Best hypothetical matchups in every weight class

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Joeywill, Aug 27, 2026 at 7:13 AM.


  1. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Not necessarily the best fighters at each weight class but the matchups you'd like to see the most. No using fighters who actually fought each other. I'll start.

    Heavyweight: Muhammad Ali vs Mike Tyson

    Cruiserweight: Evander Holyfield vs Oleksandr Usyk

    Light Heavyweight: Roy Jones vs Michael Spinks

    Super Middleweight: Andre Ward vs David Benavidez (I thought about Canelo vs Calzaghe but I think this would be a better matchup)

    Middleweight: Carlos Monzon vs Marvin Hagler

    Junior Middleweight 154: Tommy Hearns vs Mike McCallum

    Welterweight: Sugar Ray Robinson vs Sugar Ray Leonard

    Junior Welterweight 140: Floyd Mayweather vs Terence Crawford

    Lightweight: Roberto Duran vs Pernell Whitaker

    Super Featherweight 130: Manny Pacquiao vs Roberto Duran

    Featherweight 126: Henry Armstrong vs Salvatore Sanchez

    122: Naoya Inoue vs Erik Morales

    118: I'm open to suggestions

    115: I'm open to suggestions

    112: I'm open to suggestions

    108: Roman Gonzalez vs Ricardo Lopez

    105: Open to suggestions

    Problem with a lot of these lower weight classes is that we've seen many of the great fights these last few years. So it's hard to think of best hypothetical matchups and what's the optimal weight

    Anyways share yours..
     
    Joeywill, Aug 27, 2026 at 7:13 AM
    Joeywill, Aug 27, 2026 at 7:13 AM
    #1
  2. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    For me :
    Frazier / Marciano
    Moore / Foster
    Monzon / Hagler
    Basilio / Palomino
    Gans / Leonard
    Sanchez / Saddler
    Olivares / Jofre
    Wilde / Lynch
    Fairly predictable I suppose.
     
    Mike Cannon, Aug 27, 2026 at 7:19 AM
    Mike Cannon, Aug 27, 2026 at 7:19 AM
    #2
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  3. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Frazier vs Marciano is a great one
     
    Joeywill, Aug 27, 2026 at 7:28 AM
    Joeywill, Aug 27, 2026 at 7:28 AM
    #3
  4. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I'll go with the most exicitng match ups not necessarily always between the two best fighters.

    Heavyweight = Mike Tyson vs George Foreman

    Cruiserweight = Mairis Breidis vs Dwight Muhammad Qawi

    Light Heavyweight = Matthew Saad Muhammad vs David Benavidez

    Super Middleweight = Carl Froch vs Nigel Benn

    Middleweight = Marvin Hagler vs Gerald McClellan

    Jr Middleweight = Thomas Hearns vs Terry Norris

    Welterweight = Felix Trinidad vs Manny Pacquiao

    Jr Welterweight = Aaron Pryor vs Ricky Hatton

    Lightweight = Shane Mosley vs Alexis Arguello

    Super Featherweight = Julio Cesar Chavez vs Azumah Nelson

    Featherweight = Naseem Hamed vs Danny Lopez

    Super Bantamweight = Erik Morales vs Wilfredo Gomez

    Bantamweight = Ruben Olivares vs Naoya Inoue

    Super Flyweight = Juan Francisco Estrada vs Johnny Tapia

    Flyweight = Mark Johnson vs Roman Gonzalez

    Jr Flyweight = Jorge Arce vs Humberto Gonzalez

    Mininumweight = Ricardo Lopez vs Ivan Calderon
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2026 at 8:01 AM
    Dynamicpuncher, Aug 27, 2026 at 7:54 AM
    Dynamicpuncher, Aug 27, 2026 at 7:54 AM
    #4
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  5. Joeywill

    Joeywill Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Froch vs Benn is great

    I just don't see how Hatton beats Pryor but it would be fun
     
    Joeywill, Aug 27, 2026 at 8:17 AM
    Joeywill, Aug 27, 2026 at 8:17 AM
    #5
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  6. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    The reason I picked Hatton/Pryor because is because it's two swarmers going at it.

    Can you imagine how many punches and how aggressive the fight would be ?

    It would actually be insane TBH.
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Aug 27, 2026 at 8:26 AM
    Dynamicpuncher, Aug 27, 2026 at 8:26 AM
    #6
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  7. Gazelle Punch

    Gazelle Punch Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Liston v Foreman
    Marciano v Usyk
    Charles v Spinks M
    Canelo v RJJ
    Lamotta v Hagler
    Hearns v SRR
    Mayweather v SRL
    Pac v Pep
     
    Gazelle Punch, Aug 27, 2026 at 8:27 AM
    Gazelle Punch, Aug 27, 2026 at 8:27 AM
    #7
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