With all due respect, can somebody explain why they rank Whitaker over Gans at lightweight? I've seen it on a few lists and I just don't get it!
My Dirty Dozen. No order: Joe Gans Benny Leonard Roberto Duran Tony Canzoneri Ike Williams Pernell Whitaker Packey McFarland(69-0 with 51 knockouts. Beat Freddie Welsh, Jack Britton, Jimmy Britt, Owen Moran, Harlem Tommy Murphy and fought Mike Gibbons to a standstill. Nuff said) Freddie Welsh Jack Blackburn Carlos Ortiz Battling Nelson Sammy Angott
1a. Benny Leonard 1b. Joe Gans 3. Roberto Duran 4. Tony Canzoneri 5a. Carlos Ortiz 5b. Ike Williams 7. Lou Ambers 8. Pernell Whitaker 9. Henry Armstrong 0. Packey McFarland
10 Sammy Angott 9 Julio Cesar Chavez 8 Bob Montgomery 7 Ike Williams 6 Battling Nelson 5 Joe Gans 4 Pernell Whitaker 3 Henry Armstrong 2 Benny Leonard 1 Roberto Duran Mentions: Jack McAuliffe, George Lavigne, Frank Erne, Tony Canzoneri, Barney Ross, Lou Ambers, Beau Jack, Jimmy Carter, Carlos Ortiz, Ken Buchanan, Esteban DeJesus, Guts Ishimatsu (Ishimatsu Suzuki), Alexis Arguello, Edwin Rosario, Jose Luis Ramirez, Hector Camacho Snr, Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley, Steve Johnson, Jose Luis Castillo and Floyd Mayweather Jr
1. Benny Leonard 2. Joe Gans 3. Roberto Duran 4. Tony Canzoneri 5. Ike Williams 6. Pernell Whitaker 7. Packey McFarland 8. Barney Ross 9. Julio Cesar Chavez 10. Lou Ambers
He took on Gans 3 times, in 3 wars, I dont hold Blackburn against Nelson, Nelson face perhaps the greatness black fighter of his era in Gans. Gans imo was the more danger foe.
1. Leonard 2. Duran 3. Whitaker 4. Gans 5. Williams 6. Armstrong 7. Ortiz 8. Canzoneri 9. Ross 10. Chavez
Since nobody answered the first time and I've seen it on a few more lists Im going to ask again.....for those who have put Whitaker above Gans, can you please explain why and what criteria you are using to come to this conclusion? Pea was a great fighter, but I just don't see this.
It's too hard to do divisional rankings, especially with a weight class like lightweight, where many of the greats did a lot of their work at weights other than lightweight E.g. McFarland, Duran, Armstrong, Ross, Canzoneri, Whitaker, Chavez, Arguello and many others all had large career stints outside the lightweight division - do they count towards their lightweight rankings?
I agree for the most part, but a comprehensive look at individual careers should separate good from great. We know mqany fighters post 140 recognizance had over the limit bouts, I think this is something that should be looked at especially considering fighters who had a day and a half weigh in cushion.