Top 3 Fighters... In Last 30 Yrs ?

Yeh I would agree with the three you picked.

 

Chavez

de la Hoya

Whitaker

Did not include Leonard or Duran as both began their career more than 30 years ago.

 

And let's not forget Whitaker challenged a guy naturally 19 pounds heavier than him in his 4th weight class, whereas Chavez faced a guy naturally 5 pounds (if that) heavier than him.

My list:

1. Roberto Duran
2. Sugar Ray Leonard
3. Marvin Hagler

 

1. Pernell Whitaker
2. Roberto Duran
3. Marvin Hagler

Chavez and SRL are after Hagler.

 

The question is the best three fighters since 1977. So I'm going to pick fighters who's careers began around 1977 onwards, or at least won their first world title 30 years ago.

1. Sugar Ray Leonard
2. Pernell Whitaker
3. Marvin Hagler

 

I agree, I'm just saying the weightclass didn't have much to do with how tough of a fight it was for Chavez at 147. If you're just trying to say that Chavez shouldn't be downgraded compared to Pernell becuase Pernell won in 4 weight classes and Chavez in three, then that's fair enough.

Chavez did clean up 130 and 140, but his "unification" at lightweight was a sham, as Ramirez held the belt (that Chavez took) that everyone knew rightfully belonged to Whitaker.

 

Leonard
Hagler
Whitaker

 

I don't know about Chavez looking invincible. He looked pretty beatable against Lockridge, Laporte and in the second Mayweather fight, not to mention the Taylor fight which he just managed to salvage.

He had a lot of dominant performances in between, but so did Hagler. And when you consider some of the fighters Hagler beat, Duran, Hearns, Leonard (arguably), Chavez's best wins pale somewhat in comparison.

 

Since the title of this thread did not specify fighters who began their careers within the last 30 years, these are my picks.

1) Duran of Montreal and DeJesus III.
2) Hagler
3) Holmes

I'm sorry, but I simply can't bring myself to rate a non 15 round fighter.
I just can't.

 

You don't give Chavez and Whitaker the benefit of the doubt? These 2 both had exceptional stamina (especially Chavez). Whitaker maintained his high punch output through all the rounds and Chavez was known to get stronger as a fight progressed. I'd definently say that these 2 could do 15 rounds without too much hassle. In fact it'd be more beneficial to them, Chavez's win over Taylor wouldn't be tainted and Whitakers decision losses to Ramirez and De La Hoya would arguably never happen as he would have more rounds to cement the win.

 

If Chavez, Whitaker, and B-Hop had the opportunity to establish themselves as 15 round fighters (not their fault), then I would have to give them all very serious consideration.

Frankly, I can't bring myself to vindicate in any way what the powers that run boxing have done in ruining it this way. Another factor has to do with my only knowing of them primarily by reputation. I've described elsewhere on this forum how the abolition of the 15 round distance in professional boxing, and the imposition of headgear in amateur competition turned me off completely to both sports. (The wearing of mandatory headgear aggravates and accelerates the progression of brain damage by encouraging the tendency to accept a blow that would otherwise be actively defended against. It's nothing more than "feel good" regulation meddling and tradition tampering. As is often the case, the cure is worse than the disease. Want to magnify the speed with which boxers succumb to pugilistica dementia? Mandate 24 ounce gloves and more thickly padded headgear which obscures peripheral vision. Neurology would become the most popular specialty in medicine overnight!)

 

chavez

whitaker

hagler