Top Five Most Successful Boxers
When people think of the greatest and most successful boxers in history, a few names likely come to mind. The likes of Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, and Floyd Mayweather are probably very high on people’s lists of boxing legends.
Whether they were in the heavyweight boxing division or another weight class, these are among the fighters seen as the greatest ever.They might have huge reputations, but they are not necessarily the undefeated boxers of all time.
Below is a list of the top five most successful boxers, based solely on the number of bouts they won during their careers.
1. Willie Pep – 229 wins
The great Willie Pep, a 5ft 5inch Italian American from Connecticut, managed to box in 241 bouts during his career. He was considered among the very best featherweight boxers in history; he had the speed of thought and feet that made him almost impossible to beat.
What many people do not know about Willie Pep is that he once fought against Sugar Ray Robinson in an amateur fight. The bout took place in a feed store in Norwich, Connecticut, and Pep lost through a judge’s decision.
One of the most impressive aspects of Pep as a boxer is that he kept going until he was 43. Considering the brutality of the sport, it was a testament to his durability and winning record that he could fight in so many bouts for decades.
2. Archie Moore – 183 wins
Another great boxer who may not be as well known to the current generation, Archie Moore, fought into his 40s. Moore, born in 1913, even lied about his age earlier in his career. He claimed to be three years younger than he was!
No boxer has ever achieved more knockouts than Moore, with Archie knocking out his opponent a historical 131 times. Most surprising about his career is that he did not fight for a title until he was 39 when he beat Joey Maxim.
Moore did face off against Muhammad Ali when he was 45, and Ali was only 20. Naturally, Ali knocked him out in four rounds, and Moore only fought once more before retiring.
3. Sugar Ray Robinson – 175 wins
One of the most famous names on this list, Sugar Ray Robinson, is considered the best pound for pound boxer of all time. He had an 85-0 record when he was an amateur, knocking out his opponent in the first round in 40 of those clashes.
Even when he became a professional, he went on a lengthy winning streak, claiming 40 victories before losing to Jake LaMotta in February 1942.
Robinson dusted himself off after that loss, worked on his game, and went on to win 91 straight fights. He defeated LaMotta another five times during that run.
4. Ted Lewis – 173 wins
Ted Lewis, also called “Kid” Lewis, grew up in the East End of London. A young Jewish boy, Lewis eventually joined the London Judean Athletic Club and fought for pocket money as a 14-year-old.
Thanks to his incredible left hook and a very fast, elusive style, Lewis became a professional boxer when he was only 15. By the time he was 19, he had won the British Featherweight title and was the European Featherweight Champion one year later.
His 20s brought even more success, as Lewis went to fight in the United States and other venues. He defeated Jack Britton for the Welterweight Championship in Madison Square Garden, New York. The two developed an intense rivalry, fighting another 20 times in their respective careers.
5. Sam Langford – 167 wins
With 167 victories in his career, Sam Langford is the boxer with the fifth-most wins of all time. Many boxing experts regard Langford as the best fighter who never fought for a title in his career.
The problem with Langford was that when he was at his peak, Jack Johnson was the World Champion. Since they were both black, Langford felt that early 1900s audiences were not eager to see two black athletes go head-to-head for a championship.
Another issue for Langford emerged in 1920 when he wanted to take on World Heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey. The latter chose not to fight Langford, and his manager stated they were “looking for someone easier” to fight next.
What Makes a Boxing Legend?
Considering the above list of boxers with the most wins in history, enthusiasts of the sport may be wondering what makes a boxing legend. While there are a few familiar names on the list, there are others about whom only boxing aficionados may know.
Why are the boxers who have won the most games in history not the ones who are remembered as the best ever? One of the reasons is that longevity is not necessarily the marker for a boxing great.
Some of the most well-known and legendary fighters may only have managed a few years at the top, but their peak was so great that they are seen as legends.
Regardless of any person’s opinion on who is the best heavyweight boxer of all time, the above five boxers hold records that no one is likely to beat for a long time.