by James Riddick

Created on: January 17, 2009

Top five boxers of all time Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Leonard, Willie Pep

So, beginning with number five, we have Guglielmo Papaleo , better known as "Willie Pep". Pep's record is an astonishing one, of 229-11-1, and is one of the main reasons he appears on this list.

Over the course of a 26 year career, Pep fought an average of once a month, which was amazing even in the era in which he fought, 1940-1966.

Willie Pep's greatest bout was arguably one he lost, and epic encounter versus fellow great Sandy Saddler in 1951 a fighter he had beaten three years earlier.

Nicknamed Will O' the Wisp, because of his defensive prowess, his main attributes were his speed and finesse together with his elusive defensive skills. A very famous myth, which is sadly untrue, is that before the third round against Jackie Graves in 1946, Pep told the reporters ringside he would win the next round without throwing a single punch, and proceeded to do just that, bobbing and weaving and humiliating his opponent with his speed and footwork. Sadly, this isn't true, but does add to the mystique of an intriguing fighter who may be the least well known on this list.

Featherweight champion Pep was named Fighter of the Year by Ring Magazine in 1945 and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.

At number four is someone much more well known, and the second Sugar on this list, its Ray Leonard.

In comparison to Pep, Leonard's record of 36-3-1 (25 knock outs) looks paltry, but it was the quality of his opponents and the manner of his victories which mean he is number four here.

However, like Pep he was named Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year both 1979 and 1981 (jointly with Salvador Sanchez) and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, in 1997.

But, Leonard was also a five weight world champion (Welterweight, Middleweight, Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight), an Olympic gold medallist and enjoyed impressive victories over Thomas "Hitman" Hearns, "Marvellous" Marvin Hagler, and legendary Roberto Duran.
Cocaine controversy aside, Leonard only suffered defeat once, an unanimous decision to Duran in 1980, which was avenged five months later with an eight round TKO (the famous 'No Mas' fight), before two failed comebacks in 1991 and 1997.

Leonard's speed, accuracy and ruthless streak set him apart from his contemporaries and did much to bring boxing back into the mainstream in the 1980's.

Only the second best Sugar on this list, but that's

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>