As we move closer to the biggest fight of this century between undefeated world champion is five weight classes Floyd Mayweather and 8 division champions Manny Pacquiao its not easy to aviod the discussion of the greatest boxers of all times. But since Mayweather is carrying his undefeated record into the fight we take a look at some of the greatest undefeated boxers to have ever graced the sport of boxing.
Floyd Mayweather – 49-0, 26 KO’s (1996-)
Floyd “money” Mayweather, started his professional career in 1996 and by the time he faces Manny Pacquiao I might have to remove his name from this list (Highly unlikely though). But as for now he is easily one of the greatest boxer to have ever lived, he himself went notch ahead and call himself “the best ever” (which can be argued of course) but there is no denying the impact Mayweather’s career has had in recent boxing history. He has fought 20 world champions and came up triumph against each and every one of them
Update: Mayweather defeated Pacquiao unanimously in the fight which was billed as “Fight of the century”. Mayweather dominated in his own style without given much away. Pacquiao threw more punches but could not land as Mayweather was at his best again. If there was any doubt about the ability he possesses should be erased and he is one of the greatest boxer to have ever lived.
Rocky Marciano – 49-0, 43 KOs – (1947-1955)
One of the greatest boxers of all times, Rocky Marciono finished his career with a 49-0 record and fought some of the greatest boxers in different weight classes and he can make a big claim of making boxing a mainstream sport and starting pay per view stuff which later laid the foundation for the likes of Muhammad Ali.
Rocky Marciano’s career was short but highly successful, and fought some of the finest boxers including the great Joe Louis who came out from retirement to fight Rocky.
Ricardo Lopez – 51 wins, 1 draw, 38 KOs (1985-2001)
Uruguaying boxer Ricardo Lopez made his professional debut in 1985 in the strawweight division and whole his career he switched between strawweight and flyweight. During his career he fought some of the finest fighters from his division and that too in their prime. The fights on his resume are so impressive that he is unanimasouly considered the greatest Stawweight champion of all times. He hold the stawweight world title from 1990 to 1999 and than went on to become No.1 junior flyweight plus he was always in the pound of pound ranking from 1993 to 2001. He had a perfect record until Rosendo Alvarez earned a draw against him but in the very next fight which was the rematch he defeated Rosendo Alvarez to kept his WBA & WBC World minimumweight titles.
Joe Calzaghe 46-0, 32 KOs (1993 – 2008)
Hailed from Wales, Calzaghe made his debut back in 1993 made a name for himself fighting in United Kingdom and europe for best part of 15 years. He won WBO World super middleweight title by defeated British legend Chris Eubank in 1995 and managed to hold on to that belt till the end of the his career. It took him 15 years after his debut to fight in United States and when he did he defeated Roy Jones Jr and Bernard Hopkins in his last two fights of the career but most importantly finished his grand career without a defeat.
Like him or not he will go down as one of the greatest super middleweight boxers of all times, could have been the best had he not delayed his decision to fight in USA.
Edwin Valero 27-0, 27 KOs (2002-2010)
Venezuela boxer Edwin Valero started his boxing career back in 2002 in the lightweight division and he quickly made a name for himself. The calibre of the fight he was involved in was not world class but the way he ended the fights will always be remember. He is the only boxer in history to have a perfect knockout ratio having fight more than 25 times. He was suppose to fight Manny Pacquiao in near future when he killed himself along with his wife leaving behind and unbeaten record.
Laszlo Papp 27 wins, 2 draws, 15 KOs (1957-1964)
A short but very successfull professional boxing career put Hungary’s Laszlo Papp in the bracket of greatest undefeated boxers. He turned professional quite late in his career as he was busy winning Olympic gold medals (three of them) in the armature boxing. His failure to live up to his full potentional was somehow halted by Hungary government who denied him permission to travel abroad. His most notable victory came against “Ralph Tiger Jones” who defeated or should I say upset victory over legendary Sugar Ray Robinson. Had Papp able to fly without problems he was in line for them middleweight title fight which never materialized. He finished his career unbeaten at the age of 38.
Other Notable Mentions:
Jimmy Barry (59 win, 10 draws) & Packey McFarland: Both of these boxers fought in late 1800’s or early 1900’s and their claim for being unbeaten is disputed, having said that they Jim Barry recorded 59 win out of 69 fights with 10 ending in draw. This was the era when sometime newspaper would judge the fight. Jimmy Barry started his career in 1891 and fought 69 times in next 9 years. Some other names should be mentioned as well who might not be greatest of their era but were decent boxers with unbeaten records (google their names for more info)
Decent boxers with unbeaten records: Harry Simon | Ike Ibeabuchi | Terry Marsh | Young Mitchell | Sven Ottke
seems like all greats havent lost. lmoa you hear idiots say that all the time. .”ALL GREATS HAVE LOST.FLOYD HAS TO LOSE TO BE GREAT” HAHAHAHA
In order to be a true Champion, one must experience defeat and overcome it to return once again to the place where they met defeat and to then excell higher. Floyd is a great fighter and a master of the ART of boxing….and he has superior defensive skills. Other than that….he’s just an above average fighter who learned how the boxing “game” is played because of his upbringing around the sport. But he is far from being a TRUE BOXING CHAMPION…..Just a Champion not even in the top 20 all time.
Stfu. You’ve got a loser lifestyle and mentality. The man is a champion and has overcome every bit of adversity thrown at him. Losing is a choice and he made the decision to win and never make excuses.
I’ve got a realistic lifestyle and mentality and I also don’t feel the need to insult people just because their opinion differs from mine. In my opinion, that is the lifestyle and mentality of a loser. You might wanna brush up on your social skills son and learn how to have a conversation with others without feeling the need to insult them. Its just ignorant and childish and shows you have no confidence in yourself yet. Good Luck with that.
