Boxerbook rating / Greatest of all time / By era
Greatest boxers of each era
The ten best boxers of every decade, from before 1920 to the 2020s, by the Boxerbook rating. A boxer belongs to the decade of his peak rating.
The 2020s
Who were the greatest boxers of the 2020s? By the Boxerbook rating, the three best of the 2020s are Canelo Álvarez, Oleksandr Usyk and Terence Crawford. Canelo Álvarez peaked in Sep 2024; best win: Gennady Golovkin (2018). 9 of the decade's ten are in the all-time top 100, led by Canelo Álvarez at No. 9.
Undisputed champions returned in several divisions, and Saudi Arabia became a major host of the biggest fights.
1
career 2005–2025 · 63-3-2
peak Sep 2024 · best win: Gennady Golovkin (2018)
1.28
2
career 2013–2026 · 25-0-0
peak Jul 2025 · best win: Tyson Fury (2024)
0.73
3
career 2008–2025 · 42-0-0
peak Sep 2025 · best win: Canelo Álvarez (2025)
0.36
4
career 2012–2026 · 33-0-0
peak May 2026 · best win: Junto Nakatani (2026)
0.28
5
career 2008–2026 · 36-2-1
peak Dec 2022 · best win: Wladimir Klitschko (2015)
−0.17
6
career 2014–2026 · 25-1-0
peak Feb 2025 · best win: Canelo Álvarez (2022)
−0.26
7
career 2013–2025 · 30-0-1
peak Jun 2024 · best win: Leo Santa Cruz (2020)
−0.51
8
career 2017–2026 · 25-0-0
peak Jan 2026 · best win: Teófimo López (2026)
−0.61
9
career 2015–2025 · 33-0-0 (1 NC)
peak Nov 2025 · best win: Vasyl Lomachenko (2023)
−0.73
10
career 2009–2026 · 53-2-0
peak Jun 2025 · best win: Arthur Abraham (2016)
−1.10
9 of these 10 are in the all-time top 100.
The 2010s
Who were the greatest boxers of the 2010s? By the Boxerbook rating, the three best of the 2010s are Floyd Mayweather, Wladimir Klitschko and Manny Pacquiao. Floyd Mayweather peaked in Sep 2015; best win: Manny Pacquiao (2015). 8 of the decade's ten are in the all-time top 100, led by Floyd Mayweather at No. 5.
Mayweather–Pacquiao in 2015 set the pay-per-view record, and Tyson Fury ended Wladimir Klitschko's long heavyweight reign the same year.
1
career 1996–2017 · 50-0-0
peak Sep 2015 · best win: Manny Pacquiao (2015)
1.45
2
career 1996–2017 · 64-5-0
peak Apr 2015 · best win: Alexander Povetkin (2013)
1.00
3
career 1995–2025 · 62-8-3
peak Nov 2011 · best win: Timothy Bradley (2014)
0.14
4
career 2013–2026 · 30-4-0
peak Sep 2018 · best win: Wladimir Klitschko (2017)
−0.09
5
career 1996–2012 · 45-2-0
peak Sep 2012 · best win: Odlanier Solís (2011)
−0.19
6
career 2005–2021 · 36-3-1
peak Mar 2018 · best win: Dillian Whyte (2020)
−0.22
7
career 2004–2017 · 32-0-0
peak Jun 2017 · best win: Sergey Kovalev (2016)
−0.44
8
career 2006–2022 · 42-2-1
peak May 2018 · best win: Kell Brook (2016)
−0.46
9
career 2013–2024 · 18-3-0
peak Aug 2019 · best win: Guillermo Rigondeaux (2017)
−0.85
10
career 2002–2014 · 34-2-0
peak May 2014 · best win: Lucian Bute (2012)
−0.96
8 of these 10 are in the all-time top 100.
The 2000s
Who were the greatest boxers of the 2000s? By the Boxerbook rating, the three best of the 2000s are Lennox Lewis, Roy Jones Jr. and Félix Trinidad. Lennox Lewis peaked in Nov 2000; best win: Evander Holyfield (1999). 10 of the decade's ten are in the all-time top 100, led by Lennox Lewis at No. 14.
The years of Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Bernard Hopkins, and the rise of the Klitschko brothers at heavyweight.
