We know many a great fighter has added to their resume by moving up the divisions to win further titles, but who were the best who moved down? I am not talking about fighters who had a fight at a higher weight to win a title or two, but those who started in one division and actually moved down the divisions and seemingly got better. The 1970s/80s Cruiserweight division was set up supposedly for Small Heavies rather than lazy Light Heavies, but I can only think of Orlin Norris and Glenn McCrory taking real advantage of this. Indeed a Glenn McCrory opponent was the motive for starting this thread. Lou Gent lost to McCrory as a Cruiserweight in 88, but in the 90s reinvented himself at Super Middleweight and did enough to get a fight with Nigel Benn in 93. And I guess Hopkins should be mentioned as he made his (losing) pro debut at 175, before coming back at 160 (ish) 18 months later. Any other (better) examples?
Hideyuki Ohashi moved down and won the straw weight title, after being a touted light fly prodigy and losing twice to Jung Koo Chang in wars. The last title Fitzsimmons won to complete the trifecta was the LHW title, after the MW and HW title.
Carlos Ortiz first became world champ at light welterweight - after which he moved down and captured the lightweight title. And of course Henry Armstrong took the lightweight title after he had won the welterweight crown.
Sun Kil Moon won world bantamweight honours before establishing himself as a dominant world jnr bantamweight champ.
Not sure if Nonito Donaire fits what you are looking for? NABF Super Fly champ, moves down to avenge his brothers defeat to Vic Darchinyan. Wins the Fly title before moving back up a couple of years later.
Brian Viloria started his career at flyweight but won his first world title at light fly. Of course, he then moved up to fly again so not sure he really counts...
Willie Pastrano and Joey Maxim were both rated heavyweights for several years before they won the light-heavyweight title. Harry Greb fought many light-heavyweights and heavyweights before he won the middleweight title.
Roman Gonzalez also fought at Light Flyweight before moving down and fighting the solid Takayama for the Straw title.
John Conteh started out as a heavyweight, but moved down to light-heavy. No Cruiserweight division at that time. Tom Bogs won and defended the European lightheavyweight title before moving down to middle. He later went op to lightheavy again. If the supermiddleweight class had existed at that time, it would have been ideal for him.
