Clevelands Greatest Fighters of All Time (Images of Sports)

The season was one of Ruth's best as he hit. Nicklaus shot a 65 on Sunday to outlast both Tom Kite and Greg Norman and, at age 46, become the oldest man to ever win the Masters. The victory also marked Nicklaus' record 18th professional major. Hank Aaron Spring Training, March 30, Braves outfielder Hank Aaron starts to run toward first during a spring training game in That season, Aaron's fourth in the majors, he won the only MVP award in his Hall of Fame career, and he led the league in home runs for the first time, with Reggie Bush USC vs.

Bush's spectacular season earned him the Heisman Trophy, but the award was later stripped because Bush had received illegal benefits during his time with the Trojans. Mary Decker Olympics World champion Mary Decker, who became tangled with Britain's Zola Budd about halfway through the 3,meter run, looks on from the infield after falling from the track. The collision ended Decker's day and shook up Budd, who fell from the lead to seventh place.

A brutal civil war left more than 6, amputees in Sierra Leone. He would win the tournament again in and Swann became the first receiver to win Super Bowl MVP honors after catching four passes for yards and a touchdown during a Pittsburgh victory. To this day, it remains the only walk-off home run in Game 7 history.

Julius Erving January Philadelphia 76ers forward Julius Erving gets full extension on a one-handed dunk against the Denver Nuggets. Jacques Plante Canadiens at Rangers, Dec. Plante was the first NHL goalie to wear a goaltender mask on an everyday basis, a practice he started during the season. Phil Mickelson Masters, April 11, Phil Mickelson celebrates after making an foot putt on the 18th hole to clinch a one-stroke victory at the Masters. After years of being called the best player without a major victory, Lefty broke through with his nine-under-par performance.

He won the tournament again in and Pete Rose Reds vs. Baseball's all-time hits leader, Rose was 4-for-9 and drew eight walks during the series with Chicago. Bannister won the duel and later took the first ever Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year" honors. In Game 7, Bill Mazeroski hit the first walk-off home run in World Series history, a shot over the left-field fence that gave the Pirates a win. Joe Namath Bills at Jets, Dec. The Jets would win behind Namath's yards and two passing touchdowns. Comaneci was the first gymnast to ever be awarded a perfect score in an Olympic gymnastic event, and in total, won three gold medals in Montreal.

Bob Cousy Pistons at Celtics, Nov. Cousy's unorthodox style, featuring behind-the-back dribbling and no-look passes, stood in marked contrast to the rest of the league, which was then dominated by a more fundamental style of play.

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Williams, then 37, hit. Carl Lewis Summer Olympics, Aug. Lewis' final leg, which he covered in 8. Serena Williams Australian Open, Jan. Williams, who was unseeded because of her World no. Despite Robinson's steal, the Dodgers lost the game , but they would go on to win the Series in seven games.

Rodman won his sixth rebounding title during the season averaging Jim Brown Cleveland, Nov. Alexeyev set 80 world records between and , and is widely considered the greatest heavyweight weightlifter of all time. The season would be Clemente's last as he would die in a plane crash in December of the same year. The jockey and horse were both uninjured.

The Tar Heels triumphed, McGwire hit the record-breaking 62nd home run the next day, and he finished the season with Barry Bonds later broke the record by hitting 73 homers in Randy Moss Vikings vs. Rainbow trout Anchorage, Jan. Ben Johnson Summer Olympics, Sept. Johnson would win gold and set a new world record, only to be stripped of both when he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs three days later. Vince Young Rose Bowl, Jan. Young threw for yards and ran for more, including the game-winning touchdown. Bob Beamon Summer Olympics, Oct.

Beamon's jump, which inspired a new adjective for spectacular feats 'Beamonesque' , stood as the world record for 23 years. Ron Turcotte aboard Secretariat Belmont Stakes, June 9, Ron Turcotte, riding Secretariat, takes a quick peek over his shoulder at his competitors during the running of the Belmont Stakes. Secretariat would go on to win the race in 2: With the win, Secretariat became the ninth Triple Crown winner in history, and the first winner in 25 years.

It was the fastest ascent ever. A heavy sheet of fog rolled over Soldier Field during the second quarter, cutting visibility to around yards for the remainder of the game. Angels at Orioles, Sept. Ripken would end his own streak at 2, games in , surpassing Gehrig's record by games.

Roger Staubach Annapolis, Nov. Smith, the gold medalist in the meter race, and Carlos, the bronze medalist, were kicked out of the Games for their overtly political statement. Though plagued by steroid accusations at the '88 Games, Joyner-Kersee never tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Abebe Bikila Rome Olympics, Sept. The race was held at night due to sweltering summer heat.

Muhammad Ali and Cleveland Williams

Tiki Gelana London Olympics, Aug. Gordon Hayward Duke vs. The shot hit the backboard and clanged off the rim, giving Duke its fourth title. Matthias Steiner London Olympics, Aug. He got up on his feet and waved to the crowd but later withdrew from the competition. Barry Bonds San Francisco, Aug. The blast broke the career home run record held by Henry Aaron for 33 years.