1
career 1989–2003 · 41-2-1
peak Nov 2000 · best win: Evander Holyfield (1999)
1.12
2
career 1989–2023 · 66-10-0
peak Nov 2003 · best win: Félix Trinidad (2008)
0.81
3
career 1990–2008 · 43-3-0
peak May 2001 · best win: Oscar De La Hoya (1999)
0.62
4
career 1993–2008 · 46-0-0
peak Nov 2008 · best win: Bernard Hopkins (2008)
0.18
5
career 1993–2021 · 53-11-1 (1 NC)
peak Mar 2001 · best win: Oscar De La Hoya (2000)
−0.14
6
career 2001–2014 · 35-4-1
peak May 2007 · best win: Bernard Hopkins (2005)
−0.46
7
career 1997–2012 · 46-3-0
peak Nov 2008 · best win: Kostya Tszyu (2005)
−0.48
8
career 1992–2005 · 31-2-0 (1 NC)
peak Nov 2004 · best win: Julio César Chávez (2000)
−0.61
9
career 1989–2011 · 67-7-0 (1 NC)
peak Sep 2006 · best win: Naseem Hamed (2001)
−0.68
10
career 1990–2012 · 53-6-1
peak Dec 2006 · best win: Félix Trinidad (2005)
−0.75
10 of these 10 are in the all-time top 100.
The 1990s
Who were the greatest boxers of the 1990s? By the Boxerbook rating, the three best of the 1990s are Oscar De La Hoya, Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe. Oscar De La Hoya peaked in May 1999; best win: Pernell Whitaker (1997). 7 of the decade's ten are in the all-time top 100, led by Oscar De La Hoya at No. 6.
Holyfield, Bowe and Lewis traded the heavyweight titles, and pay-per-view became the sport's main business.
1
career 1992–2008 · 39-6-0
peak May 1999 · best win: Pernell Whitaker (1997)
1.43
2
career 1984–2011 · 44-10-2 (1 NC)
peak Nov 1997 · best win: Riddick Bowe (1993)
1.39
3
career 1988–2008 · 46-1-0 (1 NC)
peak Dec 1996 · best win: Evander Holyfield (1992)
1.18
4
career 1984–2001 · 40-4-1 (1 NC)
peak Jan 1997 · best win: Azumah Nelson (1990)
0.13
5
career 1980–2005 · 107-6-2
peak Feb 1996 · best win: Héctor Camacho (1992)
−0.03
6
career 1988–2017 · 77-10-3 (2 NC)
peak Jul 1994 · best win: Evander Holyfield (2003)
−0.70
7
career 1984–2015 · 51-7-0
peak Nov 1996 · best win: Henry Maske (1996)
−0.73
8
career 1979–2008 · 39-6-2
peak Feb 1993 · best win: Jeff Fenech (1992)
−1.03
9
career 1981–1997 · 49-5-1
peak Apr 1991 · best win: Ayub Kalule (1982)
−1.09
10
career 1988–2008 · 52-4-1
peak Mar 1997 · best win: Evander Holyfield (1994)
−1.12
7 of these 10 are in the all-time top 100.
The 1980s
Who were the greatest boxers of the 1980s? By the Boxerbook rating, the three best of the 1980s are Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson and Michael Spinks. Larry Holmes peaked in May 1985; best win: Muhammad Ali (1980). 7 of the decade's ten are in the all-time top 100, led by Larry Holmes at No. 11.
The Four Kings — Leonard, Hagler, Hearns and Durán — and Mike Tyson; the IBF (1983) and WBO (1988) joined as world sanctioning bodies.
1
career 1973–2002 · 69-6-0
peak May 1985 · best win: Muhammad Ali (1980)
1.15
2
career 1985–2024 · 50-7-0 (2 NC)
peak Jul 1989 · best win: Michael Spinks (1988)
1.15
3
career 1977–1988 · 31-1-0
peak Jun 1987 · best win: Larry Holmes (1985)
0.67
4
career 1977–1997 · 36-3-1
peak Nov 1988 · best win: Marvelous Marvin Hagler (1987)
0.35
5
career 1973–1987 · 62-3-2
peak Mar 1986 · best win: Thomas Hearns (1985)
0.11
6
career 1968–2001 · 103-16-0
peak Jun 1980 · best win: Sugar Ray Leonard (1980)
−0.42
7
career 1976–2011 · 41-3-0
peak Sep 1983 · best win: Kim Sang-hyun (1983)
−0.45
8
career 1984–2008 · 31-4-1
peak Apr 1989 · best win: Azumah Nelson (2008)
−0.93
9
career 1979–2012 · 56-15-1
peak Jul 1986 · best win: Tony Tubbs (1986)
−0.98
10
career 1973–1990 · 53-8-1
peak Jan 1982 · best win: Roberto Durán (1982)
−1.08
7 of these 10 are in the all-time top 100.
