Is Kostya Tszyu legitimately a top 10 140 pounder of all time?

Accomplishment wise, hell yes he's top 10. On who beats who? I dont think I can name 10 jnr welters that would beat a prime Tszyu, but I almost can. The following fighters that fought at 140 at least once would beat Tszyu:

Pryor
Chavez
Cervantes
Benitez
Whitaker
DLH
Taylor
Philips: Already did beat him.

I'm undecided on whether or not Tszyu could beat McGirt, Randall, or Loche.

Mosley & Duran would have both beaten Tszyu, but those guys by-passed 140 and went straight to 147.

 

I'd pick PBF to beat Tszyu at 140. Duran fought at around 140 for some non-title bouts during his reign, I suppose you can say he fought at jr. welter as well.

I'm not too sure about Taylor though, as he had a tendency to exchange too much. Tszyu was a big puncher, and harder hitter than Chavez IMO.

 

I only listed the fighters that Ive actually seen fight.

Did Ortiz ever fight at 140?

 

Yeah sorry I forgot about Floyd. He beats Tszyu also.

If Duran counts, then hell yes! Duran-Tszyu would have been a complete and utter mismatch. Tszyu wouldnt see round 8.

And I think that the Taylor that beat McGirt would do a number on Tszyu, but I can see where you're coming from.

Adding to the list... I think the Arguello from the first Pryor fight stops Tszyu late.

 

Skill-wise, yes. Top 10 in my book.

 

I dont know about h2h, though i would have a go at a few analysis' (is that bad grammar?) if pushed. But imo the reason i rate him very high in the division's history is because i give much credit to guys being the best of their era, and for that short time when LWW was a good/very good division, he was a true champion. He has a top win (and i believe it was, at the time anyway) over Judah, 2 over Mitchell, the secnd impressive imo, the Tackie one was against a legit contender to his crown, somewhat of a masterclass imo. Obviously, all this doesnt add up to him being cemented in the top ten, and detractors can poiint out the Phillips fight, maybe rightly so, as he didnt have too many bouts overall. Still, he was a top class operator, and i do think that his period at the top was somewhat dominant, though that may be exaggerating in the views of some. I have him quite high in the list, but admittedly i give much credit to guys being the 'best of their era', maybe a flaw of mine, one i have been ammending imo in ceetain cases however.

 

I take more into account that Tszyu fought exclusively at 140 more, some of these guys hardly fought a handfull of fights at 140.

 

If you take account of overall performances at the weight, and consider h2h ability, skill, dominance, longevity and resume, you could probably sneak him down the bottom of a top 10 list.

I do think a good 15 or so guys that moved through (or passed) the division would beat him though.

Ross, McLarnin, Canzoneri, Chavez, Whitaker, Duran, DLH, Napoles, Pryor, Arguello, Ortiz, Williams, Cervantes, Graham, Benitez and Armstrong.

I probably haven't seen enough of fighters like Leonard, Tendler, McFarland, Perkins, Blackburn, Gans, Holly, Montanez and Loi to really say how they would fare against Tszyu at 140.

Probably the best fighters I would give Tszyu at least even chances against are Locche, Berg, Mayweather, Mosley, Taylor and McGirt.

 

I cant see Tszyu having even chances against Floyd, or Mosley. Esp not Mosley. If a prime Shane had moved from 135 to 140 and fought Tszyu, he'd have stopped him. I have no doubts. Shane was too fast, tough, and powerful at the lighter weights for Tszyu to handle.

And Tszyu gives Floyd some tough moments, but ultimately Floyd would too fast, skilled, and smart for Tszyu. And in addition to his great defense, Floyd's chin was excellent.

Now Locche, and Taylor are different stories. I give Tszyu a good chance against either of those guys, though I wouldnt favor him. Locche pitched a shut out vs a prime Cervantes in thier first fight, and Cervantes IMO was better than Tszyu.

And Taylor, pre-Chavez, would have most likely been too fast and tough for Tszyu. On the night he beat McGirt, I have a tough time seeing Tszyu beating him.

 

Jekyl & Hyde. At times Kostya Tszyu would look utterly unbeatable then at other times look quite beatable... But in his prime on an "on' night few could match his speed,balance & devistating power. Kostya would take the hittable Taylor. His power would be the difference with Mosley, Mosley would land more but Tszyu would cause more damage & slow Mosley in the latter rounds.