The 50 Greatest Boxing Outfits

Intro

It's one of the oldest maxims in boxing: "Styles make fights." It's something that can be seen in the matches between all boxing greats.

On November 12, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez will seek to settle the score with a final installment of their match trilogy. Their styles against each other have made for exciting encounters. But what about a boxer's style in the other sense of the word?

Professional boxing is not only about vicious combinations, effective defense, and brutal KOs. There's a high level of pride to go along with the pageantry when two combatants make their way to the squared circle. It's reflected in the specially tailored garments that they wear. Prizefighting is a combat sport, sure, but it's also got a show business side to it. And part of delivering that entertainment is in the sometimes flashy, sometimes immaculate robe and trunks boxers rock in the ring. So sound the bell as Complex presents, The 50 Greatest Boxing Outfits...

Angel Manfredy (#50)

50. Angel Manfredy

Fight: Arturo Gatti vs. Angel Manfredy
Date: January 17, 1998

Popular club fighter Angel Manfredy is one of the more intriguing characters to lace 'em up. Heavily tatted with symbols of good vs. evil, the man who survived a serious auto accident and overcame a struggle with alcohol and drugs underwent a deep religious experience that changed his life. The first half of his career saw him memorably put on a rubber mask of the Devil for his ring introductions, something "El Diablo" got noticed for but would later abandon when he started to refer to himself by another nickname, "Got Jesus."

Hector "Macho" Camacho

49. Hector "Macho" Camacho

Fight: "Sugar" Ray Leonard vs. Hector Camacho
Date: March 1, 1997

Honestly, Hector Camacho almost always wore some rather suspect outfits, the kind of messy, frayed pieces that showed more skin than the round card girls. But the thing was, Camacho understood very well that in boxing it doesn't matter whether the people love you or hate you, as long as you can get a rise out of them they will pay good money to see you do your thing, especially the haters that want to see you lose. Even though "Macho's" chiseled Roman Gladiator costume still made him look sorta like a male stripper, one has to give the man props for creating the type of no-shame-in-his-game pre-fight spectacles that stirred up emotions in fans.

Daniel "The Golden Child" Jacobs

48. Daniel "The Golden Child" Jacobs

Fight: Daniel Jacobs vs. Victor Lares
Date: December 6, 2008

No list of best boxing outfits is complete without mentioning Havoc, the independent East Coast company that is essentially a one-man operation run by trainer Andre Rozier. His growing list of clients include bigger names like Andre Berto and Shannon Briggs as well as many promising contenders like Sadam Ali. One of Havoc's special traits is the tender loving care that is put in by Rozier, who has laced his clients with wicked outfits sometimes made of crushed velvet. While any number of outfits could have been included here, the trunks worn by Danny Jacobs in his match against Lares were tastefully tailored with a subtle yet high-class look.

Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley

47. Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley

Fight: Timothy Bradley vs. Kendall Holt
Date: April 4, 2009

In boxing, it always helps to have the fans on your side. When Timothy Bradley from Palm Springs, CA traveled to Montreal, Canada to face Kendall Holt from Paterson, NJ, "Desert Storm" crossed the border with an outfit that showed respect to the NHL hockey team, the Montreal Canadiens, which was an obvious ploy to play to the local Canadian audience's love for their team.

Pongsaklek Wonjongkam

46. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam

Fight: Pongsaklek Wonjongkam vs. Daisuke Naito
Date: March 8, 2008

His name might be damn near impossible to pronounce for English-only speakers, but the wildly bright outfits of Thailand's Pongsaklek Wonjongkam speak loud and clear. The glowing twin Brahman bulls in front of a blazing sun immediately grab your attention with its nuclear orange and yellow brightness that manages not to be too cartoony.

