Everyone tends to leave something on the table that anyone can nitpick about. We can say Joe Louis left Lem Franklin and Elmer Ray in a holding position. Marciano left Bob Baker and Nino Valdes. Roberto Duran left The Buchanan rematch and the Rodolfo Gonzalez unification sitting. Ali left the Foreman rematch. But offhand, just thinking about this a bit, I would say Jose Napoles really did a fine job at cleaning out his division. Even giving many of his challengers a rematch if it was a tough fight. Of course, now that I'm dwelling on this, he really should have given Eddie Perkins a shot. See that? We could nitpick about anyone.
Carlos Monzon 1970-1977, Roberto Duran 1972-1979, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler did from 1980-1987. Muhammad Ali did from 1964-1967, then 1974-1978.
That’s how I would say it too. Lewis got there in the end. A kind of last man standing. He was truly willing to fight everyone.
I think that Mike Tyson was on the verge of house cleaning of the heavyweight division during his first title reign, 1986-1990. Had he beaten James Buster Douglas I could have foreseen his title reign extended, then the mega fight with Evander Holyfield on the horizon, maybe a return of Kevin Rooney in his corner, the result?
Well with Rooney in the corner, and Tyson with his mind clear, and Holyfield not quite the robust guy he turned in to, gotta lean toward s Tyson. But it's not just about size as we know, Richard. It's the fight that got away tho!
Actually, I think Muhammad Ali did a pretty good job of cleaning out the Division, twice. Decision controversies is not the same as avoiding someone.
