The Fifty Greatest Lightweights of all Time

Why isn't Juan Manuel Marquez ranked above Terence Crawford? Yeah, I understand Crawford reigned as the lightweight lineal champion but so does Marquez. In addition, Marquez faced more contenders compared to that of Crawford. So, the fact that Marquez ranks #50 and Crawford ranks #46 mindboggles me.

 

Unbelievable list, Matt. Great job. Cheers

 

Hold on !!!! Duran 2nd tier, below Ambers and Mosley, you cant be serious my friend.

 

Don't do it!

 

1. Duran was years from his lightweight PEAK when De Jesus surprised him in a non title fight.
2. This defeat was not technically at 135 as both came in over that weight.
3. Duran avenged it emphatically twice, the second time when was was at his absolute PEAK.
4. Mosley had "a" lightweight title for less than two years, Duran over 5 years. This and opposition has lots to do with Mosley dominating opponents and not having to go the distance etc etc etc etc. bit harder to do over almost 6 years one would think.
5. Holiday had no real notable wins. Buchanan had plenty and his only loss was a close one in the other chaps home town. Buchanan proved both before and after Duran he was a much much better fighter than Holiday.
6. Mosley was very fast and quite explosive yes. Athletic too. He would be faster but he was certainly not more skilfull and i would not call him the better um knockouter particularly if the level of opposition rose.

 

Your assertion that Duran was at his peak when he lost to Dejesus suggests you do not know your boxing as much as you think you do.

 

Great, great post there, John. I am not surprised.

 

Yeah, it's clearly gotta be one or the other. No room for middle ground.

 

Good one

 

It's silly to think Mosley should rank higher than Duran. Nothing more to add than what John said.

Ya know, I do find it funny though to think Mosley would beat Duran because of his faster handspeed and athleticism; I could see Mosley surprising Duran early on with his speed, and dropping him with a straight right. After that, Duran would rise, snarl, and inflict a terrible beating on Mosley who did have a good chin. His father would likely throw in the towel sometime in 10 from a body shot that drops Mosley.

 

Fair play, you make a somewhat valid point, when we all have these discussions on who was the best, who could have beaten whom, unless stipulated otherwise ( and I cant think of a reason why we wouldn't ) the combatants must be pitied against each other as the best they can be, or at their best, in their prime, when they peaked, correct ?

So for me the Duran that was beaten ( albeit fairly ) by Dejesus was demonstrably not at his peak, he was then, and this is important, the crude slugger you portray, the Duran of Dejesus 2 , and more emphatically 3 was most definitely at his peak, he had shed the rushing brawling, slightly manic fighter he once was, to become a more honed, refined, thinking fighter, with a lot more nuances to his fighting style, THAT Duran IMO ( for that is all it is, after all ) undoubtedly has a birth in tier 1, and would hands down, beat Mosley, and Ambers.

 

Dude...

 

Last word from me on this topic, true Ambers beat Armstrong in the return, BUT all contemporary reports indicate, had not Henry not been deducted 5 rounds for low blows, he would have won, think that is fairly well established.

Secondly, you say the scoring was close in the 3rd fight, well here it is, for Duran, 107/102 109/104 107/103 and you might be overlooking a minor point here, Dejesus was beaten TKO 12. Enjoyed our little joust, keep well, chat soon.

 

Duran was up 3 points on one card and 5 points on the other two cards at the time of the stoppage:
https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Roberto_Duran_vs._Esteban_DeJesus_(3rd_meeting)

 

Wrong......