"The Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire

45. "The Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire

Fight: Fernando Montiel vs. Nonito Donaire
Date: February 19, 2011

After years of languishing on the sidelines struggling to find worthy opponents, Filipino-American Nonito Donaire is finally on the fast track to become one of boxing's next big stars. The lanky, switch-hitting bantamweight, who recently announced his intentions to move up weight classes, has already racked up some devastating knockouts in his highlight reel, especially the stoppages against Vic Darchinyan and Fernando Montiel. He has also developed his own personal style that includes his trademark red, knee-high socks.

Jorge "El Niño de Oro" Linares

44. Jorge "El Niño de Oro" Linares

Fight: Jorge Linares vs. Oscar Larios
Date: July 21, 2007

Linares' most recent match was an upset loss to the mentally strong, power punching Antonio DeMarco, who after being way behind on the scorecards scored an 11th round TKO that left "The Golden Boy" from Venezuela with a bloody mask for a face. Before that, Linares had been boxing beautifully, showing that the promise he has shown for years as an up-and-comer is still there. What's also there is a penchant for Jorge's gear to be of the classy and sleek variety that maintains an old school feel to it.

Roy Jones Jr. & Felix "Tito" Trinidad

43. Roy Jones Jr. & Felix "Tito" Trinidad

Fight: Felix Trinidad vs. Roy Jones
Date: January 19, 2008

Roy Jones and Felix Trinidad did not have a close fight inside the ring, but when it came to see who had the best threads on that night, it was too close to call. Future Hall of Famer Roy, one of the first roster members of Team Jordan, took the iconic logo from the hardwood floor basketball courts to the boxing ring. The white, almost silver, with red stripe ensemble was a simple but striking selection by RJJ. Not to be outdone on the fashion tip, Trinidad's Puerto Rican red, white and blue on black wardrobe was smartly put together. Tito might have been past prime, but for his last fight the PR great at least shined with a prime time outfit.

Antonio "Magic Man" Tarver

42. Antonio "Magic Man" Tarver

Fight: Antonio Tarver vs. Jones I
Date: November 8, 2003

Antonio Tarver's sparkling purple robe and trunks in the first of three fights against Roy Jones Jr. had a mesmerizing feel about them that did well to play up Tarver's nickname of the "Magic Man."

"Baby Faced Assassin" Marco Antonio Barrera

41. "Baby Faced Assassin" Marco Antonio Barrera

Fight: Naseem Hamed vs. Marco Antonio Barrera
Date: April 7, 2001

Despite the dyslexic presentation (or maybe because of it), this shiny blue and off-white number sported by Marco Antonio Barrera that should read "Roca Wear," and not the other way around, is still one of the fresher shorts seen in the ring.

Victor "The Raging Bull" Darchinyan & Yonnhy "El Colombiano" Perez

40. Victor "The Raging Bull" Darchinyan & Yonnhy "El Colombiano" Perez

Fight: Victor Darchinyan vs. Yonnhy Perez
Date: April 23, 2011

There was no shortage of day glo colors for the fight between Vic Darchinyan and Yohnny Perez earlier this year. The men squared off in a fight that ended prematurely due to a cut caused by an unintentional clash of heads, leaving Perez, decked out in a loud orange and yellow trunks that had a carefully stitched sneaker that is part of the logo for shoe store, L&M Footwear, on the losing end. For the victorious Vic, this night was an opportunity to bring awareness to a dark period in his heritage's past, the Armenian Genocide of 1915, which is why he wore the year on the waistline of his trunks.

Mr. T & Rowdy Roddy Piper

39. Mr. T & Rowdy Roddy Piper

Fight: Mr. T vs. Roddy Piper
Date: April 7, 1986

OK, so this was a scripted boxing match, but the main event at Wrestlemania 2 at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, NY between "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Mr. T is said to have had a bit of real-life animosity as Piper allegedly discredited Mr. T for not having a legit wrestling background and getting by on his fame as an actor. The iconic Mr. T had, of course, appeared in Rocky III, while "Hot Rod" reportedly was once a real-life Golden Gloves winner before he became a wrestling superstar. Looking back, it's hard for those who grew up watching "wrassling" in the '80s not to get a wee bit nostalgic seeing the old WWF logo and for the "Rowdy" fanatics those Scottish tinged shorts are something else.

