Biggest size difference between 2 elite fighters that was overcame ?

define elite. Is it in an all time sense or a for the time sense? My guess is Dempsey vs Willard. It seems hard to argue that the current lineal heavyweight champ isn't "elite" if we use the later definition

 

Haye vs Valuev?

 

Ok then I'll stick with my Haye vs Valuev pick until something else comes to mind. I bet you could show a non boxing fan pictures of that fight and they would think it was movie scene. The current score to beat is a difference of 99 lbs and 9 inches in height.

 

In absolute no. of lbs terms:

217bs David Haye bt 316bs Nikolai Valuev = 99lbs discrepancy

191lbs Young Stribling bt 279lbs Primo Canera = 88lbs discrepancy

In terms of discrepancy of number of modern weight divisions, and assuming a contender is considered elite for the purposes of this thread, the 105lbs Jimmy Wilde beating 125lbs FW contender Joe Conn, is a Minimumweight vs Featherweight by modern standards, I.e. separated by 6 weight divisions.

 

If you exclude heavyweights where big weight discrepancies can occur, in the last 40 years Duran Barkley jumps out. The size difference in height , weight and reach was stunning

 

Valuev was far from elite.

Byrd vs Vitali
Holyfield vs Bowe II
Duran vs Barkley

 

Nope.

Valuev was 50-1. (His one loss by majority decision.) He was the WBA Heavyweight Champion. David Haye gave up a NINE INCHES in height and 100 pounds in weight.

To hell with that Valuev wasn't 'elite.' He was "elite" enough.

And to hell with Duran over Barkley. Duran gave up two and a half pounds. Not 100 pounds.

Valuev was one of three heavyweight champions (the other two being the Klitschkos). Barkley was one of four middleweight champions, two of which (Nunn and Kalambay) had already beaten Barkley.

Valuev was top four in the Ring Magazine at heavyweight when he fought Haye. SAME as Barkley at middleweight when he fought Duran.

Screw that Duran nonsense. Duran didn't beat a champion who was 6'7' and weighed 260. Two and half pounds isn't squat.

Haye-Valuev is the correct answer. That size difference was ridiculous. 100 pounds is 100 pounds.

And it was for the full WBA heavyweight belt. The same one Usyk has right now.

 

One from the lighter divisions (well, at least one of them was):

Ray Robinson, 145, UD Jake LaMotta, 160 3/4.

 

Michael Spinks vs Larry Holmes. Spinks had just defended his 175 belt 3 months prior to facing the undefeated Holmes who was the lineal HW champion.

 

Okay, only 1/2 of the “elite” requirement was fulfilled in this match .

Anyway, at just 170 lbs, Bob Fitz conceded 4” in height and 90 lbs in weight to Ed Dunkhorst.

Didn’t stop spindly Bob rolling Ed in less than 2 rounds.

If Bob’s preferred saying is true, Big Ed must’ve fell awfully ****ing hard.

 

Probably Jimmy Wilde against Joe Conn.

 

If we're ignoring the elite requirements then 160 lbs Fitzsimmons knocking out 300 lbs Millard Zender (according to boxrec's numbers) has to be the biggest weight difference overcame.

 

Ed Dunkhorst was never a heavyweight champion and was never ranked among the four best heavyweights on the planet.

Valuev was at the time Haye faced him.

Dunkhorst didn't even manage to win half of his 31 fights. Valuev was 50-1 and the reigning WBA champ when Haye knocked him off.