Then why not say that about the rest of the undefeated fighters on this list why did Floyd only become the basis of your opinion? Is he the only fighter youre familiar with on the list? If so how do you not know Edwin Valero, Ricardo Lopez, and Joe Calzaghe…all brash fighters… It seems like you singled someone out because you have disdain for them.
So humility makes you a great fighter? Once again you guys sound like ESPN2 is deciding for you. He is the best defensive fighter of all time. He understands boxing better than any fighter currently boxing. He has held titles at multiple weight classes. His record speaks volumes about his commitment to the sport . Really guys? Have you ever been in fight ? One punch in the face will make you appreciate his record of 49-0!
That’s funny you say one punch in the face because Floyd himself says and I quote “I have took less punishment than anyone else in boxing” which means he also hates and has barley ever been punched real good in boxing in the face by a powerful boxer and he also has dodged people come on now if I wanna fall asleep I put on a mayweather fight watch him dance dodge and literally barley get hit so no I don’t respect! His record it blows and is full of nobody Mexicans seriously he has fought 90% Mexicans not saying they bad just saying lol!
Floyd Mayweather the MOST OVERRATED OF ALL TIME. FUCK THAT LITTLE PUSSY RUNNING AROUND.
Damn you mad aint it..lol
Problem is, Mayweather has fought alot of chumps. And the Great fighters like De La Hoya, Pacquiao, Mosley etc.. he DODGED them for YEARS until they were on their way out! A true champion fights the BEST…AT THEIR BEST.
Also, his “fighting style” if you call it that, is plain boring to watch.
So true….he always uses the pay as an excuse to…a true boxer would want to prove them self with a knock out and wouldn’t give too shits about the purse….but maywether let the money consume him…now he isn’t even worth paying to watch….that’s y I like chillin with maywether fans free fight…lol…
Hate all day he is still the best not to mention a winner. He would knock yo ass out. Lmao
or you can just be too good and too much of a champ to be beaten. wtf kind of thought process is that?
thats just stupid..so you have to lose to be great??
You sound absolutely ridiculous! Have you ever been in a fight ? You train so you don’t experience defeat. You prepare in camp to avoid those gaps in your game. The art and science behind fighting is clearly something you don’t understand. You sound like a fan that watches to much ESPN .
I agree %100,000 percent. If that is even possible. People get carried away with his record and how much money he has generated and earned. But you are so right. If there were no room for talks of him ducking people, manipulating the sport in his favor, or paying off judges , he would without a doubt be considered TBE. But I can think of more than 5 fights that went in his favor that could have went either way. And 2 that should have resulted in him losing. He isn’t even top 20 for me though.
The thing is, is that Floyd has lost at a minimum 3 fights and possibly 4.He was given the fights by phoney judges that were either bought off or blind,it will all eventually come out in the future,remember the truth will set you free,Floyd will never be free.
shame shame shame….angst will eat you alive
I’m a boxing fan and a Floyd supporter and I agree he lost the 1st fight to Castillo but tell me the othe 3 please
The first fan that can Admit a lost he’s had….respect….the only things I hate about Floyd is how the money has consumed him and how he talks like he’s beat the shit out of every one he’s faced….49-0 with 27 ko’s not exactly beating the shit out of everyone he’s faced…granted a little over 50 % but still a few controversial wins
Correction 26 ko’s almost gave him extra credit…lol
Ricardo Lopez from URUGUAY? Are you doped, or what! MEXICAN…MEXICAN; stop writing about something, you obviously don’t know crap about!
he is still a piece of shit
you don’t know what your talking about you try growing up with a drug addicted mother and drug dealer for a father
Overrated Floyd will never go down as one oft he greatest. Only a fraud.
Delusional mind, Living in the Twilight Zone
You’r delusional, Living in the retards Twilight Zone
Sounds like your issue is more image rather than talent. Wash your eyes out and imagine he was a Ivy League graduate . Maybe that would help you ! Smh
RICARDO LOPEZ IS MEXICAN, not uruguayan.
Floyd Mayweather lost to Serafim Todorov in 1996 Olympic Games:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yo3Ar538Sf4
Therefore he is not unbeaten
I really think they mean as a pro. Every fighter listed by their pro record smh
Hater’s have no opinion, it’s only come from a dimension of a delusional mind of the twilight zone.
I know this is an old post but how in the h*ll can you use the word humble in your analysis then list 2 of the biggest shit talkers in boxing as being above Mayweather. Jones and Hopkins. Really? Some of you really need to do some research because if you did Jones would not be ranked in the top 100. If you comb thru Roy’s fights and the time of his fights who he fought and who he could’ve fought at that time period you’ll see that Roy did some major dodging throughout his entire career. And before you throw Ruiz out there cmon man Ruiz?
al 2nd that comment!!!!!!!!!
Funny how when Robin Leach was all over television promoting the lifestyles of the rich and famous everyone was glued in and in awe. Mayweather decides to cut out the middleman and bring it raw and uncut and he’s and asshole. I’ll just be nice and say double standard
The first Maidana fight was not close. Maidana was busy but ineffective. He threw over 800 punches and landed a lil over 200. I think he ended up landing about 23%
Watch some of the replays of Floyd’s fights in slow motion. Or just watch some of the highlight videos and I think you will appreciate his mastery of the sport at least.
Hey fellows, these men are all professional fighters. I have respect for them all. Any man put his life on the line for a sport, family, or serve his countr, definitely has my respect. All these men are great fighters. I’m glad to see them accomplish their dreams regardless of wins and losses, be respectfull and happy for them all, regardless of their nationality, color, or religion. We all are brothers made from GOD.
GIVE EACH OTHER RESPECT MEN,
——– Marciano was the Best ——– Go back and watch his fights on youtube