Famous 20th Century Boxers

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 1 
Mike Tyson
(One of the Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time and First to Simultaneously Hold WBA, WBC & IBF Titles)
Mike Tyson
31
Birthdate: June 30, 1966
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Fort Greene, New York, United States

A former professional boxer who reigned as the undisputed world heavyweight champion for three years, Mike Tyson is considered a colossal figure in boxing. Claiming his first heavyweight title at the young age of 20, he went on to become one of the best heavyweights of all time. Also a controversial person, he was once imprisoned on rape charges.

 2 
Muhammad Ali
(The Greatest Heavyweight Boxer of All Time)
Muhammad Ali
8
Birthdate: January 17, 1942
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Died: June 3, 2016

Widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali was a major figure of the 20th century. He was an inspirational figure for African-Americans during the civil rights movement. Because of his opposition to Vietnam War and his refusal to be drafted into military, Muhammad Ali became an icon for the larger counterculture generation.

 3 
Tyson Fury
(British Professional Boxer and Two-Time World Heavyweight Champion)
Tyson Fury
20
Birthdate: August 12, 1988
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Wythenshawe, Manchester, England

A 2-time world heavyweight champion, British Tyson Fury has had an undefeated run in his 32 matches, with 31 wins and 1 unlucky draw in a match against Deontay Wilder. He has also released a bestselling memoir, Behind The Mask, and was named to the Forbes list of the World's Highest-Paid Athletes 2020.

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 4 
George Foreman
(Two-Time World Heavyweight Champion)
George Foreman
29
Birthdate: January 10, 1949
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Marshall, Texas, United States

Known to his fans as "Big George,” boxer George Foreman won the world heavyweight champion twice and also gas an Olympic gold medal to his credit. Multidimensional in his pursuits, the international boxing hall-of-famer has also been a Christian minister, invented a fat-reducing grill, and written several books, including cookbooks.

 5 
Wladimir Klitschko
(Former Professional Boxer and One of the Best Heavyweight Champions of All Time)
Wladimir Klitschko
24
Birthdate: March 25, 1976
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Semey, Kazakhstan

Wladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian former boxer. Widely regarded as one of the best heavyweight champions ever, Wladimir Klitschko was renowned for his great footwork and extraordinary knockout power. He won a gold medal for his country in the super-heavyweight division at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He has often been named among Ukraine's most influential people.

 6 
Evander Holyfield
(The Only Boxer in the History to Win the Undisputed Championship in Two Weight Classes)
Evander Holyfield
27
Birthdate: October 19, 1962
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Atmore, Alabama, United States

Evander Holyfield is an American retired boxer who reigned as the undisputed champion in the late 1980s under cruiserweight division and in the early 1990s under heavyweight division. The only four-time world heavyweight champion, Holyfield remains the only boxer in the history of boxing to reign as an undisputed champion in two weight classes.

 7 
Roy Jones Jr.
(One of the Greatest Boxers of All Time)
Roy Jones Jr.
20
Birthdate: January 16, 1969
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Pensacola, Florida, United States

Former American boxer Roy Jones Jr. was born to a boxer father. Despite his defeat in the gold medal match at the 1988 Seoul Olympics due to a faulty decision by the judges, he won the Val Barker Award. He was the second light heavyweight champion to earn a heavyweight title.

 8 
Roberto Durán
(Former Boxer from Panama Who Was a World Champion in 4 Categories)
Roberto Durán
12
Birthdate: June 16, 1951
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Guararé, Panama

Retired Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán had a 32-match winning streak before losing to Esteban De Jesús. Raised in the slums, he joined a gym as an 8-year-old. His punching style earned him the nickname Hands of Stone. He was a world champion in the lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight, and middleweight categories.

 9 
Larry Holmes
(One of the Greatest Heavyweights of All Time)
Larry Holmes
15
Birthdate: November 3, 1949
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cuthbert, Georgia, United States

Larry Holmes is an American retired boxer whose left jab is often ranked among the best in the history of professional boxing. Widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights in the history of boxing, Holmes' title defense against 19 boxers is the second-most in history. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.

 10 
Jack Dempsey
(One of the Most Popular Boxers in American History)
Jack Dempsey
9
Birthdate: June 24, 1895
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Manassa, Colorado, United States
Died: May 31, 1983

Acknowledged by his rivals as a remarkable hitter, Jack Dempsey was an American heavyweight boxing champion who was known for his powerful punches. The record attendance at his bouts was an indication of his popularity. He was considered as one of the greatest fighters of all time. Born poor and nicknamed Kid Blackie, Jack Dempsey went on to become one of the richest athletes during his time.