"Super" Zab Judah

38. "Super" Zab Judah

Fight: Miguel Cotto vs. Zab Judah
Date: June 9, 2007

Most hip-hop fans, even the ones who don't watch boxing, know who Zab Judah is. From doing cameos in rap videos, to starting his own label, to allegedly once getting into physical beef with Busta Rhymes (which was eventually squashed), Zab has been famous in hip-hop circles for a minute. (He even told allhiphop.com in '09 that he and Tupac Shakur were blood-related cousins.) Admittedly, Judah's career inside the ropes has not gone the way he would have liked, but at least he's showcased some of that Brownsville, Brooklyn swag in the choices he's made for his boxing gear, like the ill, burgundy-n-black flavored, BK-repping joint he rocked in the low blow-filled scrap with Cotto two years ago.

Joshua "The Grand Master" Clottey

37. Joshua "The Grand Master" Clottey

Fight: Miguel Cotto vs. Joshua Clottey
Date: June 13, 2009

Also sometimes called "The Hitter," Joshua Clottey was a bit of a disappointment in his last fight, when he, ironically, didn't throw many punches against Manny Pacquiao and instead covered up in a turtle shell defense. He was far more active in his close contest against Miguel Cotto in NYC's MSG, where "The Grandmaster" (who once wore shorts that had his first name misspelled) came out in black trunks that blended with his dark skin giving the chance for his native Ghana's bright colors around his waistline to pop out in impressive, dope fashion.

Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez

36. Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez

Fight: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez
Date: September 19, 2009

It's true that zillions of Mexican fighters use their nation's flag as adornment on their boxing gear. Choosing the trunks Juan Manuel Marquez wore in his fight with Floyd Mayweather as one of the best ever is more a nod to Mexico's long, rich history in professional pugilism as it is in signaling out one of the country's legends, who at 38 and fighting above his natural weight class, prepares for one last, seemingly overmatched battle with his rival Manny Pacquiao on November 12. That's not to say the customized trunks are ordinary, for they certainly are well-crafted with plenty of attention paid to detail.

Acelino "Popo" Freitas

35. Acelino "Popo" Freitas

Fight: Acelino Freitas vs. Juan Diaz
Date: April 28, 2007

Brazil's celebrated costumes for Carnival are globally renowned and one can catch some of that same type of festive inspiration in the trunks of boxer Acelino Freitas, which popped out at you with a brilliant flash of green or yellow. "Popo" left boxing behind in 2007, his heart seemingly not in the sport anymore, but the national hero did provide some thrills during his run and made sure his gear matched the passion of his South American heritage.

Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon

34. Ivan "Iron Boy" Calderon

Fight: Ivan Calderon vs. Nelson Dieppa
Date: April 5, 2008

Standing at only 5' 0'' and campaigning in the 108 pound division, the tiny Ivan Calderon is a world class champ with proven, elusive skills. He apparently also possesses a good sense of personal style as witnessed by the nicely symmetrically coordinated robe that stays true to his Borinquen roots but manages to add a bit of pizzazz.

Joe Frazier

33. "Smokin'" Joe Frazier

Fight: Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali
Date: March 8, 1971

Boxing icon Joe Frazier, who passed away on Monday, was one of the sport's most courageous fighters and, as witnessed by the reaction to his death, was one of the most beloved as well. Two of his three fights with Muhammad Ali, including their final epic battle, "The Thrilla in Manila," are considered amongst the greatest matches ever and captivated the world's attention. (Ali has stated that Frazier was his toughest opponent.) Their first showdown, billed as "The Fight of the Century," was a super event that attracted the biggest celebs to Madison Square Garden and basically enraptured the entire country. In his most glorious moment inside the ring, Frazier, bedecked in dazzling green and yellow that fit perfectly with the flashy and glamorous atmosphere that night, became the first man to ever defeat Ali professionally.

