Welcome to Part 8 of my top 100 pound for pound boxers of all-time series. Today, boxers #40-31 will be revealed. I may have a surprise or two for all of you in this particular installment as distinguishing among the best of the best becomes even tougher. And no, we still haven’t gotten to Floyd yet.
40) George Foreman
The tale of George Foreman is a tale of two careers. George Foreman “the younger” was a menacing destroyer, chewing up and spitting out Joe Frazier in January 1973 to win the Heavyweight title. However, he met his match on October 30th 1974 against former champion Muhammad Ali. In a shocking upset, Ali withstood Foreman’s power ultimately scoring an 8th round knockout. Foreman was exposed again in March 1977, losing a decision to clever boxer Jimmy Young. He retired with a then record of 45-2 (42 KOs).
In March 1987, a now fat 38 year old George Foreman launched a comeback to the disdain of the boxing world. However, once he destroyed Gerry Cooney in two rounds in January 1990, “Big George” now had to be taken seriously. In April 1991, he went the distance with Heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, impressing in a losing effort. In November 1994, now aged 45, Big George became the oldest Heavyweight champion in boxing history, starching Michael Moorer in the 10th round. Foreman went 31-3 (26 KOs) during his comeback and was 76-5 (68 KOs) overall.
Neither of his two careers standing alone would warrant a place in the top 100. However, as one of the most feared Heavyweights of the 70’s and a guy who reinvented himself in and out of the ring in the 90’s, Foreman’s career both was special, unique, and worthy of top 50 status.
39) Jimmy McLarnin
Jimmy McLarnin was two time Welterweight champion of the world. McLarnin turned pro in December 1923 and over a 13 year career compiled a record of 55-11-3 (21 KOs). He won the Welterweight championship for the first time with a 1st round TKO victory over Young Corbett III in May 1933. He lost it one year later in his first defense by split decision to a fellow all-time great Barney Ross. He defeated Ross in a rematch 4 months later in September 1934 by a split decision victory. However, he lost the title to Ross again in a rubber match 8 months later, in May 1935, by unanimous decision.
McLarnin faced many outstanding fighters during the course of his career including: Fidel LaBarba (won twice, drew), Pancho Villa (won), Jackie Fields (won), Louis “Kid” Kaplan (won), Benny Leonard (won), Young Corbett III (won), Young Jack Thompson (won), Al Singer (won), Lou Ambers (won), Billy Petrolle (won twice, lost once), Sammy Mandell (won twice and lost), Tony Canzoneri (won, lost), Memphis Pal Moore (drew), Bud Taylor (won and lost twice), Barney Ross (won once, lost twice), Lou Brouillard (lost),
McLarnin was an all-time great who performed brilliantly against the best of three different weight classes. This earns him a place among boxing’s top 50 of all-time.
#38) Tommy Ryan
Tommy Ryan was a true pioneer in the sport of boxing and a World Champion at both Welterweight and Middleweight in the early 1900’s. Over a 24 year career, Ryan’s professional record was an amazing 89-3-12 (70 KOs), 1 no contest. Ryan turned professional on New Year’s Day 1887 at the tender age of 16. He won the Welterweight title in February 1891 with a 76th (yes, 76th!) round knockout over Danny Needham. He defended 5 times over the next 6 years before relinquishing the title in 1897. Ryan captured the Middleweight title with a 3rd round KO over Bill Heffernan in December 1897. He defended 10 times before relinquishing the title in May 1907.
Ryan’s significant opponents included: Danny Needham (won), Billy McMillan (won), Nonpareil Jack Dempsey (won), Bill Heffernan (won), Charley Johnson (won), Frank Craig (won), Mysterious Billy Smith (won three, drew three), Philadelphia Jack O’Brien (drew), Hugo Kelly (drew), Charles “Kid McCoy (lost and drew twice), Jack Root (drew and no contest), Denver Ed Martin (lost).
Ryan’s phenomenal record and status as an all-time great Welterweight and Middleweight World Champion earn him a place among boxing’s 50 greatest of all time.
#37) Jose Napoles
Jose “Mantequilla” Napoles, born in Cuba and eventually residing in Mexico, is arguably among the top 5 Welterweights of all time. Over a 17 year career, lasting from 1958 to 1975, Napoles had an outstanding record of 81-7 (54 KOs). He was a clever boxer with outstanding defensive and counterpunching skills, while, at the same time, possessing dangerous punching power. Napoles primary flaw was his penchant for cutting easily.