The 1970s
Who were the greatest boxers of the 1970s? By the Boxerbook rating, the three best of the 1970s are Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Joe Frazier. Muhammad Ali peaked in Sep 1976; best win: George Foreman (1974). 5 of the decade's ten are in the all-time top 100, led by Muhammad Ali at No. 1.
The golden age of heavyweights with Ali, Frazier and Foreman, under two world sanctioning bodies, the WBA and WBC.
1
career 1960–1981 · 56-5-0
peak Sep 1976 · best win: George Foreman (1974)
2.44
2
career 1969–1997 · 76-5-0
peak Aug 1976 · best win: Joe Frazier (1973)
1.07
3
career 1965–1981 · 32-4-1
peak May 1972 · best win: Muhammad Ali (1971)
0.94
4
career 1963–1977 · 87-3-9 (1 NC)
peak Jul 1977 · best win: Nino Benvenuti (1970)
−0.30
5
career 1967–1981 · 41-7-1
peak Nov 1977 · best win: Muhammad Ali (1973)
−0.39
6
career 1977–1995 · 26-17-3
peak Feb 1978 · best win: Muhammad Ali (1978)
−0.84
7
career 1961–1973 · 37-3-0
peak May 1970 · best win: Howard Winstone (1965)
−0.90
8
career 1970–1988 · 66-4-0
peak Jun 1978 · best win: Alfonso Zamora (1977)
−0.92
9
career 1965–1988 · 89-13-3
peak Sep 1970 · best win: Art Hafey (1974)
−1.07
10
career 1971–1992 · 42-6-0
peak Sep 1979 · best win: David Kotei (1976)
−1.18
5 of these 10 are in the all-time top 100.
The 1960s
Who were the greatest boxers of the 1960s? By the Boxerbook rating, the three best of the 1960s are Floyd Patterson, Nino Benvenuti and Sonny Liston. Floyd Patterson peaked in Mar 1961; best win: Ingemar Johansson (1960). 9 of the decade's ten are in the all-time top 100, led by Floyd Patterson at No. 13.
Cassius Clay, soon Muhammad Ali, won the heavyweight title in 1964, and the new WBC began to split world titles with the WBA.
1
career 1952–1972 · 55-8-1
peak Mar 1961 · best win: Ingemar Johansson (1960)
1.12
2
career 1961–1971 · 82-7-1
peak May 1966 · best win: Emile Griffith (1968)
0.95
3
career 1953–1970 · 51-4-0
peak Jul 1963 · best win: Floyd Patterson (1962)
0.64
4
career 1958–1977 · 84-24-2 (1 NC)
peak Dec 1967 · best win: Nino Benvenuti (1967)
−0.05
5
career 1961–1978 · 64-3-0 (2 NC)
peak May 1968 · best win: Kim Ki-soo (1968)
−0.39
6
career 1951–1963 · 55-6-3
peak Dec 1961 · best win: Sugar Ray Robinson (1957)
−0.57
7
career 1961–1982 · 33-3-2
peak Apr 1968 · best win: Nino Benvenuti (1966)
−0.62
8
career 1955–1977 · 62-8-1 (1 NC)
peak Aug 1967 · best win: Duilio Loi (1960)
−0.70
9
career 1960–1970 · 56-7-0
peak Jul 1967 · best win: Bernardo Caraballo (1967)
−0.74
10
career 1954–1966 · 28-7-0
peak Jan 1964 · best win: Pascual Pérez (1960)
−0.91
9 of these 10 are in the all-time top 100.
The 1950s
Who were the greatest boxers of the 1950s? By the Boxerbook rating, the three best of the 1950s are Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson and Ingemar Johansson. Rocky Marciano peaked in Sep 1955; best win: Joe Louis (1951). 10 of the decade's ten are in the all-time top 100, led by Rocky Marciano at No. 20.
Television brought weekly boxing into homes; Rocky Marciano retired as unbeaten heavyweight champion in 1956.
