So i know hes considered to be one of the best Cruiserweights in history, but unfortunately I've only see his abysmal fight vs Johnny Nelson and his loss to Evander Holyfield. But how good exactly was this guy ? And what are his standout performances.
Hard to know. At the time he stepped into the void that was the cruiserweight division, it was still in its relative infancy. Most of the top guys who could make that weight instead fought at heavyweight because there was more money. If they could make 175, they’d do that for the same reason. So for his prime De Leon was dominating a nothing division. If Bridgerweight or Drawbridgeweight or whatever they are calling it catches on at all, likely some guy considered a so-so heavyweight or lazy cruiser will become dominant in that division until it establishes itself and we’ll consider that guy not so good but later look back if the division is legitimized and say ‘he wasn’t so bad.’ Unless someone like Wilder decides to own that space so we at least know how good the champ is or isn’t.
Young Carlos DeLeon was a talented fighter if a little lazy. He did look pretty damn good against Yaqui Lopez but only a few fights previously was smashed by S.T. Gordon. Also beat a handful of 80s cruiserweights - Bernard Benton, Leon Spinks, Gordon in a rematch, Antony Davis, Alfonzo Ratliff, Angelo Rottoli. Even late on he still had too much for UK's Sammy Reeson to pick up a vacant belt. And who can forget the dreadful fight with Nelson? Had no business at HW and was quickly destroyed by Sanders in a shocking mismatch. In all, a talented but inconsistant fighter who came around at perhaps the right time. I think he would have struggled moreso 5 yrs later
The best in his division in a weak era. Not a bad fighter at all, but not even close to the elite CWs like Holyfield.
