Realistic 'moving-up-the-weights' that could have been

I remember Bernard Hopkins talking about moving up to Heavyweight to fight Maskaev, who had a belt at the time. He mentioned hiring Mackie Shilstone to help him with the jump up in weight. I always thought Hopkins would have been slick enough to win that one. The managers from both sides were interested. It would have been another nice accomplishment in a HOF career.

 

Koysta Tzysu comes to mind. He stayed at 140 his whole career where he had physical strength advantage but he also had a ton of skill and I think he could have made lot of noise at 147. Shame we didn't get to see him against Oscar or Shane. I know he beat Vernon Forest in the amateurs-- that would have been an interesting rematch in the pro's. I also think with how well he fought southpaws, he would have been a nightmare for Cory Spinks as well.

 

What if Roy Jones had stuck it out at HW instead of fleeing back down to LHW with his commemorative belt?

 

In the 80s there were a lot of fights that could have been done.

Pryor-Mancini
Leonard-Pryor
Pryor-Rosario
Rosario-Chacon
Serrano-Pedroza
Arguello-Sanchez
Pedroza-Gomez (they were friends and were made by Panamanian president Torrijos promise they would never fight each other)
Pryor-Ramirez
Pryor-Camacho
Spinks-Hagler
Holmez-Qawi
Holmes-De Leon
Tyson-De Leon
Hagler-Moore
Hearns-Curry
Laciar-Chang
Gomez-Chandler
Davila-Sandoval (they were best friends)
Garza-Sandoval
Pryor-Arroyo
Pryor-Paul
Gomez-Lujan
Gomez-McGuigan


A few observations: this is just a small sample of all the fights that could have been done where a boxer went up in weight. Some fights, like Holmes-Spinks 1, Pryor-Arguello 1 and 2, Gomez-PIntor, Hagler-Hearns, Hagler-Leonard, Andries-Hearns, Sanchez-Gomez and Mancini-Chacon, were actually done. Bringing us unforgettable classics.

Also, you see how so many of these bouts had one name in common: Aaron Pryor or Wilfredo Gomez. At one time it seemed they were the hub through which all airplanes had to fly through in their respective divisions.

Third, potential fights between Sanchez and Arguello and Sanchez and Sugar Ray Leonard were being discussed. Sanchez-Arguello seemed like a possibility while Sanchez-Leonard was a pipe dream. Really. But it tells you about Sanchez's greatness when people thought he had a chance against a Welterweight and he was a featherweight. I cannot see him beating someone as proficient at Welterweight as Sugar Ray Leonard, but if I once thought i was going to be a huge teen-idol (in my teens) and share both movies and Tiger Beat covers with River Phoenix, the Coreys and Molly Ringwald, if I thought I was going to be a member of that crowd, people could also think Salvador Sanchrez was going to beat Sugar Ray Leonard. It was their right to dream about it.

(Im not being harsh on those who did, but in the 80s, certain performance enhancers were not as prevalent in boxing as they are nowadays)

 

James Toney-Bernard Hopkins were in discussions for a fight at 190 in 2003, after Toney beat Jirov.

That’s a huge jump for B-Hop, who was still reigning at 160 at the time.

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/stQAAOSwagdXRdN2/s-l1200.webp

 

I remember when that fight was on the table. I kind of think BHOP could have beaten him at that weight with his legs and movement. James at that point liked fighter's that stood in front of him so he could counter punch.

 

Khaosai could’ve gone up at any time and fought anybody he wanted in the division.

 

James best chance with Bernard might’ve been against the aggressive version of Hopkins who fought Glen Johnson. I agree with your post entirely.

 

A Benny Leonard vs Mickey Walker fight at 147lbs was seriously discussed.

 

Some great matches in that lot but there's a few stinkers too. Rosario way too much for an aged Chacon, Ramirez was never in line for Pryor nor was it talked about, Camacho was only just winning the 130 title when Pryor had his last really meaningful fight and man he went downhill after that. Holmes - Qawi/De Leon wouldn't have drawn flies nor would Tyson - De Leon as Carlos, a good fighter, just wasn't that great. Jimmy Paul got hot when Pryor was basically done.

The biggie tho is that i never saw Sanchez vs Leonard talked about in my life. There was noise about Sanchez and Arguello and Arguello and Leonard. One mag wrote an open letter to Arguello not to fight SRL as it was obviously a step miles too far. Obviously in your parts there must have been talk about Ray - Sal but i never saw it.

Not trying to pick on you there's a huge amount of great matches in there that absolutely could have happened - a trip down memory lane. Spinks and Qawi both sounded out Hagler.

 

I see your point but you guys underestimate toneys reach advantage, as tall as hopkings is, he has trex arms. Meaning he would have to lunge to land the right hand, perfect for Tomeys shoulder roll.

Another thing that falls away is hopkins traps and pull counters as toney wouldnt overextend himself and reach for him like many Hopkins opponents did.

Not sure who wins this one

 

Imagine Tszyu vs Mayorga?

 

Ricardo Lopez could have realistically moved up to 108 sooner to fight Carbajal and Chiquita. I think he also had the frame to be able to move up to 112 as well. It would have been nice to see Finito face Mark Johnson or Yuri Arbachakov.