I really don't know the answer to this one, but I do know two of the best - Ken Buchanan and Jim Watt - fought each other for the British title. Do we judge these two on who won that night, or should we compare their records as world champions? If we judge their world title fights, how important is it that one boxer had home advantage for all of his bouts while the other had most of his big fights overseas? Here's a link to Ken Buchanan vs Jim Watt on my Daily Motion channel: This content is protected
Watt wasn't really on Buchanan's level historically. Freddie Welsh and Buchanan are the two premier picks. Jack McAuliffe is also a contender if you include Ireland.
And yet, Watt had some very good wins as world champion. Admittedly, he would never have got away with what happened against O'Grady had it happened anywhere else.
1) Ken Buchanan 2) Freddie Welsh 3) Dave Charnley 4) Eric Boon 5) This would be tougher. One could say Owen Moran, but he was more of a featherweight, yet had some success at 135. You could throw Watt into the mix since he held a title. But there was also fighters like Ronnie James and Arthur Danahar. You could also throw in Charley White from Liverpool, but I don't believe he ever fought in Britain.
Freddie Welsh. His 11 x successful defences of the lineal LW title during his 3-year reign are bettered only by Gans & Duran. In fights contested at LW (allowing for a few lbs over in non title fights) he beat Benny Leonard, Jim Driscoll, Abe Attell, Philadelphia Pal Moore, Matty Baldwin x 2, Willie Ritchie x 2, Lockport Jimmy Duffy, Matt Wells, Johnny Dundee, Leach Cross, Joe Mandot, Charley White x 2, Battling Nelson, Ad Wolgast x 3 and Jimmy Anderson. Buchanan was a fine, fine LW, but he has neither close to the number of title defences nor the depth of win resume.
How do you see them H2H? Buchanan had a style that would trouble a lot of the classic LW greats imo, and he was a tough SOB to boot.
Ah man, I have no idea. I tend to steer clear of cross era fantasy fight predictions. Way too many unknown variables and for eras this far apart, its not comparing like for like anyway.
I don't know why I forgot Kid Berg. My top 3 would be Ken Buchanan, Kid Berg and Freddie Welsh. The order is up to the individual.
