Rate these guys on your all time middleweight list

Benn and Eubank just aren't there. Good, exciting fighters but not enough. Not even in contention.

Toney and Zale were in consideration, so probably the 20-25 mark, but neither made my top 20. McCallum would if his JMW résumé is included.

The other's are awesome H2H but didn't do enough at MW imo. Especially McClellan and Nunn.

 

I don't have an 'all time middleweight' list. Can't mix eras.

 

If Mr Eubank wasn't so weight-drained vs Watson and finished him in 7 or 8, or 9, after totally out boxing him, he'd have two superb wins and performances at the weight he was ultimately too tight at. Though you'd of wanted him to face Toney or McCallum after, the best two best technicians I've ever seen post-Gans (including Moore).

As unbelievable as Benn was against DeWitt and Barkley, he lost to Eubank so..

McCallum and Toney are up there despite not much longevity compared to Monzon, Marvin and Hopkins. Kalambay too. McClellan was looking phenomenal. None career middleweights though.

 

Oh and Michael Nunn, he's up there. Give Monzon, Marvin and Hopkins a pass for facing Emile, Napoles, Tommy, Duran, Ray, Tito and Oscar? Then give Michael a pass for facing lb4lb stars Starling and Curry. Michael also has perhaps the best win in history - Kalambay on his great run, one round one punch knockout...

 

Zale not seen much of besides being shopworn (Graziano III, Cerdan).

 

H2H

McCallum
Eubank
Toney


Significant gap


Benn
Nunn
McClellan

 

Zale only.

 

Man I don't know, Benn was incredible against DeWitt and Barkley (and Sims) - watch them against Hearns and then Benn. Or against Kalambay, Duran and Nunn and then against Benn, the speed Benn closes the ring and speed he lands power shots, how they crumble under Benn's power and pressure and stand up to the others (four of the most skilled boxers ever at any weight).

Nunn being a 6ft3 lefty with that speed and smoothness, you can't see him losing at his best.

McClellan with that perfectly timed overhand right or pinpoint left hook to body, being an athletic 180+lb as a middle, its hard seeing dudes going rounds with that.

 

How can Gerald be 20 places higher than Mike McCallum?

 

Mike McCallum knocked out Julian Jackson years earlier.

Mike McCallum had far more overall ability.

Mike McCallum fought and beat much better opposition at the weight.

Never mind being ranked 20 places lower, Mike should be ranked higher. Significantly higher.

Mike fought:

Sumbu Kalambay x 2
James Toney x 2
Steve Collins
Herol Graham
Michael Watson

 

McClellan is 50+ places higher than Benn? Okay.

 

He wishes. BS stoppage after being out on his feet by a Jackson bomb in the opener.

 

"The Nigel Benn who beat Doug DeWitt would've beaten any middleweight in the world. And I mean any middleweight, then, now or any time."

-Emanuel Steward


Some food for thought. I know Manny feels Hearns fully peaked in his career against James Schuler. And says after the fight that Tommy is now unbeatable that he's filled out and if he boxes to set up the right.

DeWitt made every round with Hearns very close and very competitive, cut him up etc.

Benn arguably scores a 10-8 round against DeWitt WITHOUT a knockdown in the FIRST ROUND! Gets up to nearly cave his head in right after taking a knee in that second round. And at one point in I think the fourth after knocking DeWitt down, the speed at which he covers the ring from one side to the other once the referee waved the fight to continue, closing that distance with his guard in place, is faster than any fighter I've seen - and he hits him on-the-****ing-way-in with a full blooded bomb. Unbelievable stuff.

He was almost hitting DeWitt's head from one side of the ring to the other with some of the single right hooks, it seemed; frightening explosiveness.

 

Zale / Toney.

The rest.