I tried this one on a forum many years ago, but got no replies if I recall. Now inspired by Melankomas’ interesting brave, and sometimes out there matchups and the emergence of YouTube, there is a foundation to explore what is still a speculative pairing of two greats of different eras.
Heh Petey, This isn't the answer you're after, as it's an ATG comparison rather than a H2H prediction (I typically don't speculate on fantasy fights from vastly different eras, because they're different times, different sports, different conditions, etc.), but I figured this response would be preferable to another instance of no responses when you posted this thread title. Their respective records, solely in fights contested at LW, allowing for a few lbs for over the limit non-title fights: Oritiz: Record - Around 42-5-1 World title record - 11-2 in world title fights during his reigns of 3 & 2.5-years respectively Key wins - Past prime Joe Brown, Flash Elorde x 2, Ismael Laguna (2-1), Sugar Ramos, Kenny Lane (1-1), Johnny Bizzaro, Dave Charnley & Johnny Busso (1-1) Losses in & around prime years - Johnny Busso SD aged 21, avenged (1-1), Kenny Lane MD aged 22, avenged (1-1) & Ismael Laguna MD avenged (2-1) McFarland: Record - Around 90-0-7 World title record - 0-0-1 - most newspaper reports had him winning Key wins - Freddie Welsh (1-0-2) most newspaper reports had him clearly winning at least one of the 2 x draws, Jack Britton (1-0-1), Lockport Jimmy Duffy, Leach Cross x 2 (inc. 1 newspaper decision in a 6-round no decision fight), Owen Moran, Benny Langer & Matt Wells Losses in & around prime years - 0 As for who is greater, based on fights at LW, it depends how much emphasis you put on world title fights, as, imo, that's the only argument Ortiz has for ranking higher. McFarland has the greatest single win, the higher quality names on his win resume (though Ortiz's win resume is still brilliant) & was more dominant, not suffering defeat in more than double the fights Ortiz suffered 5. For whatever it's worth, I rank McFarland #4 all time at LW & Ortiz at #6.
I'll go McFarland, and I don't really want to but the old guys did fight far more. Thanks Petey for posting their records and info, aids quite a bit in judging a matchup
Hard to pick,very hard... I'll say tho,prime Ortiz could do enough to beat everyone else at lightweight,his performance kinda depends on his enemies,I'm a bit convinced that he could take McFarland's 0,but I'm not upset if I'm wrong here.
