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Who were/are the most controversial boxers in boxing history in your opinion?

Here are my top ten most controversial boxers.

Jack Johnson easily tops the list, the guy caused race riots where ever he went. Jack was a one man civil rights movement. During a time frame when they were hanging Blacks from trees simply because they walked through the wrong neighborhood and looked at a white woman, Jack married a few just to snub his nose at the bigots. Clearly the time frame in history plays a part, but Jack Johnson gets my top spot.

Muhammad Ali lands at number two on my list as much for his activity outside the ring as his status as history’s all time great heavyweight. Ali was a center piece to the civil rights movement during the 60′s, and quite possibly the most outspoken athlete in the history of sports. He was also a political leader for a large segment of the American population with world wide recognition that surpassed most official politicians. A Great man, great American and spectacular boxer.

Joe Louis etched his name a notch above both Johnson and Ali in the evolution of racial relations in America with his victory over Max Schmeling in their second fight. The horror of WWII and the Nazi connection to Schmeling during the time frame made that fight the single biggest boxing match in the history of the sweet science. Joe’s subsequent Military service made him a beloved National hero that transcended racial barriers. A Great man, great American and a spectacular boxer.

Mike Tyson was blessed with far and away the best support group any boxer ever began a professional boxing career with. Mike’s early trainers, handlers and support group could cover a wall in the boxing hall of fame and names like Cu’s, Jimmy Jacobs, Bill Clayton, Teddy Atlas, and even Kevin Rooney each played a role in the early Tyson. This talent pool made Tyson the best marketed fighter in the history of the sport. Mike’s psychological short comings, criminal thug like social outlook and general mental instability made him a disgraceful spectacle to the heavyweight championship, but most definitely “controversial” I put him at number four.

Evader Holyfield claimed Benny Hinn, through the power of the Holy Spirit healed a congenital heart ailment, and later as a 28 to 1 under dog, with taunts of “Evangelist Holyfield” ringing in his ears destroyed Mike Tyson on June 9th, 1996. A few years later he fed Mike a piece of his ear in the rematch. A spectacular multi-division, four time heavyweight champion, possibly the most dominate cruiser weight in that division’s history, and a magnet for controversy who once had a para-glider land in the ring during one of his championship fights. Evander hung on too long to his boxing career and allowed age and loss of ability to mar his spectacular legacy near the end of his career. His place in heavyweight history is easily a top ten all time great. I place him at number five.

Jack Dempsey places 6th on my list, a hobo who became heavyweight champion of the world, and later a national icon famous the world over in Cinema and stage. For pure savage aggression and punching power Jack had few equals in history, and he was responsible for boxing’s first million dollar gate.

Oscar DeLa Hoya, a pampered media darling, Olympic gold medalist, and 7 time multi-division champion who became the most successful boxing promoter since Don King. Oscar created HBO 24-7 as a marketing tool for his fights and never looked back. As success stories go, this one has few equals, and Oscar owns most of the boxing magazines needed to print any boxing story, I put the Golden Boy at number 7 even though my wife and daughters rate him a 10.

Nicoli Valuev, the freakish 7 foot plus 400 lb. two time heavyweight champion comes in at number eight, simply because, after two heavyweight titles, he still is looked upon as a circus side show and not a legitimate boxer. As controversy goes, the big guy generates it by the truck load every time he walks into a room without bumping his head on the door way. I put him at number 8.

Rocky Marciano, the only undefeated heavyweight champion in the history of the sport, considered an all time, top ten great, but surprisingly not as respected as some later heavyweights with lesser accomplishments. The Rock generates controversy for the same reason Jack Johnson and Ali did, race. Rock was White, and few modern heavyweight champions were both White and successful, let alone perfect. Like it or not, Larry Holmes was chasing Rock’s record, and I put Marciano at 9th.

Prince Nassem Hamid, Britain’s answer to Jorge Paez may not rate high on some lists, but as ring walks go he had no equal. Naz had the actual “Temptations” singing “Get Ready Cause Here I Come” in Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena, a stone’s throw from the birth place of MoTown. Nobody could put on a show like that and not generate controversy. An Arab with an English accent during a time frame where the Middle East and terrorism dominated both the news and pol

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