By Gerardo Granados: There have been many great British boxers, the top three of the modern era fighters who fought from 1943 up to the current fighters have to be the ones who were able to demonstrate that they were considered as worldwide pound for pound fighters, skilled ones, the ones who were followed not only by their countryman but worldwide, the ones who proved that winning is the only thing that matters the most, no excuses just the pride to defeat their opponent beyond any doubt. No need to say that the modern era british fighters might be the best if compared to the all times British boxers.
First place and greatest modern era British boxer: unbeaten southpaw future hall of fame member Joe Calzaghe who won 46(32), won his first world title against the great Chris Eubank. A very skillful and gifted boxer. Former World Boxing Association (WBA) Super World – WBC – WBO – IBF super middleweight / W22(10)*.
Notables: Chris Eubank WBO middleweight & super middleweight / W17(5)-L5-D2*; Robin Reid WBC – IBO super middleweight / W5(2)-L4* ; Rick Thornberry IBO super middleweight / W1(1)-L2*; Richie Woodhall WBC super middleweight / W3(1)-L3*; Charles Brewer IBF super middleweight / W4(3)-L3*; Byron Mitchel WBA World super middleweight / W4(3)-L3-D1*; Jeff Lacy IBF – IBO super middleweight / W5(3)-L1*; Sakio Bika IBO super middleweight / W1(1)-L2-D1*; Peter Manfredo Jr IBO middleweight / W1(1)-L2*; Mikkel Kessler WBA World – WBC super middleweight / W9(5)-L2*; Bernard Hopkins current WBC and former IBO light heavyweight, WBC – WBA Super World – IBF – WBO middleweigth / W22(12)-L3-D2-NC1*; and Roy Jones Jr WBA World heavyweight, WBC – IBF – WBA Super World – IBO light heavyweight, IBF middleweight & super middleweight / W23(11)-L3*.
Second place Chris Eubank (W45(23)-L5(1)-D2) defeated british Nigel Benn to conquer his first world title. Former WBO middleweight & super middleweight champion / W17(5)-L5-D2*.
Notables: Nigel Benn WBO middleweight, WBC super middleweight / W11(8)-L4-D1*; Thulani Malinga WBC super middleweight / W2-L6*; Lindel Holmes IBF super middleweight / W4(1)-L3-NC1*; Graciano Rochigiani WBC light heavyweight, IBF super middleweight / W5(2)-L5*; Steve Collins WBO midleweight & super middleweight / W9(4)-L2*; Joe Calzaghe WBA Super World – WBC – WBO – IBF super middleweight / W22(10)*; and Carl Thompson WBO – IBO cruiserweight / W6(3)-L3* / defeated David Haye by TKO5 back in 2004.
Third southpaw Prince Naseem Hamed (W36(31)-L1) one of the most enterteining fighters in the las twenty five years, he was a show man and was phisically gifted with awesome reflexes and speed. Former WBO – IBF – WBC – IBO featherweight champion / W17(13)-L1*.
Notables : Juan Polo Perez IBF super flyweight /W1-L2* ; Steve Robinson WBO feather / W8(4)-L1* ; Manuel Medina WBO – IBF – WBC feather / W10(1)-L11*; Tom Johnson IBF feather / W12(4)-L3*; Kevin Kelley WBC feather / W3(1)-L2*; Wilfredo Vazquez WBA World feather, WBA World super bantam, WBA World bantam / W16(9)-L4*; Wayne McCullough WBC bantam / W3(1)-L6* ; Paul Ingle IBF feather / W2(1)-L2*; Cesar Soto WBC feather / W1-L3*; Vuyani Bungu IBO feather, IBF super bantam / W15(2)-L2*; and Marco Antonio Barrera WBC – IBF super feather, WBC – IBO feather, WBO super bantam / W22(11)-L4*. * Title fight record.
You can rank their over all skills, chin, speed and power, charisma, popularity, fight record and quality of opposition, at the end the reader will disagree no matter who was listed. But undoubtedly the listed belong to the very best of the british modern era fighters. Don´t they?
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