Rank these decades in terms of welterweight fight quality

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by sweet_scientist, Feb 10, 2012.


  1. sweet_scientist

    sweet_scientist Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    How would you rank these decades in terms of welterweight fight quality?


    Which is best, 2nd best and third best?





    1990s

    Pernell Whitaker vs. Buddy McGirt I
    Meldrick Taylor vs. Aaron Davis
    Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio Cesar Chavez
    Oscar De la Hoya vs. Ike Quartey
    Aaron Davis vs. Mark Breland
    Ike Quartey vs. Crisanto Espana
    Simon Brown vs. Maurice Blocker
    Ike Quartey vs. Jose Luis Lopez
    Felix Trinidad vs. Pernell Whitaker
    Pernell Whitaker vs. Buddy McGirt II


    1980s

    Roberto Duran vs. Sugar Ray Leonard I
    Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Tommy Hearns I
    Donald Curry vs. Marlon Starling I
    Donald Curry vs. Marlon Starling II
    Marlon Starling vs. Simon Brown
    Simon Brown vs. Tyrone Trice I
    Marlon Starling vs. Lloyd Honeyghan
    Marlon Starling vs. Mark Breland I
    Wilfred Benitez vs. Pete Ranzany
    Jorge Vaca vs. Lloyd Honeyghan


    1970s

    Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Wilfred Benitez
    Roberto Duran vs. Carlos Palomino
    Wilfred Benitez vs. Carlos Palomino
    Wilfred Benitez vs. Harold Weston II
    Jose Napoles vs. Clyde Gray
    Jose Napoles vs. Hedgemon Lewis I
    Jose Napoles vs. Armando Muniz I
    Carlos Palomino vs. John Stracey
    Carlos Palomino vs. Armando Muniz I
    Pipino Cuevas vs. Randy Shields
    Carlos Palomino vs. Hedgemon Lewis




    If you want a criteria for fight quality this is what I used:


    50% = action
    30% = skill/ability involved
    20% = competitiveness



    I'm sure I've missed some good fights given that I put this list together without a great deal of thought.


    Anyone that wants to add fights they feel trump these for the decade in justifying their ranking decision is welcome. :good
     
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I dunno man. I haven't even seen all of those fights, and there are some there that i've seen once and there are some there that I haven't seen in years...I can tell you that I enjoy watching the 90's ww's generally, best out of those on the list and that Whitaker is the best fighter on that list to watch.
     
  3. Conn

    Conn Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    1980s : Add Honeyghan v Curry. :good
     
  4. sweet_scientist

    sweet_scientist Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    :good

    I think welterweight is one of the few divisions that didn't drop off badly in the 90's compared to previous decades (heavyweight probably being the other which had a decent period).

    That said, I'm probably still inclined to go with the 80's as first. Tough to distinguish the 90's and 70's.
     
  5. sweet_scientist

    sweet_scientist Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Suffers a little for lack of competitiveness and perhaps ability as far as the dessicated Curry goes, but still I'm happy for it to rate a mention, especially given that you could lay those criticisms at the feet of a good many of the fights I have up there.
     
  6. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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  7. Conn

    Conn Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    Honeyghan's ability and performance more than made up for Curry's inability to compete with him.
    And I think the "weight drained" excuse was over-sold from day one. It's not really a legit excuse for a world champion to make, IMO.
    It's half a reputation-saver in many people's eyes though.
     
  8. Conn

    Conn Well-Known Member banned Full Member

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    I'd probably go for the 70s too.
    With 80s close behind.

    By I'm in the same boat as McGrain on this, I simply haven't seen all those fights, or only seen some of them only once years ago. Probably half of them I'm not familiar with enough to rate them.
     
  9. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

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    I haven't seen them all either but I have probably seen about the same amount in each era.
     
  10. Vic-JofreBRASIL

    Vic-JofreBRASIL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    1- 1980´s......More skilled fighters involved.....High Competitiveness.....

    I would say Davis vs Breland is the best in terms of action.....but in the 80´s you still have Brown vs Tryce, a great action fight....


    1970´s and 1990`s are very close......
     
  11. sweet_scientist

    sweet_scientist Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The 1970's had a good spread of solid fights without many outstanding ones.

    Probably the most depth as far as quality fights goes.

    As an aside, I think if I did a list for the 60's it would blow the 70's, 80's and 90's out of the water...