The late great Emanuel Steward is widely considered to be one of the greatest trainers in the history of boxing. His top ten fighters of all time, therefore, is extremely respected.
He played a key role in the development and success of former heavyweight champions Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko, and also spent time training the likes of Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr and Oscar De La Hoya.
Speaking to Boxing 247, Steward named his top ten fighters of all time, a list that was topped by the legendary six-time world champion Sugar Ray Robinson.
“The best welterweight ever! A phenomenal record at a time when records were real!”
Robinson is widely considered to be one of the greatest fighters to have ever graced the sport, reigning as the world welterweight champion between 1946 and 1951 before he made the move up to middleweight where he would capture the belt on five occasions within a nine year period.
Muhammad Ali, Henry Armstrong, Willy Pep and Joe Louis completed Steward’s top five. At six he had Marvin Hagler, seven was George Foreman and Sam Langford slotted in at eight.
Before closing out with Roberto Duran at number ten, the esteemed trainer named Filipino icon and eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao at nine in his list.
“Has gone through division after division after division! Just a phenomena.”
After a four year hiatus, ‘PacMan’ made a sensational return to the ring last month when he fought to a split decision draw against reigning WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 46-year-old has already confirmed that he intends to continue with his boxing career, with rumours that he could face Barrios in a rematch next or potentially lock horns with WBA world welterweight champion Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero at some stage in the near future.
