When was the last time the light heavyweight division was really good?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Mendoza, Sep 28, 2014.


  1. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    When was the last time the light heavyweight division was really good?
     
    Mendoza, Sep 28, 2014
    Mendoza, Sep 28, 2014
    #1
  2. Berlenbach

    Berlenbach Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Late 70s/early 80s IMO: Spinks, Qawi, Saad Muhhamad, Mustafa Muhammad, Lopez, Johnson, Davis...
     
    Berlenbach, Sep 28, 2014
    Berlenbach, Sep 28, 2014
    #2
  3. OvidsExile

    OvidsExile At a minimum, a huckleberry over your persimmon. Full Member

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    1924 Gene Tunney, Young Stribling, Kid Norfolk, Tommy Loughran, Paul Berlenbach.
    1938 Tiger Jack Fox, Billy Conn, Jock McAvoy, Gus Lesnevich, Melio Bettina.
    1943 Ezzard Charles, Gus Lesnevich, Jimmy Bivins, Anton Christoforidis, Lloyd Marshall.
    1948 Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, Gus Lesnevich, Lloyd Marshall.
    1954 Archie Moore, Harold Johnson, Joey Maxim, Floyd Patterson.
    1982 Matthew Saad Muhammad, Michael Spinks, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Dwight Braxton.
    1997 Roy Jones Jr., Virgil Hill, Mike McCallum, James Toney.
    2007 Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver, Tomasz Adamek, Roy Jones Jr.
     
    OvidsExile, Sep 28, 2014
    OvidsExile, Sep 28, 2014
    #3
  4. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    Mid to late 70's, up to the early 80's with Galindez, Conteh, Lopez, Saad, Mustafa, Johnson, Rossman, Qawi and Spinks.
     
    red cobra, Sep 28, 2014
    red cobra, Sep 28, 2014
    #4
  5. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Yes 1974-1984, the deepest pool of talent in my life time.
    Conteh
    Franklin
    Gregory
    Galindez
    Hutchins
    Deleon
    Burnett
    Kates
    Lopez
    Ahumada
    Parlov
    Rossman
    Braxton
    Spinks
    Johnson
     
    mcvey, Sep 29, 2014
    mcvey, Sep 29, 2014
    #5
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  6. ribtickler68

    ribtickler68 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    That IS pretty deep, mcvey! Glad you included Conteh; cracking fighter.
     
    ribtickler68, Sep 29, 2014
    ribtickler68, Sep 29, 2014
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  7. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    One of the things I liked about the division back in the day was the depth of talent, and the fighters were usually in shape and hit hard. The division for me was a fine alternative to the years where the heavyweight division had problems with talent, scheduling/ politics, or outside the ring issues.

    I think the division could be the best in boxing in 2 years. Kovalev is crushing people. Stevenson is rather good, and Hopkins remains an ageless wonder.
    There are matches for Kolvalev to define a legacy, and no less than three grade A young gun prospects for him to fight later on in Beterbiev, Gvozdyk, and Mekhontsev

    Beterbiev is off to a tremendous start. Mekhonstev has outstanding skills and smarts. Gvozdyk is very well rounded.
     
    Mendoza, Sep 29, 2014
    Mendoza, Sep 29, 2014
    #7
  8. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    late 80's to early 90's weren't really that bad, but the problem is that the bigger fights which needed to happen never came off. During that time you had:

    - Virgil Hill
    - Prince Charles
    - Jeff Harding
    - Michael Moorer
    - Bobby Czyz
    - Dennis Andries
    - Don Lalonde

    And several decent young prospect including Anthony Hembrick, Andrew Maynard and Booker T word. Unfortunately though, the big fights were never made. There was no unfication. And all the good talent either moved on or went stale after a fashion
     
    mr. magoo, Sep 29, 2014
    mr. magoo, Sep 29, 2014
    #8
  9. Titan1

    Titan1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Late 70's to about late '82.After that, hasn't been the same.
     
    Titan1, Jan 3, 2015
    Titan1, Jan 3, 2015
    #9
  10. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I quite like it now to be honest!
     
    janitor, Jan 3, 2015
    janitor, Jan 3, 2015
    #10
  11. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    mid-90's was pretty awesome…

    Jones, Jr
    Hill
    Toney
    Maske
    Dariusz Michalczewski
    Rocchigiani
    Griffin

    That's pretty deep of highly competitive fighters.
     
    Seamus, Jan 3, 2015
    Seamus, Jan 3, 2015
    #11
  12. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    I must say that I like Kovalev...I think his upcoming bouts with Adonis and Beterbiev are going to go his way...he's uncommonly balanced in skill and power..right now he's my favorite active fighter.
     
    red cobra, Jan 3, 2015
    red cobra, Jan 3, 2015
    #12