The Fifty Greatest Lightweights of all Time

The Lightweights.

Thoughts? Who have I missed out? There's usually one (last time Unforgiven made the case for Parret at 147lbs). Anyone too high? Too low? Why? And if you introduce someone, who would you bump out?

Remember, the tiers are not in order. Benny Leonard isn't described as number one below, just as a lock for the top four.

Tier I
Benny Leonard, Roberto Duran, Joe Gans, Pernell Whitaker. (4)

Tier II
Ike Williams, Tony Canzoneri, Carlos Ortiz, Packey McFarland, Lou Ambers, Sammy Mandell, Sammy Angott. (7)

Tier III
Joe Brown, Freddie Welsh, Jack McAulife, Barney Ross, Henry Armstrong. (5)

Tier iV
Ken Buchanan, Bob Montgomery, Ismael Laguna, George “Kid” Lavigne, Jose Luis Castillo, Frank Erne. 6)

Tier V
Dave Holly, Willie Ritchie, George McFadden, Battling Nelson, Jimmy Carter, Willie Joyce, Estaban De Jesus, Jimmy Duffy, Alexis Arguello. (9)

Tier VI
Beau Jack, Carlos Teo Cruz, Hector Camacho, Young Griffo, Lew Jenkins, Ad Wolgast, Jack Kid Berg. (7)

Tier VII
Edwin Rosario, Floyd Mayweather, Wesley Ramey, Billy Petrolle, Jimmy McLarnin, Sid Terris, Stevie Johnson, Sam Fuller, Julio Cesar Chavez. (9)

Tier IX
Shane Mosley, Lew Tendler, Terence Crawford. (3)

 

Berg has a legitimate case actually. He's very arguable for the last clutch. But so are about 20 other guys, it's very difficult. And some of the guys who are in there - Mayweather, Crawford, Mosley - they aren't locked at all. In fact none of those guys are locked. Yet.

As to weights - i'm sure you could work it out!

 

To have Ross higher (unless you want to argue that the tier is flawed) you'd have to see him argued as locked above the other guys he's in that tier with.

Can you do that?

 

Provisional, unlucky 51 was Sam Fuller, for anyone who's interested.

 

Yes, it's extremely difficult.

 

I actually haven't taken a detailed look at Mosley yet because I feel i know him so there could be an error here, but isn't his highest ranked opponent Philip Holiday? Not cutting it in this company.

 

If his opponent was weighing in as a welterweight, yes, he was credited for that one up.

 

I think Berg should be in, actually, i'll look at it later.