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American boxer Sugar Ray Robinson photo by New York World-Telegram –

15 Greatest Middleweight Boxers Of All Time

Middleweight boxing has a storied history, with a long list of legendary fighters who have left an indelible mark in the ring. Because of their unique combination of speed, technique, and speed, these boxers have cemented their names in the boxing hall of fame. They have proven to be masters of their craft, as evidenced by how far they have progressed.

The middleweight class necessitates proficiency in both offence and defence, and the boxers have been able to meet those expectations due to their versatility. Their ability to dodge punches and deliver knockout blows is unparalleled in any other class. Because the fight is mostly gruelling, these fighters have incredible stamina that allows them to perform at their best throughout the entire match.

Boxing history has seen its fair share of middleweight fighters with devastating knockouts, skills, and determination in the ring that ensured they left a lasting impression on the sport. Let’s take a look at 15 of the greatest middleweight boxers of all time.

1. Sugar Ray Robinson

Sugar Ray Robinson photo by ACME –

Walker Smith Jr., better known by his ring name Sugar Ray Robinson, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1940 until 1965. He is widely recognized as the greatest boxer of all time, pound for pound. From 1943 through 1951, Robinson has the third-longest undefeated streak in professional boxing history, with 91 bouts. Then he made boxing history by being the first fighter to win a divisional world championship five times.

He was fearless in the arena, as well as swift, slick, and powerful. He probably has one of the most incredible professional records of all time, with a final record of 174 (109 KO) triumphs to only 19 losses. (nearly all of which were far past his prime). 

2. Jack Dempsey

Jack Dempsey photo by Bain News Service –

Jack Dempsey, an American professional boxer, was recognized as one of the sport’s most thrilling combatants. His record includes 66 wins, 51 knockouts, and 6 defeats. Many of his battles were financially successful due to his aggressive fighting style, and he also had the first million fights in his career. He was one of history’s most legendary fighters.

3. Harry Greb

Boxer Harry Greb in a fighting pose. photo sourced from

Harry Greb was a professional boxer from the United States. Many boxing historians regard him as one of the greatest boxers of all time, pound for pound. From 1923 to 1926, he was the world middleweight champion, and from 1922 to 1923, he was the American light heavyweight champion. He fought 299 times in his 13-year career, beginning at a weight of around 140 pounds. Despite starting as a welterweight, he routinely battled and defeated light heavyweights and even heavyweights while competing against the best opponents the talented 1910s and 1920s had to offer.

4. Bob Fitzsimmons

Bob Fitzsimmons photo sourced from

Bob Fitzsimmons, the first three-division world champion in boxing history, competed between 1885 and 1914. He entered the Guinness Book of World Records for being the lightest heavyweight world champion in history, weighing only 165 pounds when he won his first title.

Fitzsimmons’ nicknames “Ruby Robert” and “The Freckled Wonder” came about as a result of his lack of battle scars. A few significant victories include defeating Jack Dempsey in the middleweight division and George Gardner in the light heavyweight division.

5. Marvelous Marvin Hagler

Marvin Hagler in the Oval Office photo sourced from

Marvin Hagler was a professional boxer and film actor from the United States. He boxed from 1973 through 1987, holding the undisputed middleweight title from 1980 to 1987. Of his twelve successful title defences, all but one were by knockout. Hagler also has the highest knockout rate of any undisputed middleweight champion (78%). His six-year and seven-month undisputed middleweight title reign is the second-longest active reign in the last century.

He now holds the title of middleweight champion with the sixth-longest winning streak in history. With a nickname like “Marvelous,” it goes without saying that he had to be exceptional. He had an “under-appreciated” complex and vented his resentment on anyone who dared to challenge him in the ring.

6. Roy Jones Jr.

Champion Roy Jones Jr photo by Bill(iudshi8uf) –

Roy Jones Jr. competed from 1989 to 2018. He was the only boxer in history to start his professional career at light middleweight and go on to win a heavyweight title. He held many world championships in four weight classes, including titles at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. He combined the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles in 1999 to establish himself as the undisputed light heavyweight champion.

