We could make a list multiple pages long of guys who have been snubbed from the HOF who deserve it more than De Leon. There's legitimate all time greats who aren't in the Hall. Carlos De Leon was not a great fighter.
Politics, plain and simple. That and expectations were just too high for CDL to have anything but a stellar and diamond studded career
He made alot of title defences at Cruiserweight, but the division was newly created when De Leon was champion. And he didn't prove himself to be the best Cruiserweight of the 80s losing to Holyfield, nor was the opposition that De Leon was facing that great. Overall he just wasn't a great fighter, and the only plus where I could see him making the HOF is based on title defences. But as I said when you factor into the division was newly created, and doesn't have a long rich history then I don't think he warrants being in HOF. But again I don't even know what warrants being in HOF anymore.
There will always be guys more worthy than him but having said, he's better than some (or at least as good) who are in.
I am never quite sure what the criteria is for getting into the HOF myself. He is noteworthy as a 4 times titlist and the only 4 time titlist at his weight class. So for that unique achievement I suppose he has a claim to a bit of boxing history. Whatever the quality of the division being motivated enough to keep coming back from defeats and reclaim the title is noteworthy. But as others have said he wasn't that exciting a fighter in a not very exciting divison.
While it is true that other fighters may belong in the Hall of Fame before De Leon, I believe Sugar belongs in as well. De Leon was a champion for all or part of every year of the 1980s. Even in the four belt era not a lot of fighters can say that were a champ for every year of a decade. To my way of thinking he is the third best cruiserweight of all time, behind Usyk and Holyfield. The man is Hall of Fame-worthy.
In black and white? Y/N Written about by Bert Sugar? Y/N Fought in a traditional weight class? Y/N Discussed hyperbolically by HOF boxers? Y/N
