Mark's Top 40 At 40: #1 Thomas Hearns

Mark Lyons is back with the final entry of his top 40 at 40 list.

If you've been following along since the start, you've been waiting a little while for Mark's final installment, and of course you know that Mark has been counting down his 40 favorite fighters to celebrate his 40th birthday.

Links to the previous 39 entries can be found at the bottom.

Photo courtesy of TheCyberBoxingZone.

My apologies for turning this list into an endless endeavor. I've really had a difficult time finding the words to describe the last few guys. While I have a lot to say, this list has been emotional and I've had a difficult time following up the one before it. This final entry has been next to impossible.

Boxing has occupied a great deal of my life and these attachments bring back many memories. But anyway, thanks to any who have read this project, and again I am sorry for the massive delays at the end.

1. Thomas Hearns 61-5-1 (48) Three Favorite fights: Hagler KOby3, Duran KO2, Leonard "D" 12 This comes as no surprise to anyone who knows me. Years after dirt has been poured on my corpse I will still think Tommy was a better fighter than Ray Leonard. The way the breaks went and the way that one guy carefully chose his fights makes Leonard "greater", but not by the margin that most inexplicably rate him. Six minutes is all that separated a green Hearns from glory there. People act like he got destroyed and seem to want to ignore the fact that Tommy won about 2 out of every 3 rounds he faced the man in. He asked for no sympathy and he took no shortcuts. While his chin wasn't granite, it damn sure wasn't china. Talk about going out on your shield? That phrase was made for the Hit Man. I remember when Emmanuel Steward first popped on CBS Sports Spectacular with his tall and gangly welterweight prospect. Watching this freak of nature with unrivaled speed and power begin to decimate his competition meant I was hooked for life. Lets take a look at the devastating arsenal... Easily one of history's greatest jabs, with that famous pulverizing right hand behind it. He had a very underrated hook to the head and the body as well. Blinding hand speed and accuracy out of his ass. Just a complete killing machine with the balls and will to face anybody, at any weight, any time. Tommy gave everything he had whenever he graced the squared circle. Be it as the Motor City Cobra or The Hit Man, effort and excitement were guaranteed. His presence in a ring generated an electricity that you could feel through your set. One great thing about today's technology is you are hard pressed to miss a big fight. On August 2nd, 1980 I was in North Carolina, at my grandmothers house, and Hearns/Cuevas was not televised. In the BoxRec era, people look at Pipino Cuevas' record and shrug their shoulders. At the time he was a scary monster. Angel Espada, Harold Weston and Harold Volbrecht all suffered broken jaws trying to take the strap from the vicious Mexican puncher. While his skills were fairly archaic, he had what was thought of as an unbreakable chin, and had become known as one of the most fearsome punchers in the game. During the afternoon I watched Aaron Pryor beat an aging Antonio Cervantes to claim his first title. That night I just sat there, 11 years old, chewing on my fingernails, waiting for the news. I was just hoping and praying they would mention the result. They didn't, so I opened the Sunday paper and saw Thomas Hearns Stops Pipino Cuevas in the Second. The elation was so much that I didn't even care about Earnie Shavers losing to Tex Cobb. Seeing the fight for the first time the following week, it still was astonishing. I had never seen such an explosive combination of speed and power. Lets just say Zab Judah should count his lucky stars he never chicken danced against Thomas Hearns, because another right hand was coming before you went down. The explosive result was far from the foregone conclusion people act like it was now. Sometimes I think making fights like this look so easy makes boxing people take away from some of Hearns' immense accomplishments. Then came Leonard. Yes, Ray won that fight fair and square. He dug down as deep as a fighter can and gutted out a win over a guy who had his number. As much disdain as I have for him, that accomplishment can never be taken away. The fact that it took 8 years for him to nut up and fight Tommy in a rematch is where the Ray Leonard love fest ends. It amazes how people don't give a fuck about all the good work Hearns did when rating the two guys. What if Joe Frazier didn't rematch Ali? Two great fighters with a distinct style advantage for Tommy and people just assume that Leonard is going to eat thunder and with a massacred face, hunt him down late? GTFOH is all I say to that. Much more on the Leonard rivalry later. Less than 3 months after losing his first fight, Tommy was fighting a middleweight. Yeah, weight classes never meant shit to him. "Just get someone tough and a date, I'll weigh-in there". He then destroyed Marcos Geraldo in 1 round. The same Geraldo that gave Leonard and Hagler tough distance fights. He also boxed the ears off of Wilfred Benitez. Yet another masterpiece that people want to throw away for some infuriating reason. I went to the Baltimore Arena with my father to watch Hearns/Duran on Closed Circuit. It was my two favorite fighters going at it, and though I wanted Hearns to win, I couldn't wrap my head around how it would play out. Tommy had predicted a second round knock out and some guys sitting around us were talking about it. I laughed and proclaimed if anybody was getting knocked out, it would be Tommy. Then the Motor City Cobra turned into the Hit Man and delivered the most devastating performance I have ever seen. Leonard, Robinson, whoever you want, would be in trouble if they were in the ring on that night. I never thought I would see the great Roberto Duran reduced to cannon fodder, and yet again the critics of Hearns don't seem to give a damn. Then onto war with Hagler. The most electrifying crowd, stare down, build up and nine minutes the boxing world will ever see. The Hit Man showed more manhood in that ring than Leonard ever could. Losing like a man, on your shield and giving the world something they will never forget? Evidently that is a drawback on his career for the second time. Hagler was a piece of iron, which is why Tommy broke his right hand in the first round. I honestly don't think it changes the outcome, but it sure as hell is possible. When you watch that fight, just remember that Hearns is teeing off on Marvin's dome with a busted mitt. Then you start to get an idea of what kind of man you're looking at. After Tommy devastated James Shuler and Hagler outlasted Mugabi, the stage was set for the rematch. But no, guess who is coming back? That SOB, Ray Leonard. *Puke* on that fight. I wont go into long and drawn out details of everything after, but it involves, not bitching and going about the business of defending your 54 belt and winning a new strap at 175 & 160 in 16 months. How often do you hear that mentioned as one of his great accomplishments? Less than that is huge for Manny Pacquiao these days. Think about it... After the upset loss to Barkley (who was nearly dead from body shots when once again Tommy's balls and desire to entertain got in the way of reason) and a less than dazzling win over Kinchen, Ray Leonard finally decided it was time to fight Thomas Hearns again. Was it fair play or warrior spirit? Neither. It was because Tommy was supposed to be shot. Ray found out that was not the case. When Tommy entered the ring and turned around with the long right arm pointing at Leonard, I nearly punched the guy in front of me at the Towson Center. I can't discuss this too much, but it was another blood and guts performance from Hearns and more proof that he was a better boxer than Leonard. I took the hideous decision with far less dignity than Tommy did, smashing open my knuckles as I destroyed the chair next to me. The most painful robbery and all time sports moment in my 40 years. Just unbelievable. After waiting so long to get screwed like that and not say one word in complaint... That's a man. Yet another fight that doesn't seem to matter. If Leonard rates higher, it's only slightly and no way is it clear that he was better. Match them up at their best 10 times and Leonard wins maybe 4, if he could survive that many. I’m not saying Leonard wasn’t a great fighter, he most certainly was. But if you asked all the greats from all eras who they would rather fight, it would be a landslide wanting to face Ray. Was it because he was the greater challenge? I think not. It’s easy to pick so and so to beat Thomas Hearns. Just keep in mind the kind of hell that a man is required to endure to get that done. Beating the Hit Man was a near death experience. Nobody ever did it without getting their ass kicked first and making an obligatory trip to the ER. He still wasn't done. Completely out boxing long-reigning Virgil Hill to win another legitimate belt at 175 is yet another brilliant performance that nobody talks about. Losing a close war to Barkley and even beating Nate Miller at cruiser in his 40's are also notable achievements. Yes, he came up short in his two biggest fights, but where were his chances after that? Neither fight was one that didn't scream for a rematch, and he would have lit Leonard up had it happened. I don't care what anyone says, Ray gets messed up if they immediately rematch, just like he did when it finally happened. Except worse. I'm talking about a welterweight that won legit fights all the way up to cruiserweight, knocked out Roberto Duran, out-boxed Benitez, Hill & Leonard... You want to know what that is? That is a handful for anyone in history and one of the 20 or so greatest fighters the sport has ever seen. The next time you see fighters making predictions. think about somebody telling Roberto Duran they are knocking him out in the second round... and doing it. In a sport filled with "what's in it for me" think about a star climbing up 3 divisions to face a cinder block of a champion just for the challenge. Instead of nitpicking everything in this legend's resume, fans and experts should sit back, look at it all objectively, STFU and just say thank you Mr. Hearns, because there will never be another one. So many accomplishments and while he has a lot of fanfare, many respected figures in the sport don't give him his just due. I'll be in Canastota for that induction, and with what I expect to be tears in my eyes I will say Thank You Mr. Hearns. Thank you for putting your fans above the easiest way to win. Thank you for being as classy in defeat as you were in victory. Thank you for fighting anybody you could at anytime and never complaining about politics. Thank you for being the most explosive and entertaining fighter I will ever have the privilege to watch. Thank you for bringing me out of whatever seat I was in for over 15 years of my life. Thank you for smashing your fist into Ray Leonard's face over and over. Thank you for never giving up and always going out like a man. Thank you for taking the tough fight. Thank you for my DVD collection that will allow me to relive the great memories for the rest of my life. Thank you for the titles, the highs, the lows, the destructions and the wars. Thank you for always coming back no matter how many times they wrote you off. Thank you for giving a kid a hero in the greatest sport in the world. Thank you for everything Mr. Hearns, your legacy will live long after you're gone and your spot on this list could never change in a million more years.

