Looking back at seven of the all-time greats

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 knockouts. He turned professional in October 1940 and won his first 40 matches, scoring 30 by knockout.

In September 1941, Robinson defeated Marty Servo, 40-0-2. He then twice defeated 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 with him. Three weeks later, Robinson won the rematch. He would defeat LaMotta in 4 of 5 matches.

In December 1946, Robinson won the NBA welterweight title, defeating Tommy Bell, 39-10-3. In June 1947, he won the world title, stopping Jimmy Doyle 42-6-3.

In February 1951, Robinson, 121-1-2, stopped then-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, stopping Turpin at the Polo Grounds, New York.

In June 1952, Robinson, in an attempt to win the light heavyweight title from Joey Maxim, 78-18-4, took the lead after 13 rounds by scores of 10-3, 9-3-1, 7-3- 3. Referee Ruby Goldstein was replaced due to the 104-degree temperature. Robinson, 133-2-2, failed to get out in the 14th round. The rest is history, with a record of 41-17-4, obviously staying active too long.

In second place is Henry ‘Homicide Hank’ Armstrong, 149-21-10 with 99 knockouts, holding featherweight, welterweight and lightweight all at the same time.

He won his first world title in October 1937, knocking out NBA featherweight world champion Petey Sarron, 107-21-13, at Madison Square Garden in New York.

In May 1938, Armstrong won the world welterweight title, defeating Barney Ross, 74-3-3, at the Madison Square Garden Bowl, 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, New York. He lost the rematch to Lou Ambers, 84-6-7, in June 1939.

In September 1940, Robinson lost his welterweight title in consecutive fights to Fritzie Zivic, 100-24-5.