Ring Magazine's 100th Anniversary: Top 100 Ranking

From Hanz Cholo
10. ARCHIE MOORE

Career Record: 186-23-10, 1 No Contest (132 KOs, 7 KOBY) • First Ring Ranking: No. 5 Middleweight (July 1940) • Last Ring Ranking: No. 9 Heavyweight (May 1963) • Record vs. Ring-rated Opponents: 39-19-7 (18 KOs, 7 KOBY) • Overall Score Rank: 22 • Peak Score Rank: 17 • Win Total Rank: 4 • Ring Magazine Championships: Light Heavyweight (1952-62)

One of boxing’s great, ageless wonders, the “Old Mongoose” tackled contenders from middleweight to heavyweight for 17 years before finally getting a crack at a world title. Moore made the most of his opportunity and would be recognized by The Ring as champion for the next decade.


9. MANNY PACQUIAO

Career Record: 62-8-2 (39 KOs, 3 KOBY) • First Ring Ranking: No. 1 Flyweight (April 1999) • Last Ring Ranking: No. 5 Welterweight (December 2021) • Record vs. Ring-rated Opponents: 23-7-2 (11 KOs, 2 KOBY) • Overall Score Rank: 6 • Peak Score Rank: 9 • Win Total Rank: 23 • Ring Magazine Championships: Featherweight (2003-05), Junior Lightweight (2008), Junior Welterweight (2009-10)

The Filipino icon cracked Ring Magazine top 10s in four different decades from the 1990s to the 2020s with wins over reigning champions or opponents ranked in the top two of every weight class he competed in from flyweight to welterweight.

8.) EZZARD CHARLES

Career Record: 95-25-1 (52 KOs, 7 KOBY) • First Ring Ranking: No. 2 Middleweight (March 1942) • Last Ring Ranking: No. 10 Heavyweight (April 1956) • Record vs. Ring-rated Opponents: 36-16-1 (19 KOs, 5 KOBY) • Overall Score Rank: 24 • Peak Score Rank: 8 • Win Total Rank: 6 • Ring Magazine Championships: Heavyweight (1950-51)

The “Cincinnati Cobra” competed with the elite from middleweight to heavyweight for the better part of a decade without a title shot. Charles had some big wins and losses in the first three years of his career, reaching The Ring’s No. 1 contender spot at middleweight in the October-December 1942 issues before assuming the No. 2 contender spot at light heavyweight in the January 1943 issue.

7. WILLIE PEP

Career Record: 229-11-1 (65 KOs, 6 KOBY) • First Ring Ranking: No. 9 Featherweight (August 1942) • Last Ring Ranking: No. 10 Featherweight (February 1959) • Record vs. Ring-rated Opponents: 29-10-1 (7 KOs, 6 KOBY) • Overall Score Rank: 16 • Peak Score Rank: 7 • Win Total Rank: 11 • Ring Magazine Championships: Featherweight (1942-48, 1949-50)

Genius is a word easily abused, but not when it comes to Pep’s best years at featherweight. Pep won his first 62 fights with four wins against Ring-ranked opposition, including his featherweight title win over Chalky Wright, before his career was three years old. Pep spent only six months in the top 10, two of them as No. 1 contender, before winning a title he would hold in his first reign for almost six years. Sammy Angott handed him his first defeat in a lightweight contest in March 1943. By the time Pep lost again versus Sandy Saddler in October 1948, overcoming injuries suffered in a January 1947 plane crash along the way, Pep had run his record to 134-1-1. Saddler ended a 73-fight unbeaten streak.

6. FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.

Career Record: 50-0 (27 KOs) • First Ring Ranking: No. 10 Junior Lightweight (July 1998) • Last Ring Ranking: Welterweight Champion (December 2015) • Record vs. Ring-rated Opponents: 23-0 (8 KOs) • Overall Score Rank: 4 • Peak Score Rank: 4 • Win Total Rank: 22 • Ring Magazine Championships: Lightweight (2002-04), Welterweight (2006-08, 2013-15), Junior middleweight (2013-15)

The biggest box-office attraction of his time, Mayweather won major titles in five weight classes, partially unifying welterweight and junior middleweight, without a defeat over nearly 20 years as a pro. A bronze medalist at the 1996 Olympics, Mayweather’s first win over a Ring-ranked opponent was also his first for a title (the WBC 130-pound strap). From that win over Genaro Hernandez to his farewell against mixed martial artist Conor McGregor, Mayweather would face 23 men found in the Ring rankings across 33 fights. Twelve of those 23 wins came against men The Ring recognized in their division as champion, No. 1 contender or next highest-rated contender after a division-leading Mayweather. That included wins at welterweight over the reigning lightweight (Juan Manuel Marquez) and junior welterweight (Ricky Hatton) champions.