Mark's previous entries: Intro, 40-36, 35-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-13, 12-10, 9-8, 7-6, 5, 4, 3 & 2.

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Mark's top 40 at 40: 2

We're all the way down to #2 on the Mark Lyons countdown. If you've been following along with Mark's list, you know he's counting down his 40 favorite fighters to celebrate turning 40 this year.

This week Mark's letting it all hang out in honor of one of the sport's all-time great warriors.

Take it away Mark..

2. Evander Holyfield Career Record: 42-10-2 (27) Three favorite fights: Too difficult to narrow it down to just 3. Recipe for manliness- 1 part Erik Morales, 1 part Joe Frazier, 1 part Matthew Saad Muhammad and 14 parts Evander Holyfield. Back when the Olympics and amateur boxing actually meant something, I watched this man blaze through his competition like a shuttle to outer space. We all know the story of when he destroyed Kevin Barry so thoroughly that he brought Evander up to the podium, so I wont rehash it. I really am at a loss for words and quite honestly I'm both humbled and a little choked up in trying to do justice to this man. It astounds me when I run into people that have hate for perhaps the truest warrior/bad ass this sport has ever seen. He walked into the ring every time (still does) begging his opponent to out-man him. 46 yrs old, undersized and without the majority of his skills... I defy anyone to find the guy who can throw his nuts on the table and have them be bigger than Holyfield's. In fact, all of these steroid allegations came up because Evander needed a way to shrink his balls so they could fit in his pants. "Who wants some?" That's his motto, always has been and always will be. Unfortunately I'm just a working class man, but if I was Donald Trump, I would be offering Chris Arreola a fortune to get in the ring with The Real Deal. If I was down and out, I would bet my food stamps that we'd see Arreola on his face via the greatest left hook the division has ever seen (sorry Joe). For some ridiculous reason, everything about Holyfield is a "can't". The only real "can't" when it comes to Evander are that you can't hurt him, you can't take his punch and you can't beat him. 12th professional fight- 15 rounds with Dwight Muhammad Qawi. Are you kidding me?! One of the most epic wars the sport has ever seen. One of many to come. It's fairly clear that even a lot of modern fans haven't seen that piece of work. Hit me once and I'll hit you back forty times. After cleaning out a few other champs afterwards they rematch... "Qawi has never been off his feet" Oops. KO4 Holyfield. A bit before this was I was telling all my friends that Evander Holyfield was the guy to kick Mike Tyson's ass. Many say it, I lived it, and to the point that people got nauseated by how often I demanded the inevitable. And yeah, any age, anyplace, anytime, Mike Tyson is Evander's bitch. 100 times out of 100. Holyfield would never lose. You know why? Too much man. He would never acknowledge Tyson's hardest punch with anything less than a snarl. The Tyson apologists are nobody to be taken seriously. But at the same time, Mike was shot? His head wasn't in it? Twice? Really? Evander made him a girl when he was supposed to die in the ring. Don't you get it? He is Rocky. All you haters will be telling your kids that you once saw Evander Holyfield dodge a speeding bullet and leap a tall building in a single bound, because he kicked Superman's ass. March 11th, 1989, the day after my 20th birthday, Michael Dokes took him to the limit in the 8th round. You can say this guy is the man as much as you want, but until you see him get hit with 15 or 20 unanswered punches and get pissed about it, you don't really know. After an epic battle, a short, compact hook (the GOAT if you're paying attention) sent Dokes tumbling across the ring until the God of War sprinted across to help his descent to the canvas. Then what? A good bit of ducking from Don King followed. There are many things you can say about King, but keeping Tyson far away from Evander wasn't one of his bad choices. Holy was Mike's daddy 365/24/7, when they finally met it was decided in a matter of seconds. Right hand by Tyson...harder right hand from Holyfield, and a sneer from heaven that said, "Yeah boy, I got you now." That's the most overwhelming thing about Evander Holyfield, he always had you. When he danced with Riddick Bowe in maybe the greatest round I've ever seen and later said "I think I got him", who the hell didn't believe him? Should I go on all night and all day tomorrow? I can. One of the most beloved boxers of his era and conversely one of the most sickeningly underrated. Is there anyone you can confidently take against him? So many memories, for so many years all the way up to the cannonball left hook he sent Lou Savarese to the ground with. Hey Lou, big props baby. Joe Frazier never hit Ali that hard. Oh, by the way, Bert Cooper got brutalized in the very round he "almost stopped Holyfield". What's the best way to counter a wild knockdown? I'd have to say with 75 consecutive uppercuts. YouTube Break Holyfield vs Cooper Legendary Nights: Bowe Part 1 Legendary Nights: Bowe Part 2 Legendary Nights: Bowe Part 3 That trilogy, one of the greatest ever, ruined the victor forever. The refusal from so many to give their respect to Holyfield has made Bowe a somewhat underrated figure in heavyweight history. Would you bet money on Joe Louis against the Riddick Bowe that challenged Holyfield? Me either. The greatest example I have of the fighter and the man Evander Holyfield was from the Jim Rome show hyping the rematch with Lennox Lewis. "It must be crazy watching a guy that big run from me. Who won? Who cares? Why don't we fight until someone gets knocked out?" Lewis was many things, but he wasn't stupid. You don't try to stand up to Holyfield. You can't win. Some personal highlights The first Bowe fight I lost a beard bet with a friend that would go for three months. I had said he would whip Tyson for so long that people remembered it for a decade. I got a call from a long time friend I had lost contact with to say congratulations. The night of, my roomate and I drank a half keg and didn't have anyone else over. It was our night with the great one. I issue a challenge to any reader, show me a fight when Holyfield got outballed and I'll buy you dinner. That's like asking you to show me a sexy Roseanne Barr picture. To recap... -beat supreme bad ass Dwight Muhammad Qawi over 15 grueling rounds in his 12th fight. -became the first man to knock Qawi out. -beat Michael Dokes in an ultimate test of manhood. -destroyed the conquerer of Tyson . -hurt George Foreman with all-time combination punching. -threw the first 40 consecutive uppercut combination in history vs. Cooper. -took Riddick Bowe's prime. -dropped Ray Mercer. -made Mike Tyson his bitch. -avenged his loss to Moorer ten fold (yeah haters, they fought twice). -brought the girl out of Lewis. -knocked out Ruiz with a body shot and then schooled him in the third fight. -kicked Rahman's ass. -schooled Valuev at 46 years old. Buddy, I am ashamed to have one fighter ahead of you, but you have been a bright light in my life. Nobody has proven me right more times than you have. One of history's greatest fighters and quite possibly the greatest warrior the sweet science has ever known. Nobody ever outmanned you and nobody ever will. Someday, God willing, I'll be in heaven listening to the Hendrix/Lennon band, eating steamed crabs and watching Holyfield/Frazier LXXIV. Your impact on boxing is under-appreciated by many, but not here. Evander Holyfield- Champion, warrior, and an inspiration to me always.

