Best Boxers of All Time [ Top 10 Greatest Ever in the World]

Who are the Top 10 Best Boxers of All Time?

We have provided you with the details of some boxers ranked in the top 10 in the world. 

Muhammad Ali

According to this list of top 10 boxers, Muhammad Ali is ranked as the best. He had a successful amateur career, winning multiple trophies, national titles, and an Olympic Gold Medal. Ali made a smooth transition to the professional setting in 1960 and remained unbeaten in his first 19 fights. He then defeated Sonny Liston in February 1964 to win the title and successfully defended it 11 times before suffering his first loss to Joe Frazier. Despite this setback, Ali persevered and went on to recapture the title two more times, becoming the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion in history. He was also the first heavyweight champion to retire and come back to win the title. Throughout his 21-year career, Ali defended his title 19 times and amassed a record of 56 wins and 5 losses.

Joe Louis

Ranked at number two on this list of top boxers is the legendary Joe Louis, also known as the "Brown Bomber". Louis gained notoriety for his powerful punches that sent 52 out of his 66 opponents to the canvas. His punching prowess helped him set a record as the world heavyweight champion for over 11 years, the longest tenure ever. Notably, he was the only active heavyweight champion to serve in the military during his reign. In world title fights, Louis won 27 times, with 23 knockouts, and only suffered one defeat. He defeated legendary boxers like Max Schmeling, Jim Braddock, Jersey Joe Walcott, and Primo Carnera. Although he suffered only three career defeats, his last professional fight ended in a knockout loss to Rocky Marciano in October 1951. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.

Sugar Ray Robinson

Sugar Ray Robinson, who had a 25-year long career with almost 200 fights, is a highly accomplished boxer. He was known for his tremendous power, which led to long winning streaks, including a 40-fight streak at the beginning of his career and a 91-fight winning streak. Robinson won two division titles in the welterweight and middleweight categories.

Robinson defeated several big names in the ring, including Henry Armstrong, Jake LaMotta, Fritzie Zivic, Kid Gavilan, and Sammy Angott. He participated in 22 world title fights, winning 14 of them, including seven knockouts. Robinson also suffered seven losses and one draw during his career. In 1967 and 1990, he was inducted into both the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame, solidifying his place among the all-time greats.

Rocky Marciano

On this list of top boxers, Rocky Marciano is another undefeated fighter, with an impressive record of 49 wins, 43 of which were by knockout. He fought in the heavyweight division, widely regarded as the most prestigious weight class in boxing. Marciano is ranked higher than Floyd Mayweather Jr. because he did not selectively choose his opponents and retired from the sport to prioritize his family.

Dubbed the "Brockton Blockbuster," Marciano holds the record for being the world heavyweight champion with the shortest reach in history. In November 1952, he won the title by stopping Jersey Joe Walcott in the 13th round of their fight. He successfully defended his title six times against Walcott (in a rematch), Roland LaStarza, Ezzard Charles (twice), Don Cockell, and Archie Moore. Sadly, he passed away in a tragic plane crash in 1969.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. holds the record for the most wins without a loss in boxing, with an impressive record of 50 wins and no defeats, including 27 wins by knockout. After a successful amateur career that earned him a bronze medal in the Olympics, Mayweather turned professional and immediately became a sensation due to his impeccable defense.

Throughout his career, Mayweather defeated some of the biggest names in the sport, including Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Marcos Maidana, Arturo Gatti, and Shane Mosley. In addition to his unbeaten record, he also holds the record for the most world titles held simultaneously with five and is tied with Evander Holyfield for the most world title victories with a total of 11.

Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao secures his spot on this top 10 list due to his unprecedented achievement of winning eight world titles across various weight divisions. His professional debut in 1995 was at the 106-pound weight class, and from there, he steadily worked his way up to higher-weight classes, dominating his opponents along the way.

In 1998, Pacquiao claimed the flyweight title, and in 2001, he added the super bantamweight title to his collection with his victory over Lehlo Ledwaba. From then on, the Filipino boxer continued to move up to higher divisions and won world titles in the super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and super welterweight divisions. Pacquiao's victories against Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Oscar De La Hoya, Erik Morales, and Marco Antonio Barrera are some of the most notable wins of his career.

Jack Dempsey 

Jack Dempsey, who was known as the “Manassa Mauler,” was the first boxer to generate over $1,000,000 in gate receipts due to his exciting fighting style and exceptional performances, earning him the title of boxing's original cash cow. The legendary heavyweight fighter transformed the sport with his tremendous power, which knocked out 43 of his 53 opponents.

Dempsey held the world heavyweight championship from 1919 to 1923 and was also the first-ever NBA World Heavyweight Champion and NYSAC World Heavyweight Champion. During his 12-year career, he won 53 out of his 67 fights, losing only six times and having eight draws in his overall record.

Roberto Duran

Roberto Duran, widely regarded as Panama's greatest boxer, has secured the number eight spot on this list. With a career spanning over 33 years, Duran managed to win four titles in four different divisions, specifically in the lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight divisions. Out of his 119 career fights, he emerged victorious in 103, including 70 by TKO/KO, and lost only 16 times. Duran participated in 21 title fights, winning 16 (with 13 via stoppages).

Duran's list of notable opponents includes Sugar Ray Leonard, Ken Buchanan, Davey Moore, and Ernesto Marcel. He is also the only boxer to have won the Ring Magazine Comeback of the Year award twice, which he received in 1983 and 1989. In 2006, he was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, and a year later, he was recognized in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Henry Armstrong

In boxing, winning titles in multiple weight classes is impressive, but becoming an undisputed champion in different divisions is even more remarkable. Henry Armstrong achieved this feat in his professional career by simultaneously reigning as the champion in the featherweight, lightweight, and middleweight divisions, even though it only lasted a few months in 1938. He won 18 world title fights, mostly in the welterweight division, and defeated notable opponents such as Chalky Wright, Lou Ambers, Barney Ross, and Tippy Larkin. Throughout his 14-year career, "Homicide Hank" accumulated a record of 149 wins, 21 losses, and 10 draws.

Willie Pep

Willie Pep, renowned for his exceptional defense skills, is considered one of the all-time greatest featherweight champions. An unverified story claims that Pep once won a round without throwing a single punch, simply by making his opponent miss. He held the featherweight title twice, from 1942 to 1948 and from 1949 to 1950.

Pep's impressive record includes 11 wins and three losses, with five knockouts, in world title fights. He also had a 13-5 record against former, current, and future champions, defeating notable names such as Sandy Saddler, Chalky Wright, Manuel Ortiz, and Jackie Wilson. In his career of 241 fights, he won 229 (65 TKO/KOs), lost only 11 times, and drew once. He was officially inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.