Why have we not seen too many legendary light heavyweights for quite some time now?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by themostoverrated, Dec 23, 2022.


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  1. themostoverrated

    themostoverrated Active Member Full Member

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    The light heavyweight division was a weight class that was stacked with talents of the highest skill and order. Think of all the big names that graced the squared circle in this division until the 1980s. Think of Bob Fitzsimmons (the three-division champ), Jack O'Brien, Jack Dillon, Battling Levinsky, Georges Carpentier (the orchid man), Jack Delaney, Tommy Loughran, Harry Greb, Georges Carpentier, Gene Tunney, John Henry Lewis, Billy Conn, Joey Maxim, Ezzard Chales, Jimmy Bivins, Archie Moore (the old mongoose), Harold Johnson, Willie Pastrano, Dick Tiger, Bob Foster, Marvin Johnson, The Muhammad trio (Qawi, Mathew and Eddie) and Michael Spinks. It seemed that this division was a work of divine creation - an endless supply of pugilist icons that would never cease to marvel us.

    And then something happened. Suddenly, we stopped seeing a steady flow of legendary light heavyweights. Yes - we have seen Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins. But can we for sure claim that their best performances were at 175 pounds? Even if we do, it seems that these two legends might well serve as two notable exceptions in an otherwise dull series of good but not-so-great fighters.

    What can explain this phenomenon? Was it the creation of a new 'cruiserweight' division in the 1980s that was responsible for the decline of the 175 pounders? Or was it the formation of another division seven pounds south of it? Or is there some other reason?
     
    themostoverrated, Dec 23, 2022
    themostoverrated, Dec 23, 2022
    #1
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  2. The Funny Man 7

    The Funny Man 7 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Artur Beterbiev looks like he has the stuff to be a legendary light heavyweight. The problem is, he needs to fight more often and against better opponents.

    Dmitry Bivol is quietly building a strong resume as well.

    They're both in the middle of their career's, so it's impossible to say if they will go down as legends, but both are going in that direction.
     
    The Funny Man 7, Dec 23, 2022
    The Funny Man 7, Dec 23, 2022
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  3. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    I don't think either Fitz or O Brien had much competition at Lhvy.
     
    mcvey, Dec 23, 2022
    mcvey, Dec 23, 2022
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  4. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Because of SMW and CW. Up until these divisions were adopted, fighters either had to squeeze into MW (impossible for real light-heavyweights) or fight at HW (very difficult for LHWs) which means men are as likely to make their bones at 168lbs. LHWs are split over a bunch of different divisions. Holyfield might have been stuffed into LHW for years as a monster 175lb fighter if there was no CW.
     
    McGrain, Dec 23, 2022
    McGrain, Dec 23, 2022
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  5. Pepsi Dioxide

    Pepsi Dioxide Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    100% spot on. Look at the top 10 light heavys right now, then take the top ten of super middle and top ten of cruiser and make a top ten list of those divisions. That's what light heavy should be (obviously a few in the smiddle and cruiser would go to middle and heavy respectively, but you get the point)
     
    Pepsi Dioxide, Dec 23, 2022
    Pepsi Dioxide, Dec 23, 2022
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  6. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I have high hopes for the current top two.
     
    janitor, Dec 23, 2022
    janitor, Dec 23, 2022
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  7. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    I have high hopes for the current top 2.
     
    janitor, Dec 23, 2022
    janitor, Dec 23, 2022
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  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I have high hopes for the current top, too.
     
    McGrain, Dec 23, 2022
    McGrain, Dec 23, 2022
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  9. LoadedGlove

    LoadedGlove Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Cinderella division. No money, never has been.
     
    LoadedGlove, Dec 23, 2022
    LoadedGlove, Dec 23, 2022
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  10. Vic The Gambler

    Vic The Gambler Active Member Full Member

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    I think both Beterbiev and Bivol have the tools to reach the highest levels that some of those ATG LHWs mentioned in the OP did.Unfortunately though due to today’s boxers not fighting as much as in the past…Covid interruptions from 2020 to 2021 didn’t help either when it came to adding to Resumes…there will always be the doubters saying things like:
    ”Great fighters, but they weren’t busy enough.”
    My own opinion on those two is they really need to fight eachother and if so I would definitely put the winner of that mouthwatering duel into the very top bracket in history, regardless of numbers. After all, all you can do is to beat the best in your era. The rest is beyond your control.

    My general opinion on the demise of great LHWs concurs with what was said previously…the arrival of the SMW and Cruiserweight divisions has watered down the LHW division a lot.
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2022
    Vic The Gambler, Dec 24, 2022
    Vic The Gambler, Dec 24, 2022
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  11. Mastrangelo

    Mastrangelo Active Member Full Member

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    The question that I have, is the decline in level of talent or competitivness in Light Heavyweight division bigger than in other divisions? I'd say probably not.

    Those things come in waves. I think We had a lot of great talent in Light-Heavyweight division for quite a while now, from Kovalev and Stevenson, to Bivol and Beterbiev. They could be legendary, if They all fought each other.
    I think it's similar in most division over the past - Idk - 25 years at least.
     
    Mastrangelo, Dec 24, 2022
    Mastrangelo, Dec 24, 2022
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  12. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    We have two very special guys right now with Beterbiev and Bivol. The problem is the sport doesn't have the popularity it once had. I bet if you asked the average person on the street who either guy was they wouldn't ha e clue. Hell, the majority of the people posting in the classic forum don't watch boxing anymore and have no idea who they are. Both guys had very deep amateur backgrounds and are highly skilled. Beterbiev hits as hard as anyone I have seen at 175.
     
    AwardedSteak863, Dec 24, 2022
    AwardedSteak863, Dec 24, 2022
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  13. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think the talent has been there for the last decade, the problem is getting the fights made.
     
    Bokaj, Dec 24, 2022
    Bokaj, Dec 24, 2022
    #13
  14. AntonioMartin1

    AntonioMartin1 Jeanette Full Member

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    You forgot to mention Jose Torres, Virgil Hill and Victor Galindez...I''ll say...more money at Heavyweight?
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2022
    AntonioMartin1, Dec 24, 2022
    AntonioMartin1, Dec 24, 2022
    #14
  15. BEATDOWNZ

    BEATDOWNZ Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    Kovalev is a modern great. A pure joy to watch.
     
    BEATDOWNZ, Dec 24, 2022
    BEATDOWNZ, Dec 24, 2022
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