Most Significant Passing of the Torch Fights

Sanchez v Lopez 1 - bye bye 70s, hello 1980s

 

Buchanan vs Duran,,,the reign of terror began

 

Erik Morales vs Daniel Zaragoza
Oscar de la Hoya vs JCC
Mike Tyson vs Larry Holmes

Most recently Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire

 

Perfect choice for the thread, though I can’t agree with the comparisons. I think it’s one of Robinson’s best wins at Welter.

Pryor/Cervantes is a better call than Cervantes/Benitez, which I’ve seen mentioned twice. Not just because Benitez did his best work after moving up, but because Cervantes was still in his prime. He had several years to go before his run at 140 ended. Pryor is the one that snatched the reigns from him and took the division over.

 

I'd agree that Pryor was more the passing of the torch for the same reasons tbh.

I meant the Armstrong-SRR comparisons more from a personal thing tbh. I love Armstrong in a similar way to Louis and formerly Ali but don't have the same unreserved admiration for Robinson despite knowing he was one of the very greatest of greats. Makes me sad and sort of respectful at the same time, the idea of Robinson carrying him.

 

This. The succession from champ to champ in this period is absolutely insane. All ATGs or ATG talent.

 

Canto - Park
Olivares - Rose

 

I definitely agree with your first two choices,but not so the Tyson-Holmes one. Holmes was too far gone at this point to have even the slimmest chance of beating a prime Tyson. Had it taken place in 1986,it would have counted more.

 

Langford against Wills, and Wills against Sharkey.

 

Gibbons was actually older than McFarland, McFarland just couldn't be bothered fighting anymore. He cut his career very short.

 

Pops vs Galindez
Charles vs Louis

 

Had it taken place in 1980 (with Mike winning) it would have been Tyson's bid for top 4 ATG.

 

Morales vs Zaragoza is the perfect example.