What short (under 5'9") WWs would you favor over Hearns?

I agree and have already said - although I would not bet on it.

 

Starting to wonder if any of these guys have seen a single fight at WW.

 

All top athletes in every sport? Whilst I somewhat agree with the opinion that a lot of top athletes in sports use them I disagree that all of them do. Perhaps in 20-50 years time we will be retrospectively stripping the likes of Phelps and Bolt of their Olympic golds but I highly doubt it. The gap between the designer PEDs and testing has closed significantly to the point that it is near impossible to cheat the system. The only way to truly catch all PED users would be to implement a daily sampling regime which is quite frankly ridiculous and would cost the governing bodies of sports an exorbitant amount. Source: I’m a chemist that has in-depth knowledge of WADA accredited labs.

 

The systems fail countless times, new PEDs are created at a rate that is impossible for new tests to compete with, retroactive testing is effective but also unfair to athletes who were using a substance that wasnt tested for beforehand, or a substance that wasnt banned. PED usage doesnt equate to drug cheat. BPC-157 was popular before it's ban and it shouldnt have even been banned imo. This is not including people paying off the officials, and short half life PEDs such as testosterone propionate and the like which can be cycled during specific phases where athletes know they will not be tested. There is a reason sporting events have longer breaks in between them nowadays than before.

While you are in the testing pool, assuming the testers are fair, it is impossible to literally blast tren and HGH, but with the advent of untested designer drugs being continuous, and certain untested periods occurring, it is easy to still use PEDs while avoiding the tests. Source: I know multiple world class athletes who have explained to me the process by which they used to avoid the tests. I also have a bachelors in biochem (pre-med) if it matters.

 

I'd give Crawford a decent chance but I don't think I could favor him. Bud has long arms as well. 74 inch reach at about 5-8.

 

Hey mate, a lot of the testing nowadays is PED metabolites, regardless of whether a specific PED shows up on the LCMSMS spectrum or not. A lot, if not most of metabolites of PEDs are nearly identical and they fall into a group of spectrum that warrants further investigative testing. For cycling athletes or other sports that require high aerobic and VO2 max to succeed they test for plasticisers (i.e. the blood bags they use to extract the blood after using EPO or doing intense HAT). I can see your point of view though. The narrative is very much the testing is lagging but trust me, it is not. If someone gets tested in or on the shoulder of a cycle they are basically ****ed. I would be very interested to know whether they are athletes with biological passports (mainly IAAF athletes), fall under WADA and whether they are top 10 athletes in their respective sports. Be happy to chat about it via private message mate as I’m super interested - I’m no longer working in that niche industry but still have a keen interest.

 

Good call.

 

On paper he was unbeatable. He was a devastating offensive force, a unique talent. Fights aren't fought on paper though perhaps because he could be so devastating some areas he was still a bit green.
Pacing himself for a long fight, not knowing how to clinch to buy time when he was hurt. Those pesky areas tend to pop up when some opponents are still there. Intangibles qualities, hard won experience.

 

I remember reading that he admitted that out of some misguided sense of pride he never held when hurt until after the Hagler fight.

Tommy was sometimes too much of a warror for his own good.

 

He definitely was a warrior. With his dimensions he could have stunk the joint out every night and possibly avoided some of those defeats. If he had a different mentality. Some of that is just being from the Kronk.

 

I'm not sure Thomas could beat Henry Armstrong. Even at WW.

 

When he won the title and for the first 7 defenses it Armstrong weighed within the 135 Lightweight limit....every time. He was actually dealing with lightweight title fights in between. During later defenses he was heavier but still often just under or just over 140 pounds.

So in reality he was still comfortably making 135 for much of his successful time at Welterweight. As great as he was i can't see a 5'5 1/2" tall Armstrong, sporting a 67" reach and for all intents and purposes a lightweight having much hope at all personally. It's far too much to overcome in my opinion. He would lack the size, strength and power to impose himself.

 

I agree with every word.

Armstrong did not hit anywhere near as hard as Leonard at welter (Ray's power is often underrated) and not as strong as him either.

Henry was just too small.

 

Your last sentence is exactly it, for me. No bloke coming into the ring around 135 pounds is surviving Tommy.

 

Exactly John.