Legitimate 4 weights (or more) world champions

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Jel, Sep 18, 2019.


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  1. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    It's a really good question. Without looking i'm not sure there are any? Maybe Manny.
     
    McGrain, Sep 20, 2019
    McGrain, Sep 20, 2019
    #16
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  2. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    I think you can level any of those points at any of the 4 weight world champions. Unless they were fully unified and/or undisputed world champion in each division, which is nigh on impossible these days, there's always going to be a claim against it.

    But I think you're being a bit harsh on Hearns. I think he is credible at at least 4 weights. When he beat Cuevas, he beat a guy who had dominated for several years and he crushed him. Yes, he lost to Leonard so strictly speaking he wasn't the Welterweight champ but between 80 and 81 he was the real deal. Penalising him for attempting to unify seems harsh. And he was the man at 154 without question. He beat the best of the two titlist to win the WBC title (Benitez) and then he beat Duran who dropped his own WBA strap to fight him. Yes, McCallum was around and was no. 1 contender for the WBA strap but Hearns was no. 1 in the division once he crushed Duran.
    Middleweight, he was as legit as the other titlists from 87-88.
    Super middleweight - the WBO title didn't mean much but he got the moral victory over WBC champ Leonard. He had a strong case as best in the division at that point.
    And he beat a very decent titlist in Hill at light-heavy who would go on to hold the belt for a large part of the 90s.
     
    Jel, Sep 20, 2019
    Jel, Sep 20, 2019
    #17
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  3. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Plenty of other fighters have in the past and present moved up (and down) the weights and beat very decent opposition. But like Tommy and Roberto it often did not make them The champ.

    If your thread was called 'fighters who beat quality fighters in four other divisions'. Hearns and Duran would be two superb examples.
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2019
    TBooze, Sep 20, 2019
    TBooze, Sep 20, 2019
    #18
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  4. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Yeah, I just don't know that there are any clear cut examples by the most stringent criteria to my question. That's why I figured there was a bit of flexibility there.
     
    Jel, Sep 20, 2019
    Jel, Sep 20, 2019
    #19
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  5. KasimirKid

    KasimirKid Well-Known Member Full Member

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    In the old days it wasn't so easy to move up and win a title. There were a lot more fighters around and a lot fewer titles. Fighters were usually older before they got their shots so a champion had to think pretty hard about moving up. They had a better chance to make money by milking the title they had with non-title bouts in between defenses. There was usually only one champion in each division so he couldn't shop which alphabet title to go after.
     
    KasimirKid, Sep 20, 2019
    KasimirKid, Sep 20, 2019
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  6. cuchulain

    cuchulain Loyal Member Full Member

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    In addition, Pac beat Bradley on April 9, 2016.

    At the time, he was ranked number 1 at 147 and Tim was ranked number 2.
    Thus Pac became champion in a fifth weight class.
     
    cuchulain, Sep 24, 2019
    cuchulain, Sep 24, 2019
    #21
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