-- What was the best welterweight era? 1935-1940: Henry Armstrong, Barney Ross, Jimmy McLarnin, Fritzie Zivic, Izzy Janazzo, Ceferino Garcia, Cocoa Kid, etc. Robinson's reign (1946-1950): Sugar Ray Robinson, Kid Gavilan, Tommy Bell, Tippy Larkin, Beau Jack. Early 60s: Emile Griffith, Benny Kid Paret, Luis Manuel Rodriguez, Luis Federico Thompson, Ralph Dupas, Brian Curvis, Duilio Loi. Late 70s: Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Pipino Cuevas, Wilfredo Benitez, Carlos Palomino, Pete Ranzany, Randy Shields, Roberto Duran, Harold Weston, Angel Espada. Mid 80s: Donald Curry, Milton McCrory, Roger Stafford, Marlon Starling, Mark Breland, Lloyd Honeygham, Maurice Blocker. Late 90s: Felix Trinidad, Oscar de la Hoya, Ike Quartey, shot Pernell Whitaker, Vernon Forrest, Obar Carr. Late 2000s: Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, old Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito, Joshua Clottey, Andre Berto, shot Oscar de la Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Zab Judah, Juan Manuel Marquez, Paul Williams, Carlos Quitana, Luis Collazo, Ricky Hatton.
2000's is the weakest. You got PBF who never really fights a WW, Miguel Cotto who was KO by Tony, Mosley who's best days were in the 90's and early 2000's (testament that this era is weak), Joshua Clottey who's best win was vs a Lightweight, Oscar De La Hoya who was as you said "shot", Manny Pacquiao who won't even allow his opponent to fight at the WW limit because he's SCURRED, Zab Judah is pretty much a stepping stone, JMM hasn't even fought at the WW limit, Paul Williams got outboxed by a B level fighter, and he probably won't ever fight at WW again, Quintana and Collazo are good B level fighters, and Ricky Hatton won one fight at 147 vs a B level fighter, arguably he lost.
I think you're hatin a bit too much right there we're certainly in a good era for welterweight boxing but then again no one ever gives credit to present fighters
No I'm not. Mosley is a prime example. Mosley's era is the 90's and a bit of the early 2000's. He has drastically slowed down since then, YET he is still if not THE best WW today. A 37 year old fighter who prime was between 1995-2001 is a top fighter in 2009. Pair the Cotto, Clottey, Berto against Prime SRL, Hearns, Duran, Trinidad, ODLH, Whitaker, Napoles, Chavez, Quartey, Robinson, Griffith, Armstrong, Gavilan, Walcott etc..... I'm just stating my opinion. NO WAY!
I think late 70's was the best, followed by Robinsons reign. Ray was pure murder at 147, but Tommy Bell might have been one of the best contenders ever not to win a title, and Gavilan was second only to SRR.
1. 1970's 2. 1935-40 3. 1946-50 4. 1960's 5. 1990's 6. 2000's 7. 1980's Even though I would have loved to see a Curry vs Tito/Oscar. Fire works all the way.
I see there are not so many fans of the current era. Ironically, it has been called "one of the greatest welterweight eras" by many. Here is my ranking: 1) The late 1970s (the best) 2) The late 1990s 3) Late 1930s 4) The current era (2006-2009)