1
career 1947–1955 · 49-0-0
peak Sep 1955 · best win: Joe Louis (1951)
0.89
2
career 1940–1965 · 174-19-6 (2 NC)
peak Jun 1951 · best win: Randy Turpin (1951)
0.65
3
career 1952–1963 · 26-2-0
peak Jun 1959 · best win: Floyd Patterson (1959)
0.42
4
career 1940–1959 · 94-25-1
peak May 1951 · best win: Joe Louis (1950)
−0.02
5
career 1935–1963 · 186-23-10 (1 NC)
peak Jun 1956 · best win: Giulio Rinaldi (1961)
−0.16
6
career 1952–1964 · 84-7-1
peak Nov 1959 · best win: Sadao Yaoita (1959)
−0.20
7
career 1946–1963 · 66-8-1
peak Jun 1953 · best win: Sugar Ray Robinson (1951)
−0.47
8
career 1948–1962 · 115-3-8
peak Oct 1957 · best win: Jørgen Johansen (1954)
−0.53
9
career 1944–1956 · 145-16-2
peak Sep 1951 · best win: Willie Pep (1948)
−0.70
10
career 1944–1966 · 97-16-2
peak Apr 1955 · best win: Randy Turpin (1953)
−0.77
10 of these 10 are in the all-time top 100.
The 1940s
Who were the greatest boxers of the 1940s? By the Boxerbook rating, the three best of the 1940s are Joe Louis, Marcel Cerdan and Willie Pep. Joe Louis peaked in Mar 1942; best win: Tommy Farr (1937). 8 of the decade's ten are in the all-time top 100, led by Joe Louis at No. 3.
Joe Louis's long heavyweight reign, careers interrupted by the Second World War, and Sugar Ray Robinson's rise at welterweight.
1
career 1934–1951 · 66-3-0
peak Mar 1942 · best win: Tommy Farr (1937)
1.61
2
career 1934–1949 · 109-4-0
peak Mar 1949 · best win: Cyrille Delannoit (1948)
1.37
3
career 1940–1966 · 229-11-1
peak Sep 1948 · best win: Armand Savoie (1952)
0.70
4
career 1931–1945 · 151-23-10
peak Jul 1940 · best win: Barney Ross (1938)
−0.39
5
career 1940–1953 · 86-25-1
peak Jan 1946 · best win: Ezzard Charles (1943)
−0.74
6
career 1934–1948 · 64-11-1
peak Feb 1942 · best win: Fred Apostoli (1939)
−0.75
7
career 1938–1955 · 100-28-3
peak May 1947 · best win: David Kui Kong Young (1946)
−0.80
8
career 1936–1950 · 83-12-2 (1 NC)
peak Sep 1944 · best win: Jack Wilson (1942)
−0.84
9
career 1935–1950 · 94-29-8
peak Mar 1943 · best win: Willie Pep (1943)
−0.85
10
career 1942–1950 · 35-4-0
peak Apr 1946 · best win: Ozuna (1945)
−0.99
8 of these 10 are in the all-time top 100.
The 1930s
Who were the greatest boxers of the 1930s? By the Boxerbook rating, the three best of the 1930s are Barney Ross, Primo Carnera and Jack Kid Berg. Barney Ross peaked in Sep 1937; best win: Jimmy McLarnin (1935). 10 of the decade's ten are in the all-time top 100, led by Barney Ross at No. 32.
The Depression years: the heavyweight title changed hands often until Joe Louis won it in 1937.
1
career 1929–1938 · 74-4-3
peak Sep 1937 · best win: Jimmy McLarnin (1935)
0.31
2
career 1928–1946 · 89-14-0
peak Mar 1934 · best win: Jack Sharkey (1933)
0.16
3
career 1924–1945 · 157-26-9
peak Jan 1931 · best win: Eligio Sardiñas Montalvo (1930)
−0.02
4
career 1924–1948 · 56-9-4
peak Jan 1938 · best win: Joe Louis (1936)
−0.39
5
career 1926–1941 · 123-5-11 (1 NC)
peak Sep 1937 · best win: Gus Lesnevich (1936)
−0.51
6
career 1934–1951 · 89-8-2 (1 NC)
peak Aug 1937 · best win: Jimmy Warnock (1937)
−0.59
7
career 1924–1936 · 22-8-2
peak Sep 1930 · best win: Barney Ross (1934)
−0.63
8
career 1925–1933 · 74-9-2 (1 NC)
peak Jan 1930 · best win: Sammy Mandell (1927)
−0.66
9
career 1921–1933 · 256-16-17 (2 NC)
peak Dec 1930 · best win: Jimmy Slattery (1926)
−0.72
10
career 1925–1939 · 141-24-11
peak May 1936 · best win: Jack Kid Berg (1931)
−0.81
10 of these 10 are in the all-time top 100.
The 1920s
Who were the greatest boxers of the 1920s? By the Boxerbook rating, the three best of the 1920s are Gene Tunney, Harry Greb and Harry Wills. Gene Tunney peaked in Sep 1927; best win: Harry Greb (1923). 8 of the decade's ten are in the all-time top 100, led by Gene Tunney at No. 4.
