Great fighters of the past who would have thrived in a later weight class

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by janitor, May 31, 2008.


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  1. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Name some great fighters of the past who would have benefited from the curent multitude of weight clases.

    I dont think that Jack Dempsey would have benefited much from a cruiserweight division because he did just fine against guys over 200 lbs.

    Are there any notable fighters of the past who would have thrived in say, a junior welterweight or supermiddleweight division if it had existed?

    Are there perhaps some modern fighters who would have done better under the old eight weight divisions, because it would have chanelled them towards the big fights which they would have won?
     
    janitor, May 31, 2008
    janitor, May 31, 2008
    #1
  2. Titan1

    Titan1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ray Robinson-Junior Middleweight
    Ezzard Charles-Cruiserweight
    Bob Foster-Cruiserweight.
    Mickey Walker-Junior Middleweight.
     
    Titan1, May 31, 2008
    Titan1, May 31, 2008
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  3. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    A CW would hav benifited Jack Dempsey no end in the pound for pound department, because he would have dominated it so utterly, so I disagree Janitor. Sam Langford could have done a lot of great work at 168, I would guess. Charley Burley wouldn't have been chased quite so far away from his best weight when Zivic came to the title.

    Basically - all of them!
     
    McGrain, May 31, 2008
    McGrain, May 31, 2008
    #3
  4. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    The cruiserweight division would have saved Dempsey from the likes of Fulton, Willard and Firpo but would have given him no protection against Gene Tunney who might want the cruiserweight title before stepping up to fight for the heayweight title.
     
    janitor, May 31, 2008
    janitor, May 31, 2008
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  5. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Well things MIGHT have worked like that, on the other hand, Dempsey might have got Gene earlier, and then, who knows?
     
    McGrain, May 31, 2008
    McGrain, May 31, 2008
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  6. jc

    jc Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Armstrong could have gone fore 5 titles held at the same time...
     
    jc, May 31, 2008
    jc, May 31, 2008
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  7. TommyV

    TommyV Loyal Member banned

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    [url]http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=15589&more=1[/url]

    Great article that springs a few boxers to mind.
     
    TommyV, May 31, 2008
    TommyV, May 31, 2008
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  8. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Even if he had, the 1930s actreses would have got their shot at Dempsey and would have softened him up for Sharkey or Schmeling.
     
    janitor, May 31, 2008
    janitor, May 31, 2008
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  9. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    More than likely, though he was no Harry Greb. Here's how I see it - he gets a chance to take Tunney earlier, he stays active longer, he knows himself better when he steps in with the top HW's.

    Dempsey's standing would be enormously enhanced.
     
    McGrain, May 31, 2008
    McGrain, May 31, 2008
    #9
  10. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Carmen Basilio and Rocky Graziano would have been ideal Jr. Milddleweights.

    Floyd Patterson was obviously a cruiserweight.
     
    Longhhorn71, May 31, 2008
    Longhhorn71, May 31, 2008
    #10
  11. Boilermaker

    Boilermaker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Who would he have one the cruiserweight title against? I am guessing that it would probably be Sam Langford? Not an easy fight at all. At cruiser, to dominate like he did at heavy, he has to beat the likes of Greb and Tunney. Sure he has a better chance than the aged version did, but that doesnt mean he beats them. Even if he does beat Tunney, at some stage, Dempsey would fight the Slow overated heavy champion, more than likely this would be Wills as he would get a shot eventually at the likes of Willard and Firpo and would more than likely win. If Dempsey is to be rated as highly, he has to beat his nemises Wills, again, not guaranteed. This leaves us with a champion Dempsey again. But how long is it before Tunney gets his rematch with an aging champion. More than likely Tunney dominates an aging Dempsey again. Looking logically at this likely sequence of events, even if we assume that Dempsey wins through, it is a far harder road, and it is even unlikely that if he succeeds it, he is rated any higher than he currently is anyway.
     
    Boilermaker, May 31, 2008
    Boilermaker, May 31, 2008
    #11
  12. sweet_scientist

    sweet_scientist Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Packey McFarland, Jack Blackburn and Ike Wiliams all could have done with an 140 pound weight class.
     
    sweet_scientist, May 31, 2008
    sweet_scientist, May 31, 2008
    #12
  13. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Floyd Patterson would have been some cruiserweight. Pretty decent heavyweight tho and maybe he wouldn't swap that success in hindsight.
     
    JohnThomas1, May 31, 2008
    JohnThomas1, May 31, 2008
    #13
  14. Maxmomer

    Maxmomer Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Floyd Patterson at Cruserweight and Archie Moore at cruserweight. I think Dempsey naturally did better against big, slower opposition, it was the smaller, quicker guys like Miske and Gibbons that gave him the most trouble,
     
    Maxmomer, May 31, 2008
    Maxmomer, May 31, 2008
    #14
  15. Bo Bo Olson

    Bo Bo Olson Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Joe Choynski at mostly 167, fought guys 15 or more pounds heavier than him, so Super Middle was his natural fighting weight. Or even Lt. Heavy...161-175.
    Corbett was a natrual Cruiser.
    Though back then 161 made you a heavyweight, and there were as few good men over 200 then as there are today at 250.
    Billy Conn fought mostly at 167 also...back when Lt. Heavy was 161 to 175. 167 was his natural fighting weight...which was more important than bulking up for some odd reason.
    Dammed near any boxer you can think of could have used the half weight divisions of today, especially later in their carreer, wehn it was harder to make the weight and the next weight up was a big jump, in weight, height and reach.
    Carmin Bascilio, jr. Middle.
     
    Bo Bo Olson, Jun 1, 2008
    Bo Bo Olson, Jun 1, 2008
    #15
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