Fighters whose ideal weight class didn't exist in their day

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by My2Sense, Jun 15, 2009.


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  1. My2Sense

    My2Sense Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    What are some examples of fighters you feel would've been at their best at a weight class that didn't exist in their time, such as a junior, super, or crusier weight?

    For example, I've always thought Billy Conn was probably the best super-middleweight -sized fighter ever, as he beat many quality fighters at 160, 175, and heavyweight, while his best weight seemed to be around 168.

    I've always felt Henry Armstrong's ideal weight was jr. lightweight. He was able to suck down to make 126, but he wasn't a full lightweight, as he had to deliberately put on weight to get up around 135 and heavier. When he hit his peak in 1937, most of his fights were over-the-weight featherweight fights, in which he usually weighed around 130.

    I think Ray Robinson would've been at his best at 154. He sometimes had to struggle to make 147, and I believe he gained more power as he added weight; but up at 160, his power was sometimes offset by being up against naturally bigger men. I believe 154 would've combined the best of both worlds.

    Lloyd Marshall is another one I suspect was sometimes weight drained at 160, but at 175, the size of a full fledged light-heavy was occassionally a bit too much (ie: Bivins, Billy Smith). I think 168 would've been ideal for him.

    Other examples:

    Charley Burley - 154
    Rocky Graziano - 154
    Jack Delaney - 168
    Georges Carpentier - 168
    Ceferino Garcia - 154
    Joe Choynski - 168
    Lionel Rose - 122 (maybe?)

    And then of course, all the cruiserweight sized heavyweights - ie: Dempsey, Marciano, etc.

    Leon Spinks might've been more successful if there was a cruiser division while he was still at his peak.


    Any others?
     
    My2Sense, Jun 15, 2009
    My2Sense, Jun 15, 2009
    #1
  2. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Yeah they always said Robinson would have took great advantage of fighting at 154, Marciano at cruiser also, and Patterson, and Jimmy Wilde at straw-weight, they'd still need to make another one for him, thread of cotton weight anyone?
     
    teeto, Jun 15, 2009
    teeto, Jun 15, 2009
    #2
  3. Bill Butcher

    Bill Butcher Erik`El Terrible`Morales Full Member

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    Robinson at 154 & Saddler at 130 sprang immediately to mind.
     
    Bill Butcher, Jun 15, 2009
    Bill Butcher, Jun 15, 2009
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  4. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Saddler won the title at 130 though
     
    teeto, Jun 15, 2009
    teeto, Jun 15, 2009
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  5. Jear

    Jear Well-Known Member Full Member

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    200lb cruiser limit for both Spinks, Holyfield, came too late for Byrd too
    190 for Patterson in particular due to him fighting consistently 200lb+ fighters. Marciano & Dempsey heavys were generally not much bigger than them if at all
     
    Jear, Jun 15, 2009
    Jear, Jun 15, 2009
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  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Robinson & Burley would have been a total monsters at 154. Terrifying.

    Dick Tiger. Tiger struggled with 160 even as a young man and it was probably only his insane discipline and proffessionalism that kept him there for so long. I believe he eventually started to suffer for his tightness at the weight, though that is speculation.

    He was a good LHW, as his record shows, but he was never going to be a great one because of his physical limitations. Perhaps it is a stretch to say that his best weight would have been 168, but it would have been nice for him to have had the in-between weight to fill out into.
     
    McGrain, Jun 15, 2009
    McGrain, Jun 15, 2009
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  7. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ray Robinson woulda been by FAR the best 154 pounder in history.
     
    Xplosive, Jun 15, 2009
    Xplosive, Jun 15, 2009
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  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    It's actually a frightening though.
     
    McGrain, Jun 15, 2009
    McGrain, Jun 15, 2009
    #8
  9. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Jose Napoles, mayhap?
     
    Russell, Jun 15, 2009
    Russell, Jun 15, 2009
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  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    :lol:
     
    McGrain, Jun 15, 2009
    McGrain, Jun 15, 2009
    #10
  11. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    :good
     
    Russell, Jun 15, 2009
    Russell, Jun 15, 2009
    #11
  12. frankwornank

    frankwornank Active Member Full Member

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    Angelo DeFendis was a lightheavy in the mid 1950's. His best weight was 167. What a puncher he was. The thing is, he was always fighting guys who weighed 175 or so. If there had been a super-middleweight division, he would have been champ.
     
    frankwornank, Jun 15, 2009
    frankwornank, Jun 15, 2009
    #12
  13. dpw417

    dpw417 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I agree wholeheartedly!!! Excellent point.
     
    dpw417, Jun 15, 2009
    dpw417, Jun 15, 2009
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  14. Thread Stealer

    Thread Stealer Loyal Member Full Member

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    Maybe LaMotta at 168.
     
    Thread Stealer, Jun 15, 2009
    Thread Stealer, Jun 15, 2009
    #14
  15. WhataRock

    WhataRock Loyal Member Full Member

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    Rubin Carter - 154

    Chris Finnegan - 168

    Jimmy Wilde- Straw-light fly

    Actually Griffith for that matter probably would have benefited from a super welter division, he seemed to hover just over the welter limit in most of his non-title fights during his peak..even though technically it did exist in some form then, he actually won a world title there.

    I think Fighting Harada would have been damn near unstoppable if a 115 division had been around in his day.
     
    WhataRock, Jun 15, 2009
    WhataRock, Jun 15, 2009
    #15
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