Whitaker is the top h2h fighter at lightweight in history? Is it a case that can: 1. easily be made 2. can be made but with slight difficulty 3. can be made but with a good amount of difficulty 4. can't be made.
2. Theres such a high level at the top tier of all time lightweights between Gans, Benny, Ike, Duran, and Sweet Pea that on any given day I could find a solid reason to put any of them at the top of the list.
Definitely one of the very best. I was a great admirer of his defensive skills in particular. I'd still put Duran in the number one spot at this weight,though.
I can't think of a lightweight more difficult to fight or that was as dominant. Even Duran lost there. The case can easily be made.
Don't know that much about Pea, but wouldn't you say that Duran had tougher opposition in for example Buchanan and De Jesus, thoug?
Not really. Other than Duran, what did Dejesus ever do? Buchanan was terrific though. Whitaker beat Mayweather, Ramirez, Haugen, Nelson, Paez........not as good as Buchanan, any of them, but better than most of those Duran fought. He rarely lost a round, either. More than Duran can say.
I think you're underrateing Dejesus if you think all he did was beat Duran. Anyway their competition is about a toss up. And I think pea lost quite a few rounds at lightweight but I guess that's just me.