Mark's previous entries: Intro, 40-36, 35-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-13, 12-10, 9-8, 7-6, 5, 4 & 3.

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Mark's Top 40 at 40: 3

Mark Lyons is back with the latest installment of his top 40 list.

Few fighters have managed to produce the kind of drama that this man gave us night in and night out. Combined with excellent skills, he had an unbreakable will and remarkable ability to absorb whatever was thrown his way. He was must-see TV, and he comes in at #3 on Mark's top 40 list.

Photo courtesy of The CyberBoxingZone

4. Matthew Saad Muhammad Career Record: 39-16-3 (29) Three favorite fights: All of them Mandatory Viewing: Youtube Clip Quite frankly, he was the greatest warrior I have ever had the privilege to watch. His fights were so exciting he made Arturo Gatti look like Paulie Malignaggi. He wasn't comfortable in the ring until he was getting his ass kicked. It must have been horrifying to wail him 20 consecutive times in the face only to see the fury start building up until he was on you like a raging fire. His fire was the product of a gut wrenching youth. What leads to that type of determination and will? How about your mother dying when you're 5 years old, you have no father. Your older brother and you are sent to live with your Aunt. They can't afford to keep you both so they tell your older brother to get rid of you. He takes you to a park in a bad spot in Philly and just runs away. You try and keep up with him , but are too young. That was Matthew Franklin's youth, and after that no punch would ever hurt him. He stood in front of every man and said give me everything you have, because there is nothing in this world that I can't take. There were fights on every weekend afternoon when I was growing up. One of the highlights of the week was getting either the TV Guide or the guide in the Sunday paper to see who was fighting. There wasn't advanced nationwide promoting except for the major bouts. Sometimes it would just say TBA and when you flipped on your set it would be Wilfred Benitez vs. Carlos palomino. My father remarried when I was 6 and my step mother was fascinated by day trips on Sundays. My dad and I always watched the fights together and I would sulk at these trips when I was missing fights like Benitez/Weston 2. On 4/22/79 I checked the TV Guide in the Sunday paper and Marvin Johnson was defending his light heavyweight title against Matthew Saad Muhammad. I hadn't seen their first fight, but I had read about what a war it was. Shortly thereafter my step mother stated that we were going to some ridiculous tourist attraction and I exploded into tears and threw a massive fit. My dad tried to calm me down and I screamed, "but it's Saad Muhammad!" He thought about it, turned to her and said "Go wherever you want, my son and I are watching the fight!" And what a war it was. I can go on and on about them. Kates, Lopez x2, Johnson x2, Conteh x2, Gregory, even Sutherland, Martin and Vonzell Johnson. You will notice if you watch that highlight vid the most wicked left uppercut you've ever seen. Lotte Mwale was the recipient of that. Saad had skills, but he hungered for war and if you couldn't give him war, you went to sleep early. He just couldn't possibly do boring and was possibly the greatest entertainer the sports world has ever known. I teared up again when he lost his gold to Dwight Muhammad Qawi. They just don't make men like that everyday. I'm not one to trump the era I grew up in over the current scene. I love the sport as much as I ever have and there are plenty of fantastic fights. But you will never see a guy atop the most stacked division in boxing, taking on anyone who wants it and defying them to break his will with one sledgehammer blow after another. Just for a comparison, I saw Saad take infinitely more punishment than Cotto did against Margarito in 5 or 6 of his wins. The eighth round of the Lopez rematch was the greatest round I have ever seen. Laying on the ropes eating flush shot after flush shot(same thing happened in the first fight) yet 6 rounds later, there was Saad standing over his vanquished challenger. That was just what a Saad Muhammad fight was like. They rivaled sex for pleasure and love for emotion. He was that damn good. I really could go on forever. His fights were like a roller coaster ride that lasted anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Never a dull a moment and you were guaranteed to get your money's worth. He may not have been the greatest fighter in the world, but he was damn sure the toughest and the most exciting. Philadelphia is known for the "never say die" mentality of their boxers. Saad sits side by side with Joe Frazier as the epitome of a Philly warrior. I think that means more to him than any all time ranking. I'll just finish with, Matthew Saad Muhammad: gladiator of the highest stature and man among boys inside the ring and out. I miss you champ.

Mark's previous entries: Intro, 40-36, 35-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-13, 12-10, 9-8, 7-6, 5 & 4.

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Mark's Top 40 at 40: 4

Mark Lyons is back with the latest edition of his top 40 favorite fighters list.

Not surprisingly, the fighter coming in at #4 is a boxer/puncher who liked nothing better than to mix it up whenever the going got rough.

