Small HW champs that would do well today?

Sam Langford, maybe. Otherwise....none of them. Not Patterson good god he'd get Bolivianized.

 

None. Some of them would make damn fine cruiserweights and light-heavyweights though.

 

Patterson and pre Patterson? Unless you count Louis as "small", then none.

 

Joe Louis

Joe Frazier if you consider him small

Possibly Rocky. He always found a way to win.

 

I think Ezzard Charles is probably capable of doing as well or better than Byrd and Toney.

 

Marciano.
I think on his best day he could beat anybody.
I think Fitzsimmons could surprise a huge HW.

 

We would see the same thing as we see today in many ways.

The smaller heavyweights who were exceptional talents could be successful, and the rest would tend not to be.

When you start talking about Dempsey, Louis, and Frazier, in the same sentence, you are effectively trawling multiple eras, to hand pick the smaller heavyweights who would have the best chance.

 

Dempsey!

 

plenty of them, boxing is skill over size at hw.

 

I think the small "greats" could do well, but consistency would be a big thing. They'd be facing larger opponents more often than they were used to, so off-nights would be more likely to be losses than in their era. IMHO, of course.

 

Only the ones with a lot of power, speed and, at least, a solid chin.

The smaller boxer types simply do not have the height or reach to be effective vs. skilled men 6'4" or greater with a 79-84" reach, and give up too much weight.

Dempsey and Louis ( 185-200 ) would have the best chance to be #1 today, and I'd likely pick them to beat anyone in the field.

Langford, and Marciano, a punchers' chance.

Today, the division is in transition. Wlad is 40 and we really don't know a lot about Fury, Joshua, Martin, Ortiz, ect... The only really proven one still in his prime is Povetkin.

However by 2020 I think the division will be much better talent than it does in 2016. The 2016 Olympic class is a very good one at super heavyweight.

 

I think at 6'2", 210 lbs, Evander Holyfield would be considered somewhat small by today's standards and I think he'd probably do pretty damn well. Only hesitation I have is that he often liked to bang too much for his own good and that might not always bode well when mixing it up with men who range anywhere from 6'5" to 6'9" and who's weights range from 240 to 270.

 

I think the days of a sub-200 pounder are essentially over. Holyfield at 205 found life very tough against a big man like Bowe, and Holy at 205 was very imposing for his size. I think small guys under 200 are at a grave disadvantage against fluid big men.

That said, the likes of Tyson Fury are not impressive fighters, and it may open the door for a small but excellent heavy to spring a surprise.

But this is an era of predominantly big men, who have an inherent
advantage over natural 200 pounders. Nothing is impossible, but it's not likely that a sub-200 pounder could ever achieve sustained success.
A once-off like what Jones did is doable though, if the small man is good enough.