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Top 11 Living Boxers: Who sits at the top Duran or leonard?

Top 11 Living Boxers of all time!
Publish Date: 05/31/2023
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis
Sugar Ray Leonard li., USA gegen Roberto Duran Panama - PUBLICATION FOR GERMAN, SWISS, AUSTRIAN AND HUNGARIAN MEDIA ONLY Icon5980107

Β  Β This list only includes retired boxers

Who is the greatest living boxer? This list is for retired fighters only and is a subjective list. Let us know who we are missing and who you think should be number one?

11) Evander Holyfield

Holyfield was the epitome of a warrior. Holyfield is the greatest Cruiserweight that ever lived, and he fought all-comers. His trilogy with Riddick Bowe will go down in history as one of the greatest ever.

Video: The Legendary Skills Of Evander Holyfield

The Legendary Skills Of Evander Holyfield

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10) Floyd Mayweather

Love him or hate him, he was a great boxer. His most outstanding performance to me was the destruction of Diego Corrales. He was challenged very rarely. So the knock-on Mayweather is that he ducked some fighter or fought guys at weight disadvantages or guys past their prime, and while there is some truth to that, you can’t deny the man’s greatness.

Video: 10 Minutes Of Floyd Mayweather Perfecting The Sweet Science

10 Minutes Of Floyd Mayweather Perfecting The Sweet Science

9) Lennox Lewis

After beating Vitali Klitschko in a bloody brawl, Lewis walked away on his terms. Lewis physically and mentally would have been a formidable opponent for any fighter in history. Beat Holyfield twice(No matter what the judges said) and beat Mike Tyson, to name his most notable wins. He avenged his only two losses to Oliver McCall and Hasin Rahman. Lewis is a gentleman in and out of the ring.

Video: Lennox Lewis - Top 10 Knockouts (Tribute)

Lennox Lewis – Top 10 Knockouts (Tribute)

8) Thomas Hearns

Hearns never shied away from a challenge and always gave the fans their money’s worth. His most significant victory had to be his devastating second-round KO of Roberto Duran. In most eyes, he beat Sugar Ray Leonard in their rematch. Know more for his power, but his boxing ability was on a par with almost anybody in boxing history.

Video: Thomas Hearns - The Hitman

Thomas Hearns – The Hitman

7) George Foreman

Foreman started as the menacing monster that knocked out everybody. After losing his title to Muhammad Ali, he came back and stopped Ron Lyle in one of the greatest battles in boxing history. He retired in 1977 after an upset loss to Jimmy Young. He then unretired a decade later and would win the Heavyweight title again 20 years after losing it.

Video: Top 10 George Foreman Best Knockouts HD

Top 10 George Foreman Best Knockouts HD

6) Manny Pacquiao

Manny ranked ahead of Floyd because he took every fight he could get, and he feared no man. His resume is one of the best on this list and I still wonder what happens if Floyd-Manny happens in 2009 or 2010. Either way, Manny had the more impressive career.

Video: 10 Minutes Of Manny Pacquiao's Greatness In The Ring

10 Minutes Of Manny Pacquiao’s Greatness In The Ring

5) Roy Jones Jr

Jones may be the most talented boxer on this list. The issue with Roy was the level of competition he faced and the level of competition he chose not to face. On talent alone he could easily be number one, but his resume hurts him!

Video: Roy Jones Jr Highlights (Greatest Hits)

Roy Jones Jr Highlights (Greatest Hits)

4) Larry Holmes

Holmes was the Heavyweight champion for seven years and beat the likes of Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, and Gerry Cooney, to name a few. Holmes returned much like Foreman and upset the undefeated Ray Mercer to get a shot at the crown once again. But, unfortunately, he would lose a decision to Evander Holyfield and later would get another shot losing a close decision to champion Oliver McCall.

Video: Larry Holmes - Legendary Jab

Larry Holmes – Legendary Jab

3) Michael Spinks

Spinks cleared out a loaded Ligh Heavyweight division which included beating Dwight Braxton. He then moved up and became the first Light heavyweight champion to win the Heavyweight title defeating Larry Holmes.

Video: 10 Michael Spinks Greatest Knockouts

10 Michael Spinks Greatest Knockouts

2) Roberto Duran

He burst onto the scene with a dramatic stoppage of Ken Buchannon, which would lead to a six-year dominance of the Lightweight division. He then moved up in weight to chase the “Golden Goose” Sugar Ray Leonard. The rematch was different as Leonard embarrassed Duran, and Duran would quit In the eight-round. After a couple of up and down years, he would rebound to take Davey Moore’s Jr.Middleweight title and then take Middleweight champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler the distance. He would upset Iran Barkley for a portion of the Middleweight title a few years later.

Video: HBO Roberto Duran (Hands of Stone) Highlights

HBO Roberto Duran (Hands of Stone) Highlights

1) Sugar Ray Leonard

Leonard was the darling of the 1976 Olympics and became a household name all over the World. Beat Roberto Duran 2 times, even making the tough man from Panama quit in the second fight. He also beat Thomas Hearns, Wilfred Benitez, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

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Honorable Mentions

Ruben Olivares

Wladimir Klitschko

Mike Tyson

Mike McCallum

Andre Ward

Joe Calzaghe

Wilfred Benitez

Azumah Nelson

Juan Manuel Marquez

Β 

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