The greatest fighter of all time for the most part is not a huge debate. A man by the name of Walker Smith, Jr. occupies the spot. Most historians agree that the 147-pound version of this man was the ultimate fighting machine. He stood almost 6 feet tall, carried death in both hands and the killer instinct of a paid assasin. You may know him as Sugar Ray Robinson.
While he is most clear choice as the best fighter ever in the views of most respected observers, I feel as though a few men could have legitimately put themselves in the arguement during my lifetime. Unfortunately, these potentials suffered an unkind FATE. Here are the super 7 who had their chance, two of them by the way still have a shot.
Roberto Duran had the world at his feet by the summer of 1980. He had only lost once in over 13 years as a pro. That lone defeat he avenged twice by knockout. He had longevity , along with superior skill and there was an air of invincability around him for a long time which are sticking points in order to be included in the arguement of the greatest fighter ever. Had Duran won the No Mas fight (2nd fight vs. Leonard), defeated Benitez in their 154lb title fight, steered clear of Hearns, the outcome of the Hagler fight could still becomes a nonfactor since Duran was past his prime fighting an all time great middleweight in his prime. Dropping that majority decision was more than an acceptable loss. Duran could have had a legitimate arguement as the best ever. Depite his glutony and the no mas fight, and many hot and cold performances following the Leonard series, many regard him in the top 10 pound for pound and clearly the greatest Latino fighter of all time. Imagine the regard he would be held in with a few tweaks here and there.
Fate was not very kind to Ray Charles Leonard. he is the only person on the list who suffered a career threatening injury. Many bring up that Ray does not have a high number of fights and that is true his career mark is only 36-3-1 but what people fail to realize that although he had only 7 fights after his 26th birthday, he was very active before that. He was 32-1 before is initial retirement. That detached retina really cost Ray. Had Leonard not been injured after his victory over Hearns, Ray could’ve fought Aaron Pryor in late 82 or even better 83 after Pryer defeated Arguello. That fight would’ve been huge by then and Ray would have been the favorite. Then Ray could have fought and beat 2 out of the 3 young guns at the time in Donald Curry, Tony Ayala and Mike McCallum. Ray would have been the favorite again in all of those tough fights. After all that all we would have to do is bring the Hagler victory up to maybe 85 or 86 instead of 87 and Ray Leonard would be right there next to Ray Robinson.
Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns is next on the list. Today he is known as an all time great, but very vulnerable. He is known for losing his two biggest fights despite putting up historic efforts in both. It’s easy to forget how Hearns was viewed before the first Leonard fight. He was invincible or so we thought. A 6’1 welter with power and speed on par with Robinson. The road to being the best ever would have been easier for Hearns than almost anybody on this list. All Hearns had to do was beat Leonard and Hagler. It’s not as simple as it sounds but it is concievable that he could’ve won both of those fights. We wouldn’t have to change the result of the Iran Barkley fight. That could be dismissed to Barkley just having his number. His victories over Virgil Hill, Juan Roldan and Dennis Andries would have made up for the Barkley debacle. Tommy was so close.
Julio Cesar Chavez was on his way had he not ran into Pernell Whitaker.Had Chavez beat Whitaker he would have beat Frankie Randall. I beleive he would have taken the next few years very serious instead of training on beer and reached his mark of 100-0. That would have been phenomenal. Even if Oscar would have given him the business in 1996 like he did, it would have been forgiven. All old champions are given that pass when they lose to a young gun like Oscar was at the time.
Roy Jones Jr. had an inclination not to take risk in the boxing ring. And that cost him. He along with Ray Leonard are the only people on the list , had they completed these hypothetical scenarios I believe would have been like 50/50 with Robinson as being the best ever. Roy took the least amount of risk or so he thought and moved back down to 175lb after he beat John Ruiz at heavyweight in 2003. All Roy had to do was stay ay heavyweight and beat Tyson and Holyfield. He would have been virtually unbeaten in 16 years as a pro starting at 154 and moving up to heavyweight. Those fights would have been winnable and the spotlight would have been on Jones. What a shame. Instead he moved back down to 175 and gave Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson career defining victories instead of giving himself the ultimate legacy.
If you notice I went in chronological order as I listed the fighters. The last two I’m sure everybody can guess are Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. Starting with Floyd. Had Floyd not retired after the Hatton fight and lined up Cotto, Mosley, Margarito, Paul Williams and Manny Pacquiao. He would escape his biggest criticism. Ducking prime opponents at 147. Floyd would have been the favorite in all these fights. I know he thinks legacy don’t pay bills but by the time these fights would have happened Floyd could have commanded high 8 figures for each fight and earned closed to 100 million. So legacy would have paid bills 100 times over. He could have made a strong claim as the best fighter ever, he still makes the claim as of right now but his case would have been stronger had he ran through the list. As for Pacquiao he has an outside shot, but not an impossible one. Should Manny destroy the Mayweather/Mosley winner and beat Paul Williams he will be in the arguement.
None of us would have seen anything like Manny should he do this.I know Williams would be a tough out for the 5’6″ Pacquiao but we are talking about being the best fighter ever right? Manny beating Paul Williams is not as impossible as you may think although I would favor Williams. Carlos Quitana and Sergio Martinez are both fast southpaws who gave Willaims fits. Who is too say Freddie Roach could not come up with a perfect game plan and he and Manny do the impossible. Manny must also never and I mean never fail any kind of PED test. That would simply ruin his legacy.
Not very often do you see individuals with legitimate chances to be the best ever at something. The best ever arguement goes way beyond the Hall of Fame and even being an all time great. It’s a rare honor and priviledge .I believe every athlete should attack full force once it’s in their grasp. Floyd and Manny are the only two left in boxing with a legitimate chance hopefully they attack with full force from here on out.
