I also liked Leonid Dorin 5'4 lightweight. He was thick. I've as always wondered why he didnt drop down to a lighter weight.
And he wasn’t just a wade-in, get-close pressure fighter. Outstanding counterpuncher who could hang in the pocket, make his opponent miss and then fire.
The most notable ones to me are fighters who manage to outbox much taller opponents. It's one thing to get on the inside, where shorter arms can be an advantage, but those who can hit and not be hit while always within range are the most impressive. Qawi may not the best, but to me he is the archetype of that style, and gave hope to short-arses in boxing gyms everywhere.
Of course, Baby Jake as WhataRock said. Recently, I'd have to mention Lomachenko. Never taller than his opponents and with quite the short reach too, at around 65 inches.
I have stated many times that those two 'are' the Battle of the LITTLE Bigmen. I'd still favour Qawi, as I have also stated, that Early Boxing until the mid/late 20s was more a Crude fighting endeavor, rather than the Stylish Athletic Boxing that it became by the 20s and onward. Langford Tough, Capable & Durable, would be out worked by a Qawi.
