Head to head, overall, is Ike Williams right up there with Duran/Whitaker?

I'd say yes.

Tactics-wise, toughness, power (his right hand may be on a par with Duran's IMO) and jab were up there with the best at 135.

I have it-

1) Duran/Pea (for different reasons they are the joint no.1)
2) Carlos Ortiz
3) Ike Williams

Just my opinion though. Ortiz and Williams Prime for Prime, would've been absolutely fantastic!

 

I think Duran and Pea would both win decisions over Williams, but Williams' right hand could be a major coup against Pea.....however, I doubt he would catch him flush too many times to make it matter.

 

Just slightly behind.

He'd have a fair shot at beating either of those two, but I would expect him to lose more often than not. He's on the same level as Ortiz for me, which is right behind Duran/Whitaker, but not quite there.

 

Wait...who says whitaker is at there level? Ike Williams and Roberto Duran are the clear top 2 head to head. Ike Williams has a case for # 1.

 

what about Benny Leonard he beats Duran IMO

 

There is a case for him being number 1 but Duran and then Whitaker have the strongest cases.

 

Yeah that's the best way to put it

 

Ike Williams is the closest thing we have seen to Joe Louis in the lighter division...A complete boxer puncher that could do everything. Whitaker was sweet with his defense and could pile up points with combinations from time to time, but sometimes he was too sweet for his own good, clowned around too much, did not land enough effective power punches, his power failed him when he went up against elite fighters. Ike Williams at his best could beat you in so many different ways, Whitaker would make u miss 10 punches in a row and stick his tongue out and though thats eye popping to boxing fans who love defense, that didnt do anything on judges cards because he didnt land anything in return. Ike Williams showcased his talents vs elite great fighters in there primes, while whitaker never really did. Whitaker failed too fight two of the best lightweights of the 1980s near there primes Camacho and Rosario.

Ike Williams two fisted knockout power, dazzling pinpoint fluid combinations, electrifying handspeed, lightning like razor Left Jab, and smooth elegant movement, made him at his best one of the toughest to beat. Whitaker had the tools and slickness to make many fighters in hsitory look bad, but against a complete all around machine like Ike Williams...he would meet his demise.

 

Clear top two? On what basis?
Benny Leonard is the clear number one Lightweight imo.
Gans no2
Williams no3
Duran's competition at Lightweight was so so,imo.He beat 2 great Lightweights neither of whom are in my top 8.One he punched or kneed in the nuts ,and refused to rematch ,the other beat him once and dropped him twice.
Leonard beat the strongest field of lightweights ever assembled.

 

:good:good:good
10/10 for that post,especially the lighter-weight joe louis.like it !!

 

i don't think leonard would see the second round

 

SQ, not to be argumentative, but is defense not a scoring criteria in its own right? I remember in Duran-Leonard 1, in a close round (might be the last), Leonard threw a combo at close range and Duran masterfully evaded every one. The commentator said 'i think that defensive flurry wins the round for Duran'. And Duran never countered there. think there's plenty of ways to scor points in a boxing match, very subjective indeed. Unless you do know that defense without countering (i don't mean this sarcastic) is not a scoring criteria then i consider Pernell Whittaker's style effective, as was Ike Williams' in its own right

 

Slightly behind the two of them, along with Chavez, but competitive with the field.