BRITISH boxing is experiencing a boom over the past 30 years due to its great talents, loved characters, Olympic success, and the rise in popularity of the internet.
Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno were heavyweight champions in the 1990s, while middle and supermiddle were brimming with tragedy and brilliance as Chris Eubank Sr., Nigel Benn and Herol Bomber Graham delighted us. Then came Joe Calzaghe, unbeatable.
Amir Khan Khan and Prince Naseem Hamed paved the way for British-Muslim boys, while Ricky Burns, three-weight world champion Ricky Burns entertained his Scottish fans with some of the most memorable nights of their lives.
James DeGale was the first Brit to race to Olympic gold and world title. George Groves, a Rocky-like fourth attempt, reached the pinnacle. Now we are full circle with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua ruling the blue riband.
SunSport set out to pick the top ten fighters (or 11 in actuality) from the past 30 years. We apologise for not including your favorite fighter among this amazing mix of icons.11: Amir Khan 34-5
From an early age, Khan was expected to do great things.At 17 he was an Olympic silver medalist, at 22 he is a light-welterweight world champion and could have been more.
Khan has had to face some of the greatest names of this era, even though Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather both avoided him. But that bravery or big-purse focus may have cost him his legacy.
The Bolton wonderboy won the WBA light-welterweight title in 2009. He also captured the titles of Marco Antonio Barrera and Paulie Malignaggi as well as Marcos Maidana, Marcos Maidana, Zab Judah, and Marcos Maidana.
He beat Luis Collazo and Devon Alexander when he weighed 147lbs.
He was just a few steps away from becoming a two-weight champion, but he almost got robbed by Canelo and was nearly killed by a middleweight monster who looked like a light-heavy.
Khan's heart was at its peak. Unlike his unguarded chin, Khan's heart could not be doubted. Just look at the three last matches against Maidana, welterweight, and you'll remember the good times.10: Anthony Joshua 24-1
Joshua Klitschko's downing set his career on the path to superstardomAJ is still in doubt after Andy Ruiz Jr's June 2019 defeat.
The outcome was avenged, and the three belts were reclaimed by Kubrat Pulev before he beat Kubrat in December. However, the upcoming bouts against Tyson Fury - which promoter Eddie Hearn hopes will turn into a two- or three-legged affair – and Oleksandr Usyk, undisputed cruiserweight genius Oleksandr Uzyk will prove AJ's true worth.
He will hopefully have risen up the list before his 31-year-old career is finished and won the trust of American pundits and fans who are still uncertain about his credentials following the New York collapse.
The 2012 Olympic gold medal, which was won just five years after a man started as a bricklayer in the gym, and the fast race to the three world titles, along with the exciting fights that followed, have already changed the sport in Britain.9: Nigel Benn 42-5-1
Benn was a well-known figure, who tried to make a comeback last season before being injured.Before Ricky Hatton, there was Nigel Benn. These were working-class men with character flaws but who have the potential to make a difference in the lives of others. They carry the hopes and dreams of the nation on the shoulders.
Like Hatton or Carl Froch, Benn would be happy to recite the long list skills and physical attributes that he had given away.
However, when Benn and his friends slide through the ropes, their desire and defiance completely take over.
The Dark Destroyer, at his most brutal, was defeated only by Michael Watson and Eubank.
After a lifetime of heavy drinking and heavy fire, the final three losses that ended the career of the former soldier were devastating.
The hangovers were worth it when Iran Barkley was defeated in round one of his first defense and America was invaded for the WBO title.8: Duke McKenzie 39-7
McKenzie's track record does not tell the full story of his talent.He was the three-weight world champion, and he had his best wins in the 1980s. However, he won titles two and three at beginning of the Nineties. This list is not complete without him.
His achievements in collecting straps at the less popular weights of fly and bantam in '88 and '91, respectively, means that his accomplishments never received the mainstream recognition of the masters who followed in the Hollywood divisions between heavy and welter.
McKenzie's record of 39-7 is also harsh, as three of his late losses were due to McKenzie overextending his skills at feather and superfeather in areas where his jab was not able to withstand naturally larger men.7: Prince Naseem Hamed 36-1
From his Sheffield beginnings, the Prince has a loyal followingArguably one of the best fighters these shores ever produced, and will always be remembered as the one who got away.
For the young, scrawny Sheffield boy from Yemeni parents, unimaginable success and wealth seemed to destroy the brilliant featherweight and ruin his relationship with his legendary trainer.
Brendan Ingle had lost the WBO, IBF, and lineal 9st King long before his bravado, lack of commitment, came back to bite he against Marco Antonio Barrera, in Las Vegas. This was his only loss.
He took the 10,000 boos from his London return bout as a sign to disappear off to count his million, not his calories, and to let his ever-injured hands heal.
Kevin Kelley's clash will not fade. The flying carpet entrance is still there. And the iconic corkscrew shot, which was imitated by Dennis McCann in his gyms across the UK, will never go away.