After toiling for 11 years, Napoles captured the Welterweight championship with a 13th round TKO victory over Curtis Cokes in April 1969. He defended three times before losing the title on a 4th round stoppage on cuts to Billy Backus in December 1970. Napoles regained the title 6 months later, in June 1971, with a 8th round TKO victory over Backus in a rematch. He would go on to defend the title successfully 10 times.
Napoles bit off more than he could chew when he challenged Middleweight champion Carlos Monzon in February 1974, losing by a 6th round TKO. A now aging Napoles would go on to lose the Welterweight title 22 months later, by 6th round TKO, to John Stracey, in December 1975. Napoles holds victories over: Cokes, Emile Griffith, Ernie Lopez, and Hedgemon Lewis among others. He is a worthy member of boxing’s top 50 of all time.
36) Michael Spinks
It’s a shame that most sports fans memories of Michael Spinks are limited to that one moment in June 1988 when he was destroyed by Mike Tyson in 91 seconds. Spinks, a 1976 US Olympic Gold Medalists, was an all-time great at Light Heavyweight. He won the WBA Light Heavyweight title over Eddie Mustafa Muhammad by a 15 round decision, in July 1981. In March 1983, he faced off against Dwight Muhammad Qawi in a unification match, the most anticipated Light Heavyweight matchup in many years, defeating him by a 15 round unanimous decision. Over the course of his four year reign at Light Heavyweight, defended 10 times, essentially cleaning out the division.
In September 1985, Spinks moved up in weight to challenge 36 year old IBF Heavyweight champion Larry Holmes. In a shocking and historic upset, Spinks captured the title by 15 round unanimous decision becoming the first Light Heavyweight champion in history to move up in weight to capture the Heavyweight title. Spinks defeated Holmes again in a rematch 7 months later. In June of 1987, he demolished popular Heavyweight contender Gerry Cooney in 5 rounds, setting up the showdown with Tyson. Spinks retired after the Tyson fight with a record of 31-1 (21 KOs). His historic accomplishment at Heavyweight along with his dominance at Light Heavyweight earn him a prominent place on this list.
35) Bernard Hopkins
B-Hop is a modern boxing legend. He lost his first Middleweight title shot against fellow legend Roy Jones Jr by unanimous decision in May 1993. Close to two years later, Hopkins won the IBF middleweight title with a 7th round TKO victory over Segundo Mercado, in April 1995 and went on to defend 20 times, capturing the WBA and WBC versions of the Middleweight title along the way. In July 2005, Hopkins now aged 40, finally lost the title, dropping a decision to former Olympian Jermaine Taylor, also dropping a rematch five months later.
However, we had not seen the last of B-Hop just yet. Just six months later, in June 2006, he defeated Antonio Tarver by decision to capture Ring Magazine’s recognition as Light Heavyweight champion. He then dropped a close decision to Joe Calzaghe in April 2008. Hopkins would remain a relevant factor in the Light Heavyweight division for years to come and remains so even today at the age of 50. B-Hop has a record of 55-7-2 (32 KOs) and 1 no contest over a 27 year career. He’s won more than 20 title fights and defeated 3 men on this list: Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, and Roy Jones Jr. B-Hop has earned his place among the pantheon of boxing’s all-time greats.
34) Jack Dempsey
Dempsey was a sports icon in the 1920’s with popularity rivaling that of Babe Ruth. He turned pro in 1914 and over a 13 year career amassed a record of 58-6-11 (44 KOs). In one of the most brutal battles in boxing history, Dempsey demolished reigning Heavyweight champion Jess Willard on July 4, 1919, flooring him seven times in the first round en route to a third round stoppage.
He held the title for more than 7 years before losing it to fellow legend and slick boxer Gene Tunney who convincingly outpointed him over the course of 10 rounds in September 1926. He lost another convincing decision to Tunney in September 1927, in what became known as the “battle of the long count”, retiring after the fight.
So how good was Jack Dempsey, really? The Dempsey that destroyed Willard was a sight to see, combining terrific speed with relentless aggression and crushing power. That said, I don’t agree with those who view him as a top 10 all-time great. In the end, he only defended four times. His two best opponents during this time, Georges Carpentier and Tommy Gibbons, were naturally smaller men who were past their prime. One could argue that Dempsey, himself, was past it when he lost to Tunney. However, he was still only 31 years of age when they first faced. Ultimately, #34 is the right place for Dempsey from my perspective.