 11 
Marvelous Marvin Hagler
(American Professional Boxer )
Marvelous Marvin Hagler
8
Birthdate: May 23, 1954
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States
Died: March 13, 2021

Marvelous Marvin Hagler was an American boxer and actor who reigned as the middleweight division's undisputed champion from 1980 to 1987, during which he had 12 successful title defenses. Regarded as one of the greatest middleweight boxers of all time, Hagler was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame as well as the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

 12 
Bernard Hopkins
(One of the Most Successful Professional Boxers in American History)
Bernard Hopkins
18
Birthdate: January 15, 1965
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Bernard Hopkins is an American retired boxer who held several world championships between 2001 to 2012 in two weight classes. Nicknamed The Executioner, Hopkins is widely regarded as one of the modern era's greatest boxers. A highly strategic boxer, Bernard Hopkins was also renowned for his speed, power, and counterpunching skills.

 13 
Thomas Hearns
(American Former Professional Boxer)
Thomas Hearns
11
Birthdate: October 18, 1958
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Thomas Hearns is an American retired boxer who became the first boxer in the history of boxing to win world titles in five different weight classes. Nicknamed the Hitman, Thomas Hearns was named Fighter of the Year in 1980 by The Ring magazine. He was also named Fighter of the Year in 1984 by the Boxing Writers Association of America. 

 14 
Shane Mosley
(American Former Professional Boxer Who Competed From 1993 to 2016)
Shane Mosley
7
Birthdate: September 7, 1971
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lynwood, California, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 15 
Sugar Ray Leonard
(One of the Greatest Boxers of All Time)
Sugar Ray Leonard
10
Birthdate: May 17, 1956
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Wilmington, North Carolina, United States

Sugar Ray Leonard is a former boxer and motivational speaker. Having won world titles in five different weight divisions during his boxing career, Leonard is widely considered one of the greatest boxers ever. Leonard was part of a group of boxers dubbed The Fabulous Four, which is credited with popularizing the lower weight classes in the post-Muhammad Ali era.

 16 
Joe Louis
(One of the Greatest and Most Influential Boxers of All Time.)
Joe Louis
8
Birthdate: May 13, 1914
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Chambers County, Alabama, United States
Died: April 12, 1981
Boxer Joe Louis, or the Brown Bomber, was the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949 and was the longest-reigning (single) heavyweight champion. The International Boxing Research Organization declared him the best heavyweight boxer of all time. He was also a skilled golfer and appeared in a 1952 PGA event.
 17 
Sugar Ray Robinson
(One of the Greatest Boxers of All Time)
Sugar Ray Robinson
8
Birthdate: May 3, 1921
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ailey, Georgia, United States
Died: April 12, 1989

Sugar Ray Robinson was an American boxer. Considered one of the greatest boxers ever, Robinson held a 91-fight unbeaten streak from 1943 to 1951, the third-longest in the history of professional boxing. Also known for his flamboyant and classy lifestyle outside the ring, Sugar Ray Robinson unsuccessfully tried his hand at a career as an entertainer after retiring from boxing.

 18 
James Toney
(American Former Professional Boxer Who Competed From 1988 to 2017)
James Toney
8
Birthdate: August 24, 1968
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 19 
Rocky Marciano
(One of the Greatest Heavyweight Boxers of All Time)
Rocky Marciano
9
Birthdate: September 1, 1923
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Brockton, Massachusetts, United States
Died: August 31, 1969
Rocky Marciano, also known as the Brockton Blockbuster, was the world’s only heavyweight champion to remain undefeated till the end of his career and held the heavyweight title from 1952 to 1956. The International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee held the world’s highest heavyweight knockout-to-win ratio at 85.71%.
 20 
Kostya Tszyu
(Russian-Australian Former Professional Boxer Who Holds Multiple World Light-Welterweight Titles)
Kostya Tszyu
8
Birthdate: September 19, 1969
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Serov, Russia

Kostya Tszyu is a former boxer who held multiple light-welterweight championships. Renowned for his punching power, Tszyu is considered one of the hardest-punching boxers in the history of light-welterweight boxing. He represented the Soviet Union at the 1991 World Championships, where he won a gold medal. In 2010, Tszyu was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

 21 
Juan Manuel Márquez
(Mexican Former Professional Boxer)
Juan Manuel Márquez
7
Birthdate: August 23, 1973
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Iztacalco, Mexico City, Mexico

Juan Manuel Márquez is a Mexican former boxer who became only the third Mexican boxer to win world championship titles in four weight classes. Counted among the greatest boxers of all time, Márquez was renowned for his toughness, speed, and technical skills. In 2020, Juan Manuel Márquez was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. 

