Boxing's Greatest Fighters

I have been a boxing fan most of my life and when I saw this fantastic 358 page soft cover book (Boxing’s Greatest Fighters by Bert Randolph Sugar) on Amazon for a bargain price I immediately purchased it. The author is a well-known and respected expert on boxing and boxers. Even though I do not agree with the order of some of his choices; nevertheless, it is still a great book. It gives a brief and concise bio of each boxer including his complete fight record of how many fights he has had and how many losses and/or tied in his career.I personally have some disagreement with his top ten which did not include Rocky Marciano (#14), George Foreman (31) and Joe Frazier (#37), but there is no conflict with his number one pick on this list which was the late great Sugar Ray Robinson. Others in the top ten include Henry Armstrong, Willie Pep, Joe Louis, Harry Greb, Benny Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran, Jack Dempsey and Jack Johnson.If you are a boxing fan you will love this book even though it was published about ten years ago and there are always up and coming fighters who possibly would make the top 100 fighters list. Just so you know the number 100 fighter on this particular list is Mike Tyson, which I think should have been at least in the first 50 on this list.Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Tactical Principles of the most effective combative systems).

I enjoyed the short stories and biographies on many of the fighters that I never got to see or see film of. Old timers (to my point of view anyway) in the pre-1950's. Sugar gives a good thumbnail of each and in general I agree with his rankings. However as the book was updated in 2006 I believe thee were a couple of glaring omissions. First, where is Nino Benvenutti, the great middleweight champion of the 1960's? With an Olympic gold medal and a pro-record of 78 and 2 before looking to move up to light heavyweight toward the end of his career. Not even a mention of him in the close but no cigar group at the end of the book. Definite mistake there. Similarly, how about Floyd Mayweather who was 35 and 0 and world champion at the time the book went to press. One or two others I would also question, but overall, a good book and insight in to some of the lesser publicized but great fighters of the past.

First things first: You are NOT going to agree with 100, 75 or possibly 50% of his ranking positions. Some fighters will be far too high in your eyes, or bafflingly low.Or in the case of a Micheal Spinks or a Fighting Harada (#87 on his original list in 1984 and in my opinion THEN, too low), missing altogether from the top 100.You may puzzle over why Ruben Olivares did not make the cut in 1984 but is sitting at #36 in the 2006 edition. How can Larry Holmes be behind Holyfield and Foreman and (gasp) Tunney! And what is Beau jack doing one spot ahead of Ike Williams who "owned" Jack, much in the same way Archie Moore is rated ahead of Ezzard Charles, despite losing to the Cinncinati Cobra all three times they fought.Two things: The stories and detail of each fighter only sparks the desire to learn more about these fighters who make Bert's list. And the overall disagreement that you WILL have with Bert, makes the read fascinating. You almost have an argument and a debate with yourself!Lists will do that to you. One man's list is ONLY perfect to the man who wrote it. Everyone else will have issues with it.But I defy any boxing enthusiast who buys this book, to NOT have it by your side literally everywhere you go.Boxing History, in one small package.Priceless and maddening at the same time.Hawk

My fiancé seems to really like the book. He doesn’t read much so it has to be interesting to keep his attention and it does that

All Top 10, Top 25, Top 100, etc. lists are designed to provoke arguments, and this one does. All of the fighters in the book deserve to be here (I guess, there are a lot from before 1920 that are waaaay before my time). The disagreements come with the rankings, why fighter A is ranked higher than fighter B. But Bert Sugar backs up his opinions with facts, which is all you can ask, agree with him or not. Great reading for any fan of the squared circle.

I liked that many great or key boxers are listed with their picture.I disliked that their descriptions didn't seem unique, coming from this writer. I could easily have got it off the internet.

Awesome! Book was in better condition then i expected. Wish more book sellers would describe items accurately, like Mymomsbks. Will buy from again.

I love the way Bert Sugar writes. I love they way he brings the vision of fighters to life with his colorful descriptions. A treasure who I miss since his passing. But while most writers of boxing have a "recent bias" in which they need to be reminded that Ali was not the beginning of boxing and earlier fighters were outstanding, Mr. Sugar should have been reminded there were boxers AFTER Ali. I do love how much I learned about 1950's and earlier boxers, but he lists pre-1970's fighter almost exclusively. It is well worth the read, but imbalanced.

Thought provoking, I was not a huge fan of Mike Tyson but he must surely rate higher than the 100th best of all time.Although Bert Sugar makes a valid point, as he does with the other fighters.

Great book by the late, great Bert Sugar, he is missed. If you want a concise but penetrating insight into the best boxers that ever lived, then this is the book for you.

Oh my if you love boxing this is compulsive reading, i quite literally could not put in down and written with detail, accuracy and good old fashion wit.

Every fighter in history is included.

NOT EXACTLY WHAT I EXPECTED, BUT 1ST CLASS INFORMATION ALTHOUGH A BIT LIMITED.