Boxing's Greatest Fighters

by Bert Randolph Sugar

Easily the most enduring of all sports questions is "Who was/is the best . . . ?" Perhaps in no sport is the question more asked and argued over than in boxing. And in boxing perhaps none is more qualified to answer the question than Bert Randolph Sugar.
In Boxing's Greatest Fighters, not only does the former publisher of Ring Magazine tell us who the best fighters were, he lists them in order.

Could Sugar Ray Robinson have beaten Muhammad Ali? Could Sugar Ray Leonard have beaten Sonny Liston? The answer, most experts agree, would be "no." But what if, as Bert Sugar has done here, one were to take all the boxers and reduce them in the mind's eye to the same height, the same weight, and the same ring conditions? The answers would be quite different.

And while some fans may express outrage that Rocky Marciano barely makes the top twenty, and Marvin Hagler staggers into the top seventy-five, others will nod eagerly when they read that Harry Greb and Benny Leonard were better than just about anybody.
So whether you read Boxing's Greatest Fighters cover to cover, pick your
favorites at random, or simply browse through the many rare photographs, "at
the bell, come out arguing."

Genres: Sports

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Bert Randolph Sugar was a boxing writer and sports historian.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never really liked Sugar's writing style and attempts at humor, but you have to respect the man's passion for the sport and knowledge. The other major issue I have with this book is that I feel that Sugar highly overrates old-time fighters that, in my opinion, would not be able to deal with the level of athleticism that today's fighters possess. Regardless, this book is a must-read for boxing fans.

[Sancho]

I'd rate this book a solid 5/5. Provides a lot of information about history's greatest fighters. Such as providing the details of how they started their careers. Every main event they won including golden gloves championships, nationals, and mane event amauture bouts.

[Jim Mcclanahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compendium by Bert Sugar, the heir apparent to Nat Fleischer as boxing's most knowledgeable historian. Each of the selections in his pantheon of pugilists gets a nice historical bio and the author's evaluation of their place in the hierarchy. Can't agree with all the ratings, but can't argue with the facts displayed, which are considerable.

[Austin Peed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly new fan of the sweet science. Bert Sugar paints a nice picture of who these fighters were and takes you back to the ring itself as he describes the careers and battles of past greats. Sometimes can be over the top with his humor but it left me wanting to read more about each fighter and their life in and out of the ring.

[Steven jb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book had many interesting stories about boxers, selecting 100 of the best.

[Hadji VanderVeer · Rating 5 out of 5]

although a couple of great fighters were exempt, good account of the boxing greats of the past and present.

[Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

great

[Allison]

why is mavin haglar so