"El Ciclon de Guantánamo" Yuriorkis Gamboa

32. "El Ciclon de Guantánamo" Yuriorkis Gamboa

Fight: Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. Rogers Mtgawa
Date: January 23, 2010

Gamboa is one of the most promising fighters in the world. The Cuban refugee is a product of his country's excellent amateur program and it shows: he won Gold in the 2004 Olympics. Although he's relocated stateside to further his pro career he hasn't forgotten his birthplace. The "Cyclone's" continuous choice of Everlast get-ups prominently feature his native flag on display. But that's not all, he also has his little daughter Brenda's name on there too. Before defecting, Gamboa sold his medal for $1,500 in order to pay for her first birthday party.

Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga

31. Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga

Fight: Oscar de la Hoya vs. Ricardo Mayorga
Date: May 6, 2006

Many pro boxers have advertising on their trunks, but very few can claim to endorse adult orientated websites like the now defunct latinasgonecrazy.com. But then again agitator Ricardo Mayorga is no average fighter. The notorious trash talker has been known to smoke cigarettes in the ring after victories and walk around with machetes during promo tours, so maybe it comes as no surprise that for his fight with Oscar de la Hoya, the "Matador" hawked some online debauchery live on HBO.

David "The Hayemaker" Haye

30. David "The Hayemaker" Haye

Fight: David Haye vs. Monte Barrett
Date: November 15, 2008

Brit David Haye once got under the skin of heavyweight champs Wlad and Vitali Klitschko by wearing a T-shirt depicting a graphic illustration of Haye holding the decapitated heads of the K-Bros. Far less grisly, thankfully, were the splendidly showy trunks that repped England's flag and a crescent moon symbol "The Hayemaker" frequently wore in the ring. Although his showing against Wlad earlier this year was decidedly poor, the recently retired Haye at least did show a flair for tasteful boxing regalia.

Fernando "Cochulito" Montiel

29. Fernando "Cochulito" Montiel

Fight: Fernando Montiel vs. Jovanny Soto
Date: December 10, 2010

He is probably now best known for getting viciously sparked out by Nonito Donaire, but Fernando Montiel is still a skilled boxer who is in the process of picking up the pieces and rebuilding his career. He will do so wearing his signature short-length trunks with C.M. initials that recall the normal style boxers used to wear until more recent times when the popularity of longer shorts kicked in. For his bout against Soto, "Cochulito's" robe and trunks had a faint touch of Gucci goin' on, a classy look from the classy Montiel.

Jorge "El Maromero" Paez

28. Jorge "El Maromero" Paez

Fight: Tony Lopez vs. Jorge Paez
Date: September 22, 1990

Sitting near the top of the most outrageous showmen professional boxing has ever seen is Mexico's Jorge "El Maromero" Paez. Coming from a family of traveling circus performers, Paez brought a natural penchant for clowning to his performances, his bizarre haircuts, the moonwalking and backflips in the ring making him a must-see attraction. Admittedly, almost all of his outfits were gaudy garments that could only be labeled as atrocious fashion statements, but they did the trick of keeping the audience's attention. Occasionally, as seen here, the "Clown Prince of boxing" got it right, wearing trunks that mixed dazzling colors and strange layering to great effect.

"Prince" Naseem Hamed

27. "Prince" Naseem Hamed

Fight: Naseem Hamed vs. Kevin Kelley
Date: December 19, 1997

Brash and boastful Brit Naseem Hamed without a doubt is the first name that comes to mind when thinking of pre-fight entertainment. His lavish and expensive ring walks turned entrances into extravaganzas. The "Prince's" wardrobe reflected his wild antics and he often opted for spotted leopard prints that conjured up images of jungle safaris. But that was a big part of Naz's appeal, his ability to draw you into his crazy world.

