As with the middles, I don't profess to be an expert, but here is my rankings of the light-heavies from 1946 to 1955 to see if I can provoke a discussion-- 1------Ezzard Charles 2------Archie Moore 3------Harold Johnson 4------Joey Maxim 5------Harry Matthews 6------Lloyd Marshall 7------Gus Lesnevich 8------Bob Foxworth 9------Leonard Morrow 10----Irish Bob Murphy 11----Bob Satterfield 12----Freddie Mills 13----Billy Smith 14----Dan Bucceroni 15----Danny Nardico ---------------------------------- 16----Paul Andrews 17----Jimmy Slade 18----Nick Barone ratings based on what was done 1946 to 1955
Quite impressive that Lloyd Marshall made number 6 considering he was in his mid 30s and he was a natural 160lber
A few names to consider Paul Andrews- knocked out Danny Nardico in 4 rounds and beat Jimmy Slade Tommy Harrison - very talented Where is Floyd Patterson ???
Yes I would probably put Floyd in the top 5 on h2h ability alone I thought Floyd won the maxim fight 6 rounds to 2
Floyd and also Pastrano I just didn't think either did enough at light-heavy to make these ratings, Pastrano might have the better case as he beat Maxim in 1955, but Maxim weighed 183, No question overall these men could rate very high. As far as I can tell, the highest rated light-heavyweight Patterson had beaten through 1955 was Dave Whitlock. Slade by this time was fighting at heavyweight.
Oakland Billy Smith with his knockout victories over number 3 Harold Johnson and number 8 bob foxworth probably deserves a spot on the list The Johnson smith fight is on YouTube, Johnson felt smiths power and immediately folded up. Nothing fluke about it
I had rated Slade over him, but looking closer at it, Andrew deserves a higher rating at light-heavy. It is difficult because these guys moved so much between light-heavy and heavy. Nardico over him because Andrews beat Nardico when Nardico was on the way out, and Nardico stopped LaMotta.
I just blew that one. I had him on the list in my mind when I was thinking about it, but failed to write him down. He is now on the list. Where would you actually list Smith?
