Thanks for the feedback last time. Making another stab at it Cheers! 1. Roberto Duran 2. Benny Leonard 3. Joe Gans 4. Pernell Whitaker 5. Henry Armstrong 6. Ike Williams 7. Carlos Ortiz 8. Packey McFarland 9. Tony Canzoneri 10. Lou Ambers 11. Freddie Welsch 12. Julio Cesar Chavez 13. Barney Ross 14. Joe Brown 15. Sammy Angott 16. Sammy Mandell 17. Floyd Mayweather Jr 18. Bob Montgomery 19. Ken Buchanan 20. Esteban Dejesus 21. George Lavigne 22. Jimmy Carter 23. Ismael Laguna 24. Willie Joyce 25. Jack McAuliffe
Man they’re so many great lightweights... Yeah I can definitely see arguello in there somewhere. I personally have him rated really high at 126 and 130
Great list! Man that top five is just insane. I would love to have seen Duran vs Armstrong. Sweet Pea vs Benny Leonard would be fun as well. Super deep weight class.
That's a good list. Your placement of Mayweather and exclusion of Mosely illustrates that ratings boil down to what you value. On one hand, Mosely notched a number of impressive kayo title defense, with his level of competition being a downside. On the otherhand, Mayweather's wins at 135 were less visually impressive, but he beat real opponents in JLC (who would likely be in the IBHOF if not for ill will from his repeated failures making weight). Also, Floyd beat Victoriano Sosa, who had hand speed to burn and serious, serious power in his starboard mitt. Unfortunately, after coming up just short against Spadafora and then losing decisively to Floyd, Sosa seemed to lose interest. My own two cents re Floyd and Mosely at lightweight: Shane was a killer at the weight, but Jesse James Leija was his only meaningful opponent after beating Holiday. Sawed off John Brown was the next best. I think Freddie Welsh deserves a spot safely in the top 10 as well. Maybe I'm biased since my family moved to America from Wales. Benny Leonard beating Welsh for the title was arguably the most significant changing of the guard fight in the division's history, even ahead of Duran beating Buchanan. Fun fact, Welsh once sparred rounds with the great F. Scott Fitzgerald.
F Scott Fitzgerald was a bum. Fighting a LW like Welsh while he himself was a MW is a blot on his already dismal record.
I got: 25 - Jose Luis Castillo 24 - Ismael Laguna 23 - Ken Buchanan 22 - George McFadden 21 - Esteban DeJesus 20 - Barney Ross 19 - Willie Joyce 18 - Bob Montgomery 17 - Henry Armstrong 16 - Sammy Angott 15 - George "Kid" Lavigne 14 - Frank Erne 13 - Jack McAuliffe 12 - Sammy Mandell 11 - Joe Brown 10 - Lou Ambers 09 - Tony Canzoneri 08 - Freddie Welsh 07 - Ike Williams 06 - Carlos Ortiz 05 - Packey McFarland 04 - Pernell Whitaker 03 - Robertto Duran 02 - Benny Leonard 01 - Joe Gans
Nice list. We’re pretty similar I got Mayweather over Castillo. Floyd really separated himself in class from Castillo in that rematch
He had a tiny handful of fights at the poundage and off the top of my head he's 3-0 against ranked opposition. Can't see why he'd be above someone like Sid Terris myself, but I'd take a guess at head to head?
I remembered Molina as soon as I pressed the reply button and hoped no one would think of him, . That win was especially impressive because Shane disposed of John John easily compared to Oscar, who outperformed Shane against their other shared opponents like Leija, Rivera, Vargas, and Mayorga
That's a harsh assessment. Whenever you think of criticizing someone, just remember that all the people in the world haven't had the same advantages you've had. That's something my father told me in my young and more vulnerable days, and I've been turning it over in my head ever since.