Legitimate 4 weights (or more) world champions

His first title at 130 was WBO as well. He beat Jimmy Bredhal for it. He might not have been a top 6-8 Jr Lightweight.
Otherwise he does have 4.

 

Thomas Hearns
Roberto Duran

 

In fairness when you go back far enough there were 8-10 divisions. Not as easy to win belts in full divisions without Jr and Super.
Example Ray Robinson could have pretty easily won belts at '35 '40' '47 '54 '60 '68 '75.

 

If Tony Canzoneri got the decision at Bantamweight (was a draw) , he'd be a 4 weight champ.

 

I think there is very strong arguments against both, despite them being fighters I really liked.

Tommy never was the 147 champ, he famously lost that chance against Leonard.

He was probably the best 154 champ but merely a title claimant, he was not the champ.

He took a pretty easy option at 160, when far stronger claimants were around.

And at 175, he beat solid title holders in Andries and Hill, but neither at the time had legitimacy as the champ.

Duran was the man at 135 for a period.

Duran was arguably the best fighter for a time at 147, but he would have had to have done more to become the champ.

At 154 he had a claim, a good win, but was far from becoming the champ, as others had possibly stronger claims, but they too were not recognised as the champ.

At 160 Duran lost his one chance (Hagler) and then met a weaker claimant, to win his title. Although beating Barkley was a brilliant near finale for Duran, it did not make him the the champ.

 

eh?

 

Pac was lineal at flyweight and feather (if a weight-draining cheat) and I'd say the man at 130 for a time after the Morales fights. Wasn't Hatton still the man at 140 too when Pac iced him? And I think Ledwaba was possibly the best super-bantam when Pacquiao stopped him. Arguably five for him, only his welter, lightweight and light-middle titles were Mickey mouse really.

 

Pacquiao beat:

Sasakul at 112. WBC and Lineal champ.
Barrera at 126. Lineal champ.
Marquez at 130. WBC champ.
Hatton at 140. Lineal champ.

Floyd beat:

Hernandez at 130. WBC and Lineal champ.
Castillo at 135. WBC champ.
Judah/Baldomir/Mosley at 147. Baldomir and Mosley were both lineal champions.
Cotto/Canelo at 154. Cotto and Canelo were considered the best jr. middleweights when Floyd beat them.

 

A couple of things about Roberto Duran and weight divisions... I believe Duran turned pro at bantamweight but slowly rose through the divisions as his career progressed. When he fought Ken Buchanan for the lightweight title he weighed 130lbs! Duran bypassed the junior welterweight division completely and went directly to welterweight to fight Sugar Ray Leonard. Maybe in his day it wasn't a priority to collect belts in different divisions. It is conceivable that Duran could've won world titles from 126 - 168. That's 8 divisions and 4 old school divisions (featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and middleweight). Someone mentioned earlier that he didn't beat Hagler for the middleweight title. True enough, but in beating Barkey in '89, he beat the man who beat the man (Hearns) at a remarkably advanced age and several weight divisions above his prime fighting weight. Duran could be inconsistent but like Pacquaio, he fought damn well wayyy past his prime and against much larger and younger opponents. Age didn't really catch him until his late 40's when he had no business fighting William Joppy. He earned that title shot though by beating world rated Jorge Castro at 47 years old. Remarkable.

 

Nonito Donaire has done it fairly legitimately. Rigo was the best 122 back then, but Nishioka was legitimate and long reigning.

 

These guys are legit. They won it at the weights. Not catchweights. I don't see how a fighter can win a title if there is a catchweight. Say Duran or Hearns would have beaten Hagler at 156 or 157 pounds catchweight. Would that really be legit? I don't think so. And that weight might have made a difference. It makes Hearns closer to Hagler at 154 to 156/157 and Duran also. Ray Leonard to me is a legit 3 times champion.