Because Canzi did more than Baslio, Fullmer, Olsan, LaMotta, Thsos 2 wins over a fellow pound for pound fighter. Also Zivic was the Baldmoir of his day, beating a fading champ(Armstrong) Rock was there at the right place with a past it Toney Zale, and was pretty well shot when he fought Robinson. Doyle was not much, he even died vs robinson. Angott was the Ruiz of his day. Armstrong was SHOT. Servio was a decent champ. Most of these guys made names because they fought Robinson. Had say Doyle never fought Robinson, and died. I dont think people be talking about him today. Ross fought guys in there primes.
You relly going to give Robinson credit over past it fighters like Rocky and Henry?>? Had Robinson beating Fullmer and Balsio the FIRST time, they wont be as well known. They got there greatness because they beat Robinson.
You just Assume Armstrong would have lost to Robinson at WW??? This is were people start viewing Robinson as a God at this point. I belive Armstrong has a great shot in beating Robinson at WW.
Ratings are merely opinion based, there I agree. But if one rates a fighter at 5 and the other rates him at 50 (either within his prime/natural weight division or pound-for-pound); one of them is wrong. And you may not get the same 10 middleweights everytime, but the total number of fighters overall will not be 1000 or even 100. The same names will keep being cited.
Everyone has a shot as long as they are throwing punches. And Armstrong wouldn't have achieved what he did without being superhuman. So, of course, he would have a shot. BUT he was a natural/prime lightweight.
1. Graziano only 29 when he fought him, so just how "past it" was he? 2. Marty Servo, Jake LaMotta and Kid Gavilan were NOT past it when he fought them. 3. Basilio was already a two-time WORLD welterweight champion, who had won two Ring "fight of the year" fights in a row and was also in a "round of the year". I say that he was already well known AND great before he fought SRR. Both their fights ended in split decisions. If Carmen had lost both rather than going 1-1, they would be argued to this day. Hell, look at all the draws and unanimous nods that are still argued! And if he lost the first and hadn't gotten a RE, many would have claimed that Robby ducked him the same way they question why there was no rubber match.
While I don't agree that Ross was better than Robinson, I don't agree with you thrashing his resume like this. Mayweather's five titles were not undisputed. Ross' were. Ross' ledger includes wins over Champions like Jimmy McLarnin, Canzi, Bat Battalino, Ceferino Garcia and titleholders like Sammy Fuller, Frankie Klick and Izzy Jannazzo as well as many tough rated contenders.
Lamotta was past it when he lost the title to Robinson. Jake was like 32 or something. Rocky had a short prime, and HIGHLY overrated. I say the Rock was pretty well used up by that time. Also the Rock had been knockout a few times. Had Rocky never beating Zale, it would have been other of the mill win for Robinson. But Rocky had the honor of being a name former champ. If you dont get hit with that right hand, the odds were pretty good you win.
Fair points... but ultimately your opinion, which was my point. Opinions on a hypothesis that is unlikely to ever happen (eg: If Jimmy Wilde fought Lennox Lewis at the same weight; Wilde would win) cannot be proven right or wrong.
shall I enter you for the ESB Essay Writing Competition: http://www.eastsideboxing.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8393 ??
This guy is for sure I Am Legend (with a better avatar). If someoen else hasn't done it already, this is it being done officaly, now.
There's a lot of speculation involved in list making, but it isn't all subjective. I mean, I challenge anyone to tell me Jose Luis Castillo is a better lightweight than Carlos Ortiz, or that Oscar de la Hoya is a better lightweight than Tony Canzoneri. Some points become debateable, others don't. Provided you have a decent criteria, ranking fighters can be done quite easily. You may ask, "well, what makes your criteria right?", but I don't think people would disagree too much about what fundamentally goes to making a good fighter. Things like fighting and head to head) ability, resume and level of comp, and longevity are pretty much staples in everyone's thinking.