"Sugar" Shane Mosley

26. "Sugar" Shane Mosley

Fight: Shane Mosley vs. Ricardo Mayorga
Date: September 27, 2008

Shane Mosley has on occasion when fighting in front of large Latino crowds adorned his trunks with "Azucar" instead of "Sugar" to give his Spanish-speaking fans a nod of recognition. For his confrontation with the unpredictable Nicaraguan Ricardo Mayorga (which ended with an unexpected last second knockout in the 12th round), Shane got more serious and entered the squared circle in specially crafted, black with gold Affliction trunks featuring graphics from the label's "Scream" Tee, which is basically some bad-ass looking skeletons emerging from an elaborate design.

Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield

25. Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield

Fight: Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson II
Date: June 28, 1997

If people tend to not remember what Evander Holyfield wore for his second fight with Mike Tyson it's understandable. When a boxer bites a chunk off another boxer's ear, one tends to forget stuff like fashion choices. But taking a look back, Holyfield's threads were the real deal, a nifty purple and white combo swirl with a wavy "Warrior" spelled out on the belt line. Fresh.

"Pride of Wales" Joe Calzaghe

24. "Pride of Wales" Joe Calzaghe

Fight: Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe
Date: April 19, 2008

Joe Calzaghe retired with an unblemished record, an impressive feat that has nevertheless been questioned by some boxing enthusiasts who argue the level of competition he faced was at times sub-par. There is, however, little debate about the "Italian Dragon's" serious sense of fashion as he entered the ring adorned in very flashy, very sharp gear. For his scrap against Hopkins, the bottom of Joe's glittery trunks subtly displayed the flags of Italy and Wales, indicative of the European champ's dual roots.

Carl "The Cobra" Froch

23. Carl "The Cobra" Froch

Fight: Carl Froch vs. Andre Dirrell
Date: October 17, 2009

The 168 pound division will crown the best super middleweight in the world when the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament ends on December 17. In the finals is American Andre Ward up against England's strong man Carl Froch. "The Cobra," who is from Nottingham, will most likely wear his patented black trunks by Lonsdale, like the ones shown here against Andre Dirrell. Adding to the allure of Froch's gear is the sponsorship by menswear label One True Saxon, who have a gnarly dog as a mascot that sits in the corner of Froch's shorts.

Vinny "The Pazmanian Devil" Pazienza

22. Vinny "The Pazmanian Devil" Pazienza

Fight: Vinny Pazienza vs. Dana Rosenblatt I
Date: August 23, 1996

Few people can equal the tenacious will power of Vinny Pazienza, who after breaking his neck in a car wreck, was told by doctors his boxing career was over. Known for his overwhelming assaults inside the ring, the Italian American fan favorite from Rhode Island, NY defied the odds and amazed everyone by returning to the sport after a grueling rehabilitation. Obviously one of boxing's more outgoing characters, Vinny Paz often rocked outlandish outfits, but when he toned it down, he was able to show off some nice robes complete with flames and the cool-as-hell "Pazmanian Devil" cartoon character.

Arturo "Thunder" Gatti

21. Arturo "Thunder" Gatti

Fight: Arturo Gatti vs. Thomas Damgaard
Date: January 28, 2006

Sometimes it's the man who makes the clothes. That is certainly the case with the beloved Arturo Gatti. A true blood and guts warrior, Gatti was a top level club fighter who secured million dollar paydays on PPV due to his relentless, never-give-up style that lead to dramatic victories. Entering the ring to AC/DC's "Thunderstruck," Arturo's most recognizable uniform was the simple white and blue pair of trunks that often ended up bloody by the end of the night. Although not depicted in the movie The Fighter, Gatti engaged in an epic trilogy with "Irish" Micky Ward that will always be remembered for its punishing violence. Sadly, Gatti was found dead in a Brazilian vacation home in 2009, his wife the prime suspect until the case was controversially ruled a suicide.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler & Thomas "Hitman" Hearns

