Of his 65 recorded wins in the ring, 51 were by knockout. Jack Dempsey was known as “The Manasa Mauler” and was celebrated for his offensive style and powerful blows. Known For: Holding the world heavyweight boxing champion title 1919 through 1926

Racism ran deep at that time and when Johnson became world heavyweight boxing champion, many whites were furious. In fact, both of his parents had been slaves. Notably, Johnson had his success during the time period when Jim Crow laws were still in effect. Nicknamed the “Galveston Giant,” Jack Johnson was widely considered to be the most famous African American on the planet for more than a decade as he dominated the world of boxing.

Known For: First African American to be the world heavyweight boxing champion. It is highly debated who was the greatest of all time, but one thing is for sure: the following list of boxers certainly includes the best of the best. Each boxer on this list made a solid name for himself in the ring.

There have been many great athletes in the sport of boxing over the decades.

De niro boxer