Pound for pound, let’s take a look at ten of the greatest boxers of all time. Let’s start with former welterweight and middleweight champion ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson, at 174-19-6 with 109 KOs. He turned professional in October 1940, winning his first 40 matches, scoring 30 by knockout.
In September 1941, Robinson defeated Marty Servo, 40-0-2. Then twice he beat former world champion Fritzie Zivic, 111-26-5. In October 1942, he improved to 36-0, defeating Jake ‘Bronx Bull’ LaMotta, 25-4-2. In February 1943, Robinson lost for the first time in a rematch against him. Three weeks later, Robinson won the rematch. He would beat LaMotta 4 out of 5 games
In December 1946, Robinson won the NBA welterweight title by defeating Tommy Bell, 39-10-3. In June 1947, he won the world title by stopping Jimmy Doyle 42-6-3.
In February 1951, Robinson, 121-1-2, stopped middleweight champion LaMotta, 78-14-3. In July 1951, he lost to Randy Turpin, 40-2-1, in the United Kingdom. Two months later, he regained the title by stopping Turpin at Polo Grounds, New York.
In June 1952, Robinson, attempting to win the light heavyweight title against Joey Maxim, 78-18-4, was ahead after 13 rounds with scores of 10-3, 9-3-1, 7-3-3. The referee, Ruby Goldstein, was replaced due to the 104-degree temperature. Robinson, 133-2-2, failed to advance to the 14th round. The rest is history, 41-17-4, obviously staying active far too long.
Second is Henry ‘Homicide Hank’ Armstrong, 149-21-10 with 99 KOs, holding both featherweight, welterweight and lightweight.
He won his first world title in October 1937, knocking out NBA world featherweight champion Petey Sarron, 107-21-13, at Madison Square Garden in New York.
In May 1938, Armstrong won the world welterweight title by defeating Barney Ross, 74-3-3, at the Madison Square Garden Bowl, in Long Island City, New York.
In August 1938, Armstrong won the lightweight title by split decision over Lou Ambers, 75-5-7, at Madison Square Garden in New York. He lost the rematch to Lou Ambers, 84-6-7, in June 1939.
In September 1940, Robinson lost his welterweight title in back-to-back fights to Fritzie Zivic, 100-24-5.