20. Marvelous Marvin Hagler & Thomas "Hitman" Hearns

Fight: Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns
Date: April 15, 1985

Their famous battle is known simply as "The War," and for three violent, back and forth rounds, it lived up to the hype. Legends Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns let their fists do the talking back in 1985, but the trunks they sported also told a story. Hagler's long road to champion status was paved by years of hard work and his basic style of shorts reflected that. Yet, he was a suave fellow outside the ring, as evidenced in the various TV commercials he did, and the hip choice of dark trunks with baby blue trim was smooth as a baby's bottom. As for Hearns, his traditional golden outfit with red lettering was (and continues to be till this day) the official (and highly respected) uniform of the many world level boxers who have come out of Detroit's landmark Kronk gym run by Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward.

Andre "S.O.G." Ward

19. Andre "S.O.G." Ward

Fight: Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward
Date: November 21, 2009

Andre Ward, whose nickname "S.O.G." stands for "Son of God," has not only religious faith but faith in his boxing skills as well. So do a growing list of boxing experts who have picked Dre to win the Super Six finals match against Carl Froch in December. The Olympian from Oakland, CA has carefully cultivated a squeaky clean image and hopes to gain the same type of crossover success that other USA medal winners like de la Hoya and Holyfield have achieved. For his contest against Mikkel Kessler in 2009, Ward, who is one of the few boxers to ever have a Nike contract, came in wearing a winning nationalistic number that looked like it was snatched out of the Italian Stallion's closet circa Rocky IV and custom fitted for understated impact.

Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko

18. Joseph "King Kong" Agbeko

Fight: Joseph Agbeko vs Yonnhy Perez I
Date: October 31, 2009

Recognized as a warrior chief in his native Ghana for his skills inside the ring, tough bantamweight Joseph Agbeko's alias, "King Kong," is, in actuality, his real name given to him at birth by his father. One can easily see that Agbeko, who now resides in the Bronx, NY, gets a kick out of his unusual movie monster moniker as evidenced by his theatrical ring walk for his Halloween thriller against Colombia's Yonnhy Perez in which the fighter from Accra put on a gorilla mask and was accompanied by a blonde woman in chains, an obvious reference to the famous film that inspired his name.

Aaron "The Hawk" Pryor

17. Aaron "The Hawk" Pryor

Fight: Alexis Arguello vs. Aaron Pryor I
Date: November 12, 1982

In the early '80s, the phrase "It's Hawk time!" meant that boxer Aaron Pryor was about to fight and that usually meant you were about to see plenty of action. It also meant that you were likely to see Pryor in some well-crafted robes, like this elegant black piece with a hint of colorful African trim seen here. Spectators got a good eyeful of the garb during the boxer's pre-fight ritual in which he would defiantly point his fist at his foe in the opposite corner before the fight.

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

16. Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

Fight: Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao
Date: December 6, 2008

Considered by many to be pound-for-pound the #1 fighter in the world, Manny Pacquiao is also known for sporting some of the best trunks in the hurt business. The international superstar from the Philippines gets paid big bucks not only for boxing but for the sponsorships that appear on his gear, which range from ethnic flavor like the Cafe Puro logo to the Nike emblem. For his welterweight face off with Oscar de la Hoya, Pacman went with a fiery orange color scheme that blended well with his explosive performance.

Jason "Monstruo" Escalera

15. Jason "Monstruo" Escalera

Fight: N/A
Date: N/A

Prospect Escalera is quite far from being a household name as he is still in the early stages of his career, but he's already learned how to get attention the right way. The one they call "Monster" has made ring entrances tied up by big ol' chains and wearing a hockey mask ala Friday the 13th's Jason Voorhees (it helps that Escalera's first name is also Jason). Whether or not the heavy handed Escalera hits the big time is yet to be seen, but for now he's showing he knows how to put on a show before the fists fly.

