If you have trouble quoting other great names in the field of boxing such as Mohammed Ali and Rocky Balboa, It is because your culture in this field needs to be reviewed. The discipline, however, has some striking characters (we didn’t say “sympathetic”) who, in their time, helped to elevate this sport which consists in putting loaves in the face to the rank of art, what I say, of “noble art”. A small review of the size of the category Queen, the heavyweights that it was not necessary to fuck too much.
Mohamed Ali (USA)
Despite his failed return, his defeat in the Battle of the century and his disappointment at not remaining undefeated like Rocky Marciano, Cassius Clay remains “The Greatest” for his style, his political activism and his role in the extreme media coverage of his discipline. If you haven’t done it yet, watch the documentary “When we were Kings” to finish convincing yourself.
Rocky Marciano (USA)
Forty-nine fights, 43 Ko, no defeat. Impeccable statistics that inspire Stallone’s film. A tragic death in a plane in 1969 will complete the construction of the legend.
Joe Frazier (USA)
The high point of Ali’s great rival’s career will be this famous “fight of the century” in March 1971, won by a Frazier, the man who inspired Rocky to race on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and to train to strip the neighborhoods of brioche in cold room.
George Foreman (USA)
The man who deprived Frazier of his belts remains famous for having been subjected to the law of Mohammed Ali in Kinshasa in the legendary “Rumble in the Jungle”. But this does not taint Foreman’s record as Olympic and World champion, earning his last belt at 46 in 1994. Or sell hundreds of barbecue grill nowadays.
Jack Dempsey (USA)
The “killer of Manassa”, the town that saw him born in 1895, is the undisputed champion of his discipline in the early 1920s and becomes the first excellent star of modern boxing. His innovations in fighting techniques, including Dempsey Roll, have inspired generations of boxers, including Street Fighter and Tekken. That’s saying.
Joe Louis (USA)
World champion from 1937 to 1949, the “brown bomber” had to in his career to rub against the Nazi icon of boxing, Max Schmeling, opening the way with Jesse Owens to African-American athletes.
Mike Tyson (USA)
We can’t forgive his wanderings on and off the rings, between rape conviction and ear pulling, but Iron Mike remains the youngest World Champion of his discipline and one of the most spectacular fighters of his sport. The one that got you up at 4: 00 in the morning for a 17-second fight.
Evander Holyfield (USA)
Holyfield has done everything to achieve his belt goal in the queen category: give up a career in the Army, gain weight, knock out all the guys who stood in his way and finally get ripped off half his ear by Tyson, for whom he has always nurtured a certain fascination.
George Chuvalo (Canada)
The Canadian with Croatian origin managed to win the world title 6 times between 1958 and 1978 and lost it each time in the stride. Head up, maybe, but Chuvalo has nevertheless established himself as a must-see in his class for more than 20 years.
Lennox Lewis (UK)
In the shadow of Holyfield, the “Lion” managed to offer a few belts to the UK with the way (victory in 30 seconds, record payout against Tyson, epic match against Vitali Klitschko) before dropping in full glory in 2004, without leaving any of his defeats without revenge.