 

part II …


5. EMILE GRIFFITH

Career Record: 85-24-2, 1 No Contest (23 KOs, 2 KOBY) • First Ring Ranking: No. 10 Welterweight (May 1960) • Last Ring Ranking: No. 8 Middleweight (April 1976) • Record vs. Ring-rated Opponents: 36-19-2 (6 KOs, 2 KOBY) • Overall Score Rank: 8 • Peak Score Rank: 5 • Win Total Rank: 5 • Ring Magazine Championships: Welterweight (1961, 1962-63, 1963-66), Middleweight (1966-67, 1967-68)

A consistent factor at welterweight and middleweight from the early 1960s to the mid-1970s, Griffith won five world championships against a bevy of tough competition. In a 111-fight career, nearly half of Griffith’s opponents could be found ranked in the pages of Ring Magazine. A thrilling boxer-puncher with exceptional physical strength and stamina, Griffith was No. 1 contender for only an issue before snagging his first title from Benny Paret. Griffith could be defeated, but his ability to consistently rebound from losses was remarkable. Along with his five world title wins, Griffith also posted wins over No. 1 contenders in their weight class from lightweight to light heavyweight.

4. TONY CANZONERI

Career Record: 137-24-10, 4 No Decisions (44 KOs, 1 KOBY) • First Ring Ranking: No. 2 Bantamweight (February 1927) • Last Ring Ranking: No. 5 Lightweight (May 1939) • Record vs. Ring-rated Opponents: 40-21-7, 1 No Decision (8 KOs) • Overall Score Rank: 5 • PEAK Score Rank: 6 • Win Total Rank: 3 • Ring Magazine Championships: Featherweight (1927-28), Lightweight (1930-33, 35-36)

A force from bantamweight to lightweight with big wins against welterweights to go with it, Canzoneri spent more than a decade in the rankings. Canzoneri’s record is loaded with multi-fight rivalries, including a four-way round robin with Jimmy McLarnin, Barney Ross and Billy Petrolle. Of his 40 wins against ranked opposition, 11 were against reigning champions or fighters ranked No. 1 in title and non-title affairs. They include a win over leading bantamweight Bud Taylor and two No. 1 contenders at welterweight (Harry Dublinsky, McLarnin).


3. MUHAMMAD ALI

Career Record: 56-5 (37 KOs, 1 KOBY) • First Ring Ranking: No. 9 Heavyweight (March 1962) • Last Ring Ranking: No. 5 Heavyweight (November 1980) • Record vs. Ring-rated Opponents: 32-4 (20 KOs, 1 KOBY) • Overall Score Rank: 3 • Peak Score Rank: 3 • Win Total Rank: 8 • Ring Magazine Championships: Heavyweight (1964-70, 1974-78, 1978)

The self-proclaimed “Greatest” is the most documented boxer in history for good reason. A 1960 Olympic gold medalist at light heavyweight and the only fighter to capture the Ring (and lineal) heavyweight title three times, Ali entered the ratings less than two years into his career and defeated four top 10 contenders to earn his shot at Sonny Liston. Eight of the nine title defenses in Ali’s first reign, including a rematch knockout of Liston, stoppage of former two-time champion Floyd Patterson and reunification win against WBA titlist Ernie Terrell, were against Ring-ranked contenders.


2. JOE LOUIS

Career Record: 66-3 (52 KOs, 2 KOBY) • First Ring Ranking: No. 9 Heavyweight (February 1935) • Last Ring Ranking: No. 6 Heavyweight (March 1952) • Record vs. Ring-rated Opponents: 31-3 (24 KOs, 2 KOBY) • Overall Score Rank: 2 • Peak Score Rank: 2 • Win Total Rank: 9 • Ring Magazine Championships: Heavyweight (1937-49)

Arguably the most dominant champion in the history of boxing, the “Brown Bomber” reigned for a dozen years with a record 25 consecutive title defenses against all comers in his time. Louis is one of a group of seven fighters identified with between 30 and 39 wins against ranked opponents in the study. While the nickname “Bum of the Month Club” lingers on, a deeper look reveals those “bums” to be an assortment of the best heavyweights in the world for a generation. Louis began facing contenders just a dozen fights into his career and kept facing them for the rest of it.


…..———————DRUM ROLL ———……

1. SUGAR RAY ROBINSON

Career Record: 174-19-6, 2 No Contests (109 KOs, 1 KOBY) • First Ring Ranking: No. 7 Lightweight (May 1941) • Last Ring Ranking: No. 8 Middleweight (July 1962) • Record vs. Ring-rated Opponents: 41-10-3 (17 KOs, 1 KOBY) • Overall Score Rank: 1 • Peak Score Rank: 1 • Win Total Rank: 2 • Ring Magazine Championships: Welterweight (1946-51), Middleweight (1951, 51-52, 55-57, 57, 58-60)

Often regarded as the greatest fighter of all time, Robinson’s results highlight just how dominant he was in his prime. Robinson turned professional in October 1940 and rose to No. 1 contender at lightweight in the October 1941 issue following a win over future champion Sammy Angott. Two issues later, Robinson’s defeat of former welterweight champion Fritzie Zivic resulted in Robinson being ranked the No. 1 contender to champion Freddie “Red” Cochrane. Robinson would stay ranked No. 1 in all but one issue from cover dates January 1942 to March 1944.

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Hamed is ranked ahead of Barrera and Salvador Sanchez

 

Fitz and Langford's era came before Ring Magazine first issue. So excluded.