the Val Barker Trophy for the best stylistic fighter of the Olympic games. A new Olympic scoring system was implemented because of the infraction against Jones.

Already on fire, Jones began his career by knocking out Ricky Randall in 2 rounds. Jones blew through his first 17 fights all wins by knock out, many of them in the first few rounds. Jones was a new star in the sport in a league of his own.

Jones beat James Toney and Bernard Hopkins and became Middleweight and Super Middleweight Champion of the world in different boxing associations. With a young Hopkins and Toney vanquished in their primes, only much later did the boxing world learn what that actually meant and how good Jones was in his prime. In his day, Jones was too fast, strong and athletic; he owned the 90’s. For the entire decade Jones entertained, show boated and toyed with his competition, and could not be beaten by anyone.

For a long time, Jones was all alone and there was nothing left to do. In 2003, he moved up to the Heavyweight division and beat John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight title. Jones was already 34 years old and accomplished everything he needed to for his legacy. However, the beginning of a fall from glory was around the corner.

Jones won his first fight with Tarver but would lose the next 2, including an eventual loss to the undefeated Joe Calzaghe. The chinks in the armor and the reality of age started to come into play for the first time and a once invincible warrior was finally human.

Jones has a lot of unprecedented facts that make him special: As mentioned he’s the first middleweight Champion to become Heavyweight Champion in over a century. The athlete for which they decided to change the Olympic scoring method. He’s the first athlete to compete in 2 paid sport events in the same day. He played a basketball game in the afternoon, then knocked out future world champ Eric Lucas that night.

Jones has many interests and ventures. He was once on a minor league baseball team, he released a hit rap record, and he’s an actor who appeared in the Matrix trilogy. Now he can be seen as a commentator calling the HBO fights with his excellent and insightful break downs.

Obviously not the same fighter he once was, Jones still beats the best of them and is still not retired with more fights on deck. Win, lose or draw in his next bouts, Jones is without a doubt a GOAT.