Which Long Reigning Middleweight Champ, Had The Toughest Era?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Oct 3, 2023.


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  1. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    As it says.
    Monzon perhaps?
    Hagler maybe?
    Robinson?
     
    Fergy, Oct 3, 2023
    Fergy, Oct 3, 2023
    #1
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  2. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Robinson #1
    Monzon #2
    Hagler #3
    I 've no problem flipping Hagler and Monzon but Ray fought the overall harder competition
     
    Reinhardt, Oct 3, 2023
    Reinhardt, Oct 3, 2023
    #2
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  3. Mike Cannon

    Mike Cannon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Hi Buddy.
    In full agreement, they don't come much tougher than : LaMotta/ Turpin/ Basilio/ Fullmer/ Olsen, and the like.
    stay safe hombre.
     
    Mike Cannon, Oct 3, 2023
    Mike Cannon, Oct 3, 2023
    #3
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  4. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Now Deceased 2/4/25 Full Member

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    Carlos Monzon had a 7 year reign as World Middleweight Champion. Nov 7 1970 until he retired as champion on August 29 1977 after 14 successful title defenses but I would have to say the great Sugar Ray Robinson had the era of toughest competitors to his title in his 5 time reign as champion, he had contenders like Jake La Motta, Randy Turpin, Rocky Graziano, the era of Tony Zale, Gene Fullmer and Carmine Basilio.
     
    Richard M Murrieta, Oct 3, 2023
    Richard M Murrieta, Oct 3, 2023
    #4
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  5. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Yes when you see those names, Richard, it really reminds you of how tough that era was.
    Any of those names would fit in to any era and give the top guys a nightmare.
     
    Fergy, Oct 3, 2023
    Fergy, Oct 3, 2023
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  6. My dinner with Conteh

    My dinner with Conteh Tending Bepi Ros' grave again Full Member

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    1. SRR
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    3. CM
     
    My dinner with Conteh, Oct 4, 2023
    My dinner with Conteh, Oct 4, 2023
    #6
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  7. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Check this out,,the # of times Robinson fought these guys :
    Lamotta 6 times
    Bobo Olsen 4
    Fulmer 2
    Basilio 2
    Fritzie Zivic 2
    Sanny Angott 2
    Kid Gavilan 2
    Turpin 2
    Graziano 1
    Henry Armstrong 1
    Giardello 1
    Maxim 1

    What a time to be a boxing fan,,,,,,,
     
    Reinhardt, Oct 4, 2023
    Reinhardt, Oct 4, 2023
    #7
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  8. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    What an era!
     
    Fergy, Oct 4, 2023
    Fergy, Oct 4, 2023
    #8
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  9. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Though Robinson's competition may have been the toughest. I believe Hagler's is underrated. Especially the natural middleweight fighters like Antefermo, Sibson, Obemejimas, Roldan, Hamsho , and Minter.
    Any of those fighters had the ability and toughness to be champ in an era without a dominant or ATG one.
    And a few were.
     
    Flash24, Oct 4, 2023
    Flash24, Oct 4, 2023
    #9
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  10. kingfisher3

    kingfisher3 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    i'm not sold that robinson is the answer here.

    how many of those guys were ww's? hell, how many fought at lw?
     
    kingfisher3, Oct 4, 2023
    kingfisher3, Oct 4, 2023
    #10
  11. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Monzon fought ;
    Bennie Briscoe 2
    Nino Benvenuti 2
    Emile Griffith 2 a WW
    Jose Napoles WW
    Rodrigo Valdes 2

    That matches up poorly with Robinsons record.
     
    Reinhardt, Oct 4, 2023
    Reinhardt, Oct 4, 2023
    #11
  12. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Haglers resume:
    Sugar Ray Seales 3
    Willie Monroe 3
    Vito Antuofermo 2
    Cyclone Hart
    Alan Minter
    Duran
    Hearns
    Leonard

    3 best fighters he faced were 2 welterweights and a former lightweight
    Sugar Ray Robinson reigns supreme
     
    Reinhardt, Oct 4, 2023
    Reinhardt, Oct 4, 2023
    #12
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  13. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Now Deceased 2/4/25 Full Member

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    It sure was, I give credit where credit is due, Sugar Ray Robinson's contenders were plenty tough.
     
    Richard M Murrieta, Oct 5, 2023
    Richard M Murrieta, Oct 5, 2023
    #13
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  14. northpaw

    northpaw Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I agree with this order. Honestly the 70's MW's pretty much went through hell. That was a stacked division
     
    northpaw, Oct 5, 2023
    northpaw, Oct 5, 2023
    #14
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  15. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Great question. It depends on what you mean by long-reigning. But I think the best answer might be Mickey Walker. He did a bunch of years with the title and had to fight Tiger Flowers, Harry Greb, Ace Hudkins and Jock Malone. Pretty bad. If it's level of competition, check out how many times Bob Olson, who held the title for years, had to fight Sugar Ray.
     
    McGrain, Oct 5, 2023
    McGrain, Oct 5, 2023
    #15
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