I don't favour anyone but I think Homicide Hank Armstrong and Mickey Walker could really unsettle him Thomas Hearns could well be beating him until getting stopped later on. he was too drained at welterweight to beat him over the distance
Wouldn't expect anyone to beat him at his best, and the same might be true for Middleweight. Monzon's the only guy I might slightly favor.
This is an excellent question. I agree that no one should be favoured, although there are going to be fighters who are capable of pulling it off. IN fact one or two did actually pull it off on some scorecards, even some official scorecards (eg Marty Servo forced a split decision). So it is not impossible. If I were picking someone, i think i go with the young Bob Fitzsimmons. Although Welterweight titles were not really invented, Fitz did KO an all time great in the Non Pareil Jack Dempsey, at just 3 lbs over the limit. I think that this version, along with the won who dominated the aussie seen for years before this was a welterweight Fitzsimmons. He also had the power and strength to worry Ray. I think it has been shown that power can worry Ray. Fitz has an excellent chance to catch him knock him out, although Ray will not be easy to catch. theoretically this fight should look much like Corbett vs Fitz, but Ray did not hit anywhere near as hard as Corbett. And I am not sure who Fitz would correspond to in Rays opponents. Maybe a combination of a bigger hitting Artie Levine, or a harder hitting though perhaps lessactive Jake Lamotta. Both of whom caused Sugar Ray all sorts of trouble at Welterweight.
I think Burley, if anyone, is probably the most obvious shout when you consider their history or lack thereof. Hard to say though. Maybe Walker too. Out of the group of fighters of whom I've seen plenty of footage (mainly post -WWII), Rodriguez would be my first pick. Griffith would have a good shot at taking at least one out of a trilogy too, I reckon. I've never really understood the Hearns pick. If there's one welter in history I wouldn't give Hearns much of a chance against, it's Robinson. Poison for him as far as I can see.
I don't FAVOUR anyone over him at 147. That's not to say a defeat isn't possible, but no, I do not favour any welterweight over him