Ring's #1 Contenders/Champs, March 1965 v March 1981

It's a tight split, but I'd lean towards 65 by a knat's knacker if pressed. The greater careers are in bold below.

Muhammad Ali.......................Larry Holmes
Willie Pastrano.......................Matthew Saad Muhammad (could go either way)
Joey Giardello........................Marvin Hagler
Emile Griffith..........................Sugar Ray Leonard
Eddie Perkins.........................Aaron Pryor
Carlos Ortiz...........................Hilmer Kenty
Flash Elorde..........................Yasutsune Uehara
Vincente Saldivar...................Salvador Sanchez (though I'd understand the reverse)
Eder Jofre.............................Jeff Chandler
Pone Kingpetch......................Shoji Oguma

The Saldivar-Sanchez comparison in the most contentious one obviously, but Saldivar had the slightly greater overall career for reasons that were obviously beyond Sanchez's control. Most of the other respective career comparisons are mighty close as well, including Leonard-Griffith, Perkins-Pryor and Saad-Pastrano, though I'm basing the latter on Pastrano's h2h ablity rather than his overall career.

As for overall depth including contenders as well as champions, I'll have to get back to you, though once again I'd lean towards 65 ever so slightly.....

Good **** McGrain.

 

Come on people....

 

to difficult for me.
compared to some people here on the forum i don't know **** about boxing hahaha.
for example : Yasutsune Uehara or Hilmer Kenty i haven't seen a single fight of those guys.

 

i would have it the same as Tin Ribs but the Saldivar vs Sanchez fight is a hard one. I think Saldivar has the better offence and taht would win him the fight but it is very very close and what a fight it would be.

 

Quite a hard match up i just think Leonard is the better fighter as there both well rounded perhaps Griffith more so but Leonard did have a dazzling offence that i think is just slightly better than what Griffith can muster.

 

In a 3 fight series, I'd say Emile takes at least one fight by close decision. Leonard had the edge in the speed and power departments, but I think Griffith was stronger, infinitesimaly cagier and better on the inside. Ray might have been the slightly better ring general at best though. I'd take him over Griffith all in all, probably due to his speed of hand, but it would be very close. I'd feel justified in picking Griffith to beat him or any other welter at least once when he was on his best form.

 

Very close. Griffith would need to impose himself upon Leonard from the first bell and not allow him to find his rhythm, though it would be far from easy. Leonard was lethal if you stood off him at mid range for too long and allowed him to control the pace, as Benitez found out. And although Griffith could coast at times, he was the better 15 round fighter of the two IMO who knew when to step up and press the fight and when to back off. If Griffth is leading going into the championship rounds, I don't think Leonard is catching him. It's just attaining the lead in the first place that would be a ballache for him.

What's your take on Sanchez-Saldivar and the others?

 

Muhammad Ali.......................Larry Holmes
Willie Pastrano.......................Matthew Saad Muhammad
Joey Giardello........................Marvin Hagler
Emile Griffith..........................Sugar Ray Leonard
Eddie Perkins.........................Aaron Pryor
Carlos Ortiz...........................Hilmer Kenty
Flash Elorde..........................Yasutsune Uehara
Vincente Saldivar...................Salvador Sanchez
Eder Jofre.............................Jeff Chandler