Where do you rank Tony Canzoneri at LW?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Seamus, Jul 31, 2025 at 8:19 AM.


  1. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    60,784
    44,773
    Feb 11, 2005
    I was compiling my Top 20 lightweight list, reviewing records and contemporary accounts, and I can't see him outside my Top 5. Am I off my rocker? Thoughts and prayers.
     
    Journeyman92 likes this.
  2. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

    16,072
    14,997
    Jun 9, 2007
    Off the top of my head top 10
    Not home at the moment to find a list
     
  3. Man_Machine

    Man_Machine Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,367
    9,256
    Jun 9, 2010
  4. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,031
    7,145
    Apr 29, 2020
    Hi Buddy.
    So if you have him at 4, after Duran, Gans, Leonard ( any order you like ) that puts him above , Ross, Whittaker, Ortiz, Williams, and Brown, have I got that right ? just for clarity that's all.
    stay safe MM, chat soon buddy.
    Mike.
     
  5. Man_Machine

    Man_Machine Boxing Junkie Full Member

    8,367
    9,256
    Jun 9, 2010
    Thanks Mike,

    No problem.

    My Top-10 goes like this:

    1. Joe Gans
    2. Roberto Duran
    3. Benny Leonard
    4. Tony Canzoneri
    5. Ike Williams
    6. Pernell Whitaker
    7. Freddie Welsh
    8. Lou Ambers
    9. Joe Brown
    10. Sammy Mandell
     
    Seamus likes this.
  6. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,031
    7,145
    Apr 29, 2020
    Hi Buddy.
    Appreciate prompt and early reply, very thought out, and refreshing list, like the inclusion of both Brown and Mandell the rockford sheik, also not too often do we see Gans as outright number 1 props for that.
    stay safe MM, chat soon buddy.
    Mike.
     
    Man_Machine likes this.
  7. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,954
    9,522
    Dec 17, 2018
    1. Leonard
    2. Gans
    3. Duran
    4. McFarland
    5. Whitaker
    6. Ortiz
    7. Williams
    8. Ambers
    9. Welsh
    10. Canzernori

    Based solely on fights contested at LW.
     
    Man_Machine likes this.
  8. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    60,784
    44,773
    Feb 11, 2005
    Just from my perspective I find Whitaker too high here. And also McFarland who I am a big champion of.
     
  9. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,954
    9,522
    Dec 17, 2018
    No worries. Each ranker (that's ranker with an R, no typo ;)) has their own criteria and perspective.

    McFarland went around 90-0-7 at the weight and reportedly got the better of his draws.

    He beat top ATG LW Freddie Welsh, top 10 ATG WW Jack Britton (at LW), Lockport Jimmy Duffy, Leach Cross x 2, borderline ATG Owen Moran, Benny Yanger and Matt Wells.

    How you rank him depends to a large degree on the significance you place on being world champion, which McFarland never was, despite beating all 5 of the world champions he faced in his career.

    If you place no significance on titles and rank solely on quality of opposition, Packey's LW resume is significantly better than Duran's and if you score dominance highly, is arguably the greatest ever at the weight.
     
    Seamus likes this.
  10. Ioakeim Tzortzakis

    Ioakeim Tzortzakis Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,716
    5,817
    Aug 27, 2020
    Something like this:

    1. Benny Leonard
    2. Joe Gans
    3. Packey McFarland / Carlos Ortiz
    4. Packey McFarland / Carlos Ortiz
    5. Ike Williams
    6. Tony Canzoneri / Roberto Duran
    7. Tony Canzoneri / Roberto Duran

    I think I may have him over Duran, at the end of the day. Just too much depth despite his lack of dominance.
     
    PrimoGT and Seamus like this.
  11. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    60,784
    44,773
    Feb 11, 2005
    I love Packy, have started a bunch of threads on him here, but I think you slightly overstate his opposition at LW with Duffy and Cross... but I may be wrong.

    Tony got McClarnin, Ambers, Arizmendi, Kid Chocolate x2, Billy Petrolle, Berg x2, Singer... and he looks dynamite on film.

    It's a tough division to figure.

    I don't see a lot space between them there.
     
  12. Mandela2039

    Mandela2039 Philippians 2:10-11 Full Member

    529
    684
    Mar 8, 2025
    Is this a top resume wise or H2H?
     
  13. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Barrios is a bandit robber - Psalm 144:1 Full Member

    18,369
    20,368
    Sep 22, 2021
    How does his 135lbs resume look?… I’ve watched him fight but I don’t know him.
     
  14. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,954
    9,522
    Dec 17, 2018
    Cross and inparticular Duffy were fine wins.

    Canzernori beat McLarnin in a bout at WW, so it contributes to WW ranking by my criteria.

    Again, it comes down to criteria. If it's solely about win resume, Canzernori matches Packey.

    A deeper analysis of resume indicates to me that McFarland was the greater LW, though. Not only did Canzernori lose to multiple LWs worse than multiple LWs McFarland beat, whilst Packey remained unbeaten in almost 100 bouts at the weight, their records against fellow top 10 ATG LWs, favour McFarland. Tony went 1-2 against Ambers, whilst McFarland went 1-0-2 against Welsh, with a least one of the draws reading as a clear McFarland win.

    McFarland was both further removed from the field and more consistent in his dominance. If dominance over the field counts highly, as it does with me, there's a clear gap in Packey's favour.
     
    roughdiamond and Seamus like this.
  15. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

    10,047
    19,073
    Jul 25, 2015
    I'm not great at lists but I would personally rank him quite highly. I think of him very highly H2H and think he could go against any LW in history. Amazing fighter who deserves a good bio imo.
     
    Seamus likes this.