Who do you rate as the best Light Heavyweight of all-time?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Super Hans, Mar 17, 2015.


  1. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Sam Langford and Harry Greb might be the best of them all.
     
  2. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    Yes burt...Tunney would have that everpresent, important edge that he's always been credited for having....DISCIPLINE!! I think he would outgeneral Billy...I agree with you here!
     
  3. Chuck1052

    Chuck1052 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Taking a close look at their records, Ezzard Charles faced many more top fighters than Gene Tunney. Moreover, Tunney faced a number of top fighters who were still young, including Tommy Loughran, or well past their peak, including Battling Levinsky, Georges Carpentier, Tommy Gibbons and Jack Dempsey. You could also add Harry Greb to the list, but he still was a truly great fighter at the time he fought Tunney in a series of bouts.

    - Chuck Johnston
     
  4. Chuck1052

    Chuck1052 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Battling Levinsky was past his peak when he lost to Georges Carpentier by a knockout in the fourth round and to Gene Tunney by decision in a twelve-round bout. After beating Levinsky, Tunney took a brutal beating while losing by decision after fifteen rounds in his first bout with Harry Greb. Carpentier reportedly turned down a purse of $150,000. to fight Harry Greb, who probably would have taken him apart with little trouble during the late 1910s and early 1920s.

    - Chuck Johnston
     
  5. Super Hans

    Super Hans The Super One™ banned

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    I'd go with:

    1. Archie Moore
    2. Ezzard Charles
    3. Sam Langford
    4. Gene Tunney
    5. Bob Foster
    6. Michael Spinks
    7. Billy Conn
    8. Tommy Loughran
    9. Jimmy Bivins
    10. Roy Jones Jr
     
  6. Jake LaMotta

    Jake LaMotta Lights Out Full Member

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  7. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Best ever was Langford, maybe. Greatest is either Moore or Charles to me, although I'd go for Charles.
     
  8. PowerPuncher

    PowerPuncher Loyal Member Full Member

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  9. KuRuPT

    KuRuPT Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I like Sam L. as much as the next guy, but who did he beat at this weight to deserve to be no. 1 or top 3 even
     
  10. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I have days when I think that 175 was the deepest division of all!

    Being a top 10 heavyweight, is like being a top 30 light heavyweight.

    They split the division in half, and both halves were still among the best!
     
  11. Surf-Bat

    Surf-Bat Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Not really Burt. More like he "out-youthed" them. Both men were well past their best. Gibbons was at the end of his career.


    Except for Black fighters on his resume ;) That definitely goes to his detriment. That being said, Tunney was still an excellent fighter.
     
  12. Surf-Bat

    Surf-Bat Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I'd definitely take Conn over Tunney. Billy was faster and definitely more proven than Tunney. His chin withstood the bombs of a heck of a lot more big punchers than Tunney, who only fought one and that being a past-prime Dempsey.

    Tunney had a very carefully designed career, one where he made sure he had almost every conceivable advantage stacked in his favor or he wouldn't sign (The Greb book and the research on Gene's behind the scenes shenanigans, like insisting on his handpicked referee etc, made me lose a lot of respect for him).

    Conn on the other hand took ALL the risks that Tunney wouldn't in his own career. No negotiating table shenanigans and garbage like that. Conn fought any and everybody.
     
  13. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    I think you mean Battling Levinsky whom you are confusing with fringe heavyweight contender King Fish Levinsky.
    Battling Levinsky was a 10 year veteran when Carpentier beat him in 1920 ,his best days had irrevocably departed.
     
  14. Alexandrow Vids

    Alexandrow Vids Active Member Full Member

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    Foster and Conn.

    I know about Archie Moore´s reputation but there are simply not enough
    recordings for me to judge that^^
     
  15. Titan1

    Titan1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Archie Moore, reigned for about ten years,and did some damage beforehand.