The middleweights have historically been thought to be one among boxing’s true “glamour” divisions, boasting a few of the greatest expertise to ever lace ’em up and a few of the struggle recreation’s largest attracts. Our rating right here of the perfect is restricted to those that fought at or close to 160 kilos throughout most of their prime, thus permitting us to not have to fret about the place to slot in greats Sam Langford, Mickey Walker, Billy Conn, and naturally the nice Sugar Ray Robinson. (Charles, Langford and Conn determine prominently on our listing of all-time nice gentle heavyweights, whereas Robinson and Walker are ranked at welterweight.) Verify ’em out:
12. Tony Zale: Wins over Al Hostak, Georgie Abrams, Rocky Graziano and Fred Apostoli set “The Man of Metal” aside. Probably the greatest physique punchers in boxing historical past.
11. Bernard Hopkins: Whereas he presided over maybe the weakest middleweight division in historical past, nobody can dispute the ability, intelligence and longevity of “The Executioner.”
10. Jake LaMotta: “The Bronx Bull” beat an extended listing of terrific fighters, together with one of many biggest of all middleweights, Ray Robinson. Fritzie Zivic, Tommy Bell, Holman Williams, Marcel Cerdan, George Costner and Tony Janiro are amongst these LaMotta bested.
9. Mike Gibbons: He by no means received the world title, however Gibbons was extensively thought to be one of many easiest at 160, to not point out one of many sharpest and cleverest boxers round, no matter weight. His file reveals wins over an extended listing of elite expertise together with Mike O’Dowd, Ted “Child” Lewis, Al McCoy, Jeff Smith and Harry Greb.
8. Tiger Flowers: Competing with Mickey Walker and Harry Greb robotically places Flowers among the many elite. He gave Greb two robust battles and his loss to Walker was extensively seen as a theft. Racked up an unimaginable 118 wins in lower than a decade.
7. Freddie Steele: Stable wins over Fred Apostoli, Ceferino Garcia, Gus Lesnevich, Vince Dundee and Babe Risko. Document of 124-6-8. ‘Nuff stated.
6. Carlos Monzon: The Argentine’s lengthy championship reign and fourteen straight title defenses mark “Escopeta” as one of many easiest.
5. Stanley Ketchel: “The Michigan Murderer,” recognized for his astonishing energy and common viciousness, had his profession tragically lower quick, however not earlier than establishing himself as the fear of the middleweights with wins over Billy Papke, Joe Thomas and Philadelphia Jack O’Brien.
4. Charley Burley: One of many biggest to by no means win a title, Burley was prevented by lots of the high boxers of his time, but he nonetheless scored massive wins over Holman Williams, Fritzie Zivic, Archie Moore, Billy Soose and Georgie Abrams.
3. Marvelous Marvin Hagler: Hagler was the most effective middleweight on the earth for over a full decade, throughout which he misplaced just one struggle. He cleaned out the division within the late 70’s earlier than lastly getting an opportunity on the world championship in 1980. “The Marvelous One” was so dominant that high contenders thought twice earlier than agreeing to struggle him for the title. Wins over Willie Monroe, Bennie Briscoe, Alan Minter, Vito Antuofermo, Tony Sibson, Juan Roldan, Roberto Duran, John Mugabi and Thomas Hearns.
2. Bob Fitzsimmons: The person they known as “The Preventing Blacksmith” is known for his exploits at heavier weights and for being boxing’s first triple crown champ, however his superb punching energy, enormous win over Jack “The Nonpareil” Dempsey, and the actual fact Fitz remained close to 160 kilos for many of his profession, assure him excessive standing right here. As he stated after knocking out James J. Corbett with a single physique blow for the heavyweight championship: “I’m solely a bleeding middleweight!”
1. Harry Greb: “The Smoke Metropolis Wildcat” is ceaselessly the best of all of them at 160 as he not often weighed extra and was clearly the most effective within the division for years earlier than he lastly received the world title in 1923. Greb went on to attain legendary wins over Billy Miske, Tommy Gibbons, Jeff Smith, Mike Gibbons, Tommy Loughran, Mickey Walker and Gene Tunney, dropping solely eight occasions in over 300 bouts.
Honorable Mentions: Jeff Smith, Dick Tiger, Marcel Cerdan, Mike McCallum, Billy Papke, Gene Fullmer, Tommy Ryan, Child McCoy, Jack “The Nonpareil” Dempsey, Gennadiy Golovkin, Holman Williams, Mike O’Dowd, Rocky Graziano, Ceferino Garcia, Rodrigo Valdez, Joey Giardello, Teddy Yarosz, Marcel Thil, Les Darcy, Emile Griffith, Frank Klaus, Benny Briscoe.
