You said it. Desoite my not being a boxing fan, he was one of those boxers whose skill projected his name and fame beyond the community of fans; for a long time, he was the standard agaist which others were judged.
Desoite=Despite
"...he was one of those boxers whose skill projected his name and fame beyond the community of fans..."
Your answer describes it best.
I am not a real boxing fan and have no expertise, but it doesn't take much to recognize the skills he once had.