However, by then he had already set a new standard for any emerging boxer from Hawaii. And make no mistake, the affable Keene never considered himself a craftsman in the ring: I may not have been a great boxer or puncher, but I was a good, small-town guy who always plowed ahead. Although he never challenged for a world championship, he consistently faced solid competition, and he amassed a remarkable record in fights held in Idaho. It was a long road to success, too. Oh, and McFarland accomplished all this by the time he was Despite retiring just as he was entering his athletic prime, the sterling record McFarland had amassed proved more than enough to earn him enshrinement in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Although he died at age 47, McFarland enjoyed lucrative success in brewing and contracting ventures, and he stayed connected with boxing, mentoring Barney Ross and working with the Illinois Athletic Commission. Two-time lineal middleweight champion Tony Zale is remarkable for a myriad of reasons. He would defend that title, while adding the NYSAC championship to his haul in , four times, culminating in his first bout against Graziano. Instead, in characteristic fashion, he took on all-time great Marcel Cerdan. Zale was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in At middleweight, particularly, Nunn displayed a combination of skills and punching power that had fans and pundits pegging him for a sustained run as a pound-for-pound stalwart.

Nunn, however, would bounce back and claim the WBA and lineal super middleweight titles, making four successful defenses. But despite all this in-ring success, life after boxing would prove tragic for Nunn. He is currently incarcerated for buying a kilogram of cocaine from an undercover agent and is slated for release in Willard was a hellacious hitter who scored knockouts in all but two of his wins. In sweltering heat, Willard stalked and outmuscled the somewhat lethargic champion, scoring a historic knockout in the twenty-sixth round of a scheduled forty-five. Willard would earn a newspaper decision victory in his only successful defense, which came against Frank Moran, setting the stage for his bout against Jack Dempsey.

He somehow made it through rounds two and three on his feet before he was mercifully pulled out of the contest — his defeat final but his courage unquestioned. It seems wrong to try and encapsulate anything about Muhammad Ali — who passed away this year — with such brevity. Ali was more than a boxer; he was a cultural icon, a symbol for peace, social justice and defiance of the establishment, and he was one of the greatest boxers of all-time — a gifted pugilist and poetic trash-talker who somehow possessed the skills to back up his gift of gab.

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Unlike most athletes today, Ali was also a man of profound convictions, standing up against institutionalized racism and inequality amongst other things. He spoke eloquently and with passion, and he eventually won over the public by never compromising his values. During a career that stretched from to , Canzoneri faced 18 world champions and six future Hall of Famers over his fights, and he became only the second fighter to ever win championships in three weight classes, capturing world honors at featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight.

Only five months removed from that triumph, Canzoneri would again best Berg, this time via round unanimous decision in a fight that featured a controversial foul from Canzoneri — who scored a legitimate knockdown in round one — in the eighth, prompting the raucous crowd of 18, to protest the alleged injustice against Berg. Joey Gamache is the only boxer from Maine to ever win a world title, which he accomplished in with a stoppage of Jerry Ngobeni to claim the WBA strap at pounds.

Gamache would vacate the title without defending it and move up to lightweight, where he would also win the WBA championship by knockout — this time against Chil-Sung Jun. At that point, in June of , Gamache was and a two-weight champion. However, Gamache would lose his lightweight title in his first defense when Tony Lopez stopped him in the eleventh round of a fight Gamache was edging. Still, Gamache persevered, winning 19 of his next 20 contests — his only defeat coming to legend Julio Cesar Chavez — to set up the controversial final act of his career.

In February of , Arturo Gatti, who dangerously outweighed Gamache on the night of their fight, scored a frightening knockout that sent Gamache into retirement. Gamache sued Gatti and the New York State Athletic Commission, and while he was not awarded any damages, negligence was found in the handling of weigh-in process.

Gamache, though, deserves to be remembered for far more than the Gatti loss, and the former champion has found success in retirement training boxers, including Military Champion Boyd Melson. Gans achieved this groundbreaking feat in when he knocked out Frank Erne, who had previously defeated him, in a single round.

However, Gans, who is part of the rare knockouts club, practically held the lightweight title hostage until consecutive knockout losses to Battling Nelson in 17 and 21 rounds in When Saddler finally earned a featherweight title shot after 93 fights, he upset fellow legend Willie Pep via stunning fourth-round knockout Saddler was a underdog. Still, Saddler had emerged from their rivalry with three victories — and three wins inside the distance. Unfortunately, Saddler was forced to retire due to a detached retina, and he sadly suffered from dementia later in life.

Ketchel was also an all-time great character — the embodiment of Wild West brawling and adventuring. After fleeing home at 14 for a vagabond life, Ketchel ended up in Montana where he honed his explosive punching power, working as a barroom bouncer and taking on challengers in spectacles at a local theatre. Eventually, though, Ketchel turned to professional boxing. Over four fights — all for the World Middleweight Title — Ketchel would win three, including a round decision to end matters in Amazingly, Ketchel accomplished all of this by the time he was But Gibbons was far more than a gifted boxer and punishing puncher who compiled a glittering record while ultimately coming up short against the absolute best.