Miguel Cotto

14. Miguel Cotto

Fight: Miguel Cotto vs. Michael Jennings
Date: February 21, 2009

Having Ecko Unltd. on your boxing outfit team definitely has its advantages. Starting with a cleverly designed logo of a boxing glove with wings (Miguel Cotto's middle name is Angel), the Puerto Rican star's continuously stylish gear is some of the most praised clothing in the sport. For the bout against Englishman Michael Jennings at NYC's historic Madison Square Garden, Cotto came in cool, calm and collected with a sharp 'n' neat, dark colored ensemble with strategically placed bursts of orange and plenty of hip-hop-influenced edge to it.

Oscar de la Hoya

13. Oscar de la Hoya

Fight: Oscar de la Hoya vs. Julio Cesar Chavez I
Date: June 7, 1996

The trunks of former U.S. Olympic star Oscar de la Hoya used in his first fight against aging Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez were a sharply designed pair that meshed the stars and stripes of America on one side with the image of the fierce eagle with a serpent in its beak representative of Mexico's flag on the other. The red, white, blue and green cross cut pattern is, of course, symbolic of DLH's Chicano background.

"Ferocious" Fernando Vargas

12. "Ferocious" Fernando Vargas

Fight: Fernando Vargas vs. Shane Mosley I
Date: February 25, 2006

In their first meeting, Fernando Vargas and Shane Mosley were in a tight scrap that was halted due to grotesque swelling around Vargas' left eye. The ugly injury was a disappointing ending to a night in which "El Feroz" wore a variation of trunks he had used before in other matches, only this time he chose a cream-colored set that was once again highlighted by an awesome, detailed rendition of the Aztec calendar smack dab in the middle of the shorts.

Diego "Chico" Corrales

11. Diego "Chico" Corrales

Fight: Diego Corrales vs Joel Casamayor I
Date: October 4, 2003

While all boxers who step into the squared circle deserve respect, not all of them can be classified as warriors. There's no question, however, that the late Diego Corrales was indeed a real warrior. That he often chose to enter the ring wearing camouflage suited "Chico" well as this rugged soldier engaged in several memorable wars. For the first installment in the trilogy with Cuban Joel Casamayor, the fighter who will always be remembered for his courageous role in one of the greatest boxing matches ever (Castillo vs. Corrales I), wore green and beige accouterments which were adorned with a respectful remembrance: a list of initials of fallen friends and family. A great gesture from a great fighter.

Edwin "El Inca" Valero

10. Edwin "El Inca" Valero

Fight: Edwin Valero vs. Antonio Pitalua
Date: April 4, 2009

Before everything went horribly wrong, undefeated Edwin Valero was an exciting force in boxing who was climbing the ranks with an impressive string of savage knockouts that had hardcore fans salivating at the idea of a future clash with Manny Pacquiao. The patriotic Venezuelan made it a habit of representing his country's colors on his trunks and robe and later made sure to always rep his leader, President Hugo Chavez, too. He did this by tattooing a portrait of Chavez atop his nation's flag on his chest. But as successful as he was in the ring, the troubled Valero was a mess outside of it. A dangerous mixture of drugs, alcohol and personal demons tragically came to a head in April of 2010 when he was arrested for the murder of his young wife. Valero then hung himself in his jail cell.

Sharif "The Lion" Bogere

9. Sharif "The Lion" Bogere

Fight: Sharif Bogere vs. Julian Rodriguez
Date: September 18, 2010

Contender Sharif "The Lion" Bogere originally hails from Uganda but now fights out of Las Vegas, NV. He has, however, brought with him a reminder of his faraway homeland every time he steps in between the ropes, namely the life-like lion's head he wears as part of his exotic pre-fight costume that also features a superbly rendered portrait of the king of the jungle on his trunks. All put together, this tribal-influenced presentation usually gets a roar of approval from the crowd.

