THE 30 MOST FAMOUS BOXERS IN HISTORY - ARTE - 2024

Choosing among the most famous boxers in history is undoubtedly a difficult task due to the large number of icons that have represented this sport. In fact, each fan could create their own list and it would be rare for it to coincide with that of another boxing lover.

And the fact is that famous boxers are usually very, very famous, mega stars whose light dazzles the small size of the ring. In fact, the history of boxing is so huge that if we chose 100 famous boxers we would still fall short.

Controversial, violent, complex, poetic, boxing is one of the oldest sports in the world. And the thing is that men have been holding on to blows since prehistoric times, although to be fair boxing is much more than two men or women wanting to hit each other.

How to leave out, for example, the wonderful Julio César Chávez, considered the best Mexican boxer of all time? With what excuse do we forget about Manny Pacquiao and Harry Greb? All these boxers and many more were left out of this list, but we can assure you that those who are are, without a doubt, the most famous boxers in history.

Perhaps there is more, the truth is that the following cannot be missing from any list. In no particular order, here we go…

Top 30 most famous boxers in history

1- Muhammad Ali

(1942-2016, United States) What to say about this sports giant? Ali is universally considered the best boxer in history, but also, if that were not enough, he was an influential social actor with a prominent role in politics and, particularly, in the struggle of African Americans.

In the 1960s, he opposed fighting in the Vietnam War and later became part of the controversial Nation of Islam.

2- Carlos Monzón

(1942-1995, Argentina) The Argentine boxer is considered by specialists not only the best in Argentina but the best of all time. He was world champion in 1970 and 1977 and in 1990 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

His busy life attracted the attention of public opinion, especially when he was found guilty of the death of his wife and sentenced to 11 years in prison. In one of the allowed exits from the jail, he died from a car accident. He was 52 years old.

3- Joe Calzaghe

(1972, England) Calzaghe is an English boxer who was several times world champion and retired some years ago without ever having been defeated.

For some, he is the best English boxer of all time. However, Calzaghe is perhaps most famous when he was caught on a hidden camera while using cocaine.

4- Jake LaMotta

(1921, USA) Giacobbe LaMotta was a huge American middleweight champion boxer who owes world fame to the film Raging Bull, director Martin Scorsese's masterpiece based on LaMotta's autobiography.

However, the boxer was already famous before the film, and not only for his athletic ability, but for his scandalous and controversial personal life. For those who want to know more, we recommend not to miss Scorsese's movie.

5- Salvador Sánchez

(1959-1982, Mexico) This Mexican boxer was a world featherweight champion and is considered one of the greats of boxing in Mexico and the world.

The fight he played with the Puerto Rican Wilfredo Gómez is one of the milestones in the history of world sport. In 1991 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

6- Mike Tyson

(1966, United States) The always controversial Tyson could not be absent, perhaps the best-known boxer today by those who do not follow this sport closely.

When he started, he was famous for his fearsome power and for having beaten and crushed his first 37 opponents. Then his life of waste, scandals and having ripped out an ear from Holyfield in the middle of a fight, kept him on the tabloid front pages of the newspapers.

7- Wilfredo Gómez

Image via: AP

(1956, Puerto Rico) With a record of 44 wins (42 by knockout), three losses and a draw, Gómez is a national hero in his hometown, Puerto Rico. He was a three-time world champion and entered the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1995.

8- George Foreman

(1949, United States) Foreman's private and professional life are difficult to divide. He was a two-time heavyweight world champion and then became more famous as a businessman and… as a reverend! He is considered one of the best heavyweights in history.

His fight with Muhammad Ali in 1974 in Zaire, called 'The Rumble in the Jungle', is one of the most spectacular in history.

9- Joe Frazier

(1944-2011, United States) He defeated none other than Jerry Quarry, Oscar Bonavena, Buster Mathis, Doug Jones and George Chuvalo, but is known worldwide for having participated in the Fight of the Century in 1971, alongside Muhammad Ali.

10- Rocky Marciano

(1923-1969, United States) This Italian-American boxer was the only one to retire undefeated in the heavyweight category. Marciano is also famous for his powerful 43 knockouts and for being a world champion from 1952 to 1956.

11- Éder Jofre

(1936, Brazil) Jofre is a Brazilian idol known worldwide for being the best bantamweight boxer in history. In his country, he also ventured into politics although today he is retired from both the boxing arena and politics.

12- Roberto Duran

(1951, Panama) This Panamanian giant, known by his nickname "Manos de Piedra", is considered the best lightweight in all of history. And what's more: many consider him the best Latin American boxer of all time.

13- Pernell Whitaker

(1964, United States) Whitaker is one of the great amateur boxers of all time. He started boxing when he was nine years old, winning 201 of the 214 fights he fought, 91 of them by knockout. Then, in his professional career, he was a two-time world champion.

