By the mid-nineties and after the collapse of the Iron Curtain all of this changed and the face of professional boxing has transformed during the past two decades, especially in the bigger weight classes. Here’s a list of 25 of the greatest boxers in history outside of North America who made it big despite the economic and political odds in a sport that had its borders closed until relatively recently. Christoforidis fought against an Italian-American boxer for the world title while his country was under siege by Mussolini’s fascist forces and his victory was seen and celebrated as more than just a mere sports victory. In 1991 the WBC (World Boxing Council) named him the world’s best amateur and professional fighter of all time, a title no other boxer in history has ever earned to date, thus recognizing Papp’s legacy in the world of boxing.
