No. 82 - Harry Wills

Harry Wills was, along with Sam Langford, one of the two greatest heavyweights who never got a chance to fight for the world heavyweight title.

Wills, known as the Black Panther, came close. In 1925, Jack Dempsey signed a contract to fight Wills in 1926 but the match never materialized. Dempsey appeared willing to face Wills, but promoters didn't come through with the financing. The New York State Athletic Commission also would not sanction the bout. Wills also didn't help himself by turning down an elimination bout with Gene Tunney, who went on to end Dempsey's reign.

In the end, what most likely doomed Wills was white America's lasting bitterness over Jack Johnson. Before he died, Dempsey said they couldn't find a city willing to host the fight.

"(Tex) Rickard wanted to make (it), but there was no place you could put it on," Dempsey said. "I wanted to fight him .... (But) they wouldn't let you fight no place."

Wills was able to fight a number of white contenders. He knocked out Fred Fulton and Gunboat Smith and dominated Luis Angel Firpo in a no decision fight. But he mostly was relegated to fighting the other great black heavyweights of his day over and over again. He made it on this list because he dominated those matches.

He fought Langford 22 times, going 6-2 with 14 no decisions. He was 3-1 against the great Sam McVey and had a knockout win over Kid Norfolk. Wills held the World Colored Heavyweight Championship three different times.

When the Dempsey fight didn't happen, an aging Wills took on a rising Jack Sharkey, losing by disqualification in a fight he was getting beaten badly and then getting knocked out by Paolino Uzcudun. Those losses ended his championship hopes.

Harry Wills
Significant Fights
Opponent	Result	Fight Points	Title Points	HOF Points	Total	x Win %	Final Total
Joe Jeannette	Draw	50		25	75	80.00%	60.0
Sam Langford	KO-L	-25			-25		-25
Sam McVea	UD-L	0			0		0
Sam McVea	UD-W	90		50	140	86.67%	121.3
Sam Langford	UD-W	90	20	100	210	90.48%	190.0
Sam Langford	KO-L	-25			-25		-25
Sam McVea	KO-W	100		50	150	84.27%	126.4
Sam Langford	KO-W	100	20	100	220	86.75%	190.9
Sam Langford	KO-W	100	20	100	220	86.18%	189.6
Sam McVea	UD-W	90	20	50	160	83.33%	133.3
Jeff Clark	KO-W	100	20		120	88.06%	105.7
Jeff Clark	KO-W	100	20		120	82.67%	99.2
Sam Langford	UD-W	90	20	100	210	84.02%	176.4
Jack Thompson	UD-W	90	20		110	62.07%	68.3
Sam Langford	UD-W	90	20	100	210	84.18%	176.8
Bill Tate	KO-W	100	20		120	47.50%	57.0
Jeff Clark	KO-W	100	20		120	78.75%	94.5
Denver Ed Martin	KO-W	100	20		120	75.76%	90.9
Bill Tate	KO-W	100	20		120	46.34%	55.6
Bill Tate	UD-W	90	20		110	46.51%	51.2
Bill Tate	UD-L	0			0		0
Bill Tate	Draw	50	10		60	46.51%	27.9
Sam Langford	UD-W	90	20	100	210	83.57%	175.5
Kid Norfolk	KO-W	100		50	150	81.82%	122.7
Jeff Clark	KO-W	100	20		120	77.11%	92.5
Jeff Clark	KO-W	100	20		120	76.65%	92.0
Tut Jackson	KO-W	100	20		120	97.22%	116.7
Jack Sharkey	UD-L	0			0		0
Totals (21-5-1, 13 KOs, 2 KO'd)							2,564.4
Record in non-significant fights
49-4-2, 43 KOs, 3 KOd		4,640
% of fights toward 50 (41.8%)		1,939.5			1,939.5	69.90%	1,355.7
Totals							3,920.1
Peak 5 Fights
Sam Langford							190.9
Sam Langford							190.0
Sam Langford							189.6
Sam Langford							176.8
Sam Langford							176.4
Peak 5 Totals							923.7
Final Totals (significant, non-significant, Peak 5)							4,843.8

Boxing's 100 Countdown
Rank	Fighter	Significant Fights	Non-Significant Fights	Peak 5	Final Total
82.	Harry Wills	2,564.4	1,355.7	923.7	4,843.8
83.	Mickey Walker	1,987.8	1,775.7	1,075.4	4,838.8
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

No. 81 - Lou Ambers

One of the great Depression era fighters, Lou Ambers scored wins against some of the top lightweights of all time.

Lou Ambers (left) against Henry Armstrong

Giuseppe d'Ambrosio was born Herkimer, New York, and adopted the name of Lou Ambers so that his mother didn't know he was a boxer. Ambers compiled an 88-8-6 record from 1932 to 1941. Those wins included two wins over Tony Canzoneri and Baby Arizmendi and victories over Henry Armstrong, Pedro Montanez and Fritzie Zivic.

Ambers' first win over Canzoneri gained him the lightweight champioship in 1936. Ambers knew Canzoneri well, having sparred with him early in his career. The Herkimer Hurricane dominated the fight, winning nine rounds.

Ambers lost the title in 1938 to Henry Armstrong, who won a split decision to become the first fighter to hold three world titles simultaneously.

