Hello ESB fans. Recently, I compiled my list of gr8est welters I know of not counting the many I havent seen. It was close so I had a difficult time putting everyone in the correct order. My question is: of two of those that fell into the consolation group (11-15) which of these two deserves to be higher and why? Hitman Hearns or Don Cobra Curry?
Cuevas outranks Tommy in defenses. Spent four years at the top to Tommy's one. Plus Tommy's rign is one of the most forgettable, least eventful. Curry's reign while not as memorable as Cuevas', is something of an achievement even if his best available opponents were Starling and Jun-suk Hwang. Still better than Primera, Baez or Shields
How do you justify Kid Gavilan being outside your top ten then when he held the title for 4 years and beat the likes of Carmen Basilio, Billy Graham, Gil Turner, Bobby Dykes, Chuck Davey and Johnny Bratton? I know it's not quite the same as beating Angel Espada, Harold Weston, Pete Ranzany, Randy Shields and a shot Clyde Gray and Billy Backus, but surely it should get him making the top 10?
Hearns, Longevity's a factor here. Better quality of opposition, o.k Leonard & Hagler beat him, but they were both great fights of which he avenged the loss to Leonard, even though he didn't get the decision. He also started at Welterweight & went all the way up to Cruiser, winning titles along the way.
Where did you have Leonard, Rooster ? Cant wait for this (Im off to search for myself right now but I had to ask just in case I cant find the thread) :good
I believe it's on page three. Sadly, SRL did not make top ten and was forced to settle for the honorable mention consolation. A matchup with Pryor and would have added significantly to his reputation and status.