We all know size is important. But how important is it. How good is a light heavyweight champion really. Throughout history, how have the light heavyweight champions gone when stepping in against the World Heavyweight Champion. Many on here seem to think that this only happened in the older days and could never happen anymore, but is this really the case. During this thread, i would like to list every instance where World (or former) world light heavyweight champions have stepped up to fight the world heavyweight champion and see how these guys have done. Can they invariably make a fight of it, or are they blown out early. Bob Foster and Michael Spinks are two of the obvious examples of not being up to task but these two guys did fight, Frazier, Ali, Holmes and Tyson. Arguably 4 of the top 10 heavyweights of all time. And Spinks actually beat Holmes twice! Other modern light heavyweights to challenge for the crown include Michael Moorer. He lost to Foreman, but he did win the title from Holyfield, who himself is arguably a top 10 atg fighter. Roy Jones Jr also fought Ruiz and beat him quite comfortably. James Toney fought Sam Peter to a Split Decision loss and a UD loss. He also fought John Ruiz and beat him but it was later ruled no contest. Again, suggesting that World Light heavyweight champions can compete in fights against Heavyweights. I will try to think of other examples later, but often we hear of fantasy fights where light heavys are given no chance against good heavyweights and those thinking they might have a shot or last out of the first round are laughed at. But, does history suggest that htere is any credence whatsoever in this view?
Joey Maxim hung tough with Charles and Walcott, taking a ten round SD over Jersey Joe. Loughran could (and did) compete with many top heavyweights of his era.
Adamek is doing okay so far, outclassing the old superheavyweight Golota. It will be interesting to see if he makes a career at heavyweight, in the modern era.
Do you really want only lhw worldchamps? Because you would miss out on guys like Young Stribling, Gene Tunney and Ezzard Charles. All more than formidable lhws who did very well at hw. Others to add would be Archie Moore who beat many hw contenders. Philadelphia Jack O´Brian also competed with hws back in the day. Billy Conn would be one who even was competative with Joe Louis. Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom did good enough to bementioned. As did George Carpentier.