 22 
Max Schmeling
(German Boxer Who Was Heavyweight Champion of the World between 1930 and 1932)
Max Schmeling
10
Birthdate: September 28, 1905
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Klein Luckow, Jatznick, Germany
Died: February 2, 2005
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 23 
Félix Trinidad
(Former Puerto Rican Professional Boxer)
Félix Trinidad
7
Birthdate: January 10, 1973
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 24 
Julio Cesar Chavez
(Mexican Former Professional Boxer and Multiple-Time World Champion in Three Weight Divisions)
Julio Cesar Chavez
5
Birthdate: July 4, 1962
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Ciudad Obregón, Mexico

Julio Cesar Chavez is a Mexican former boxer who won several world championships in three different weight divisions. He also holds several records, such as the most successful world title defenses and most title fights. He has been named in ESPN's 50 Greatest Boxers of All Time list and was made an inductee of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

 25 
Archie Moore
(American Professional Boxer Who Has Had One of the Sport’s Longest Professional Careers)
Archie Moore
6
Birthdate: December 13, 1913
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Benoit, Mississippi, United States
Died: December 9, 1998
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 26 
Jack Johnson
(One of the Most Influential Boxers of All Time)
Jack Johnson
5
Birthdate: March 31, 1878
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Galveston, Texas, United States
Died: June 10, 1946

Jack Johnson was an American boxer and one of the most dominant champions of his generation. Considered one of the most influential boxers ever, Jack Johnson became the first African American to win the world heavyweight championship at the peak of the Jim Crow era. He is often credited with influencing popular boxers like Muhammad Ali.

 27 
Lennox Lewis
(British-Canadian Former Professional Boxer and Three-Time World Heavyweight Champion)
Lennox Lewis
14
Birthdate: September 2, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: West Ham, London, England
Three-time world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis also won the super heavyweight gold for Canada at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. He has won numerous accolades, including the CBE and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He has been named as the sixth-best heavyweight boxer of all time by BoxRec.
 28 
Sonny Liston
(Professional Boxer)
Sonny Liston
8
Birthdate: May 8, 1932
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sand Slough, Arkansas, United States
Died: December 30, 1970
Renowned as the Big Bear, Sonny Liston became the world heavyweight champion in 1962. Known for his intimidating appearance, formidable punching power, toughness, and long reach, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Widely regarded as unbeatable, he lost the WBC title to Muhammad Ali, in 1964.
 29 
Emile Griffith
(Boxer Who Won World Titles in Three Weight Divisions)
Emile Griffith
6
Birthdate: February 3, 1938
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Died: July 23, 2013
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 30 
Joe Frazier
(The First Boxer to Defeat Muhammad Ali)
Joe Frazier
9
Birthdate: January 12, 1944
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Beaufort, South Carolina, United States
Died: November 7, 2011
Joe Frazier, nicknamed “Smokin' Joe,” was a star heavyweight champion who won the boxing gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Known for his legendary 1971 “Fight of the Century” against Muhammad Ali and his defeat in the “Thrilla in Manila,” Frazier had scored 32 wins in his career.
 31 
Érik Morales
(Mexican Former Professional Boxer)
Érik Morales
7
Birthdate: September 1, 1976
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Tijuana, Mexico

One of the most consistent boxers of his time, Mexican boxer Érik Morales was the first from his country to earn world titles in 4 different weight categories. Nicknamed El Terrible, the boxing legend created a controversy after testing positive for a banned drug in 2012. He later stepped into politics.

 32 
Christy Martin
(Boxer)
Christy Martin
3
Birthdate: June 12, 1968
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mullens
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 33 
Eric Esch
(Retired Professional Boxer and Mixed Martial Artist)
Eric Esch
6
Birthdate: August 3, 1966
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 34 
Rubin Carter
(American-Canadian Middleweight Boxer, Wrongfully Convicted and Imprisoned for Murder)
Rubin Carter
12
Birthdate: May 6, 1937
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Clifton, New Jersey, United States
Died: April 20, 2014

Rubin Carter was an American-Canadian boxer whose boxing career was overshadowed by his murder conviction; after serving almost 20 years of prison term, it was revealed that he was wrongfully convicted of murder. His autobiography, The Sixteenth Round, which he had written during his time in prison, inspired the 1999 film, The Hurricane, where Denzel Washington played Rubin Carter.

