Elite Light Heavyweights

Michalczewski was very good but Jones was much better at Lt Heavy.

Jones barely broke a sweat in beating the likes of Hill,Hall ,Harmon and Griffin whereas Darius had to work harder for his wins against the same men.Not to mention Michalczewski was in strife then got lucky in the first Rocchigiani fight.

Also Jones floored twice and whipped 12 rounds to zip Julio Cesar Gonzalez who would eventually end Michalczweski's unbeaten streak.

No knock on Michalczewski I just think Jones was a better fighter at his Lt Heavy peak,but they should've fought to settle it.

 

Well, you have some good points in DM kind of cheated Rocchigiani and lost to Gonzalez while Jones beat him. But DM was as much past against Gonzalez as Jones was against Tarver and Johnson and should be excused like Jones.

Their resumes are pretty much even at lhw. Jones has longevity and dominance over DM. DM on the other hand was the one who unified the belts - Jones only unified them after DM was (unrightfully) stripped of them - and was the linear champ (and should have been the ring champ, instead they made Jones the champ just because of him beeing a big star in America :-() for years. Jones was his number one contender but didn´t make the fight happen, which he could have done. Additinally, Jones avoided a already made fight with Rocchigiani which ended in Rocchigiani sueing and nearly finishing off the WBC.
I have them in the same bracket in my tier-system both outside the Top10 between 12 and 15 and thus not beeing elite.

H2h it is not that easy as it looks on first glance. True Jones looked marvelous at lhw. The speed. The power. Add his ring intelligence, reflexes ans skill. But DM wouldn´t have been just another name on his record. I´m sure he would have given him the toughest fight of his career and would be the best name on his record - because DM would have been prime and not weightdrained and Jones would be prime either.
A good jab beats speed. DM had one of the best jabs of the 90s. Powerful, timed, fast, accurat and often used. And DM wasn´t just a face first brawler. He had a good defence, was good at all ranges, very tough and strong. I think Jones should be the favourite but not by that much. He would have to dig deep to win and truly show his greatness. Would have loeved to see that one.

 

Fair enough.

I agree that both don't rate near Charles,Moore,Foster or Spinks but both were still very,very good fighters who could only be just outside an all time top 10,and both were very dangerous in H2H match ups as well.

 

And Saad :good

 

Saad was not elite or a top 10 guy at LH.

 

I'd say he's pretty formidable H2H, which is how you rate things.

Fought in probably the best division the weight has ever seen (though of course I'll have no argument with anyone saying the Charles/Bivins/Moore/Johnson era was better) and as the guy is looking to get info on light-heavys he should check Saad out.

Saad's wins over Johnson (x2) Conteh (x2) Lopez (x2) Kates....awesome stuff.

Although I suppose as I wasn't there at the time I'm not inclined to commentatsch

The guy thinks Johnson and Tarver are 2nd tier, he obviously needs some help

 

Tommy Loughran has to be on any list of elite Light Heavies. Also Gene Tunney, Ezzard Charles, and Archie Moore. Maybe Joey Maxim.

 

I was a Saad fan also,although i rooted for Yaqui to beat him. Saad was actually a better fighter when he was a boxer, when he was champ he was all about Balls to the walls type of fighter. I think hes a borderline great fighter. I dont see him beating any of the elite LH in a H2H matchup

 

yaqui lopez must have fought every light-heavy champ and contender going in the 70's and early 80's

 

He could box, but his main asset was his ability to come out on top in the trenches. He's clearly between 11-20, and Raging Bull, one of the most respected posters here gave him a live chance over Harold Johnson.

Saad would clean up today. His resume is very good considering he fought then, only person missing is Galindez and that's neither of their faults. Where would you rank Galindez? 11-20 as well? Behind or in front of Saad?

 

Yaqui Lopez would be a champ in pretty much any other era. So tough, nice jab and lovely short punches.

 

Qawi would clean up LHW today, and Mustafa would be very very successful too.

 

No doubt. I think that shows just how strong that division was.

Addie: Saad vs Qawi PRIME FOR PRIME? Would be a different fight IMO though I think Qawi would still win, a close decision in a super exciting fight.

 

Im not sure who id put ahead but one would be right behind the other i might take Saad but dont quote me. I agree they are both between 11-15. I dont see him beating Harold Johnson nope:nono Johnson would out box him.


As for Yaqui hell yeah he was very good and its too bad he never got a title he came OHHHHHH so close against Saad and Galindez in one of their fights. Man its a shame when you see guys like Julio Gonzalez,Clinton Woods,Jeff Harding,Dennis Andries and other guys who were solid but not nowhere on Lopez s level get Wordl titles:verysad Lopez would have cleaned all their clocks .