I've always liked the LHWs. These are your normal size "big" guys. They'd be considered big guys in most places, but not huge. For the most part a good LHW has good movement, decent speed, good power, strength, and durability. An average Joe can relate to them, size wise anyway. They usually get beat up when they jump up in weight vs. a good fighter but a few have done well at HW. Some have come to LHW from lower weights and done very well. Anyway, who are the best LHWs from the past 50 years in your opinion. Some who stand out for me- Harold Johnson Bob Foster Eddie Mustafa Muhammad Matthew Saad Muhammad Dwight Muhammad Qawi Michael Spinks Tommy Hearns Charles Williams Virgil Hill Henry Maske Dariusz Michalczewski Roy Jones Antonio Tarver Bernard Hopkins Joe Calzaghe Just for starters. How about some "Mythical Match-Ups"? Michael Spinks vs. Harold Johnson Bob Foster vs. Dwight Qawi Virgil Hill vs. Charles Williams Tommy Hearns vs. Roy Jones Joe Calzaghe vs. Dariusz Michalczeski Bernard Hopkins vs. Matthew Saad Muhammad? Others?
James Scott belongs on that list. He beat Eddie Gregory (before he was Mustafa Muhammad) and Yaqui Lopez when they were No. 1 contenders, and other contenders as well. His run fell short but he could easily have been a titleholder if not for being in prison while he was doing this. Yaqui is another guy who might merit inclusion. I'd rate both ahead of Prince Charles and Hopkins at light heavy.
Who were the best at HW? Michael Spinks won the HW World Title, 2 close wins vs. Holmes and stopped Cooney Harold Johnson beat Doug Jones, Eddie Machen, Nino Valdes, and others. Roy Jones won the WBA HW World Title from John Ruiz. James Toney didn't do much at LHW but he was a good HW in my opinion. He stopped a past prime Evander Holyfield, beat John Ruiz (later changed to NC), lost a questionable decision to Sam Peter, drew with Hasim Rahman, and more. Dwight Qawi was only stopped twice in his career, Holyfield LKOby4 and George Foreman LKOby7. He also lost a 15 round SD to Holyfield. He did KO Leon Spinks. He did very well at CW. Bob Foster did not do well at HW.
James Scott and Yaqui Lopez were tough and fun to watch. As for Scott, how many fighters can say they fought the likes of Mustafa, Lopez, and Qawi in prison! I liked Graciano Rocchigiani, Michael Nunn, and Mike McCallum as LHWs as well. I wanted Reggie Johnson and Eric Harding to do more at LHW but it wasn't meant to be.
Dennis Andries always gave his all. I liked his fights with Jeff Harding. The Sosa vs. Charles Williams fights were brutal.
Mauro Mina, the Peruvian great. An outstanding fighter who would have been a chore for any LHW in history.
Billy Conn was a very skillful light heavy weight who was good to watch in action,he gave Joe Louis a good fight.
The guy at the top of your list, Harold Johnson is a fighter that really impresses me. Very good technique, hard puncher; great all round fighter. He's also a man that the average guy and some newbies haven't heard of! He even had the physique that they think is essential for success in boxing!
spinks foster and roy jones are in my top 5 light heavies with ezzard Charles and archie moore.foster had some brutal power in both hands
Oh all-time I have Ezzard Charles, Archie Moore, Jimmy Bivins, Lloyd Marshall, Gene Tunney, Billy Conn, Tommy Loughran, and others on my list.
Over the past 50 years, head and shoulders above the rest, my favorite was Victor Galindez. That was one bad-ass dude. Hot on his heels was John Conteh, the all-action Marvin Johnson and great contenders such as Richie Kates, Jorge Ahumada, Jesse Burnett, Pierre Fourie and Jimmy Dupree as well as the aforementioned Scott and Lopez.
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Just what I like, a simple, straightforward post. I commend you for your insight, sir. We're not worthy.
Yes, John Conteh, and he could of been so much better Chris Finnegan on the night he lost to Foster he would of beaten many Mate Parlov - Darn Ackward bugger at best of times Jimmy Ellis - when passing through from middle to heavy - his right hand was dynamite Richie Kates very smooth operator
