No. 84 - Joe Gans

Joe Gans was the first African-American world boxing champion of the 20th century and one of the longest reigning world lightweight champions every, holding the title from 1902 to 1908.

Known as the Old Master, Gans was rated the greatest lightweight every by Ring Magazine founder Nat Fleischer and a bronze statue of Gans remains at Madison Square Garden. He was one of the first scientific boxers, who studied his opponents weaknesses and used those against him. In a day where you had to fight to survive, Gans took on all-comers, including losing a unanimous decision to Sam Langford.

Although his place in history is secure, he doesn't rank that highly in my system because he doesn't have a signature victory. Although he successfully defended his undisputed world title 12 times (worth a valuable 100 points each time) only one was over a Hall of Fame fighter, Battling Nelson. And Nelson's winning percentage was below 80 percent when they fought so none of Gans' victories were worth even 200 points in my system.

Perhaps some day Mike Twin Sullivan may make a Hall of Fame, earning Gans more bonus points. Otherwise, Gans is stuck in the lower echelon of the top 100 because of a lack of top-flight opponents.

Joe Gans
Significant Fights
Opponent	Result	Fight Points	Title Points	HOF Points	Total	x Win %	Final Total
Young Griffo	Draw	50		25	75	96.23%	72.2
Young Griffo	Draw	50		25	75	93.75%	70.3
Bobby Dobbs	UD-L	0			0		0
Frank Erne	KO-L	-25			-25		-25
Young Griffo	KO	100		50	150	93.33%	140.0
Terry McGovern	KO-L	-25			-25		-25
Steve Crosby	Draw	50	10		60	88.89%	53.3
Frank Erne	KO	100	20	50	170	87.50%	148.8
George "Elbows" McFadden	KO	100	100		200	82.00%	164.0
Kid McPartland	KO	100	100		200	76.36%	152.7
Gus Gardner (DQ)	UD-W	90	100		190	57.58%	109.4
Steve Crosby	KO	100	100		200	85.45%	170.9
Sam Langford	UD-L	0			0		0
Willie Fitzgerald	UD-W	90	100		190	77.78%	147.8
Joe Walcott	Draw	50		25	75	84.47%	63.3
Mike Twin Sullivan	KO	100	100		200	94.12%	188.2
Dave Holly	UD-W	90	100		190	77.32%	146.9
Battling Nelson	KO	100	100	50	250	79.25%	198.1
Kid Herman	KO	100	100		200	80.85%	161.7
Jimmy Britt	KO	100	100		200	80.00%	160.0
George Mesmic	UD-W	90	100		190	77.78%	147.8
Rudy Unholz	KO	100	100		200	59.70%	119.4
Battling Nelson	KO-L	-25			-25		-25
Battling Nelson	KO-L	-25			-25		-25
Total (14-6-4, 10 KOs, 4 KOd)							2,314.9
Record in non-significant fights
131-4-12, 90 KOs		13,290
% of fights toward 50 (17.7%)		2,352.3				69.71%	1,639.8
PEAK 5 Fights
Battling Nelson							198.1
Mike Twin Sullivan							188.2
Steve Crosby							170.9
George "Elbows" McFadden							164.0
Kid Herman							161.7
PEAK 5 Total							883.0
Final totals (significant, non-significant, PEAK 5)							4,837.6

Boxing's 100 Countdown
Rank	Fighter	Significant Fights	Non-Significant Fights	Peak 5	Final Total
84.	Joe Gans	2,314.9	1,639.8	883.0	4,837.6
85.	Sven Ottke	2,824.5	1,317.7	687.5	4,829.7
86.	Ronald "Winky" Wright	2,243.3	1,658.3	922.5	4,824.1
87.	Fighting Harada	1,259.6	2,409.2	1,105.9	4,774.7
88.	Humberto Gonzalez	1,866.7	1,952.3	907.3	4,726.4
89.	Ricardo Lopez	2,830.5	1,188.1	702.7	4,721.3
90.	Carmen Basilio	1,723.3	1,804.7	1,184.1	4,712.2
91.	Orlando Canizales	2,529.3	1,510.3	669.3	4,708.9
92.	Jeff Fenech	2,103.9	1,728.7	844.8	4,677.4
93.	Michael Carbajal	2,333.7	1,519.2	817.0	4,669.9
94.	Marcel Thil	2,579.8	1,170.9	900.9	4,651.6
95.	Nicolino Locche	1,858.0	1,946.8	820.3	4,625.1
96.	Ricky Hatton	3,458.8	449.1	708.9	4,616.8
97.	Ismael Laguna	1,059.5	2,659.4	889.9	4,608.7
98.	Ramon "Chocalatito" Gonzalez	2,187.1	1,771.9	638.6	4,597.5
99.	Wilfredo Benitez	1,439.4	2,223.0	914.4	4,586.8
100.	Carlos Zarate	1,124.2	2,707.1	751.5	4,582.8