had started(like he did) and ended his career as a lightheavy? how would he have fared?and would he have become champion as a lightheavy?
he would not of fared to good in fact he would of gotten pummeled he really did not have the build nor the power to carry that weight around:yep:think
how can you say that when he was fighting and beating some of the best lightheavies of his time?they basically threw him to the lions and he became the hunter instead of the hunted.
WW II was always going to put rising contenders of the early 1940s like him on hold, no matter what he did. Campaigning at 175, he likely does get stopped and/or floored at some point, dramatically altering his career legacy. Playing with the likes of Maxim, Charles and Bivins wouldn't do much to enhance his resume. He'd be dealing with opponents who could (and did) beat top heavyweights. The best light heavyweights were often top contenders for the HW crown, with division champions like Conn, Lesnevich and Maxim getting shots at the big prize. Jake was never going to be in that company.
MW was the perfect division for him because he was strong at the weight, LHW would see him lose far more often
if i was handling him i would have had him fighting at welterweight this would of enabled him to feel a lot comfortable with his weight and height configuration which in turn would of allowed him more flexibility in his overall boxing ringmanship:think
No, at beat a lower part of the top-ten contender, he would not beat the likes of Bivins, Charles, or Moore.
could he have made weight for welter? he had a big frame for a middle.and usually had trouble making the 160 lb limit.
If he cut water with saunas, water manipulation, diuretics with 24hrs to rehydrate, then yes I think maybe he could, but not back then
agree with the general concensus: lamotta was best at mw. too small for lightheavy and completely lacking in top level power at 175
damn near ALWAYS, Jake fought a lot of Welter cum Middles, and had a hard time with them too. Great fighter, but has been overblown due to "the Raging Bull."
agreed. tough, sneaky fighter, who had trouble with movers and lacked top level power. he could be, and often was, outboxed. however his toughness is without question and the st. valentine's day massacre made him into a legend
