Speaking of The Ultimate Book of Boxing Lists
By Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media Correspondent
The late Bert Sugar and Teddy Atlas teamed with Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Iran Barkley, Ruben Olivares, Thomas Hearns and others to write ‘The Ultimate Book of Boxing Lists’ which was published in 2010 by Running Press. I’d like to propose a few additions, corrections and changes. Bert’s no longer with us (may he rest in peace) but then again, boxing changes, and experts also make mistakes here and there, now and then, so forgive them as you have got to change your data with the times.
Top ten all-time heavyweight champions: add John L. Sullivan
Boxing’s most colorful characters: add Howard Cosell, Teddy Atlas, Ray Leonard
Best physique: add Jack Johnson
Best boxing IQs: Add Bobby Czyz (member of Mensa)
Most devastating single punch knockout: add Juan Manuel Marquez over Manny Pacquiao in round six of their fourth meeting. Yatsutsune Uehara KO 6 over Sammy Serrano in their first meeting, Wilfredo Benitez KO 12 Maurice Hope
Best chin: add the late Hector Macho Camacho Sr at #6, remove Randy Tex Cobb
Greatest Latino fighters: add Carlos Monzon, remove Ruben Olivares (who wrote that list in the book. Sorry, Olivares, don’t nominate yourself at number one.)
Most memorable rounds in boxing history: Add Muhammad Ali versus Ken Norton II round 15 in Yankee Stadium, remove Larry Holmes versus Ken Norton. Yankee stadium was far more memorable due to the location.
Greatest Olympic boxers: add George Foreman, Joe Frazier, and Ray Leonard
Great British fighters: add Amir Khan. Greatest meaning most popular to the Brits.
Boxing’s top technicians: add Larry Holmes. Timothy Bradley might get there later.
Best pre-fight lines: add John L. Sullivan, who said could lick any……….in the house.
Great fan favorites: add Thomas Hearns, Teddy Atlas, and Emmanuel Steward
Most menacing nicknames: add The Manassa Mauler, Jack Dempsey
Take two to give one fighters: add Benny Kid Paret, who would take too many
Top boxing movies: add Rocky III and Rocky IV with Stallone, Lungren and Mr. T.
Ring generalship: add Carlos Monzon, unbeaten in last 80 consecutive bouts
Best cornermen and trainers: add Emanuel Steward and Freddie Roach
History’s busiest punchers: add Ike Ibeabuchi, may he one day fight again
Greatest defensive fighters: add Bernard Hopkins, who won a title again at age 48 by making the world champion miss him over 500 times
Boxing’s greatest upsets: Juan Manuel Marquez scoring a knockout over Manny Pacquiao. Who would have believed it possible before the bout? Answer: nobody.
Greatest Cuban fighters: there are enough names out there for this list to change
Most disappointing heavyweight title bouts: add Lennox Lewis versus Andrew Golota
Most controversial decisions: add Timothy Bradley versus Manny Pacquiao, but then again, so many decisions are awful-like Paul Williams versus Erislandy Lara-the book does not have room for all of the possible additions in this category
Fighters remembered more for their losses than their wins: add Britain’s Peter Buckley, who after 300 losses, magically was able to win his final professional bout.Ringer’s luck, should we say?
Boxing’s great pound-for-pound all-time fighters: add Floyd Mayweather Jr.
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