I posted a thread like this some time ago, but it yielded some good discussion.....please list your choice for the second best fighter in each respective country. 1. Panama 2. Japan 3. Canada 4. Mexico 5. Great Britain (per Mark Ant's instructions)
Wow, I know we have done some top 10’s recently but this is still difficult. Panama: I assume we have Duran 1 But Pedroza, Panama Al, Laguna and Zapata could all factor in? I will go Panama Al for now and look at the others when I get home
What about adding the second best fighter from Britain? People will probably name their No.1 as they answer, it`s not that I don`t understand why you chose these specific countries (I do, Duran would be No.1 for Panama and so on) I just feel it would be interesting alongside the other No.2`s from these countries.
I doubt he or anyone else will be upset adding one or more from other countries. It is just a good discussion starter....but don’t start another thread about it lol
Mexico (presuming JCC is 1) I am torn between Olivares and Saldivar Canada (assuming Langford) I would pick Dixon UK (I would have Fitzsimmons) so give me Wilde as runner up Japan? Have not made my mind up yet??? Any debate
I feel the best British figter of the 90`s was Calzaghe, I rate him about Lewis, so that`s Lennox out of the running, I`d say Conteh could have been in the top 2 because he had the best lead hand in British boxing history, but he lost to Saad Muhammad, so for me the greatest British fighter of all-time would have been Ken Buchannan because Roberto Duran said he was his greatest opponent, best in most departmants, no other Brit can really match that apart from Randy Turpin because of his brilliant display in the first Robinson fight. All the above are contenders for the top two spots I feel, it`s so hard to rate top Brits because most elite Brit fightes have patchy CV`s, Calzaghe never beat anyone like Robi and never fought anyone as good as Duran, but I would slot him in at No.2 because Turpin fell apart after the Robi fight and Conteh failed against his toughest foe, I would pick Buchannan as No.1 because of what Duran said, his defense looked really good, he slipped shots better than Caalzaghe, so did Conteh for that matter, tough question.
Not sure what losing to Saad does to hurt Conteh’s body of work. He was at the tail end of his career. Losing to someone like Saad is not a detriment really, even less so if we factor in the context of the loses. Don’t get me wrong I would probably pick Saad even at primes, but it is not a major negative. I think Conteh is likely 12-17 range (we just did this 2 weeks ago), but not because he lost to Saad. How much do you penalize guys for late career loses?
Great Britain = Lennox Lewis A guy who never lost vs a guy who beat every fighter he faced. I go with the guy who never lost
Mexico =Salvador Sanchez (Chavez is number 1). Salvador Sanchez is the best counter puncher I’ve ever seen