Top 50 Middleweight of all Time

[url]http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/...part-one-50-41[/url]

I appreciated McGrains work, even if I think some of his choices after some study don't make a lot of sense. Best I can tell he doesn't discount losses as much as others do. Having said that I hope he keeps up the good work. If I ever. want to do a top 100, I can use his for a list of names.

The light heavyweight division is becoming one of my favorites in history and present times. While the heavyweight division has gone up essentially 2 full weight classes since the 1960's, ( Say about 30 pounds for the average top ten person ) the light heavyweight division has not, and you see less BS on the scales at light heavyweight. In 2 years, the Light heavyweight could be the best division in boxing.

 

No love for Al Hostak? I'd have figured being a murderous puncher and being the first since Ketchel to reclaim the title would've gotten him a slot.

 

Jack Dempsey (the original one) is in a similar boat to Peter Jackson at heavyweight in that he could rate higher though it's hard to make the case what with the incomplete records and zero film.

In his time he was a phenomenon.

 

No doubt the spirit of Les Darcy is snarling at that list.

 

To make a quick point I'll use Joey Maxim. He lost 29 times, and often lost vs. the best he fought, yet you rate him ( You tell me ) based on being very active and beating a few names.

On film the guy had a jab, and toughness, but limited power and versatility.

Maxim is not in my top 20 at light heavyweight, but I think you had him there.

The best all time fighters should not lose more than 2-3 times in their prime for every 40 fights they have, and only once to a journey man level type.

Of course the losses and wins needs to be put into prospective. Who they beat, how they beat them, and when they beat them matter.

In Maxim's case, he beat Sugar Ray Robinson. Very impressive on paper, but the facts are Robinson was up 10-3, 9-3-1, and 7-3-3 on the cards, and dried out due to 104 degree heat exhaustion. I would call this a lucky win that would not be repeated.

I also think you tend to under value modern and active fighters a bit.

 

Okay, I checked and you had him at #33 for Maxim.

Moorer at #50? He'd clean house on many lower!
Delaney is way too high. Why is he that high on your list?
Langford too low.

As for middles, why H. Williams way up there? What film have you seen on him? Fast for sure, but not a puncher and one who lost a lot, often to the best he fought.

 

...When Cocoa Kid was a WW. He does have draws against Burley and Williams when fighting as a middleweight. Dunno if that would be enough to warrant entry on my personal list, but still good results.

Darcy should go over Klaus, I think...though I do like the inclusion of Klaus on the list.

Rodrigo Valdez should be included. Like Reggie Johnson a lot as a fighter, but not enough to rate him in a crazy deep MW field.

 

I'd find a place for Sibson tbh.He'd smash Golovkins face in.