They just refused to lose

A Welshman once went undefeated in 103 bouts over a period of more than four years.

This made Jimmy Wilde the man who strung together the longest known unbeaten streak, in terms of the number of bouts, in boxing.

Wilde beat Les Williams when he made his debut as a professional on December 26, 1910. He was unbeatable until Tancy Lee stopped him in the 17th round on January 25, 1915.

During this remarkable run he won the world flyweight title and was held to a draw only once.

A Spaniard, Pedro Carrasco, who held the WBC lightweight title, was unbeaten in 93 fights over a period of almost eight years – from April 22, 1964 to February 18, 1972 when he lost to Mando Ramos.

Sugar Ray Robinson, still regarded by many as the greatest fighter in history, remained undefeated in 91 fights.

His run of over eight years without a loss began on February 19, 1943 and ended on July 10, 1951 when he lost the world middleweight title to Randolph Turpin.

During this time Robinson won the world welterweight and middleweight titles in the days when there were only eight weight divisions.

Brian Mitchell, a former SA, WBA and IBF junior lightweight champion, tops the list of South Africans who remained unbeaten for an extended period.

After losing on points to Jacob Morake on May 3, 1982, Mitchell remained unbeaten in 41 fights during the rest of his career. However, he was held to a draw three times during this run.

Nkosana “Happyboy” Mgxaji won his first 33 fights before losing to Anthony Morodi on June 24, 1972. This makes him the SA boxer with the longest winning streak, as opposed to an unbeaten run, which may include draws.

Mgxaji then ran up an unbeaten streak of 39 fights before losing to Samuel Serrano on April 14, 1979 in a challenge for the WBA junior lightweight title.

LONGEST UNBEATEN STREAKS BY SA BOXERS

41 – Brian Mitchell (SA, WBA and IBF junior lightweight champion) – 3 draws

40 – Enoch Nhlapo (SA lightweight and junior welterweight champion) – 2 draws

39 – Nkosana Mgxaji (SA junior light and junior welterweight champion) – Won his first 33 pro fights, then drew 3 in his undefeated run of 39

36 – Fransie Botha (IBF heavyweight champion) – Won his first 36 pro fights

33 – Jim Holloway (SA light and middleweight champion) – 31 wins and 2 draws in his first 33 fights

32 – Welcome Ncita (SA flyweight and IBF junior featherweight champion) – Won his first 32 pro fights

32 – Jan Bergman (SA junior welterweight and WBU welterweight champion) – Won his first 32 pro fights

31 – Phillip Holiday (IBF lightweight champion) – Won his first 31 pro fights

30 – Pierre Fourie (SA middleweight and light-heavyweight champion)

29 – Arthur Douglas – (SA, Australian featherweight champion) – five draws

29 – Dingaan Thobela – (SA junior lightweight and super-middleweight, WBA, WBO lightweight and WBC super-middleweight champion) – one draw

28 – Jack Lalor (SA welter, middle and heavyweight champion) – five draws

28 – Hottie van Heerden (SA middle and light-heavyweight champion)

27 – Lawrence Ngobeni (SA junior welterweight champion) – Won his first 27 pro fights.

27 – Vic Toweel (SA bantam and featherweight and Empire and world bantamweight champion) – 26 wins and a draw in his first 27 pro fights

26 – Alfred Buqwana (Transvaal featherweight champion – 4 draws

26 – Anthony Morodi (SA bantam, junior lightweight and lightweight champion) – One draw

25 – Piet Crous (SA light-heavyweight and WBA junior heavyweight champion) – 23 wins and 2 draws in his first 25 pro fights)

25 – Morris Mohloai (SA welterweight champion)

25 – Cassius Baloyi (WBU super-bantam and featherweight and IBO and IBF junior lightweight champion) – Won his first 25 pro fights

24 – Sydney Bensch (Transvaal middleweight champion) – 21 wins and 3 draws in his first 24 pro fights

24 – Joe Gumede (SA bantam and featherweight champion) – One draw

24 – Jake Tuli (SA fly and bantamweight and Empire flyweight champion) – Won 23 and drew one of his first 24 pro fights

24 – Eddie Pierce (SA light-heavyweight champion)

24 – Levi Madi (SA featherweight champion) – 3 draws

23 – Corrie Sanders (SA and WBU heavyweight champion – Won his first 23 pro fights

23 – Vuyani Nene (SA junior flyweight champion) – Won his first 23 pro fights

23 – Giovanni Pretorius (SA middleweight champion) – Won 22 and drew one of his first 23 pro fights

22 – Willie Toweel (SA bantam, feather, light and welterweight and Empire lightweight champion) – Won 21 and drew one of his first 22 pro fights

22 – Gerrie Coetzee (SA and WBA heavyweight champion) – Won his first 22 pro fights

21 – Welile Nkosinkulu (SA bantamweight champion)

21 – Phillip Ndou (SA featherweight and WBU junior lightweight champion)