Some boxers simply have an unwavering will to win. Defeat is never an option for them, and they will never accept it, even if it means they have to pick themselves up off the canvas and come back to score a roaring KO.
This sort of determination is certainly admirable and has resulted in some incredibly long winning streaks throughout boxing’s colorful history.
While there are surely other fighters who have gone for longer without a loss, the legends on this list have had significant winning streaks that truly meant something. We’ve come up with a list of boxers who have simply defied the odds.
In this sport, winning is important, but it isn’t everything. The way you fight is more significant, in the grand scheme of things. But sustaining victory is an incredible feat nonetheless, and should be celebrated.
Let’s take a look at how far some fighters have gone to keep their winning streaks intact. Today, Evolve Daily shares five of the longest winning streaks in boxing.
1) Jimmy Wilde (93 wins)
https://youtu.be/bU7PYo7IyXw
Welsh professional boxer Jimmy Wilde competed professionally from 1911 to 1923. The flyweight sensation was the first flyweight world champion in the history of boxing. And with a nickname like “The Mighty Atom,” Wilde exhibited incredible power in the lower weight classes.
He made his professional debut in 1911, knocking out Ted Roberts in just three rounds. Wilde competed 28 times that year, finishing with 27 wins and one draw. Three years later, that winning streak had swelled to 93 victories. It’s the longest winning streak in boxing history, a record Wilde still holds today.
The following year, Wilde’s winning streak was snapped when he suffered a technical knockout loss to Tancy Lee. It was certainly a shock to everyone watching. Being the warrior that he was, Wilde continued his career and officially retired in 1923 with a record of 131-3-1, which includes 98 knockouts.
2) Julio Cesar Chavez (89 wins)
Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez is arguably the greatest Mexican boxer who has ever lived. But the multiple-division world champion wasn’t just popular in his home country. In fact, he was one of the most popular fighters in the world in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Nicknamed El César del Boxeo (“The Caesar of Boxing”) and El Gran Campeón Mexicano (“The Great Mexican Champion”), Chavez was an absolute force to be reckoned with in the ring.
He began his professional career in 1981, debuting with a knockout victory over Bobby Fernandez. By the end of 1993, Chavez had amassed an immaculate 89-0-1 record and was a world champion in three weight classes.
Unfortunately, Chavez bit off more than he could chew when he faced Frankie Randall in 1994, losing by technical decision which effectively ended his winning streak. He retired in 2005 with a 107-6-2 record including 85 knockouts.
3) Floyd Mayweather Jr. (50 wins)
No one in the history of boxing made a bigger deal out of a perfect record than former box office king Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr.
Born to a boxing family, with his father and trainer Floyd Sr. guiding him early in his career and late uncle Roger perfecting his technique, the self-proclaimed TBE (“The Best Ever”) is arguably the best boxer of his era.
Between 1996 and 2017, no one had been able to decipher his enigmatic defensive style and he defeated every opponent he ever stepped into the ring with.
Mayweather’s last significant victory came against Andre Berto in 2015, where he won by unanimous decision. He retired that year but came back in 2017 to try and eclipse Rocky Marciano’s 49-win record.
“Money” eventually accomplished his goal of getting to 50 wins. Unfortunately, his reputation took a major hit after the victory over Conor McGregor, an MMA fighter with zero professional boxing experience.
4) Rocky Marciano (49 wins)
https://youtu.be/UXvIFsh0XTc
Late great heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano is one of the greatest boxers to have ever lived.
Born to Italian immigrants, Marciano was strong and powerful as a youth, and he turned to boxing during his time in the United States Army. After his military service, Marciano became a professional boxer in 1947. For just under a decade, Marciano established a reign of dominance in the heavyweight division that is still talked about today.
Nicknamed “The Brockton Blockbuster,” Marciano held an unblemished professional record of 49 wins and no losses, which includes an astounding 43 knockouts.
Although the quality of opponents wasn’t as great as it should have been, it would not be fair to fault Marciano that there weren’t any worthy foes during his time. He did have victories over Joe Louis, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, and Archie Moore, however.
Marciano is one of the biggest boxing legends, and what he accomplished in a relatively short career was nothing short of epic.
5) Larry Holmes (48 wins)
Last but not least, we have another heavyweight legend in “The Easton Assassin” Larry Holmes.
Holmes was a heavyweight marauder during his prime, in a career that began in 1973. The 6-foot-3 pugilist from Cuthbert, Georgia was the epitome of raw power and toughness. From the beginning of his career until 1985, Holmes maintained a perfect record, tallying 48 impressive victories until suffering his first defeat to former light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks.
Though it was the first setback for Holmes, it was definitely a memorable fight and wound up garnering Ring Magazine’s Upset of the Year honors.
Following that loss, Holmes was never able to recover his perfect form and lost all of his five world title fights after that. He ended his career in 2002 with a record of 69-6, including 44 knockouts.
Like many boxers, Holmes fought way past his prime and his legacy took a major hit because of this. But no one can deny how great he was early in his career.
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