Eight Americans, one Mexican and an Irishman who grew-up in Canada comprise the welterweight candidates list of “The World’s Greatest Ever Boxers,” which includes eight International Hall of Famers and the remaining two, Thomas Hearns and Oscar de la Hoya, are certainly headed there, too, when eligible.
On-line voting at www.GreatestEver.com allows boxing fans from around the world to select the greatest boxer in each of the original eight weight classes, highlighted by the all-time pound-for-pound “Greatest Ever.”
The eight categories represent the eight original weight-class divisions: Strawweights are included in the Flyweight category; Super Middleweight in the Light Heavyweight division. Many fighters fought and won titles at a number of different weights. As far as possible they have been nominated in the division that they made their biggest impact. Fighters have not been nominated on the basis of whether they would beat another fighter in that division, though this is, of course, a consideration. More importantly is their overall record, who they fought at the time, as well as the impact they made on the boxing world, and indeed the world around them. All nominees are listed in the voting section at www.GreatestEver.com.
The 10 Welterweight nominees, including the only two-divisional nominee in the promotion (Sugar Ray Robinson), listed in no particular order, follow with their brief profiles:
“Sugar” RAY ROBINSON – 175-19-6 2 NC (109 KOs)…IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1940-1965…85-0 (69 KOs) as an amateur…in the U.S. Army during WWII…world welterweight champion 1946-51, 128-1-2 (84 KOs) by 30 years old…5-time world middleweight champion…Notable Victories: Jake LaMotta (4), Carmen Casilio, Carl “Bobo” Olson, Henry Armstrong, Rocky Graziano, Kid Gavilan, Sammy Angott, Marty Servo, Fritzie Zivic, Izzy Jannazzo, Randy Turpin and Gene Fullmer.
BARNEY “The Pride of the Ghetto” ROSS – 72-4-3 2 ND (22 KOs) …IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1929-1938…U.S. Marine credited with killing 22 Japanese soldiers at Guadacanal…made more money than Babe Ruth and also had a candy bar named after him…later worked for Al Capone…first 3-weight class world champion…never stopped…Nitable Victories: Bat Battalino, Tony Canzoneri (2), Sammy Fuller, Jimmy McLarin (2) and Ceferino Garcia.
JIMMY “Baby Face” McLARIN – 74-4-3 2 ND (20 KOs)…IHOF…Irish…Pro Years: 1923-1935…moved to Vancouver when he was 3…2-time world champion…Sammy Mandell (2), Young Corbett III, Barney Ross, Tony Canzoneri and Lou Ambers.
MICKEY “The Toy Bulldog” WALKER – 93-19-14 1 NC 6 ND (60 KOs)…IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1919-1935…fought from welterweight up to heavyweight, including draw against heavyweight champ Jack Sharkey…Notable Victories: Jack Britton, Pete Latzo, Mike McTigue, Paul Berlenbach, and Maxie Rosenbloom.
OSCAR “Golden Boy” de la HOYA – 39-6 (30 KOs)…American…Pro Years: 1992-2008…1992 Olympic gold medalist…defeated 17 world champions…10-time world champion in 6 weight classes…1st American of Hispanic heritage to own a national boxing promotional firm (Golden Boy Promotions)…Notable Victories: Jorge Paez, John-John Molina, Rafael Ruelas, Gernaro Hernandez, Jesse James Leija, Julio Cesar Chavez (2), Pernell Whitaker, Hector Camacho, Ike Quartey, Arturi Gatti, Fernando Vargas, Yori Boy Campas and Felix Sturm.
THOMAS “Hit Man” HEARNS – 60-5-1 (47 KOs)…American…Pro Years: 1977-2006…8-time world champion in 6 weight classes…1977 National Golden Gloves Tournament champion…Notable Victories: Pipino Cuevas, Wilfredo Beneitez, Roberto Duran and Virgil Hill.
AARON “The Hawk” PRYOR – 39-1 (35 KOs)…IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1976-1990…204-16 as an amateur including 1972 National AAU Championship gold medal performance…later became a minister…Notable Victories: Alexis Arguello (2), Alphonso Frazer, Julio Valdez, Antonio Cervantes and Gaetan Hart.
“Sugar” RAY LEONARD – 36-3-1 (24 KOs)…IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1972-1999…named after Ray Charles…1976 Olympic gold medalist…8-time world champion in 5 weigh classes…Notable Victories: Wilfred Benitez, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler.
JOSE ANGEL “Mantequilla” NAPOLES – 77-7 (54 KOs)…IHOF…American…Pro Years: 1958-1975…Nickname means Butter…national hero in Cuba and Mexico…114-1 amateur in Cuba…found asylum in Mexico after Fidel Castro banned pro boxing in Cuba…Notable Victories: Carlos Hernandez, Eddie Perkins, Adolph Pruitt, Curtis Coke and Emile Griffith.
EMILE GRIFFITH – 85-24-2 1 NC (23 KOs)…IHOF…US Virgin Islander…Pro Years: 1958-1977…discovered by accident while working in a hat factory on a hot day when he stripped to his waist and owner sent him to trainer Gil Clancy…Notable Victories: Benny Paret, Dick Tiger, Nino Benvenuti, Bennie Briscoe, Joey Archer (2), Don Fullmer and Denny Moyer.
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