Jones was praised for his exceptional hand speed, agility, footwork, explosiveness, punching power, mobility, and reflexes when he was at his best. With twelve victories, Jones has the most unified light heavyweight title fights in boxing history as of 2018. After 75 ring battles, 66 victories, and 9 losses, he retired. 

Related: The Best light heavyweight boxers of all times

7. Bernard Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins making a speech at the United States Capitol photo by Senate Democrats –

Bernard Hopkins is a former professional boxer from the United States who competed from 1988 until 2016. He is regarded as one of the most successful boxers of the last three decades, having held numerous world titles in two weight classes, including the undisputed middleweight belt from 2001 to 2005 and the lineal light heavyweight title from 2011 to 2012.

8. Charley Burley

Charles Burley competed in both the welterweight and the middleweight divisions from 1936 up to 1950. Archie Moore, the light-heavyweight champion once hailed Burley as the greatest fighter ever after he was defeated in a 1944 middleweight bout by Burley. Both the World Colored Welterweight Championship and the World Colored Middleweight Championship were last held by Burley.

9. Stanley Ketchel

Boxer Stanley Ketchel in traditional fighting pose photo by George Grantham –

American professional boxer Stanley Ketchel rose to become one of the best World Middleweight Champions in history. The Michigan Assassin was the moniker given to him. On February 8, 1908, Ketchel faced Mike “Twin” Sullivan, who was widely regarded as the World Welterweight Champion and one of the top middleweights of the day. Ketchel knocked Sullivan out in the first round to claim the title of World Middleweight Champion. 

10. Carlos Monzon

Carlos Monzón at the gym. photo by El Gráfico –

Argentine professional boxer Carlos Monzón held the undisputed middleweight title for seven years. He is recognized as one of the best middleweight boxers of all time as well as one of the greatest boxers of all time pound-for-pound. He successfully defended his championship 14 times against 11 different opponents. Monzon had a career record of 87-3-9-1 with 59 knockouts and was known for his quickness, striking power, and unrelenting work ethic. All of his losses came early in his career, and each one was avenged.

11. Freddie Steele

Freddie Steele photo sourced from

Frederick Earle Burgett, better known by his ring name Freddie Steele, was a boxer and actor. Between 1936 and 1938, he held the title of World Middleweight Champion of the National Boxing Association. Steele received training from Jack Connor, Johnny Babnick, and Ray Arcel while in New York

12. Tiger Flowers

African American pugilist Tiger Flowers standing in a boxing stance photo by Chicago Daily News –

Tiger Flowers was an American professional boxer who gained notoriety in the early 20th century. In 1926, after defeating Harry Greb to win the World Middleweight Boxing Championship, he became the sport’s first African-American champion. He was admitted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1976, The Ring Hall of Fame in 1971, The World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990, and The International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993. Flowers, a left-handed Southpaw fighter, was swift and elusive, frequently dodging severe punishment while delivering rapid, cutting blows.

Read More: 15 Most Skilled Southpaw Boxers

13. Mike Gibbons

From 1908 through 1922, Michael J. Gibbons competed professionally as a boxer. He claimed Middleweight Champion of the World status in 1909 after Stanley Ketchel was killed. He is the brother of heavyweight Tommy Gibbons. Historians consider Gibbons to be among the greatest welterweight and middleweight boxers of all time, even though he never captured the title.

14. Jake LaMotta

Postcard photo of boxer Jake LaMotta sourced from

American professional boxer Jake LaMotta held the title of middleweight world champion between 1949 and 1951. LaMotta was a harsh fighter who did not have a huge punch, yet he would brutally beat his opponents in the ring. He gained a reputation for being a “bully,” and was what is now frequently referred to as a swarmer and a slugger, through relentless stalking, brawling, and inside fighting.

15. Tony Zale

Tony Zale Middleweight champion photo sourced from

Tony Zale, a boxer from the United States, earned the moniker “Man of Steel” from his home town of Gary, Indiana, which is known for its steel industry. He developed a reputation as someone who could withstand terrifying punishment and still fight back to prevail. Zale, a multiple-time world middleweight champion, was renowned for his cunning boxing and powerful body punches that wore down his opponents before finishing them off.

Also Read: 15 Greatest Middleweight Boxers Of All Time