Can you think of two fighters who's H2H status as the weight class changes?

Almost equally matched at 147 but the higher up they go the more it favors Hearns imo. He had that big height and frame and carried weight far more advantageously than Ray tho Ray did have his moments up higher. Leonard would still be dangerous but i think Hearns win ratio's would go up with the weight.

I'll throw Leonard - Duran out there. Tho i am in the camp that Ray would beat any version of Duran after learning the lessons Duran bestowed upon him in their initial encounter there are a lot that would not agree hence this example being valid i guess one could say. Duran over and above 147 and post Montreal becomes noticeably more susceptible to speed.

There's no way Duran beats Leonard at 154 or 160. We saw Leonard basically shut out the version that beat Barkley and we'd see even the Hagler version of Ray comfortably outpoint the Hagler version of Duran. He'd also speed by the Duran who beat Moore who (an in form) Duran was way to much for stylistically, experience wise and basically ability wise. It's all about styles. Well to be fair it's natural size too - Leonard was a naturally bigger man than Duran and realistically with two such great fighters the bigger guy should hold advantages up higher. Duran moved hell and earth beating Ray in that first encounter a full original division above his best weight.

 

I think there would be a few featherweights historically that might beat Arguello at 126 (lets throw in Pep, Saddler and maybe Pedroza for a quick example) but i doubt many of them could beat him at 135. He's another wit that tall rangy frame that carries extra weight beautifully. To be fair Featherweight wasn't his peak division either but he did beat an ATG there and had multiple defenses of the title.

 

From memory the majority scored Trinidad - Oscar for Oscar. I reckon Trinidad would hold more advantages (even higher in Oscars case to be fair as he was already well up) higher up for various reasons.

 

I tend to agree with this however there are some rare cases where a fighter moves up in weight and their chin, speed or power didn’t get the forwarding address.

 

Another for me would be Napoles - Griffith. It would be fair to say that Emile's best days at welterweight were behind him when they fought however Jose did beat him quite convincingly. Over the course of 15 rounds at 160 i don't think Napoles would have as much success outslicking him. The further it went on the better it would be for Griffith imo.

 

Chavez would beat Floyd at 130 and 135, but at 140 its a toss-up and at 147 I’d favour Floyd to win easily

 

It's pretty common when the best weight for one, is a weight the other fought at when they were young or weight drained.

 

I've said that multiple times. Leonard was a better 15 rd fighter regardless of
the weight.

 

Maybe Roberto Duran and Wilfred Benitez.

Duran and Benitez were supposed to fight in a non-title welterweight fight in late 1977, and Duran was expected to win, but Duran pulled out (because it looked like he was going to get a unification with DeJesus) and was replaced by Bruce Curry (who basically beat Benitez that night).

Duran was an icon at lightweight. When he moved up to welterweight and beat Leonard, he was considered the top welterweight in the world. Benitez was a name, too, but not on the same level as Duran at that time.

But, by the time they were both at junior middle together, Benitez was held in higher regard and considered the better fighter (especially after he beat Duran).

 

What an amazing turn of phrase!

 

To be honest I believe I stole that from either Jim Lampley or George Foreman. Can’t remember.