Best Undefeated Boxers: 5 Men Who Achieved Immortality

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Every budding boxing professional aims to go through their career unbeaten. For most, this desire turns out to be nothing more than a pipe dream as defeat is virtually impossible to avoid at the highest level. 

There have, however, been a few boxers who have never tasted defeat in their professional careers. Below, we’ll look into the five best undefeated boxers in history and how they managed to achieve immortality.

Best Undefeated Boxers in History

Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather’s professional career, which spanned from 1996 to 2017, is a case study in excellence. Indeed, despite getting into the ring to contest 50 professional bouts over the course of 21 years, Mayweather was never beaten. 

Of Mayweather’s 50 victories, 27 came by way of knockout (KO) while 23 were decided on the judges’ scorecards. What’s more, is that Mayweather did not shy away from a challenge by staying in one division to pad his stats.

On the contrary, Mayweather went looking for credible opponents by fighting in five different weight classes. “Money” Mayweather would become world champion in all five.

Having beaten the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Canelo Álvarez, and Manny Pacquiao, there can be little doubt that Mayweather was the greatest of all time. 

Rocky Marciano

Any heavyweight boxer who shared an era with Rocky Marciano can count themselves unlucky as there was only space for one world champion. Marciano competed from 1947 to 1955 where he racked up an undefeated record of 49-0. Astonishingly, 43 of these victories came by way of KO. 

From 1952 to 1956, Marciano held the world heavyweight title and it was during these championship fights that the Massachusetts-born boxer was at his most devastating. To date, the ‘Brockton Blockbuster’ still holds the record for being the only boxer to have stopped every opponent he faced in title showdowns. 

It is a stat that means Marciano ties the record for the best knockout success rate in heavyweight championship contests at just over 85 percent. 

Marciano was a born winner with an insatiable desire to brutally vanquish any heavyweight champion who threatened him. So it’s little wonder why Marciano is the only heavyweight boxer to have retired undefeated. 

Edwin Valero

The late Edwin Valero’s unbeaten record defies belief. From his debut in 2002 to his final fight in 2010, the Venezuelan built up a record of 27-0. 

Of the southpaw’s 27 wins, 27 came by way of KO. As staggering as this stat is, it is still not the most extraordinary one in his career.

Rather, it is the story around Valero’s first 18 professional bouts that jumps out at you as the Venezuelan won all of these matches by first-round KO.

After such a prolific start to his career, it’s no surprise that Valero would go on to become the WBA super featherweight champion before winning the WBC lightweight title. A man with no equal and one of the greatest on the list of undefeated boxers.              

Ricardo López

Ricardo López is part of an extremely exclusive club of 15 world champions to have retired without ever being defeated. In total, López fought in 52 fights and recorded 51 wins. Only a draw against Rosendo Álvarez on the 7th of March 1998 stopped “El Finito” from enjoying a perfect record.

Of López’s 51 wins, 38 were achieved by KO while 13 were won by way of decision. 

Over López’s 16-year career, the Mexican would become a world champion in two divisions; mini and light flyweight. López defended his mini flyweight championship on a record-breaking 21 occasions. Try as they might, they couldn’t get the better of one of boxing’s greatest-ever talents. 

Joe Calzaghe

Nicknamed the “Pride of Wales” and the “Italian Dragon”, Joe Calzaghe would breathe fire on any opponent who stepped into the ring with him. 

This trend was established from the first bell of Calzaghe’s maiden fight at Cardiff Arms Park in October 1993 when the Welshman stopped his opponent in the first round. 

From humble beginnings in the center of Cardiff, Calzaghe’s talent would eventually take him to Madison Square Garden in New York for his final fight in November 2008 where he would retain his light-heavyweight title and retire as one of the best undefeated boxers of all time. 

At the end of his career, Calzaghe racked up an unbeaten record that read 46-0 with 32 wins coming by way of knockout while 14 were achieved by decision. 

Bet on the Best Boxers with BetVictor CA

It’s not just the stars of yesteryear who enjoyed unbeaten records, many professional boxers in the modern era are also yet to lose. 

At BetVictor, we’ll offer boxing odds on the upcoming fights of these active boxers who seek to climb the ladder to eternal glory. 

We offer extensive fight markets, straightforward payout methods, and competitive promotions. We remain the go-to place to bet on the sport’s most accomplished stars in their quest to stay undefeated. 

New customers looking to bet on an unbeaten boxer can claim our welcome bonus when they sign up for the first time.

We’re boxing lovers who enjoy watching history be made in the ring. And we’re just as driven to ensure that when it comes to betting on these iconic matches, you do it responsibly. For ways on how to stay in control when betting on boxing, please visit our Safer Gambling page. 

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