 35 
Aaron Pryor
(Boxer)
Aaron Pryor
3
Birthdate: October 20, 1955
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Died: October 9, 2016
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 36 
Salvador Sánchez
(Mexican Professional Boxer)
Salvador Sánchez
3
Birthdate: January 26, 1959
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico
Died: August 12, 1982

Mexican boxer Salvador Sánchez, known by nicknames such as The Invincible Eagle, was a young WBC and lineal featherweight champion. An untimely death at age 23, due to a car crash, cut his career short. He had also appeared in the movie The Last Fight, released posthumously.

 37 
Max Baer
(American Boxer: Features on 'The Ring' Magazine's List of 100 Greatest Punchers of All Time)
Max Baer
5
Birthdate: February 11, 1909
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Died: November 21, 1959
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 38 
Alexis Arguello
(Nicaraguan Three-weight World Champion Boxer)
Alexis Arguello
4
Birthdate: April 19, 1952
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Managua, Nicaragua
Died: July 1, 2009

Nicaraguan professional boxer Alexis Arguello had once held the world featherweight, lightweight, and junior lightweight titles. He fought for the Contras against the Sandinista regime, and then continued his boxing career in the US, before returning to politics and becoming the mayor of Managua. He eventually died by suicide.

 39 
Wilfred Benítez
(American-Born Puerto Rican Former Professional Boxer)
Wilfred Benítez
3
Birthdate: September 12, 1958
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 40 
James J. Braddock
(American Boxer Who Held the World Heavyweight Title From 1935 to 1937)
James J. Braddock
6
Birthdate: June 7, 1905
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Hell's Kitchen, New York, United States
Died: November 29, 1974
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 41 
Pernell Whitaker
(American Professional Boxer Who Was a Four-Weight World Champion)
Pernell Whitaker
7
Birthdate: January 2, 1964
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Died: July 14, 2019
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 42 
Marcel Cerdan
(French Professional Boxer and World Middleweight Champion)
Marcel Cerdan
3
Birthdate: July 22, 1916
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sidi Bel Abbès, Algeria
Died: October 28, 1949
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 43 
Chuck Wepner
(American Former Professional Boxer)
Chuck Wepner
5
Birthdate: February 26, 1939
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bayonne, New Jersey, United States
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 44 
Floyd Mayweather Sr.
(Boxing Trainer & Former Boxer)
Floyd Mayweather Sr.
8
Birthdate: October 19, 1952
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Amory, Mississippi, United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 45 
Jersey Joe Walcott
(American Professional Boxer Who Held the NYSAC, NBA, and the Ring Heavyweight Titles From 1951 to 1952)
Jersey Joe Walcott
4
Birthdate: January 31, 1914
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Camden, New Jersey, United States
Died: February 25, 1994
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 46 
Shannon Briggs
(Former Boxer: Two-time World Heavyweight Champion)
Shannon Briggs
10
Birthdate: December 4, 1971
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 47 
Ricardo López
(Mexican Former Professional Boxer)
Ricardo López
3
Birthdate: July 25, 1966
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cuernavaca, Mexico

Ricardo López was both a world mini flyweight and junior flyweight title holder. Known to fans as El Finito, or The Refined, he remains to be one of just 15 world boxing title holders to have remained undefeated till retirement. He is the father of another undefeated Mexican boxer, Alonso López.

 48 
Mia St. John
(Boxer)
Mia St. John
3
Birthdate: June 24, 1967
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 49 
Floyd Patterson
(American Professional Boxer Who Competed From 1952 to 1972)
Floyd Patterson
3
Birthdate: January 4, 1935
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Waco, North Carolina, United States
Died: May 11, 2006
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 50 
Cecilia Braekhus
(Norwegian Professional Boxer)
Cecilia Braekhus
3
Birthdate: September 28, 1981
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Cartagena, Colombia

Tagged by the media as Boxing’s First Lady, Norwegian boxer/kickboxer Cecilia Braekhu scripted history by becoming the first female boxer to hold the WBA, IBF, WBC, and WBO titles at the same time. Colombian-born Braekhu was adopted by a Norwegian couple as a 2-year-old and began boxing as a teenager.