Take it away Mark...

4. Erik Morales Career Record: 48-6 (34) Three Favorite fights: Manny Pacquiao I UD12, Marco Antonio Barerra I SD12, In-Jin Chi UD12 Oh man, where to begin... I'll start with this- fistic church is now in session. This congregation only requires the lust for combat, unquenchable thirst to prove yourself and a jaw of concrete. Before it rained for 40 days and nights Erik gathered two of every species and they came because they knew what was good for them. Watching highlights of this man makes me choke up. He is the epitome of a warrior, such a merciless bad ass with balls so massive that his exceptional skills are underrated. Anywhere, anyone, anyway, all night long. Erik was Clint Eastwood. Even more apt, he was the real life Dirty Harry. Mean, ruthless, vindictive and yet still he was the good guy. A man who woke up in the morning, stuffed his balls in his holster, met another gladiator at the referee's instructions and said, "Go ahead, make my day". When you hit him with your best stuff he would come back at you with the tenacity and force of a hurricane. As if to say, "I'm Erik Morales, the most powerful entity in the world and my right hand can knock your head clean off. So you have to ask yourself a question. Do you feel lucky? Well do you, punk?" Many a punk tried, but none of them were lucky. We as boxing fans were the lucky ones. In a 33 month stretch at the end of glorious career he fought Marco Antonio Barerra, Carlos Hernandez, Jesus Chavez and Manny Pacquiao three times. That is a vicious schedule by today's standards. Manny is already establishing himself as one of history's absolute top fighters. Who knows how high he can climb? One thing I feel pretty certain of, you wont see someone else stare him down and kick his ass again. Manny showed off his greatness in the last half of the three wars, but El Terrible was there the whole time, begrudgingly wilting with the honor and glory of a fallen samurai. Oh yeah, there was another trilogy you may have heard of, against another all time great that included 2 violent wars and a fight where Erik was robbed after clearly out-boxing a man who wasn't there to fight. The first fight was as good and painfully violent as it gets. Both men asked no quarter and none was given. It could have went either way but the real winner was the world. That was Genesis. On the 19th day of February in the year 2000, Erik Morales created a fan that will never forget him. Slugfests with In Jun Chi and Guty Espadas were just par for the course. He didn't always win, (maybe he could have won more if he didn't think with his sack) but look me in the eye and tell me there is greater theater than watching him eat a vicious combination only to explode out of a cannon and drive his opponent into the ropes with blazing fists of revenge. You've all seen it, I don't have to recap everything. This isn't one of the guys from my youth that maybe only this old man and a few others saw. Southpaw in the 12th, defiantly hovering over Velardez' fallen body, blasting Diaz to the canvas in another screwjob, the unrelenting desire to prove his manhood and thrill us fans. You remember don't you? Do you feel lucky to have seen it? If you don't, you're a punk. Shortly Erik will be back. He is a young man and there are still infidels to punish. It wont end as well as I will pray for. But I can guarantee you one thing... he'll make sure you get your money's worth. Get up in the morning, crack a beer or a bottle, take your vitamins, say your prayers and prepare for Revelations. The final chapter of war and violence from boxing's Santa Claus. Thanks buddy, I'll be there, prayer book in hand, ready to rock 'n roll with the Lord. "Did you like that, Mark?" "Yeah Erik, I loved it!"

Mark's previous entries: Intro, 40-36, 35-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-13, 12-10, 9-8, 7-6 & 5.

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Mark's Top 40 at 40: 5

Mark Lyons is back with the latest edition of his top 40 favorite fighters list. He'll be counting down the remaining names one by one as he's down to his top five, and has plenty to say about all of them,

If you're now familiar with the style of fighter Mark appreciates, the featured fighter of today's edition should come as no surprise...

5. Roberto Duran Career Record: 103-16 (70) Three favorite Fights: Ray Leonard I UD15, Iran Barkley SD12, Esteban DeJesus III TKO12 This is getting fun. With all due respect to Sugar Ray Robinson, Willie Pep, Hank Armstrong and the rest of history's greats, Manos De Piedra was far and away the best damn fighter I have ever seen. The sneers, the lifting Dejesus off the ground with body shots that inspired Stallone, the full out manhood lesson to Ray Leonard, the 5 punch combo that introduced Iran Barkley to the canvas, and yes, even climbing off the floor after being face planted from Thomas Hearns. If you don't respect Roberto Duran, your boxing privileges should be revoked. My first live Duran fight was the night he dismembered Esteban Dejesus in their rubber match like Hannibal Lecter on a death mission. The man didn't just beat you, he took your heart and everything that was attached to it. Watching Manny Pacquiao evolve is truly special, but it's nothing like watching Roberto Duran transform himself from nonstop aggressor to one of the best defensive fighters in the world, with the greatest lead and counter right hand in history. "He was inconsistent at 54 and above." Get out of here! This after 80+ fights with two losses. Both of the men that beat him could have donated blood from their urine from their victories. I remember watching Duran/Palomino on Closed Circuit TV on the Holmes/Weaver undercard. Carlos was tough as they come, but Duran made him seem like a mouse with his relentless pressure and unparalleled right hand. If you want to watch a near shutout that will thrill you, that's the fight. The round Palomino won preceded a trip to the canvas from the precision nuclear warhead that was Duran's deadly right. June 20th, 1980. Lets get it on "Sugar". Leonard was a great fighter. He showed true grit in getting manhandled by the Hands of Stone like a redheaded stepchild on that glorious night in Montreal. For those that want to pretend Leonard's "revenge" win mattered, go watch some tennis. Nothing ever stopped the man and he always came back. Who intimidated Marvin Hagler? Roberto Duran, that's who. He beat Iran Barkley as a 37 year old, but even after that you had to tread lightly around him. Vinnie Pazienza hit the deck hard, and he was still scary enough to bring out some truly feminine displays from Ray Leonard in a laughable third fight at 168. Ray got too close with about 30 seconds left and got his head split open for his brief moment of bravery. Love him or hate him, you better respect Roberto Duran. He was Ray Leonard's daddy when it mattered. He took Thomas Hearns most explosive missiles and lived to tell about it. He nearly ended Esteban Dejesus life for having the gall to defeat him. He had Davey Moore's hometown sing him happy birthday while he massacred Moore like a doll. It would be my greatest honor to have Roberto Duran gouge my eyes and flatten me with his sword of a right hand. There may have been greater (though it's damn sure arguable), but nobody ever changed their ways of boxing and became a completely different fighter while remaining effective. The reason why? He was Roberto Duran, and you're not. And that goes for every fighter in my lifetime, the best of the lot and it isn't close. Who really wants to see the Hands of Stone across the ring from them?

Mark's previous entries: Intro, 40-36, 35-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-13, 12-10, 9-8 & 7-6.

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Mark's Top 40 at 40: (7-6)

Mark Lyons is back, and he's down to numbers 7 and 6 on his top 40 favorite fighters countdown.

If you've just stumbled upon Mark's list for the first time, make sure to check out his previous entries (links at the bottom of this one).

