Teddy Atlas, the legendary boxing trainer, has caused a stir by naming Jimmy Wilde as the greatest British boxer of all time. Atlas made this surprising choice on his podcast, The Fight with Teddy Atlas, picking the Welsh flyweight from the early 1900s over modern heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Jimmy Wilde, nicknamed "The Mighty Atom," fought from 1911 to 1923. He amassed an impressive record of 132 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw, according to BoxRec. Wilde's dominance in the flyweight division during his era played a significant role in Atlas's decision.
Atlas's top 10 list of British boxers raised eyebrows by omitting some fan favorites. Tyson Fury, the current heavyweight king, didn't make the cut. Chris Eubank, another popular fighter, was also left off the list.
Instead, Atlas filled his top spots with boxing pioneers. Bob Fitzsimmons, a heavyweight who fought between 1885 and 1914, took the second spot. Ted "Kid" Lewis, with 189 wins to his name, came in third. Jack "Kid" Berg rounded out the top four.
More recent fighters did appear lower on the list. Joe Calzaghe, the undefeated Welsh champion with a 46-0 record, secured the fifth spot. Lennox Lewis, former undisputed world champion and Olympic gold medalist, came in sixth. Ken Buchanan, known as Roberto Duran's toughest opponent, took the seventh position.
Atlas's criteria for his rankings seemed to focus on historical dominance, raw records, grit, and legacy. He gave special consideration to early boxing pioneers, which explains the high placement of fighters from the early 20th century.
This approach has sparked debate in the boxing community. Younger fans and supporters of modern boxers might disagree with prioritizing historical figures over current champions. The list has succeeded in starting conversations about how to compare boxers across different eras.
Atlas's unexpected choices have got people talking. Whether you agree with his picks or not, the debate shows how passionate boxing fans are about their sport's history and its current stars.
