The 5 Greatest Boxers in History

The best boxers in history are the athletes that have won the most matches. They've won the most by knocking out their opponent or have won titles in different categories. Check out our top five list of the best boxers.

Boxing comes with an incredible history as well as unforgettable athletes. In our post today, we want to share a list of the greatest boxers of all time.

Who are the greatest boxers of all time?

You don’t have to be an expert boxer to know who the greatest in the world is. They pushed themselves past the records and will always be remembered for their wins in the ring, and sometimes their life outside boxing as well.

1. Muhammad Ali

Born Cassius Clay in Kentucky, United States, Muhammad Ali is considered to be the greatest boxer of all time thanks to his achievements and championships. His started boxing with no intention of going professional, but once he started training he sailed into a boxing career that spanned for more than two decades.

Ali– who changed his name upon converting to Islam– fought in 61 matches and won 56. Of those 56 wins, 37 were K.O.s. Meanwhile, of the five matches he lost, he was only knocked out in one of them. In addition to his impressive wins, Ali won an Olympic medal in the 1960 Rome games. His technique was considered unorthodox.

2. Mike Tyson: one of the greatest boxers

Mike Tyson just might be the most beloved name in boxing. He also had plenty of records to flaunt. Tyson was born in the United States in 1966 and was the youngest boxer to win a heavyweight world title: he was only 20 years old. He also won and simultaneously held the WBA and IBF crowns.

Tyson was known for his ferocity, intimidation, and quarrels, which happened both in and out of the ring. The “kid dynamite” fought 58 matches and won 50 of them with 44 being knockouts. He retired in 2005 after losing against Irish Kevin McBride.

3. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“Money” announced his retirement from boxing not too long ago, ending a career spanning 22 years. He’s one of the few boxers who can say he’s never lost a match.

Though he wasn’t known for his knockouts– which comprised only 27 of his wins– Mayweather always stunned with his sharp game.

Another honor that we can attribute to this all-American boxer who was born in 1977 (to a boxing family) is that he was a world champion in five categories: super-featherweight, lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and light middleweight.

4. Julio Cesar Chavez: Mexico’s greatest boxer

Number four on our list of the five best boxers of all time comes to us from Mexico and is considered to be the most important boxer from that country. In his 25-year career, he won various world titles in three different categories: super-featherweight, lightweight and super welterweight.

Additionally, he racked up an impressive number of matches; no more and no less than 115, 107 of which he won— 86 by knockout. He lost six matches and tied two.

Chavez was famous for his left hooks, iron chin, and non-stop intimidation. He was also considered the best “pound-for-pound” in the 90s. He retired in 2005.

5. Rocky Marciano, another unforgettable name in the world of Boxing

Despite his clear Italian origins– his original name being Rocco Francis Marchegiano– Marciano was born in the United States. He began boxing in the army in 1944 and enjoyed it as a hobby for a few years. Strangely enough before boxing professionally, he tried his luck in baseball but didn’t have enough strength to pitch the ball!

Just like Mayweather, Marciano never lost and boasted 49 victories– of those 49, 43 were knockouts. Marciano is the only heavyweight boxer to be undefeated throughout his entire professional career. He retired in 1956 when he was just 32 years old. He died in 1969 in a plane accident, one day shy of turning 46.

To extend our list to the top ten best boxers of all time, we would have to add Philippine Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao (70 fights, 61 wins), Panamanian Robert “Hands of Stone” Duran (119 fights, 103 wins), Argentinian Carlos “the Shotgun” Monzon (100 fights, 87 wins), US “Sugar” Ray Leonard (40 fights, 36 wins) and US Oscar de la Hoya (45 fights, 39 wins).