Abner Mares

8. Abner Mares

Fight: Vic Darchinyan vs. Abner Mares
Date: December 11, 2010

Rising Abner Mares is a young champion in the lower weight divisions who often makes startling entrances wearing a frightening bandana on the lower part of his face that creates the illusion of skeletal features. The scary look is not all horror movie influence as one might think, but rather a reflection of the deep-rooted, thematic presence of death in Mexican art and culture.

Tomoki "El Mexicanito" Kameda

7. Tomoki "El Mexicanito" Kameda

Fight: N/A
Date: N/A

Tomoki is one third of Japan's famous Kameda boxing brothers clan. Splitting his time between home and Mexico, Tomoki is still honing his pugilistic chops, but he's already mastered the show business side of this blood sport. His giant sombreros and incredible-looking Lucha Libre wrestling masks combined with an aggressive steez have helped him gain a modest following amongst Mexican fight fans and has been christened with the honorary nickname, "El Mexicanito."

Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton

6. Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton

Fight: Ricky Hatton vs. Paulie Malignaggi
Date: November 22, 2008

England's Ricky Hatton not only had his own theme song that his loyal fans belted out in unison at all his fights but he also had a signature style of flashy trunks that was a bit rock 'n' roll. The uniquely cut and textured shorts were a wild mash-up that deftly incorporated his logo for his promotional company, the Union Jack and a wealth of sponsors into its pattern. Even more engaging, though, might have been Ricky's wicked sense of humor. The UK lad responded to media criticism for ballooning in weight between bouts by putting on an oversized, mocking "Fatton" suit and walking to the ring in it.

Danny "Little Red" Lopez

5. Danny "Little Red" Lopez

Fight: Danny Lopez vs. Sean O'Grady
Date: February 25, 1976

Bigging up his mixed Native American ancestry, the Ute Indian/Mexican/Irish fighter's feathered headdress he rocked with pride during the 1970s signified that once this popular and ferocious featherweight nicknamed "Little Red" stepped into the ring, he was on the warpath.

Michael "The Great" Katsidis

4. Michael "The Great" Katsidis

Fight: Michael Katsidis vs. Michael Lozada
Date: August 13, 2011

Katsidis is a modern day Spartan warrior, the type who often bleeds in his matches and guts out wins in brutal battles of attrition. The fearless Aussie's defined and authentic-looking combatant costume is nothing short of awesome.

"Iron" Mike Tyson

3. "Iron" Mike Tyson

Fight: Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks
Date: June 27, 1988

During his early, undefeated reign of invincibility, Mike Tyson's pure black outfits were as much about creating an aura of intimidation as a nod to past heroes like Jack Dempsey, who decades earlier wore basic, no frills trunks and shoes with no socks. A young Tyson was schooled by legendary old timer coach Cuss D'Amato, who made his charge study great fighters of the past, so it made sense that "Iron" Mike would adopt this iconic throwback look that was reminiscent of a goneby era when boxers were tough as nails.

Muhammad Ali

2. Muhammad Ali

Fight: Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton III
Date: September 28, 1976

Muhammad Ali's most recognizable uniform during ring walks was a simple, classic look of white satin with black trim by Everlast. (He wore a white terrycloth bathrobe for most of his training sessions, too.) It's a look that has never gone out of style, but that's because Ali made it so. On any other fighter, the same outfit would look plain. But "The Greatest" had the ability to make the ordinary clothing look extraordinary.

Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins (#1)

1. Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins

Fight: Kelly Pavlik vs. Bernard Hopkins
Date: October 18, 2008

An old school fighter who knows every trick in the book, the ageless 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins relishes his role as the bad guy and brings the theatrics with his "Executioner" garb. He doesn't rock the get up every single time, but when he does, the sleek black robe and mask are an intimidating presence that go perfectly with his trademark slicing motion to the neck that he flashes at his opponents during the introductions.