| | ESPN2 Friday Night Fights concluded its "Pound-for-Pound Month" on
Friday Nov. 27 by revealing the "All-Time Pound-for-Pound Fighter" lists
of analysts Teddy Atlas and Max Kellerman, and boxing fans voting on
ESPN.com. While Atlas and Kellerman agreed Sugar Ray Robinson was the
greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all time, ESPN.com voters chose
Muhammad Ali as "The Greatest."
Ali received nearly four times as many first place votes from ESPN.com
participants than did runner-up Robinson.
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ALL-TIME POUND-FOR-POUND BOXERS
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Kellerman:
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Atlas:
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ESPN.com:
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1. Sugar Ray Robinson
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1. Sugar Ray Robinson
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1. Muhammad Ali
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2. Henry Armstrong
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2. Henry Armstrong
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2. Alexis Arguello
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3. Muhammad Ali
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3. Muhammad Ali
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3. Henry Armstrong
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4. Harry Greb
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4. Benny Leonard
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4. Sugar Ray Robinson
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5. Sam Langford
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5. Sam Langford
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5. Joe Louis
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6. Pernell Whitaker
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6. Harry Greb
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6. Roy Jones Jr.
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7. Roberto Duran
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7. Mickey Walker
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7. Julio Cesar Chavez
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8. Willie Pep
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8. Roberto Duran
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8. Abe Attel
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9. Benny Leonard
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9. Gene Tunney
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9. Ray Leonard
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10. Ezzard Charles
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10. Carlos Monzon
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10. Rocky Marciano
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10a. Jimmy Wilde
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10a. Joe Louis
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10a. Wilfred Benitez
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"I'm quite honored that so many still consider me "The Greatest."
However, there were many who went before me who paved the way, and my
idol will always be Sugar Ray Robinson, who was, and remains, one of the
best pound-for-pound fighters to have ever lived in this century." -
Muhammad Ali
While there were many similarities among the lists, Kellerman, Atlas,
ringside commentator Bob Papa and studio host Brian Kenny were
particularly surprised that ESPN.com fans listed Abe Attel in their top
10. Attel was a featherweight champ around the turn of the century who
made a record number of title defenses.
When asked if any current boxer could rank with Robinson, Kellerman
said, "Roy Jones, Jr. comes to mind in terms of physical talent. But
Robinson combined all the physical talents and natural athleticism with
incredible skill -- the scientific skill which Jones does not have, and
the toughness which Jones has yet to display."
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