Top 50 middleweights ever (16-20)

So we get to the top 20 and this is only the first division. But hopefully the debate will increase as we get to the very top. The next five include four that must be household names to any boxing fan in the UK, plus one who has largely slipped from boxing history. Feel free to add your comments.

16. Freddie Steele
He was called the Tacoma Assassin but was better known for his fast footwork than his devastating punching. In an era of divided titles during the Thirties, Steele held the New York and NBA titles and had an incredible win percentage - at one stage his record stood at 122-2-11. Yet he is largely unremembered because he did not have to opportunity to face any of the division's legends. He has wins over Gus Lesnevich, Gorilla Jones and Vince Dundee, but a broken breastbone suffered against Fred Apostoli, which it seems never really healed, shortened his career. He was knocked down four times in a round when losing the title to little-known Al Hostak.

17. James Toney
It is impossible to fault Toney's record as a middleweight. While his career is still going nearly 16 years after he last boxed at the weight, he was never beaten as a middleweight and recorded some impressive victories, beating Michael Nunn, Reggie Johnson and Mike McCallum before his love of cheeseburgers sent him in search of bigger targets.

18 Mike McCallum
Perhaps unlucky to be this low, but a draw and a loss to Toney put him below the American. Still, a stellar career as a light-middleweight was added to as a middleweight with wins over Herol Graham at the Albert Hall (pictured), Michael Watson and Steve Collins, while he reversed a previous loss to Sumbu Kalambay.

19 Randolph Turpin
He made No 4 in my all-British list, but his win and losing effort against a peak Sugar Ray Robinson earns him a top 20 spot in the middleweight list too. He ran Carl 'Bobo' Olson close too when he was on the slide after regaining a version of the world title with a win over Charles Humez. The picture is Turpin making Robinson miss during their rematch in from of 61,437 spectators at the Polo Grounds in New York.

20. Ray Leonard
Leonard's place in this list has caused debate before his name has even appeared. But while few would doubt his status as a top five welterweight, his value as a middleweight is entirely based around how his 1987 win over Marvin Hagler (pictured top) is rated. For me, as he was coming off a three-year break, I would rate it very highly.

Comments

[jim henderson]

gotta say that leonard is an all time great, but not an all time great middleweight. it's no slight to him or his tremendous win over hagler to leave him off this list. one and out doesn't rank on an all time list! sorry.