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By: Tim Donaldson
Photos: Bret "The Threat" Newton
As I sit in my office, pondering the past year and wondering what I
should write, my eyes fall on some of the boxing memorabilia
that I have collected over time. Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney,
Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, and Smokin Joe Frazier stare
back at me, inspiring me. They are remembered and will be
remembered as some of boxing’s greatest champions. I start
to wonder. Who, out of those I have watched fight this year,
will be remembered 50 years from now? Who will I be talking
about when I am a toothless old man?
So I got to work on a list. I asked friends and family their
thoughts as well. And what I have found is that we all have
our own favorites, and we all put them in our own order. So
this is my list and my reasons:
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1. Bernard Hopkins - I put Bernard Hopkins at the top
of the list for one reason. In two weeks he will be turning 47.
How many of the fighters on this list will still be fighting
when they are 46 or 47? However, Hopkins is not simply fighting,
he is winning. He is one of the most consistent fighters in
boxing, and he just keeps proving this to us. Sure he likes to
show off, doing pushups between rounds at the Pascal fight. But
why shouldn’t he show off? Typically if a fighter fights into
their 40’s, they simply end up embarrassing themselves. But not
Hopkins. So that is why I believe Bernard Hopkins deserves the
number one spot. |
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2.
Juan Manuel Marquez
- Even without fighting Pacquiao, I would consider Marquez one
of the greatest fighters of our time. He consistently chooses
the best opponents to fight. How many fighters can we say that
about? And then there are the three fights against Pacquiao.
Yes, I do believe Marquez was robbed in the last fight. It is
not the first time either. The really great thing about Marquez
is that you know that if he fights again, he will once again
choose the best. |
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3. Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao -
Now I have made the Pacquiao fans mad. What? How can this be?
Manny not at number one? Pacquiao truly is one of the great
fighters of our time. He has beaten nearly everyone put in front
of him, and he almost always makes it look easy. There is one
thing that will plague his reputation, however. Floyd
Mayweather? No. It is the man in the number two slot. |
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4. Floyd Mayweather
- Floyd and Floyd fans will be upset that I put him at number 4, but as
I said this is my list. Floyd Mayweather is a great fighter, no
doubt, but he will be remembered as much for his antics outside
of the ring as those in the ring. But so is Muhammad Ali and
many other great fighters. Mayweather is a great defensive
fighter, who can dictate a fight to his opponent. For you
doubters, I am sure you are saying what about Ortiz? Yes, it
seemed like a cheap shot to me, but he got away with it and he
won the fight. For Mayweather, it is all about winning. |
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5.
Sergio Martinez -
Martinez will be remembered for many reasons. What boxing fan
can forget the way Martinez knocked out Paul Williams in the
second round of their second fight? However, the real reason he
belongs here is his fighting style. For most fighters, fighting
with hands down would be a dangerous strategy, but for Martinez
it seems to be a strength. Not only does he fight hands down,
but he likes to stick his chin out there, just taunting his
opponent to hit him. When his opponent does attempt to hit him,
he manages to land his shot. As he himself has said, he would
not be “Maravilla,” marvel or wonder, if he did not fight with
his hands down. |
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6. Miguel Cotto - Maybe I am partial, or maybe my wife
is making me put him in the list, but I do believe he belongs
here. Cotto seemed unstoppable until Antonio Margarito did
exactly that back in 2008. But Cotto has now put that demon to
rest. Truly, the two Cotto, Margarito fights will be talked
about for years. Unfortunately for Cotto, just like Ali cannot
be mentioned without Frazier, Cotto’s name will be forever
linked with his arch enemy Margarito. |
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7. Vitali Klitschko -
No disrespect to the Klitschko brothers, but too many of us in
the United States, we see them as the two headed giant that
rules the Heavyweight division. So many here like to complain
that they are boring and only remain on top because of their
size. However, this is a weak argument. Every fighter has a
weakness, this includes Vladimir and Vitali, but no one
currently in the Heavyweight division has been able to exploit
their weaknesses. Size might get you to the top of the heap, but
it will not keep you there. |
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8.
Wladimir Klitschko - No disrespect to the Klitschko
brothers, but too many of us in the United States, we see them
as the two headed giant that rules the Heavyweight division. So
many here like to complain that they are boring and only remain
on top because of their size. However, this is a weak argument.
Every fighter has a weakness, this includes Vladimir and Vitali,
but no one currently in the Heavyweight division has been able
to exploit their weaknesses. Size might get you to the top of
the heap, but it will not keep you there. |
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9. Yuriorkis Gamboa - Despite the fact that Max
Kellerman seems to think that Gamboa simply is not exciting
enough (does Max actually watch all the fights aired on HBO?
There are many worse fighters getting exposure on your network,
Mr. Kellerman.), Gamboa continues to win fights in a convincing
way. Will he be the next Pacquiao as some suggest? Only time
will tell. But if his career continues on the current path, I do
expect that he will be remembered years to come. |
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10.
Andre Ward -
I have included Ward for a few reasons. I got to see Ward fight
live for the first time at the Super Six Final, and I have to
say I was impressed. For me, boxing is as much a sport about
out-thinking your opponent as it is a sport of brute force. Ward
controlled the fight against Froch from beginning to end. Most
of the British press realized this, even though the judges
failed to see it. And beyond this one fight, you have to give
Ward credit for making it through the Super Six tournament
undefeated. |
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"Threat"
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