Top 10 Greatest British Boxers of All-Time: Including Jimmy Wilde, Lennox Lewis & Joe Calzaghe

Boxing News writer Shaun Brown compiles his top-10 list of British boxing's greatest fighters.

In 2025 British boxing’s next generation of world class fighters will strive to continue to fly the flag on the world scene.

The likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Josh Taylor have all played their part in trying to unseat the world’s best fighters in recent years, but retirement is not far away for all three.

The responsibility now falls on the likes of Daniel Dubois, Hamzah Sheeraz, Jack Catterall, Conor Benn, Nick Ball, Adam Azim and more to ensure that the United Kingdom continues to challenge, and succeed, against the best boxers in the world.

With that in mind, it's perhaps timely that we remember who came before them and remind ourselves of the greatest fighters Blighty has produced.

Who are the greatest British boxers of all-time?

No.1 - Jimmy Wilde

Former flyweight world champion

Not just the greatest British boxer of all-time, but arguably the greatest flyweight of all-time.

Like many fighters from the early 20th century, his career record did not tell the full story, because whilst his boxing record suggests he fought 156 times, the true number is likely to far exceed that tally.

The Welshman was unbeaten in his first 103 bouts - a remarkable achievement in its own right, but even more remarkable was the punching power he possessed from his miniscule 5ft 2ins frame.

The first ever flyweight world champion would sometimes give away a stone in weight and still win by knockout.

Fans witnessed his thin frame transform into a fighting force, punching from all angles with impeccable timing and deadly precision.

No.2 - Bob Fitzsimmons

Former middleweight, light-heavyweight & heavyweight world champion

A former middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight world champion, Bob Fitzsimmons can be viewed as the original pound-for-pound king.

Born in Cornwall, his own punching power developed during his time as a blacksmith, but it was in 1891 that Fitzsimmons knocked down the great Jack Dempsey 13 times on his way to winning his first world title.

He then moved up to the heavyweight scene and fought back to beat recognised champion James J. Corbett with his infamous solar plexus shot.

Two losses to James J. Jeffries could have forced Fitzsimmons into retirement, but in 1903 he dropped down a weight class to light-heavyweight to prize the world title from George Gardner by decision, after 20 rounds!

No.3 - Lennox Lewis

Former undisputed heavyweight world champion

It may have taken a while for Lennox Lewis to be accepted by British fight fans, but since his retirement his achievements have been rightly celebrated.

The 1988 Olympic super-heavyweight gold medallist was electric when he chose to abandon his cautious approach and knock opponents out with effortless ease.

He showed versatility throughout his career which rewarded him by becoming undisputed heavyweight champion in 1999, a quarter of a century before Oleksandr Usyk followed suit by claiming all of the marbles in the blue-riband division.

Even when complacency added a couple of blotches to Lewis' hugely impressive boxing record, he still managed to bounce back on both occasions to avenge those losses.

Without doubt, the best of his generation with a catalogue of victories which continue to age exceptionally well with each and every passing year.

No.4 - Ted 'Kid' Lewis

Former welterweight world champion

‘The Aldgate Sphinx’, Ted 'Kid' Lewis, had a long and distinguished career with over 280 fights.

His two-time reign as welterweight world champion included a sensational rivalry with the great Jack Britton.

Their historic 20 fight series included Lewis capturing the title twice from Britton, and losing it to the ‘Boxing Marvel’ on two occasions as well.

Lewis was a ferocious fighter who also added the British, Empire (now Commonwealth) and European titles to his catalogue of honours during a stunning career, before, in 1920, raising the bar yet higher by capturing another European title at middleweight.

He did however fall just short at light-heavyweight despite a gallant one-round effort against world champion Georges Carpentier, who simply had too much size and power.

No.5 - Benny Lynch

Former flyweight world champion

Historically, Britain has been a conveyor belt for producing great boxers from smaller weight classes and none more so than Scotland’s Benny Lynch.

‘Our Benny’ is regarded around the world as one of the greatest flyweights to have ever stepped foot on to the canvas.

Tough, quick and fearless, Lynch won British and European titles before announcing himself as the best in the world by beating Small Montana in London in 1937.

Lynch truly made boxing look like art inside the ring but outside of it his temper and alcoholism proved to be his toughest opponents of all.

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No.6 - Joe Calzaghe

Longest reigning super-middleweight world champion of all-time

Joe Calzaghe painted his masterpiece long into his career, but the night against in 2006 Jeff Lacy is remembered as one of the greatest ever seen on these shores.

His enthralling 12 round beating of the over-hyped American was a true boxing masterclass and proved the Welshman truly was the best in the world at 168lbs.

Hand injuries and confidence issues blighted him over the years, but wins over Lacy and the hugely underrated Mikkel Kessler place him as possibly the greatest super-middleweight to have ever lived.

His legend bashing at light-heavyweight against Bernard Hopkins and a declining Roy Jones Jr also helped fulfil his latter-career American dream.

No.7 - Freddie Welsh

Former lightweight world champion

A man of great boxing skill and intelligence, Freddie Welsh was not your typical boxer.

A private education provided Welsh with a love for fitness which served him well in the years to come when he boxed in 20-round fights.

In 1909, the Welshman beat Henri Piet to first win the European lightweight title, defending it successfully a year later against his friend the great Irishman Jim Driscoll.

Sandwiched in between, Welsh won the British title against a brave Johnny Summers, whilst he was crowned world champion shortly after World War I when he defeated American Willie Ritchie at London’s Olympia.

It was undoubtedly Welsh’s greatest ever performance!

No.8 - Jack 'Kid' Berg

Former light-welterweight world champion

Former British lightweight and world light-welterweight champion Jack ‘Kid’ Berg also held the title of being the first man to beat legendary Cuban Kid Chocolate.

‘The Whitechapel Windmill’ began scrapping in the streets as a youngster and went on to become one of the first fighters the great Ray Arcel trained.

Berg conquered America and fought the best Stateside fighters during his peak years and during his time back in the UK he picked up the British title as well.

A ferocious competitor inside the ring, and a true gentleman outside of it.

No.9 - Randolph Turpin

Former middleweight world champion

“As a fighter, Mr Turpin is about one of the best I’ve ever met, as a gentleman he’s a wonderful fella.”

Quite the compliment from Sugar Ray Robinson, regarded by many as the greatest boxer the sport has ever seen.

In July 1951, Turpin provided one of boxing’s greatest ever upsets, beating the original Sugar Ray to become world middleweight champion.

It capped a remarkable rise for ‘The Leamington Licker' who suffered weight issues which forced him up to light-heavyweight, where he still managed to capture British and Commonwealth honours.

No.10 - Ken Buchanan

Former lightweight world champion

Like so many before him, Ken Buchanan’s best days came across the pond in the United States.

A classy boxer, Buchanan captured the world lightweight title in 1970 by beating Ismael Laguna in Puerto Rico, in baking hot temperatures that proved no match for the Scot’s remarkable conditioning.

The Scottish fighter backed up his win over Laguna a year later during his regular visits to Madison Square Garden, where he became a firm crowd favourite.

Buchanan’s controversial loss to the legendary Roberto Duran proved in defeat how good he actually was as the classy Panamanian never offered him a rematch.