A tribute to transitional champions

It used to frustrate me when people would say stuff like 'he's not a natural lightweight he'd be even better if he cut to flyweight' because the reason he was beating the likes Freitas and Julio Diaz so well is because he had honed his craft and had the engine to put it on the weight cutters in a way they couldn't keep up with.

He wasn't incredible but was far too good to be considered a 'transitional' champion IMO, he won a few belts and beat most of the top guys around, and did it with no argument from anyone. Post-title he beat Katsidis pretty easily, in a ludicrous split decision if I remember correctly. It was a fight everyone fought was going to be a fight of the year contender. They should've fought before they'd lost to Campbell and Casamayor respectively but still, Diaz had less hassle than Marquez would later have with Katsidis.

Okay, he had a big problem; reaction to being cut. But despite losing to Campbell, JMM x2 (the first one of my favourite fights of the last era) and Paulie (twice as much as it pains me to say it) I think he was a more than solid fighter, who knew what his style was and implemented it well.

Short prime (and short career; he's a smart guy after all) but unfairly maligned post-titles IMO.

 

There you go, another fighter The Baby Bull beat.