7. Paul Williams Career Record: 37-1 (27) Three favorite Fights: Antonio Margarito UD12, Carlos Quintana LUD12 & KO1 Photos © Ray Kasprowicz Heading into the final round, down on the cards, blood streaming down both eyes, yeah I'm going to get him now. That might be my favorite Paul Williams moment, and its from his only loss. He took it like a man ten times over. No excuses about taking him lightly, no excuses about the last second change in opponents, just lets run it back. And when they ran it back Quintana got crushed like a bug. I pinpointed this guy for stardom long before he fought Margarito. But his appeal for me goes far deeper than that...this guy will face anybody, anywhere, anyplace, no excuses from a loss and just the overwhelming desire to run it back. Paul Williams picture should be next to boxer in the dictionary. Supreme bad ass with every intangible you could possibly invent. The criticisms are loud and the dissection of his faults are even louder. But if you look closely, the guy has IT. He will overcome any weakness and stare any challenge in the face. There may be more talented fighters and there definitely are more charismatic fighters. But there isn't another man in the fistic world willing to dig down as deep as Paul Williams. And when you really get down to it, that is probably the most difficult skill for an opponent to overcome. "Antonio Margarito throws 100 punches a round!" "LOL, not against me he doesn't. I throw 100 punches a round against everyone and I'll fight anybody spanning across four weight classes!" Anybody that doesn't like that attitude, has taken one too many shots to the head. Recently Bernard Hopkins, one of history's greatest fighters, expressed an interest in meeting Paul. That would be until he saw Paul treated Winky Wright like the wrong side of the pillow. The reality is Paul Williams throws 100 punches a round against everybody and Bernard Hopkins forgot his name one second after the Wright fight was over. I don't blame Hops for stepping away or anybody else, because this kid is the best thing going and will retire any older champion or stifle any aspiring one. Quite simply he is the best fighter in the world and is going to set his own rules. I reserve the right to move Paul up this list at anytime.

6. Pernell Whitaker Career Record: 40-4-2 (17) Three Favorite Fights: Diosbelys Hurtado TKO11, Julio Cesar Chavez D12, Jose Luis Ramirez II UD12 1/24/97 & 2/20/99 are really the two dates that tell you all you need to know about Pernell Whitaker. That's not when he was making the world's best look second rate and it's not any of the dates of his out of the ring troubles. The first is when he needed a knockout to win against Diosbelys Hurtado and he went out and got it with devastating efficiency. The second is when he fought Tito Trinidad, he didn't win, didn't even come close to it, but he walked through one of the welterweight divisions most violent assassins to try and secure that one last victory. That's what Pea was all about, winning the damn fight. In today's internet age, there are a ton of experts at every turn. Many spit out Whitaker as a boring fighter that danced and tentatively boxed his way to wins. Those "fans" couldn't get laid in a whorehouse with a $1,000 bill. Pernell was a punching machine. He routinely landed in the neighborhood of 500 punches. This man has absorbed more corrupt decisions in big fights than any fighter I can think of. His first title shot against Jose Luis Ramirez he maybe lost 2 rounds and somehow dropped the decision. No sweat, brush the dirt of your shoulder and shut him out in the rematch. Chavez? LOL, that was like a man vs a child. The best part was when Pea drilled him with a hard left mid fight and had Chavez hurt.That was the beauty of Whitaker, no knockout record, can't punch? ask his opponents to tell you that. He always discouraged everyone he faced to step to him. Say what you will, that means something when Chavez is afraid to advance. The Golden Boy, blaaaaaaaaaah, ridiculous decision, Pernell dominated that fight from start to end. Yeah, he gave away the last round, because he could afford to. Funny that he needed a knock out to win. That decision is one of the sickest I have ever seen. Whitaker threw more, landed more and landed harder, yet he got robbed by the BS side of the sport. Pernell Whitaker was all man, if you wanted to box or brawl, no matter what state of mind he was in, he was one of the greatest to ever lace them up in this or any other era. Hit him clean. I dare you. And if you do, he will fire right back. War Sweet Pea!

Mark's previous entries: Intro, 40-36, 35-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-13, 12-10, 9-8.

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Mark's Top 40 at 40: (9-8)

Mark Lyons is back, and he's edging closer to the top of his list.

If you haven't been following along (and at this stage, that seems impossible), Mark's turning 40 this year, and in honor of that milestone is counting down his 40 favorite fighters.

Today he takes a look at numbers 9 and 8.

9. Wilfred Benitez Career Record: 53-8-1 (31) Three Favorite Fights: Carlos Palomino SD15, Antonio Cervantes SD15, Harold Weston II UD15 When he was at his best, Wilfred was as tough to catch as a fly with chopsticks. Oddly enough, it seemed the novice like young Daniel san had a better shot than the sage like Mr. Miyagi. I had read plenty in my magazines about him, but my first live fight with El Radar was Palomino. I know it sounds nuts for a ten year old to be so into boxing that I was on pins and needles to see a guy I had only read about against a fighter I genuinely liked. But a lot of you know what I mean. Defensive boxing is a beautiful thing when done in close quarters, and the final two rounds of the Palomino fight get me almost as excited as a blood bath. Benitez seems to have hit a place where everyone acknowledges his undeniable talent, but tends to undersell his quite considerable accomplishments. Perhaps that is because he was finished as an elite fighter at the age of only 24. But keep in mind that you've seen the last 17 year old World Champion in history. Add the fact that he beat the great Antonio Cervantes for the belt and that stands alone as historic. One of my first reads was the recap of the dubious decision against Curry. He was dropped three times in ten rounds but controlled enough of the fight to make it close and under the round system, it wasn't that awful. He handled Bruce easily in the immediate rematch that he didn't have to take. As I have alluded to earlier, you wont be seeing Sugar Ray Leonard on this list. Ray was a great talent and I'm not one to make excuses, but nobody seems to recall the pretty intentional looking head butt that split Wilfred's forehead open. He was left with blood running into his eyes from a nasty gash for the rest of a close fight. Would he have won? I don't know, but it damn sure was grounds for a rematch. He beat Duran like a man, unlike somebody else (if I get started on that my fury will explode through your monitor!) and the Maurice Hope stoppage is as devastating a knock-out as you will ever see. His star didn't burn long, but it shined bright and I wont soon forget it. Viva Puerto Rico!

