Ken Buchanan Lionel Rose Ernesto Marcel Jung Koo-Chang Ultiminio Sugar Ramos In terms of career accomplishments, resume etc; I’ll have to think closely about it. I like some of Rose’s prime wins and his style but he fizzled out quickly. I’m thinking Buchanan as the best of the bunch.
1. Chang 2. Marcel 3. Buchanan 4. Rose 5. Ramos Fairly easy for me, though I could see how others would have difficulty.
I can't believe people are ranking Buchanan so highly. I'd have it: #5. Sugar Ramos #4. Ken Buchanan #3. Lionel Rose #2. Ernesto Marcel #1. Jung Koo Chang Fairly confidenly, too. I thought Castillo beat Rose quite clearly, so I don't like giving major credit for that win, if I did, he'd be number two.
I think Marcel was the best fighter on the list, but yeah I'd probably rank Chang #1. He's the only guy on this list who could argued as a divisional GOAT. Buchanan vs Rose is a tough one, but I give it to Kenny just on being a MUCH tougher guy, with a lot more grit and stamina. Both Buchanan/Rose were unseated by young phenoms, but Buchanan was in there with the far better phenom, and did considerably better against the phenom he was facing than Rose did against the one he faced.
I actually think in a head 2 head sense, Rose is the weakest link here, and I hate to say it because he's one of my top 5 favorite bantamweights. I feel like Lionel Rose is verging on the realm of overrated. But yeah, either Rose or Ramos is #5.
Buchanan was considered the best pure boxer in the world by the mags and such until he ran into "Manos de Piedra"
Yeah, I cant go Rose over Buchanan, even though Rose's style was smoother. Kenny had all the skills of Rose, and more intangibles. There's an argument to be made that Rose's defining win came over a weight drained Harada. Still, a SPECTACULAR performance, but tainted a bit. Kenny, a Scotsman, goes into extreme heat and outfights an all time great Panamanian to lift the title. Thats some badass stuff. Barry McGuigan couldn't even beat a journeyman level guy in extreme heat, and Buchanan beats an all time great amid heat. I definitely consider Buchanan a different level than Rose, its not even as close as i initially thought.
I’m still having a hard time. I think Marcel beats Ramos head to head but I think Ramos has to rank higher. He was lineal/undisputed and dethroned a great champion in his prime after all. I think I go: 1. Buchanan 2. Chang 3. Ramos 4. Rose 5. Marcel Damn. Really tough with Rose and Ramos too but edge towards Ramos’ superior longevity. That’s really close though.
I think Ramos being last is the easiest pick to make. I don’t consider his resume superior to Marcel’s. Nor do I consider Davey Moore to have been a great champion. Ramos certainly wasn’t, either. He got destroyed in his 4th defense by Saldivar and then destroyed by Ortiz in his two subsequent title shots at Lightweight. He was weighed, measured, and found wanting against the elites.