However, the star who died at 28 is not able to boast the undisputed title or a world title at a different weight.6: Chris Eubank Sr 45-5
Eubank won the WBO middleweight title against Benn in 1990.Through the 1990s, the depth of British talent in middle and super-middle divisions was frightening.
Eubank defeated Michael Watson twice, and Benn once. The rematch ended in a draw.
Watson lost the second victory over Watson. He suffered life-altering brain injuries that ended his career.
Eubank's continued, but the devastating consequences of his 29th victory meant that he had to box the remaining 23 fights without his killer instinct.
Eubank's last three fights were a shambles. He was outpointed at 11 days notice by Calzaghe and lost twice to Carl Thompson.
His unmatched style, supreme chin and long list bitter rivalries make him a unique figure.5: Ricky Hatton 45-3
Hatton faced Mayweather in his backyardBecause of the devotion of his loyal fans, Manchester's icon would win a popularity contest.
Guinness and Only Fools and Horses-loving twoweight champion reached the pinnacle of the epic night he defeated the granite Kosta Zyu to become the IBF Ring Mag and lineal light-welterweight champion at his local arena in 2005.
Unfortunately, after his Man City fan legion had again taken control of the Las Vegas strip in 2007, Floyd Mayweather's streak was halted by Joe Cortez, an overzealous referee. He stopped him from producing his most intense pressure-fighting and stopped him in ten.
He was already struggling with yo-yo dieting by 2009, and thousands of British hearts had been broken by Manny Pacquiao's second round.
Hatton insists Calzaghe is Britain’s best fighter, but few would dispute that he is also the nation's most beloved.4: David Haye 28-4
Haye displayed a remarkable performance to beat Valuev, a heavyweight boxerThe two defeats of Tony Bellew by Hayemaker should not cloud the judgment of new fight fans who are looking through the records.
Adam Booth was the mastermind behind Haye's recovery from the shock loss to Carl Thompson. He made Haye the unified, lineal, and Ring cruiserweight king. The highlight 2007 victory over Jean-Marc Mormeck came in France within seven.
He emulated Evander Holyfield's feat of leaping to heavyweight and dethroning 7ft Nikolai Valuev.
Haye should have bowed down after being defeated by Wladimir Klitschko, with his head held high. However, his OTT excuses about a broken toe have undermined a remarkable career that should have ended before Bellew dominated it twice.3: Tyson Fury 30-0-1
In their Vegas rematch, Fury destroyed WilderThe ten-year champ was adamant that he had done everything wrong to beat Wladimir Klitschko in his adopted home.
After three years of no serious rounds, the Deontay Wilder clash was a remarkable example of courage and determination that should have led to a victory.
Nearly everyone was stunned by the power and aggression he displayed in execution of the heavyweight division's chief executioner in the rematch.
This stick-and-move slapper, who danced like an amateur lightweight, was suddenly a heavyweight knockout performer.
It is often difficult to place heavyweights on the pound for pound lists. After removing their size and power it is hard to see what is left. But Fury's skillset and fight intelligence would thrive at flyweight.
Unfortunately, his record is marred by the drugs ban that he received for failing to pass a test prior to Klitschko's win.
This is particularly sad because he seems like a fighter of a lifetime who would never need assistance.
However, his three wins at the elite level against Klitschko and Wilder (17 months prior) make him something we need to see more of.2: Lennox Lewis 42-2
Lewis famously slapped Hashim Rahman in revenge for his second career lossThe undisputed champion of heavyweight in the world.
The conqueror of Vitali Klitschko and Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson.
He was one of few great fighters who walked away at the pinnacle of his career and did not make the error of returning to ruin his legacy.
His record was marred by shock KO defeats by Oliver McCall, Hasim Rahman, and Holyfield. These were also redressed in a ruthless manner.
Lewis' strangely committed critics insist on pointing out how Tyson was faded while Vitali was stopped by cuts while leading on points.
Most right-minded fighters will be proud to see Lewis' collection of major belts, his CV, and his style shift from young KO artist into pugilist specialist.1: Joe Calzaghe 46-0
Calzaghe had an unbeaten career recordWrite a boxing rags to riches boxing story that is better than the Welsh Dragon's.
Bullied schoolboy transformed into a unified, Ring Magazine and lineal champion in super-middleweight, with the help of Jeff Lacey, Chris Eubank and Mikkel Kessler.
Rapid-handed southpaw who glided up light-heavy and headed to America, to face his doubters and defeat Roy Jones Jr.
He did it all with Enzo, his father and trainer, by his side. Without any boxing experience, the dad-and son team took on the entire world and were never defeated.
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Calzaghe threw dozens of accurate punches, didn’t ship too many and always got off the floor when he had to.
A real fighter’s fighter, whose skills are not appreciated enough by blood-and-guts seeking fans.
And he achieved the rarest of things by leaving us wanting more as fans still debate how dream bouts with Nigel Benn, Steve Collins and Carl Froch would have gone.
The difference is they had all been beaten and, in 46, the great JC never was.