8. Meldrick Taylor Career Record: 38-8-1 (24) Three Favorite Fights: Buddy McGirt TKO12, Glenwood Brown UD12, Aaron Davis UD12 For the record, I'm not Puerto Rican, nor was I born in Philadelphia. It just seems that way. The '76 Olympics may have ignited my love for the sport, but the '84 Olympics produced more of my favorites. Taylor's speed and moxie made him undeniably attractive to a fan like myself. Even after stealing much of the show in the games, his debut was only given highlight time during the telecast. It was a familiar theme. I may as well get this out of the way as briefly as I can. I've rarely ever been more sure of a fights outcome than I was that Meldrick was going to beat Chavez and I damn sure have never been more right. Every fan, even if they didn't see that fight live, has taken part in an argument over the way it ended, so I'm not gonna spend a lot of time on it. There were 2 seconds left in a great fight, Taylor was his daddy and what happened was a steaming pile of horse dung. I'm opinionated, but like to think of myself as reasonable. There was nothing just or even remotely acceptable about that stoppage. Mel was his daddy all night! Chavez beat the shit out of him some people will say. Well Julio was no punk. You had to take some punishment to stand in front of him and whip his ass. That doesn't excuse Steele's call. That was the single most disappointing and heart breaking ref move in history. Even in the rematch when he was spent, he lit Julio up for 3 or 4 rounds. Richard Steele/Don King stole a hunk of legacy and a piece of my heart and I will never forgive them for it. It should top my favorite fights list instead of my despicable robberies list. I'm surprised they didn't just award Taylor and Whitaker's gold medals to Chavez to complete those travesties. Sorry, I guess that wasn't that brief, NO, NO, NO, HELL NO! ARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH! I need a cigarette! Okay, I think I'm all right now. Taylor didn't have a long stay at the top and his resume isn't an all-time one. But for a brief period, he was as good as the world had to offer. His dominant stoppage win over Buddy McGirt is seemingly forgotten. Even past his best at welterweight, he gutted out wins over Aaron Davis and Glenwood Brown in all action thrillers. Taylor never left the ring with anything in reserve, he was more than happy to get hit to deliver his return fire. The man absolutely schooled McGirt and Chavez over 23 rounds only to have everything snatched from his grasp in an unforgettable miscarriage of justice. I'm sorry, I'm not all right.

If you haven't done so already, make sure to check out Mark's previous entries: Intro, 40-36, 35-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-13, 12-10.

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Mark's Top 40 at 40: (12-10)

Mark Lyons is back with the latest installment of his top 40 list. For those not up to speed with Mark's list, he's turning 40 this year and is counting down his 40 favorite fighters in honor of that milestone.

Today, Mark's counting down numbers 12,11 and 10.

12. Earnie Shavers Career Record: 74-14-1 (68) Three Favorite Fights: Ken Norton KO1, Muhammad Ali LUD15, Larry Holmes LTKO11 Kill or be killed, show me a boring Shavers fight, I double dog dare you! The Roy Williams fight is the epitome of that. Completely out of gas and taking a pounding, Earnie was nearly dead in the corner, took a standing eight and roared back to stop Williams when he was so spent he could barely hold up his arms. That was Earnie in a nutshell, vulnerable and violently destructive all at once. He came along at the wrong time to wear the heavyweight crown. If only he was around today to drop a right hand missile on Wlad's chin. Want to know how that would turn out? Shavers KO1 The right hands he landed on Ali in the second round and on Holmes in the seventh round of the rematch are two of the hardest punches I have ever seen in my life. It's a testament to the toughness and brilliance of those fighters, that Shavers doesn't hold KO victories over two of the greatest fighters who ever lived. My first live fight was an aging Earnie against George Chaplin. As much as I love George, I was pulling for the Black Destroyer. Another first for me, was the quarter I won from my father on Shavers/Norton, my first bet. I'll also never forget Earnie's absolute wars with Mercado and Cobb when he was a shell of himself. You could count on two things in any Earnie Shavers fight - pain and excitement. Today's heavyweight division lacks the second and the only pain is enduring the man love on your television screen. Everyone wants another Ali, Tyson or Foreman to save the division. Give me another Shavers to knock these clowns out in brutal fashion and bring his shield into the ring, win or lose.

11. Michael Spinks Career Record: 31-1 (21) Three Favorite Fights: Larry Holmes II SD15, Yacqui Lopez TKO7, Marvin Johnson KO4 The 76 Olympics was my introduction into the addictive world of Boxing. And this was arguably the best fighter that games produced. Very few fighters in history accomplished as much in so few fights. The Spinks Jinx was always cocked behind his brilliant jab and it didn't take many of them to turn out your lights. Michael had every conceivable punch you could want. The left uppercut that starched Marvin johnson is something you wont see anytime soon. He came along at a time when the light heavyweight division was loaded with established bad asses and Michael handled them all. Qawi and Mustapha Muhammad were beaten easily as Spinks put his versatility on full display by completely out boxing both of them. Only Eddie Davis was able to run Michael as a light heavyweight and he honestly was deprived of one of histories biggest upsets by poor judging. When Michael moved up to heavyweight, he totally switched gears and started bouncing in and out from absurd angles. There was always a bit of awkwardness to his game, but he was pretty straight up at 175. While the initial and much deserved victory over Holmes was his crowning ring achievement, I prefer the rematch. Yes, the decision was controversial, but it was an excellent and overlooked fight. Holmes came out blazing and easily won the first 6 rounds, I gave him the next two closer and then Spinks grit his teeth, slapped his nuts on the ring floor and went to war with Larry Holmes. In my eyes, Michael won the last seven rounds and the fourteenth was sheer brilliance. This game is about more than winning and losing, and while Larry shaded that fight on my card, Spinks showed the guts and heart of an all time great. From there it was all pretty much icing on one hell of a boxing cake. I must mention the 85 out of 93 power shots he landed in less than 3 minutes while he completely dismantled Gerry Cooney. Compubox sucks and they talk about records, but smashing a man at near 100% connect rate over nearly 100 punches is nasty shit. At the end, his knees gave out and he got smoked by Tyson. It's a shame most people remember that Michael Spinks, because he would be hell on any light heavyweight in history. Moore, Foster, Charles, etc... the Spinks jinx is right there with all of them and he was a better fighter than Mike Tyson could ever dream of being.

10. Howard Davis, Jr. Career Record: 36-6-1 (14) Three favorite Fights: Vilomar Fernandez UD12, Meldrick Taylor D10 & Edwin Rosario LSD12 Howard was far from the most exciting fighter on my list, nor was he the most accomplished, but he was the guy a 7yr old boy was emulating when he made his dad throw on gloves and box with him during the 76 Olympics. I had the pleasure of meeting Howard a few years ago and he was as nice a guy as you could ever meet. He seemed genuinely touched and proud to talk to someone that loved him that much. He was the fastest fighter I have ever seen. People talk about blown potential and I think it was more of a fighter with the perfect amateur style who was rushed a bit in the pro's to obtain what seemed like inevitable stardom. Jim Watt was a tough guy. Not spectacular, but nobody was going to have an easy night with him. It's a lot to ask of a guy in his 14th fight to invade Scotland and take the belt from a grizzled veteran like Watt. Howard had the tools, but he just wasn't ready yet, and I think that result could have been different a few years later. Four years later, almost to the day, he was ready when he went to San Juan to face budding superstar Edwin Rosario. That was Howard's time and his finest moments in a professional ring. He was brilliant throughout, save for an early knockdown and a heart breaking last second knockdown that cost him his long awaited championship glory. To this day, that is one of my most depressing boxing memories. Everything was right there in his hands. I honestly think he deserved the decision anyway, but that knockdown made it closer than it needed to be. Rosario never hurt him and was befuddled for most of the night. Davis didn't have a punch or a particularly sturdy chin. But he had tremendous skills and talent. Enough to draw with Meldrick Taylor late in his career. In a pure boxing match, he could go with the best of them. He is this high from my childhood and from how important amateur boxing used to be. He never achieved professional glory, but he was the greatest fighter on one of the greatest Olympic teams in history. That has to be worth something.

