Fast Trackers: Fighters who were ATG's before their 25th birthday

Marquez 2...

 

But that's when he reached ATG status IMO... Ledwaba is a meh win for me... Barrera was dealing with a lot of stuff outside the ring, which was why he performed better in the rematch... JMM just beat MAB, and was on a good streak at the time beating guys like Salido and etc... The rematch had huge anticipation and was decided off the kd. That seals it for me!

 

Tony Canzoneri has a title by age 18. Mickey Walker and Terry McGovern won titles at 19. Pacquiao picks up one at 20 like Willie Pep. Duran picks up his first title age 21 like Benny Leonard and Mayweather Jr. Julio Cesar Chavez captured one at 22 like Ali, Sandy Saddler, Billy Conn, and Stanley Ketchel. Joe Louis captures the title at 23, as did Barney Ross and Ray Leonard. Gene Tunney, Roy Jones Jr., and Eder Jofre 24. Robinson, Armstrong, Whitaker get theirs at 25.

 

I guess it depends on who you ask really, I think by 25 he was 2 weight Lineal with a slew of top notch wins, although personally I just just speaking specifically of his 130/35 work dude is comsidered the goat or #2 all time at 130 so that would make him an ATG before 25.

Although I also think there is a difference between a divisional ATG and just an ATG fighter which is another debate.

 

:deal

 

:deal

 

Muhammad Ali was banned from boxing a few months after turning 25.

He'd already won the undisputed heavyweight championship, knocked out several hall of famers (Liston, Patterson, Moore), made nine successful heavyweight title defenses and was ... along with Marciano ... the only man to retire (although forced to retire) as the undisputed, undefeated champion.

So, Ali's there.

 

Good points, but I don't agree. I think most would agree Barrera was a more significant win than Chicanito, Manfredy, Jesus Chavez, or even Chico at the time. Also have to add both MAB and Chicanito were starting to slip and past their primes, tho both were champions at the time and MAB was on the p4p list as was Corrales. The MAB win alone is just much more significant, MAB was a legend by that time, can't say that about the rest.

 

• Muhammad Ali
• Wilfredo Benitez
• Wilfredo Gomez
• Salvador Sanchez
• Sugar Ray Leonard
• Mike Tyson
• Manny Pacquiao

 

I would say Hatton. Pac's only 'great' win before he fought Oscar was over Barrera. He was considered a devastating punching very good 122 pound champion who amazingly proved he was as good at 130, but nothing more. You might assume he proved his atg status beating De la Hoya, but Oscar was depleted making 147 and not close to the fighter he was in his prime. But knocking out a still young true light welterweight in Hatton can't be denied. By then there were too many wins over quality fighters.

 

So Wilfred Benitez becoming a champion at the age of 17 has no meaning to you? At the age of 20 he was already a two weight champion. And at the age of 22 he became a 3 weight champion.
But none of that matters, right?

 

Pac's 122 reign was impressive, beating Ledwaba, Julio, Agapito Sanchez, amongst other decent fighters. But people seem to forget that... he ducked Paulie Ayala! When Ayala had just beaten Bones Adams and was considered to have the better claim as the best at 122. If he beat Ayala I'd give him the under 25 edge over Mayweather. But Mayweather truly cleaned out 130, with Corrales being the exclamation point on his reign.