Boxing's first boom: the first million-dollar gate came with Dempsey–Carpentier in 1921, while bouts in many US states still ended without an official decision.
1
career 1915–1928 · 80-1-3 (1 NC)
peak Sep 1927 · best win: Harry Greb (1923)
1.52
2
career 1913–1926 · 263-18-19 (1 NC)
peak Jan 1926 · best win: Tommy Gibbons (1922)
0.90
3
career 1911–1932 · 89-10-7 (5 NC)
peak Dec 1921 · best win: Sam McVey (1915)
−0.09
4
career 1919–1937 · 124-33-12 (1 NC)
peak Jul 1929 · best win: Harry Greb (1923)
−0.14
5
career 1911–1925 · 96-5-4 (1 NC)
peak Feb 1922 · best win: Harry Greb (1920)
−0.43
6
career 1918–1927 · 134-17-8
peak Aug 1926 · best win: Harry Greb (1926)
−0.68
7
career 1919–1934 · 147-25-17 (2 NC)
peak May 1928 · best win: Jackie Fields (1928)
−0.69
8
career 1921–1934 · 114-13-0 (2 NC)
peak Jun 1925 · best win: Jack Delaney (1925)
−0.79
9
career 1919–1932 · 75-11-2 (2 NC)
peak Jul 1926 · best win: Paul Berlenbach (1926)
−0.86
10
career 1923–1933 · 41-8-3 (2 NC)
peak Dec 1925 · best win: Jimmy Slattery (1925)
−0.86
8 of these 10 are in the all-time top 100.
Before 1920
Who were the greatest boxers before 1920? By the Boxerbook rating, the three best before 1920 are Jimmy Wilde, Jack Johnson and Packey McFarland. Jimmy Wilde peaked in Mar 1917; best win: Tancy Lee (1916). 8 of the era's ten are in the all-time top 100, led by Jimmy Wilde at No. 2.
Gloves and the Queensberry rules replaced bare knuckles; many bouts ended without an official decision, and records from these years are incomplete.
1
career 1911–1923 · 134-4-1 (8 NC)
peak Mar 1917 · best win: Tancy Lee (1916)
1.65
2
career 1897–1931 · 68-11-10 (5 NC)
peak Jul 1910 · best win: James J. Jeffries (1910)
0.32
3
career 1904–1929 · 106-2-6
peak Sep 1915 · best win: Matt Wells (1912)
−0.14
4
career 1879–1894 · 50-1-4 (1 NC)
peak Nov 1886 · best win: Dominick McCaffrey (1885)
−0.20
5
career 1895–1910 · 19-1-2 (2 NC)
peak Aug 1903 · best win: Tom Sharkey (1899)
−0.25
6
career 1897–1906 · 64-5-8 (1 NC)
peak May 1901 · best win: Pedlar Palmer (1899)
−0.53
7
career 1897–1915 · 49-3-3 (2 NC)
peak Apr 1902 · best win: George Gardiner (1904)
−0.77
8
career 1902–1926 · 210-45-53 (8 NC)
peak Dec 1912 · best win: Lee Anderson (1921)
−0.79
9
career 1907–1922 · 113-12-8
peak May 1919 · best win: Jack Dillon (1916)
−0.88
10
career 1908–1923 · 191-31-28 (4 NC)
peak Jun 1916 · best win: Eddie McGoorty (1911)
−0.90
8 of these 10 are in the all-time top 100.
How the list is made
Computed from the Boxerbook rating alone: the whole bout record from the 1880s to today is replayed month by month, and each boxer’s rating history is read three ways.
- Peak: the highest rating the boxer reached, counted cautiously (rating minus two uncertainties).
- Sustained: the best average of that cautious rating over 36 months in a row.
- Quality wins: wins over opponents rated above 1900 at the time, more for stronger opponents; on a logarithmic scale, so a long run of big wins counts more, but never everything.
Each boxer is compared with his own era (the decade of his peak; all years before 1920 form one era). For each of the three numbers, 0 is the average of the era’s 10 best, and 1 is one spread of the era’s top 30. The score is 40% peak, 35% sustained and 25% quality wins. Without this step the list would be almost all modern: the catalog has far more rated bouts today, so ratings run higher.
Men with at least 15 counted bouts (3,423 boxers); women’s boxing will get its own list. Old records are thinner: many early opponents have no page in the catalog yet and newspaper decisions count as results, so pre-1950 places are less certain. Recomputed every week; this list as of Oct 13, 2026.