Best British Middleweight?

Talking about Bunny Sterling reminded me of Kevin Finnegan. A world class fighter only beaten by the best usually in the other mans backyard, or on debatable decisions. The Minter fights I'm thinking of. He gave Hagler a good argument the first fight, good enough to earn a return. Wins on his resume: Jean Claude Bouttier in France, Gratien Tonna in France, Tony Sibson and the aforementioned Bunny Sterling. I think with all the "world" titles being given out in the 80's and 90's I'm sure he could have grabbed one.

 

Eubank certainly avoided americans and made no bones about it. He also avoided Graham like the plague.
But to say these were 'domestic level' fights because they were between two fighters from the same country is utterly farcial.
Thats using nationality to ascertain their ability.
As for mccallum, well he scraped past Graham and destroyed Watson but then he is an elite atg.

 

I agree with this. The fact is that in a different time or without all the titles up for grabs at that time, these fights would have been British Title fights and there is nothing wrong with that. There was a time that the best in the country was the British champion and he would also be a world class fighter.
Benn. Eubank and Watson I would say were all world class fighters but not the best of their time and therefore are comparable with fighters from before them like Finnegan, Sterling and Johnny Pritchett who were all "british domestic fighters who were also top 10 world rated fighters in their day. Another good domestic fighter Harry Scott beat Ruben Carter.

 

IMO there's a distinct difference in fighters with world class ability that happen to be fighting for their national title and those who would be considered strictly national(domestic) level in terms of talent.

I wouldn't say the latter applies to any of the fighters in this thread.

A british title level fighter likely won't even be good enough to win the European belt and all these fighters were easily beyond Euro level.

 

anyone who wasn't elite wouldn't have got from the outside of the ring to beat gerald mclellan . nigel benn was world class through every bone of his body .

 

I agree.

 

:good

 

Randy Turpin must be mentioned.

 

Benn was limited. Watson showed that early and Collins showed it later. He was a power puncher, with limited technique. He was lucky he did not face Hopkins or Jones.

Graham / Calzaghe would have been ugly because both are slick southpaws. Ugly in the sense that it would be a mauling fight. Calzaghe would win by decision.