33) Alexis Arguello
Alexis Arguello was one of classiest individuals ever seen in a boxing ring. After losing in his first title chance to Ernesto Marcel, he captured the WBA Featherweight title in November 1974, defeating Ruben Olivares by a 13th round KO. He defended four times before moving up to 130 lbs in 1977.
Arguello won the WBC Super Featherweight title with a 13th round TKO over Alfredo Escalera, in January 1978. He defended 8 times, including a rematch victory over Escalera. In June 1981, Arguello captured his third title with a 15 round decision victory over WBC champion Jim Watt and defended that title 4 times, including an October 1981, 14th round TKO over future champion, Ray Mancini.
On a mission to become the first 4 division champion in boxing history, Arguello challenged WBA Jr. Welterweight champion, Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor in November 1982. In a classic, Pryor was just too young and fast winning by 14th round stoppage. In September 1983, Pryor stopped him again, this time in 10 rounds. For all intents and purposes, Arguello was now finished as a world class fighter. Overall, Arguello ended his career with an excellent record of 77-8 (62 KOs). His record in World Championship contests, an outstanding 19-3 (17 KOs). Alexis was a legend, who left us far too soon, and warrants a prominent place about boxing’s 50 greatest ever.
32) Emile Griffith
Over a 19 year career, lasting from 1958 to 1977, Emile Griffith compiled a record of 85-24-2 (23 KOs). He was a 5-time world champion, winning the Welterweight title three times and the Middleweight title twice. At Welterweight, he engaged in classic trilogies with both Benny “Kid” Paret and Luis Manuel Rodriguez, winning two out of three against both men. The third match with Paret, which Griffith won by 12th round TKO in March 1962, unfortunately ended with Benny’s tragic death
Griffith captured the Middleweight title with a 15 round decision victory over Dick Tiger in April 1966 and defended twice before losing in April 1967 by decision to Nino Benvenuti. Griffith defeated Benvenuti in a rematch in September 1967. However, he lost to him in a rubber match, six months later in March 1968. Although, Griffith never again won a world title he remained relevant for nearly a decade, challenging for both the Welterweight and Middleweight titles during the 1970’s.
Over the course of two decades, Griffith’s significant opponents included: Gaspar Ortega (won twice), Denny Moyer (won, lost), Benny Kid Paret (won twice and lost), Luis Rodriguez (won twice and lost), Dick Tiger (won twice), Nino Benvenuti (lost two out of three), Jose Napoles (lost), Carlos Monzon (lost twice), Bennie Briscoe (won, drew), Vito Antuofermo (lost), and Alan Minter (lost). Griffith is an all-time great and a worthy member of boxing’s top 50 ever.
31) Thomas Hearns
Although he is probably best known for defeats to Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns was truly special. Consider that both men were considered the best fighter in the world at the time he faced them. In his September 1981 matchup with Leonard, Tommy was well ahead on points before Sugar Ray rallied late to stop him in the 14th. He also gave Hagler perhaps the toughest test of his Middleweight title reign in April 1985 over 8 hellacious minutes, before falling in the 3rd round.
Leonard and Hagler aside, the “Hitman” captured world titles in five weight classes ranging from Welterweight to Light Heavyweight. Hearns possessed numbing power along with outstanding speed and boxing skills. His power was demonstrated in matches with the feared Pipino Cuevas who he destroyed in two rounds and the legendary Roberto Duran, who he also obliterated in two rounds. Duran had never been knocked out and was only off his feet twice leading up to this bout. Hearns was also skilled enough as a boxer to outpoint Sugar Ray over most of the 26 rounds of their two matchups. He also outpointed slick stylists and fellow hall of famers Wilfred Benitez and Virgil Hill.
Hearns finished his professional career with a record of 61-5-1 (48 KOs). In my view, he is vastly underrated historically and has earned his place as #31 on this list.
This concludes Part 8 of my top 100 pound for pound boxers of all-time series. We’re now down to the 30 greatest of all time yet to be revealed. Thank you to all of you who’ve been following this series. I look forward to your comments and feedback. Links to the previous installments of this series are attached for your convenience