14- Marvin Hagler

(1954, United States) This former boxer was a world middleweight champion and in his entire career he was never knocked out. For that alone he deserves eternal fame in this sport. But in addition, he has a record 62 wins, three draws and two losses.

15- Ruben Olivares

(1947, Mexico) Olivares is incredibly popular in Mexico, and not only for his wonderful boxing skills: he is also a film actor. The "Púas" was several times world champion and was a star of the bantamweight.

16- Jose Napoles

(1940, Cuba) This Mexican nationalized Cuban boxer is nicknamed “El Mantequilla” for his subtlety when boxing. His story as a Cuban exile made him even more famous. Some consider him one of the top 10 boxers of all time.

17- Archie Moore

Image via: nndb.com

(1916-1998, United States) Moore was a world champion in the light heavyweight category, but he is world famous for having won by knockout in no less than 131 fights. An absolute record.

18- Ezzard Charles

(1921-1975, United States) He was an American heavyweight champion boxer. He beat many of the most famous boxers in the world and retired with a record of 93 wins, 25 losses and a draw.

19- Pipino Cuevas

(1957, Mexico) This former Mexican boxer, world welterweight champion, is famous for owning a restaurant and a security company in Mexico City, and for having an impressive collection of luxury cars.

He is also recognized for being one of the first boxers to wear a gold tooth. In 2001 he was accused of being part of organized crime in Mexico, but was acquitted in 2002. He won 35 fights, 31 of them by knockout.

20- Oscar de la Hoya

(1973, United States) De la Hoya is a boxer of Mexican origin who was born in the United States and was champion in six different categories. He rose to fame in 1992, when he won the gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics. He is considered one of the best boxers of all time. He is also a singer.

21- Hector Camacho

(1962-2012, Puerto Rico) Nicknamed "El Macho", this boxer is famous for his quality and flamboyant personality.

He was never knocked out and became champion in three different categories. In addition, he is the first boxer to be a champion seven times. His participation in television programs is also frequent, and he even had his own reality show: “Its Macho Time”.

22- Sugar Ray Leonard

(1956, United States) Leonard is, for a vast majority, one of the best boxers in history. He was the first to win five world titles in different categories and is the star of some of the most exciting fights in the sport. His historic rivalry with “Mano de Piedra” Durán made him even more famous.

23- Henry Armstrong

(1912-1988, United States) In the 1980s, the prestigious magazine The Ring ranked him as the second best boxer of all time, a distinction seconded by journalist Bert Sugar.

In his professional career, Henry was the only boxer to win three championships simultaneously.

24- Floyd Mayweather Jr.

(1977, United States) Controversial, flamboyant and successful, this American boxer is perhaps the most famous today, although he retired in 2015 after beating the best-positioned rivals in his category.

Mayweather is considered one of the great fighters of recent years and of history, after finishing his professional career without defeats. In addition, he became famous for the wealth he achieved in the ring: just by the confrontation with Manny Pacquiao he pocketed about 5 million dollars.

25- Kid Gavilán

(1926-2003, Cuba) Former Cuban boxer who had nothing more and nothing less than 143 professional fights, of which he won 107, 27 by knockout. He lived in Mexico and the United States and in 1966 was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame.

26- Emile Griffith

(1938-2013, United States) Griffith was a great American boxer who won world championships, but whose fame is also due to an unfortunate incident he suffered in 1992, when he was savagely beaten while leaving a gay bar in New York.

Due to the blows he received, he was hospitalized for four months. Years later, the boxer clarified in an interview that he liked both men and women: “But I don't like the word homosexual, gay or fag. I don't know what I am. I love men and women equally ”.

Also in his autobiography he spoke on the subject: “I keep wondering how strange all this is. I kill a man and most understand and forgive me. However, I love a man and those same people consider it an unforgivable sin. "

27- Marcel Cerdan

(1916-1949, French) Not all the boxers on this list are Latino or American. Cerdan was a French boxer, world middleweight champion and the only representative of France in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

His fame is also due to the romance he had with the singer Édith Piaf and his rivalry with Jake La Motta.

28- Nino Benvenuti

(1938, Italy) And as the representative of Italy we have the great Nino Benvenuti, the best Italian fighter of all time. He had 120 wins and no losses throughout his long career.

29- Nicolino Locche

(1939-2005, Argentina) Argentine Locche was called "The Untouchable" for his incredible defensive skills. For many, no one in boxing history defended himself like Nicolino.

He was world super lightweight champion and in 2003 he was added to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Its popularity was so great that songs and even artistic paintings have been dedicated to it.

30- Joe Louis

(1914-1981, United States) Known as "The Detroit Bomber", this American boxer is one of the best heavyweights in history.

He was champion in that category for eleven years! A record that no one has yet been able to beat. He was a symbol of self-improvement for African Americans and during World War II he enlisted in the army.