One of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of all-time, Armstrong holds the unique an unmatched distinction of simultaneously holding three undisputed championships when there were only eight weight classes — a feat he accomplished in A champion at featherweight, lightweight and welterweight, Armstrong left his most indelible mark at pounds — his reign beginning in when he sent legend Barney Ross into retirement.

Brothers Michael and Leon Spinks both captured gold medals at the Olympics in Montreal as members of arguably the greatest ever U. But while Leon would enjoy a meteoric rise to fleeting heavyweight stardom, it was Michael who would go on to have a Hall of Fame career as a two-division champion, forging a legacy as one of the greatest light heavyweights of all time. Spinks remained undefeated as a light heavyweight, and his overall record in world title fights was with 9 KOs with a mark of 2 KOs against other world champions.

Cleveland's Greatest Fighters of All Time Images of Sports

While his vaunted right hand — The Spinks Jinx — was his calling card, Spinks possessed exceptional boxing skills. Although his two fights with Larry Holmes were razor close decisions, Spinks etched his name in boxing lore, all while further cementing his standing amongst light heavyweight legends.

A member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation, Marvin Camel represented the state of Montana with pride and distinction, making cruiserweight history along the way.

Willie Mays

Camel initially fought Mate Parlov to a draw for the WBC title in , but he would win an immediate rematch the following year. However, Carlos De Leon would upend Camel in his first defense and would also stop him in a return bout. Undaunted, Camel worked his way back into contention and used winning the USBA regional title as a springboard to fighting for the newly sanctioned IBF strap. Crawford dominated the fight, which set up an explosive, star-making defense against Cuban dynamo Yuriorkis Gamboa. Crawford figures to eventually move up to welterweight, and many are hoping he lands a shot at Manny Pacquiao.

Despite ending his storied career as one of the greatest middleweights — and fighters — ever, Marvelous Marvin Hagler had to earn things the hard way. Hagler, though, would rebound and win the unified titles in September of , after which he would embark on a historic reign at pounds. Although Hagler vehemently disputed the verdict, his legacy, which includes a 12 KOs record in title fights, was already secure, and he has enjoyed a luxurious retirement in Italy and has even starred in action movies.

First of all, the great Bob Foster was actually born in Texas. Tapia, though, would rebound and stop Henry Martinez in to win the WBO junior bantamweight title, which he would hold for a remarkable four years and 13 defenses. During this reign, Tapia would score a defining victory: Sadly, Tapia succumbed to heart failure precipitated by the onset of Hepatitis C at 45 — a tragic end to both a troubled and triumphant life.

And yet, all-time great Benny Leonard, who reigned as World Lightweight Champion from stands out as the greatest fighter ever to be born in the state that used to be the spiritual pulse and home of prizefighting in the United States.



Amazingly, Leonard never lost his lightweight title, opting for abdication after defeating the likes of Rocky Kansas and Lew Tendler on multiple occasions, as well as several other top contenders. Leonard would lose a couple of marquee forays into heavier weight classes when he was disqualified against Jack Britton in in a bid for the World Welterweight Title, and also at the end of his comeback in by Jimmy McLarnin.

In the s, Leonard only failed to match Jack Dempsey in popularity, and he was part of the inaugural induction class at the International Boxing Hall of Fame. After claiming a gold medal at the Olympics in Montreal as part of arguably the greatest ever U. What made Leonard so great, though, was his consistent insistence on accepting Herculean challenges.

But Leonard was about far more than statistics because, like almost no other fighter, he sought out greatness at every turn. Jeffries was a revered heavyweight champion who, despite fewer than 25 professional fights, dominated his era and cut an image of rugged, hulking strength that the public idolized. Pryor , 35 KOs , whose awesome power, intimidating scowl and frenetic, overwhelming style allowed him to rule the junior welterweight division to the tune of an record in title fights, won two decisive victories over Nicaraguan great Alexis Arguello to cement his Hall of Fame credentials.

Moyer would claim a world title, though, when he defeated Joey Giambra to win the inaugural WBA title at junior middleweight. Two fights later, Moyer would add the WBC belt to his collection to become a unified champion. However, he would lose both titles in his next fight against Ralph Dupas via split decision, and an immediate rematch saw Moyer drop a unanimous verdict. By then, in , Moyer was already a fight veteran. In characteristic fashion, Moyer would persevere and impressively launch another assault at a world title, this time at middleweight.

Although Greb is best remembered for his dominance at middleweight, he is also the only man to defeat Gene Tunney. Frankly, Pazienza should not have been alive at that point. Army; Frazier, in fact, supported Ali in his struggle for justice. Frazier would defend the title two more times before running into the juggernaut that was a prime George Foreman. Although Frazier would never regain the title, he bravely fought on, losing two times to Ali but producing a transcendent trilogy.

With a record of 9 KOs in world title fights and a 8 KOs mark against other champions, Hearns compiled one of the more impressive resumes in contemporary boxing history.