Ambers won the title back from Armstrong in a fight where Henry was penalized several points for low blows. Ambers held the title until suffering back-to-back knockouts to Lew Jenkins.

Lou Ambers
Significant Fights
Opponent	Result	Fight Points	Title Points	HOF Points	Total	x Win %	Final Total
Tony Canzoneri	UD-L	0			0		0
Fritzie Zivic	UD-W	90		100	190	93.33%	177.3
Baby Arizmendi	UD-W	90		100	190	86.90%	165.1
Tony Canzoneri	UD-W	90	100	100	290	88.41%	256.4
Jimmy McLarnin	UD-L	0			0		0
Pedro Montanez	UD-L	0			0		0
Tony Canzoneri	UD-W	90	100	100	290	87.41%	253.5
Pedro Montanez	SD-W	75	100	50	225	94.37%	212.3
Baby Arizmendi	Draw	50		50	100	83.33%	83.3
Henry Armstrong	SD-L	25	25	25	75	88.35%	66.3
Baby Arizmendi	KO	100		100	200	83.17%	166.3
Henry Armstrong	UD-W	90	100	100	290	89.19%	258.6
Lew Jenkins	KO-L	-25			-25		-25
Lew Jenkins	KO-L	-25			-25		-25
Totals (7-6-1, 1 KO, 1 SD, 1 SDL, 2 KOd)							1,589.2
Record in non-significant fights
89-6-6, 27 KOs, 2 SD, 2 SDL		8,600
% of fights toward 50 (35.6%)		3,061.6			3,061.6	68.55%	2,098.7
Totals							3,688.0
Peak 5 Fights
Henry Armstrong							258.6
Tony Canzoneri							256.4
Tony Canzoneri							253.5
Pedro Montanez							212.3
Fritzie Zivic							177.3
Peak 5 Totals							1,158.2
Final Totals (significant, non-significant, Peak 5)							4,846.1

Boxing's 100 Countdown
Rank	Fighter	Significant Fights	Non-Significant Fights	Peak 5	Final Total
81.	Lou Ambers	1,589.2	2,098.7	1,158.2	4,846.1
82.	Harry Wills	2,564.4	1,355.7	923.7	4,843.8
83.	Mickey Walker	1,987.8	1,775.7	1,075.4	4,838.8
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

No. 83 - Mickey Walker

Mickey Walker is one of the boxing legends of the early 1900s with one of the very best nicknames - "The Toy Bulldog."

He earned the nickname by fighting anyone anywhere. He was both welterweight and middleweight champion during his career, beating Hall of Famers Tiger Flowers, Lew Tendler, Jack Britton, Dave Shade and Ace Hudkins.

He also took on and lost to such greats as Harry Greb and future heavyweight champions Max Schmeling and Jack Sharkey.

He remains in very high esteem on lots of expert lists. ESPN ranked him 17th on its list of 50 Greatest Boxers and historian Bert Sugar placed Walker 11th on his Top 100 Fighters catalogue. The International Boxing Research Organization has him as No. 16 pound-for-pound.

Yet on this list, he's in the bottom quartile exactly because he took a lot of losses. In his 18 significant fights (title fights or against Hall of Famers), he ended up just 10-7-1.

Mickey Walker
Significant Fights
Opponent	Result	Fight Points	Title Points	HOF Points	Total	x Win %	Final Total
Jack Britton	UD-W	90	100	50	240	83.05%	199.3
Lew Tendler	UD-W	90	60	100	250	92.25%	230.6
Bobby Barrett	KO	100	100		200	52.08%	104.2
Harry Greb	UD-L	0			0		0
Dave Shade	SD-W	75	100	50	225	85.98%	193.5
Pete Latzo	UD-L	0			0		0
Tiger Flowers	UD-W	90	100	100	290	88.81%	257.5
Tommy Milligan	KO	100	100		200	87.76%	175.5
Paul Berlenbach	UD-W	90		100	190	90.00%	171.0
Ace Hudkins	SD-W	75	100	50	225	81.94%	184.4
Tommy Loughran	SD-L	25	25	25	75	86.41%	64.8
Ace Hudkins	UD-W	90	100	50	240	81.01%	194.4
Jack Sharkey	Draw	50		50	100	79.07%	79.1
Max Schmeling	KO-L	-25			-25		-25
Lou Brouillard	UD-L	0			0		0
Maxie Rosenbloom	UD-L	0			0		0
Maxie Rosenbloom	UD-W	90		100	190	83.41%	158.5
Young Corbett III	UD-L	0			0		0
Totals (10-7-1, 1 KO)							1,987.8
Record in non-significant fights
84-12-3, 58 KOs, 1 SD, 1 SDL		7,800
% of fights toward 50 (32.3%)		2,593			2,593	68.48%	1,775.7
Totals							3,763.5
Peak 5 Fights
Tiger Flowers							257.5
Lew Tendler							230.6
Jack Britton							199.3
Ace Hudkins							194.4
Dave Shade							193.5
Peak 5 Totals							1,075.4
Final Totals (significant, non-significant, Peak 5)							4,838.8

Boxing's 100 Countdown
Rank	Fighter	Significant Fights	Non-Significant Fights	Peak 5	Final Total
83.	Mickey Walker	1,987.8	1,775.7	1,075.4	4,838.8
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