Boxing consists of 17 weight classes in which thousands of boxers fight to make a place in the list of greatest boxers of all time. Of all the 17 categories, the Welterweight category is one of the most prominent categories of boxing. Due to their great skillset and extraordinary fighting spirit, some boxers became the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time. These boxers made their name on this list by achieving incredible success as boxers. Check out the list of Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time.
Thomas Hearns (61-5-1, 48 KOs)
Famous American boxer Thomas Hearns made his boxing debut against Jerome Hill. Thomas won his first-ever fight by knocking out his opponent. After winning his first 25 fights, Thomas got a chance to fight for the vacant USBA welterweight title.
Thomas Hearns retained his unbeaten streak after winning the title and fight against famous Puerto Rican boxer Ángel Espada. Thomas Hearns retired in 2006 after winning against Shannon Landberg in his last fight. His achievements and records are among the main reasons that he is in the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time list.
- Thomas Hearns won more than 10 titles in the Welterweight category in his boxing career.
- Due to his feared combat sports skills, Thomas Hearns was known as The Hitman and Motor City Cobra.
Barney Ross (72-4-3, 22 KOs)
Barney Ross was an American professional boxer. Ross started his boxing journey against Ramon Lugo in 1929. After 4 years of professional boxing debut, Barney Ross won his first-ever boxing title in 1933.
Barney Ross won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring lightweight titles and the world light welterweight title after winning against one of the Top 10 Most Famous Boxers of All Time, Tony Canzoneri.
Barney Ross won every major title in the Welterweight category of boxing. His incredible success as a professional boxer in the Welterweight category makes Barney Ross one of the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time.
- Barney Ross became world champion in three weight categories, which justifies his excellence in the boxing world.
- Barney Ross also served as a successful military man for America in World War II.
Emile Griffith (85-24-2, 23 KOs)
Another famous American boxer, Emile Griffith, started his professional boxing career in 1958 against Joe Parham. In 1961, Emile Griffith won his first-ever professional boxing title. Emile Griffith beat Benny Paret to get their hands on NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight title.
Unfortunately, Emile Griffith did not retain this title for 1 year and lost it against Bennet Paret in that year. Emile Griffith won various titles in his boxing career, proving his registration in the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time list.
- After 4 decades of retirement, Emile Griffith is still ranked among 150 best pound-for-pound boxers.
- In 2002, Emille Griffith was named as the 33rd best boxer on Ring Magazine’s list of the 80 greatest fighters of the past 80 years.
Jose Napoles (81-7, 54 KOs)
Jose Napoles was a Cuban-born Mexican professional boxer who started his career against Julio Rojas in 1958 and won his first-ever professional boxing title in 1969.
He won the WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring welterweight titles against famous American boxer Curtis Cokes. He defended that title for six years but lost it in his last fight. After achieving incredible success as a professional boxer, Jose Napoles retired from boxing in 1975. Jose Napoles, one of the top 10 welterweight boxers of all time, died at 79 in 2019.
- Due to his extraordinary Boxing performances, Jose Napoles is ranked as one of the greatest fighters of all time.
- Jose Napoles was added to The Ring Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
Floyd Mayweather (49-0, 26 KOs)
Floyd Mayweather is a famous American boxer who achieved incredible boxing triumphs to be on the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time list. Unbeaten in his career, Floyd Mayweather is among the biggest boxing superstars ever.
His fighting skills and control over his opposition are unbelievable. He won his last fight against the famous Irish boxer Conor McGregor. Floyd Mayweather won the WBC welterweight title in 2011 and defended it until his retirement.
After achieving extraordinary success as a boxer, Floyd Mayweather retired from his career in 2017. His shocking achievements and commendable fighting skills placed him among the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time.
- Floyd Mayweather won WBC super featherweight title in 1998 and retained this title in straight 8 fights.
- Floyd Mayweather won 8 major boxing titles, placing him in an elite class of Boxing legends.
Kid Gavilan (108-30-5, 28 KOs)
The famous Cuban boxer started his professional career in 1943. After his 6 years of boxing debut, Kid Gavilan got a chance to win his first-ever major boxing title. Unfortunately, Kid Gavilan lost this fight against one of the most famous boxers in history, Sugar Ray Robinson.
In 1951, Kid Gavilan won his first-ever major title: the NBA, vacant NYSAC, and The Ring welterweight. He won that title against famous American boxer Johnny Bratton. His 15-year boxing career was full of excellent boxing bouts, making him among the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time.
- In 1953, Gavilan was named Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
- The Ring Magazine named Kid Gavilan the 26th greatest fighter of the last 80 years.
Joe Walcott (95-25-24, 61 KOs)
Only Bajan Professional Boxer in the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time, Joe Walcott, started his professional boxing career against Black Pearl in 1892. He is the only boxer of the 19th century to get registered in the list of Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time.
After 9 years of his debut in 1901, Joe Walcott won his major boxing title, the World Welterweight title. After achieving a bundle of success, Joe Walcott retired from boxing in 1910 and successfully became one of the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time.
- Joe Walcott became the first Bajan player to win the World Welterweight title from 1901 to 1906.
- Joe Walcott has a knockout win percentage of 60%, which is exceptional.
Ray Leonard (36-3-1, 25 KOs)
Famous American boxer Ray Leonard started his boxing journey in 1977. In 1979, he won his first major boxing title, the NABF welterweight title, against Pete Ranzany.
His excellent boxing skills earned him the 2nd title of his boxing career. After winning against Puerto Rican boxer Wilfred Benítez, Ray Leonard won the WBC and The Ring welterweight titles.
His excellent fighting skills and achievements made Ray Leonard one of the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time. After his significant achievements in his boxing career, Ray Leonard announced his retirement in 1997.
- Ray Leonard won a gold medal at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.
- After his retirement, Ray Leonard worked as a Boxing analyst for various sports channels.
Henry Armstrong (152-22-9, 100KO)
Henry Armstrong was an American boxer who started his professional boxing career in 1931. Armstrong faced an unfortunate start in the first 5 matches of his boxing career after losing 4 out of 5 first fights.
However, after improving his boxing skills, Henry Armstrong won his first major boxing title, the Western Featherweight title, in 1935.
In 1938, Henry Armstrong won his first-ever welterweight title. He also won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles against American Boxer Barney Ross. He retained this title in 19 fights, which shows his excellence and professionalism as a boxer.
Henry Armstrong’s superb career made him among the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time. After having a remarkable job, Henry Armstrong decided to take retirement as a boxer in 1945.
- After 79 years of his retirement, Henry Armstrong is still the 12th greatest pound-per-pound fighter of all time in the ranking by BoxRec.
- International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) ranked him among the greatest boxers ever due to his excellent performances.
Ray Robinson (173-19-6, 108 KOs)
Ray Robinson, one of the most famous boxers in the history of boxing, started his professional boxing career in 1940. He is among the few boxers unbeaten in the first 40 fights. Due to his unbeaten streak, Ray Robinson became one of the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time in the early stages of his boxing career.
After having consistency and an incredible winning percentage, Ray Robinson won the vacant NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight title in 1940 against famous African boxer Tommy Bell. After an excellent boxing career, Ray Robinson retired in 1965.
With a KO percentage over 60%, he registered his name in the Top 10 Welterweight Boxers of All Time list. His excellence and feared personality greatly benefited him in his boxing career. In 1969, Ray Robinson died at the age of 67.
- In 1990, Ray Robinson was included in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
- Due to his superb and professional boxing skills, Ray Robinson was considered the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all time.
