The 17 Best Boxers of the 1980s

The golden age of the ring, where four kings traded blows and a fearsome young heavyweight rewrote the rules. Sluggers, slick stylists and underrated craftsmen all stake a claim. Where do you stand?

1

Sugar Ray Leonard

The charismatic five-division champion whose epic battles with Hagler, Hearns and Durán defined the decade.

1000pts

2

Thomas Hearns

The Hitman, a devastating puncher who won titles across multiple weight classes.

876pts

3

Roberto Duran

Hands of Stone, the Panamanian legend who conquered four weight divisions.

817pts

4

Marvelous Marvin Hagler

The fearsome middleweight king who reigned undisputed for most of the 1980s.

778pts

5

Larry Holmes

The technically masterful heavyweight champion who dominated the early-to-mid decade.

733pts

6

Mike McCallum

The Body Snatcher, a brilliant Jamaican champion at junior middleweight and middleweight.

681pts

7

Salvador Sanchez

The brilliant featherweight champion whose career was cut tragically short in 1982.

681pts

8

Pernell Whitaker

Sweet Pea, the slick defensive virtuoso who rose to lightweight glory in the late 1980s.

681pts

9

Alexis Arguello

The elegant Nicaraguan three-weight world champion renowned for his power and class.

681pts

10

Azumah Nelson

The Professor, Ghana's greatest fighter and a dominant featherweight champion.

619pts

11

Aaron Pryor

The relentless junior welterweight champion famed for his classic wars with Argüello.

619pts

12

Evander Holyfield

The unified cruiserweight champion who closed the decade before conquering the heavyweights.

545pts

13

Michael Spinks

The light heavyweight great who moved up to dethrone heavyweight champion Larry Holmes.

545pts

14

Julio Cesar Chavez

The Mexican icon who built a record-breaking unbeaten streak across the 1980s.

545pts

15

Mike Tyson

The youngest heavyweight champion ever, an explosive force who emerged in the late 1980s.

454pts

16

Hector Camacho

The flamboyant Macho Man, a lightning-fast multi-division champion of the era.

454pts

17

Donald Curry

The Lone Star Cobra, the unified welterweight champion considered pound-for-pound elite in the mid-80s.

454pts