What were some fighters who were simply on another level compared to their competition? I don't mean they were in a weak division or era, I mean there were good fighters, but they were leaps and bounds above them. Roy Jones. Muhammad Ali.
The first example that springs to mind is John L Sullivan. I am a firm believer that even the weak eras have some kind of competition around. This was the one genuine exception. Prize fighting had been stamped out in Britain, which had been its homeland, and it was just getting on its feet in America. By some sick trick of chance, a fighter emerged who was a Tyson style wrecking machine, oversized for his era, with incredible reflexes and ridiculous power. It was cruelty to children.
Read this part again and rethink that: "I don't mean they were in a weak division or era, I mean there were good fighters, but they were leaps and bounds above them."
Arguello at 130. During that title run, he stopped five divisional champions a total of six times. In his wake, all four of the future champions he defeated passed that WBC Title among themselves. Alexis reigned over an excellent division at JLW. Many of Hagler's contenders get short shrift because of his dominance, but there were a lot of popular quality middleweights who couldn't even get to challenge him because of the abundance of competition [and at least one, because he happened to be Hagler's half brother].
With respect to Hagler's reign? Frank Fletcher, Bobby Czyz, James "Hard Rock" Green, John Collins, Curtis Parker, Dwight Davison, John LoCicero, Alex Ramos, Tony Braxton, Clint Jackson, Sammy NeSmith, Ernie Singletary, Fred Hutchings, Murray Sutherland, Mickey Goodwin [who was going to get a shot at Hagler until a training injury disastrously forced him aside for Caveman Lee, who got quickly blown out, something I don't believe would have happened to Goodwin], Mark Holmes, Lenny LaPaglia, Mark Frazie, Carlos "The Force' Tite, James Shuler, Donny LaLonde, James "The Heat" Kinchen, Wilfred Benitez... There were a lot of young, talented, and/or veteran campaigners who kept knocking each other off at 160. [The great exception to this seems to have been Hamsho, who may have been the era's dominant MW w/out Hagler in the way. Minter, Scypion, Benitez, Czyz, Boogaloo and Parker 2X were among the guys he knocked off. He was something of a policeman and gatekeeper to Hagler.] Robbie Sims was of course that younger half brother of Marvin's. During Hagler's reign, he knocked out a young Iran Barkley, defeated Duran, Doug DeWitt, Mike Baker, Tony Chiaverini, and crushed John Collins in one. However, he could only draw with Sutherland, and wasn't able to get past Czyz, Clint Jackson or Mike Tinley. Like Mark Holmes [himself crushed in two by Collins after constructing a 32-0-0 record], Sims was a competent younger sibling of an ATG. If you were a sports fan in New England at a time when Hagler was the only world champion from that region, you were very aware of who the contenders and potential contenders were. [He dethroned Minter at a relatively bleak moment in New England's rich sporting history. Bill Rodgers was dominating the Boston Marathon, but the Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins were all in the wilderness at that moment.] Just earning a shot at Hagler was a tremendous accomplishment. The names I listed got significant television time and publicity. The gauntlet of contenders to battle through to obtain an earned shot was a minefield. Frank Fletcher had to settle for status as a well covered USBA Champion on NBC [which did a good job covering many of these MW contenders and prospects].
Interesting question although to be honest I wouldn't say Ali was way above his competition? He was a huge underdog going to his first title challenge against monster man Liston - no one was way above Liston? Later on as a come backing fighter after three years out Frazier again generally took him to life and death so I'd say there's maybe a hairs breadth between those and again with Foreman - my dad for instance at the time was genuinely concerned that Ali was gunna get hurt bad he thought Foreman would destroy Ali in 3 rounds - and Ali was my dads hero - he loved the guy! Ali was expected to be really crushed badly by Foreman and as it was even tho Ali was masterful in that one he did have to forfeit Foreman have butchering him to do it - styles made Norton almost Ali's equal in their actual fights too - Ali I'd say was far from being 'way above' his competition
we want to include pedroza on this? his competition wasn't the greatest but he ruled over a decent division for a time
I think we can. He didn't enjoy the media coverage Danny Lopez paved for Sanchez in the English speaking world, but the sheer longevity of reign and volume of title defenses qualify him. Over half a dozen successful title defenses against fellow champions, and he reigned over the same period of time Holmes did, racking up 19 defenses in the process.
