This is My List of the Top 5 Fighters of the 1990’s.
1, Roy Jones. Roy won his first world title in May 1993 by easily dominating Bernard Hopkins to become the middleweight champ. He added the super middleweight belt to his collection in November 1994 with a shutout of James Toney, then moved up to light heavyweight to capture that crown too. His only loss of the decade came on March 21, 1997 when he lost by disqualification to Montell Griffin in Atlantic City. Roy avenged that defeat less than five rounds later with a first round knockout of Griffin to regain his title. Roy was head and shoulders the best fighter on the planet for 10 years, rarely losing a round let alone a figfht.
2. Lennox Lewis. Lennox won the WBC Heavyweight Championship in December 1992 when Riddick Bowe threw the belt in the trash can after winning it in November from Evander Holyfield. Lewis lost in September 1994 to Oliver McCall, but avenged that defeat on February 7, 1997 when McCall quit after suffering mental breakdown in the ring. Lewis then beat all challengers, including Evander Holyfield on March 13, 1999, but was held to a draw by crooked judges. In the rematch 8 months later, Lennox won the bout to finish the decade of the 1990’s as the best heavyweight in the sport.
3. Pernell Whitaker. ‘Sweet Pea’ was the best defensive fighter I ever saw and won titles in four weight classes from lightweight to junior middleweight in his brilliant career. His draw with Julio Cesar Chavez in September 1993 was really an easy victory, making him the best pound for pound boxer on the planet. Whitaker also scored wins over Azumah Nelson, Buddy McGirt and Wilfredo Rivera twice in a nearly decade long reign as one of the best fighters in the world.
4. Evander Holyfield. ‘The Real Deal’ won the heavyweight belt from Buster Douglas on October 25, 1990 with a third round knockout, then defended it against George Foreman in his first title defense. After losing the title to Riddick Bowe in November 1992, Evander avenged the defeat a year later with a close decision win over Bowe. Holyfield lost the belt again to Michael Moorer in April 1994, but returned after a year’s layoff to beat Ray Mercer in Atlantic City. On November 9, 1996, Evander won the biggest fight of his career with a shocking 11th round knockout of Mike Tyson in Las Vegas, then beat him again in a rematch when Tyson was disqualified for biting both of his ears. Holyfield never ducked any opponent and is easily one of the best fighters of the 1990’s to me.
5. Oscar De La Hoya. ‘The Golden Boy’ became the face of boxing with his talent and good looks after winning a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Oscar remained undefeated the entire decade by beating top fighters like Rafael Ruelas, Genaro Hernandez, Julio Cesar Chavez twice and Pernell Whitaker. On September 18, 1999 De La Hoya had a decision in the bag, but ran for the last three rounds against Felix Trinidad. Even though I thought he won, the judges gave the fight to Trinidad, handing Oscar his first loss. It doesn’t take away from what he accomplished in the decade of the 90’s however, putting on my list as the top for 10 years.
FOLLOW ME ON TIKTOK AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
FOLLOW ME ON YOUTUBE AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
LISTEN TO MY PODCAST ON SPOTIFY AT kensoldtimeboxingchat