If you haven't done so already, make sure to check out Mark's previous entries: Intro, 40-36, 35-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16, 15-13.

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Mark's Top 40 at 40: (15-13)

Mark Lyons is back with the latest installment of his top 40 list. If you're not familiar with Mark's countdown, make sure to check out his previous entries: Intro, 40-36, 35-31, 30-26, 25-21, 20-16.

This week Mark counts down numbers 15, 14 and 13.

15. Rafael Marquez Career Record: 37-5 (33) Three Favorite Fights: Israel Vazquez III LSD12, Tim Austin TKO8, Mark Johnson II TKO8 Obviously, I could just put down all three of the fights from one of histories greatest trilogies, but i would be remiss if I failed to mention some of the other wars waged by arguably the preeminent action fighter of his era. Everything starts behind one of the most knifing and powerful jabs I have ever seen. From there, Marquez unleashes awe inspiring text book power combinations. The man is a precision punching bad ass that can rank with the very best Bantamweights of the last 30 years. Though former Flyweight great, Mark Johnson was far from his best at bantam, he still had plenty left for their 2 encounters, and Tim Austin is an under appreciated, long reigning champion. He's another one of thoses warriors that some people label "chinny", but I'll always take a fighter that's willing to trade bombs and get clipped a few times in the process, and more often than not, his opponent is the one sniffing smelling salts. All 3 fights with Izzy, especially the last one - which was right up there with Arguello/Pryor in terms of action and violence - had an intensity rarely seen in a prize ring. I have no idea how much is left in his tank after those 25 unforgettable rounds. But I do know for a fact that when the first bell sounds, Raffy will march out to beat the crap out of the man in front of him, more than willing to go out on his shield if that's where the fight takes him. What's not to like?

14. Wilfredo Gomez Career Record: 44-3-1 (42) Three Favorite Fights: Lupe Pintor TKO14, Carlos Zarate TKO5, Derrick Holmes TKO5 Bazooka had trouble getting fights at Bantam, but strapped the young Jr Featherweight division on his back and carried it like a champion. His fights were a staple on the networks since he always brought the pain. He ground guys to bits more than he destroyed them with single shots and he was more capable than great above 122, but it sure was a hell of a ride. One fight that I had to view years later because it wasn't televised was his demolition of the seemingly invincible Carlos Zarate. That was even more lopsided and destructive than what Salvador Sanchez did to him at Featherweight. The difference 4 lbs can make to such diminutive fighters is quite amazing. Many younger fans may not have seen the NBC Friday Night Fights debut against Derrick Holmes. It was a true grudge match in which Holmes was able to rock Bazooka on several occasions before taking an ungodly amount of punishment. He handled the tough Juan Laporte at 126, but fell short against all time greats Sanchez and Nelson. Who knows if the lures of beautiful Puerto Rico shortened his prime, or if that was just all he had to give. It was a lot though in a short period of time. In all honesty, his all time historical placing is probably a bit high, but I'll never forget watching those little fists flail away on one challenger after another. Wilfredo was exciting and I loved watching him.

13. Felix Trinidad Career Record: 42-3 (35) Three favorite Fights: Fernando Vargas TKO12, Maurice Blocker KO2, William Joppy TKO5 "TITO, TITO, TITO".... the atmosphere at his fights was off the charts. It was a celebration! Coming to the ring with a smile on his face that hid his lust to smash his opponent with his destructive fists. Felix had his flaws, and was a bit one dimensional, but oh what a dimension it was. He burst on to the scene with an absolutely horrific massacre of Maurice Blocker, and from there his stock rocketed. It wasn't the greatest list of victims for a Welterweight Champion, but the way he disposed of them was as memorable as anyone who came before or after him. One challenger after another finished with a brutality and flare that made him must see TV. "The Fight Of The Millennium" turned out to be a dud, though it wasn't Trinidad's fault. While I must admit that I scored the bout for Oscar, my wallet and my heart smiled when those tactics weren't rewarded with a victory. William Joppy is an underrated win. While I wouldn't call any of Joppy's title reigns significant, he was a tough and serviceable middleweight that nobody else was able to destroy with the ease and ferocity that Tito closed the show with. It took a fighter like Trinidad to clue the world into the brilliance that is Bernard Hopkins. There's no shame in losing to a legend, and he made Hopkins work his ass off in a fight that was more tense than it was close. Then after creating a new planet on the face of Hacine Cherifi, the magic was suddenly gone, although he still came back to shut the flapping gums of Ricardo Mayorga. Not sure what it is about modern Puerto Rican stars, but their flames seem to burn out as quickly as they blaze across the boxing landscape. While Tito has many critics these days, I will forever be a proud fan. The man always went for the kill. He sucked it up and got off to canvas only to continue the hunt for a knockout. And while the days of a prime Felix Trinidad are behind us, I will always have my memories and tapes whenever I feel like watching a master assassin at work. "TITO...TITO...TITO"

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Mark's Top 40 at 40: (20-16)

Mark Lyons is back with another installment of his Top 40.

If you've been following along, you know Mark's turning (well turned... the big day has happened already) 40 this year, and he's counting down his top 40 favorite fighters that he's followed since he started watching the sport as a kid.

If you aren't up to speed, make sure to check out Mark's previous countdown entries: Intro, 40-36, 35-31, 30-26, 25-21.

This week, we're down to numbers 20 through 16.

20. Jeff Chandler Career Record: 33-2-2 (18) Three Favorite Fights: Julian Solis TKO14, Johnny Carter TKO6, Eijiiro Murata TKO13 "Jolting Jeff" is a forgotten man when you talk about Bantamweights, not that people talk about them often. The division was plenty visible when I was growing up with fighters like Zarate, Davila, Pintor, etc.. featured prominently on network TV. None of them drew my affection like Chandler. He was the consummate boxer/puncher with the typical Philly heart to back it up when things got rough. Jeff won the title from Julian Solis and defended against Jorge Lujan, two very slick customers to start your reign against. Then he traveled to Japan to take on the rugged Eijiiro Murata. This was one that I had to wait for the Boxing magazines to come out in order to get the result and it was a draw that wasn't particularly hometown, but viewing it later I scored it for Chandler. He went back to Japan after defeating Solis in a rematch and left no doubt with a dominating performance that ended via TKO in the thirteenth. Jeff even went back a third time and gave Murata a frightful beating that included five knockdowns. He was as versatile as they come and that is backed up by his 4-0 record in rematches with all of the wins coming inside the distance. The timing of his arrival prevented some big time fights from happening and the brevity of his stay holds him back when comparing his career to some of the greats in the division. But I have no doubt that any Bantamweight from any era would have their hands full with Jeff Chandler.

