10 best Olympic boxers of all time

There is probably no sporting event with a tradition and history as rich as the Olympics. For over a century, millions have thronged to see men and women represent their country, and battle it out for pride, passion and glory across a variety of sporting events.

Boxing has been a part of the Olympics from as far back as 1904. 112 years later, as we count down to the Rio Olympics in 2016, we count down the greatest boxers in Olympic history. These men from across the world fought for a place in history, and today we recognize their achievements with this list.

# 10 Guillermo Rigondeaux:

Probably the best bantamweight boxer at the Olympics

Born in Cuba, Ringondeaux is already a legend in the world of boxing as the WBA (Super) and lineal super bantamweight champion. But he is considered one of the greatest amateur boxers of all time too, having won consecutive gold medals in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics in the bantamweight division.

A documentary on Guillermo is already in the works and promises to be a treat for boxing fans.

#9 Zou Shiming

The man who put China on the boxing map

No boxer has put China on the map like Zou Shiming has. Not only did he win consecutive medals in the 2004 (bronze), 2008 (gold) and 2012 (gold) Olympic games in the light flyweight division, he is also the current WBO International flyweight champion. Today he is considered the greatest amateur boxer in Chinese history.

#8 Ariel Hernandez

The hard hitter from Cuba

When you think about middleweights who conquered the Olympics, Ariel Hernández immediately comes to mind. He was part of the famous teams from Cuba that captured seven golds and two silvers in Barcelona and seven medals (four gold, three silver) in Atlanta. Ariel claimed the middleweight division with successive gold medals, both in 1992 and 1996.

#7 Jerzy Kulej

A hard striker, in both sports & politics

Jerzy Kulej is the only Polish boxer to win consecutive gold medals in the light welterweight division in both 1964 and 1968. A legend in the country, he served his country as a politician and served the sport as a commentator in his later years. Mr. Kulej died in 2012 from an eye melanoma following a massive heart attack.

#6 Oleg Saitov

Oleg Saitov

They say lightning never strikes twice, but Oleg Saitov ensured that it struck thrice by winning gold medals in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics in the welterweight division and following it up with a bronze in the 2004 Olympics. This Russian powerhouse has also made his mark as the winner of the Val Barker Trophy for Outstanding Boxer at the 2000 Olympic Games.

#5 Harry Mallin

A true English icon

For the fifth name on our list, we travel all the way back to the 1920 Summer Olympics where Harry Mallin won a gold medal in the 1920 Summer Olympics and followed it up by being the first boxer to defend his title at the 1924 Summer Olympics. While he remained undefeated in 300+ amateur bouts, he never turned professional. Mr. Mallin passed away in 1969.

#4 Boris Lagutin

The most highly regarded Soviet boxer

Boris Lagutin has had a long and celebrated career in which he’s won 241 fights, and lost only 11. Indeed his career’s highlights include bagging a bronze medal in the 1960 Rome Olympics as a light middleweight and following it up with successive gold medal victories at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1968 Mexico City edition. An inspiration for many.

#3 Teofilo Stevenson

Cuba’s greatest amateur boxer

Cuba has prominently featured in our countdown, and Teófilo Stevenson is one of only 3 Olympic boxers to win three Olympic Gold medals (1972, 1976 and 1980). Indeed while he is number 3 in our countdown, he would also be a justified Number 1 pick. The BBC described Teófilo as "Cuba's greatest boxer, once its most famous figure after Fidel Castro".

#2 Félix Savón

Savón turned down many multi-million dollar deals to go professional and fight Mike Tyson

The final Cuban in our list is the legendary Félix Savón, who won consecutive gold medals in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 Olympic games in the heavyweight division. After winning his 3rd successive gold, Savón announced his retirement in 2000. The Manic Street Preachers, the first western rock band to play in Cuba, dedicated ‘You Love Us’ to him after his retirement, with Fidel Castro in attendance.

#1 László Papp

First triple gold medalist in Olympic Boxing history

This Hungarian southpaw not only became the first man in history to win three Olympic boxing gold medals but also retained the distinction for two decades until Teofilo Stevenson came along. He won 13 consecutive fights in a row, and he won them without conceding a single round until his very last fast.

Papp also remains the only triple gold medalist across two weight categories. A boxing god in every sense!