Let's say Moorer - who many criticize as having bullied his way through light heavyweight, and paradoxically dismiss as too small for heavyweight - found his niche at Cruiser. Let's say he forays there early in the decade after his 175lb run and pitches camp for the rest of the 90's. In the world title picture he would be staring down: Wamba, De Leon, Nelson, Czyz, Norris, Cole, and Rocchigiani, among others. Does he dominate the era? If so, where do you approximate his all-time CW ranking? Exercise your own judgment as to his actual h2h value at the weight. If you're feeling lazy, just say roughly 1/2way between his effectiveness at LHW and HW.
I think this was his natural weight and he would be a hard 190 rather than a soft 215 or emaciated 175. The names above wouldn't faze him and he could be dominant at the weight. If Bert Cooper rejoined the cruisers and Norris stayed there, maybe the three of them would have taken the division to new heights, and Moorers chin would have been thoroughly tested by his natural peers. If he dominates even half the decade he could be #2 all-time, but I don't see him overtaking Holyfield who did so much in so little time there.
but what if Moorer cleaned out Cw, making him second only to Holyfield and THEN he moves to HW and takes the title off Holyfield, you could make an argument that Moorer could have been the greatest cw of all time?
If think Moorer's problems were his temperament and his conditioning, rather than his size. He seemed moody and inconsistent in both his condition - eating habits, training etc. - and in the way he performed. At cruiser he'd face the same problems. Yes, he'd probably have even more success because the men hit a little less hard at cruiser, but he'd lose one or two simply due to his fluctuating mentality and dedication. In fact, if he had to crash diet to make 190 pounds every time that might cause even more problems too.
I am with Unforgiven. Moorer's issues were as much mental and a lack of physical preparation, than they were to do with lack of size at Heavyweight. If Moorer fought lackluster when challenging for the Heavyweight Championship of the World, how is fighting Wamba going to motivate him? Moorer at 190 would have been an even bigger waste of his potential. As for 'head to head'; he would have been favoured to beat all of those listed, but I think he would of been unmotivated and upset by Cole and Norris and if that slip in form continued into a full slump, then the likes of Wamba and Washington may have upset Moorer too.
How about when Michalzewski shot up to CW for a cup of coffee? (fought Nestor Hipolito Giovannini and lifted his green belt, then returned to light heavyweight to defend his own for pretty much the rest of his career, never to return to CW) How does Moorer vs. Michalzewski go? I know, tough one to puzzle out considering they fought once at the weight between them, but flex your imagination.
Yes, I was remembering his LH days when he looked a well disciplined fighter, rather than the guy who fought police drunk and was checked into an institution. Did anyone ever get to the bottom of his issues I wonder. The disciplined guy could have been a great 190 pound fighter I'm sure, but I agree, the other Moorer loses a few he could have won.
I agree with this post. Weather or not he surpasses Holyfield would have largely to do with how long he reigned and remained unbeaten. I doubt he'd beat Evander's cruiser legacy either, but its not out of the question. Moorer's career might have been lengthened by fighting at cruiserweight, assuming he could maintain that weight well into old age.
So his ceiling is #2, we all pretty much agree? :think Nothing he could have done with any of what there was to work around with in that era for him to surpass Holy, even if he totally cleaned house and even unified?
I think if he had established long dominant reign, he eventually would have surpassed him. It wasn't like the opposition in Holy's day at cruiser was particularly stellar either, so the quality of comp argument could only be stretched so far. A lot of it would have to do with exactly how long Moorer could keep himself focused and under 200 lbs.
I think Moorer wouldn't have much trouble dominating at cruiserweight in fact like Evander Holyfield this may have been his best division. I think very highly of Moorer as a boxer he had one of the best jabs going and very great short punches even at heavyweight I'd give him a solid shot at a lot of great fighters on a good night for him. But as mentioned in some of the above post Moorer at times was his own worse enemy in the ring I could possibly see him losing against a good cruiserweight if he didn't show up properly prepared or with the right mind state. Non the less I think it would've more likely much of the same as his career at light heavyweight I feel if Moorer had decided to go up concur the cruiserweight division before going to heavyweight he would've done so with no problem then moved on to heavyweight and perhaps been more effective as a heavyweight had he taken this route.