19. Jose Luis Castillo Career Record: 57-9-1 (49) Three Favorite Fights: Diego Corrales TKO by 10, Diego Corrales KO4, Juan Lazcano UD12 It pains me not to list one of history's greatest fights as my favorite. The drama that unfolded that night made the Godfather look like a slapstick comedy. Alas, "mouthpiecegate" and Tony Weeks' handling of it have left a bitter taste in my mouth that will never subside. You all know the story and the greatness of that epic, so I'm going to leave it at that. It baffles me how many people have this perception of JLC as some sort of unskilled brawler. How does an unskilled brawler run neck and neck in 2 fights with slicksters like Johnston and Mayweather and outpoint Joel Casamayor? None of those fights were slugfests. Sure, he could brawl, but was also able to apply his trade with the very best in a tactical battle. He had many subtle skills and an innate ability to cut off the ring and force the fight inside without being reckless. Of course, if you wanted to sling your balls on the table that made him even happier. The left hook to the body was from the same mold as Mexican legends Chavez and Olivares. Short, concise and debilitating. Jose was a fantastic mid-range fighter with his beautiful short shots and no motion wasted. But at heart, and for me that's what it really boils down to, JLC was one of the toughest SOB's to ever climb between the ropes. I'll take his ability to soak up punishment and push forward and match it up with anybody. I think in the end he will go down as a very underrated fighter. He should slide into the HOF easily in my opinion, and that may not be the case. A lot of that has to do with the scale situations of which he is fully to blame, but is also an indictment of the entire weigh in system. None of that matters to me though. I know how good he was and one question you can ask to detractors and fans alike. Who was definitively tougher than Jose Luis Castillo? Nobody.

18. Roy Jones Jr. Career Record: 53-5 (39) Three favorite Fights: Montell Griffin KO1, Antonio Tarver MD12, Virgil Hill KO4 I am not one of those guys that diminishes how great a fighter was by how he finishes. Nor do I scream for retirement. Roy has become quite delusional and I hope his days of locking horns with the best in the world are over, but you can't let that wash away your memories of how awesome the man was. This is as good a place as any for this comment: The biggest horseshit cliche in Boxing circles is that an older fighter is tarnishing his legacy. I can't tell you how many times I have read that about Jones, Holyfield, even Oscar and countless others. Nothing could be further from truth. Nobody talks about Ali/Berbick as a knock against Ali's greatness, and years from now, nobody is going to use Jones/Tarver III as a knock against Roy either. Roy was one of the most incredible blends of speed/power and raw athleticism that has ever graced the prize ring. Yeah, there were fights that could have been made, but he also beat a shit load of quality. He beat both James Toney and Bernard Hopkins clearer than any other fighter was ever able to. I think that gets glossed over in a rush to tear the man down. That is some sick stuff if you really think on it. Tremendous power, defense, speed from another planet. Jones may not have been in a lot of exciting fights, but I can't be the only one that would call friends or invite them over and say you gotta watch this fight. "Is it going to be a brawl?" "Not at all, the opponent wont win a second, but you have to see how incredibly awesome Jones is." In 33 years of being an absolute boxing addict, there isn't another fighter I pimped fights for, when I knew they had no chance of being competitive. I loved Pernell Whitaker, but for the casual fan, Jones was different. His power and flash made those fights enjoyable to anyone and those that followed my advice and tuned in came away amazed rather than being disappointed. Don't worry Roy, I haven't forgot.

17. Alexis Arguello Career Record: 82-8 (65) Three Favorite Fights: Aaron Pryor TKOby14, Ray Mancini TKO14, Ruben Olivares KO13 Arguello reminds me of a miniature Joe Louis, minus the hand speed. He was one of the most precision annihilators I have had the privilege to watch live or on tape. His jab ripped flesh and his hooks, crosses and uppercuts ate what remained. A technical battering ram with an eraser in each glove is an apt description for the lanky Nicaraguan. He is one of many coming on the list that if I delve into his opposition and break down the fights it will turn into a novel. My first viewing was when he performed fistic plastic surgery on Alfredo Escalera to take the Jr Lightweight title in Escalera's hometown. That was a bloody brawl and it wouldn't be the last that I saw The Explosive Thin Man in. Arguello had slow feet and that was a deficiency that could be exploited, but it was easier said than done. It was like a rat running around in a cage with a python. He could create a lethal strike at any minute and with sickening accuracy. A perfect example was his fight with Bobby Chacon. Chacon was very disciplined and boxed beautifully for six rounds building a lead, only for a single left uppercut to turn the fight and ruin all of Bobby's good work. That was what fighting Arguello was like though. Once he built momentum and started operating on you, the results were usually bloody and conclusive. I remember my aunt got HBO long before we had cable and I had my dad take me to her house for the Pryor/Arguello fight. Any fan that was to say that was the greatest fight in history would get no argument from me. So many ebbs and flows and at the core it was just a gigantic and brutal test of manhood that neither man lost in my book. An Arguello fight always left you wanting more, unless you were one of the countless guys whose faces got carved up by the razor blades he called fists. Viva Nicaragua!

16. Aaron Pryor Career Record: 39-1 (35) Three Favorite Fights: Alexis Arguello TKO14, Antonio Cervantes KO4, Dujuan Johnson TKO7 These two go in side by side and Aaron edges in front only because I was cheering for him. If they had never met, I wouldn't be able to say who I had more manlove for. That fight was glorious, yet it also had me twisted in knots. Two guys I had never rooted against locking up in a barbaric shootout that was so compelling and violent that you dare not use the bathroom in fear of missing a second. At the end there was a mixture of elation for The Hawk and sorrow for Arguello. But I'll never forget that fight and the electricity those two gladiators generated for 14 unforgettable rounds. I'm not going to touch on the black bottle and the rematch was pure sadness, so let's move on. Many of you that know me will be surprised to see Pryor on here. But you wont find many take no prisoners, nonstop action and trying to knock your head off until the final second bad asses that i don't like. I knew of Aaron from the New Faces segment in Ring Magazine but the first time I saw him was against Leonidis Asprilla on NBC Sportsworld. He dominated from the start and closed the show in the final round with a merciless barrage. Aaron had a lot of flaws, but heart and balls were not two of them. Dujuan Johnson knocked him down hard early in the first round of their clash. Pryor had several knockdowns that can be attributed to his balance issues, but this wasn't one of them. A little later in the round, Pryor was wobbled by a big left hook, only to respond immediately with a two handed barrage that forced Johnson to back into the ropes, giving Pryor time to clear his head. In the 3rd round, Pryor was almost sent through the ropes, and hurt badly by a big right hand, only to come back the following round and resume brawling. Caution wasn't part of his game. Attack, attack, attack. Even when hurt. After the rematch with Arguello his deterioration was pretty abrupt, and I feel his standing in history is over stated by what could have been. In dealing with what was, it's fair to say The Hawk was a raging animal that was among the most exciting fighters I have ever seen. You knew he was going to bring it and whatever his flaws were, nobody was ever able to exploit them enough to beat him until he was ravaged by drugs. If there is a heaven, mark me down for a river of Jack Daniels and give me a front row seat for a neverending loop of Pryor/Arguello 1.

Check out the previous installment of Mark's Top 40 at 40: 25-21

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