Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Oscar DeLahoya, Marco Antonio Barerra, Bernard Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley, Terry Norris, and the original and greatest Sugar, Sugar Ray Robinson.
Most of the ones, from the '40s on, BD, I saw live and couldn't agree more. I heard so much in the gym about what a tough SOB Mickey Walker was, I felt like I'd seen him.
1. Ricardo Lopez 2. Jung Koo Chang 3. Hilario Zapata 4. Eusebio Pedroza 5. Salvador Sanchez 6. Saoul Mamby 7. Tommy Cordova 8. Arturo Gatti 9. Bobby Chacon 10. Cornelius Boza Edwards 11. Alexis Arguello 12. Sugar Ray Leonard 13. Jiro Watanabe 14. Matthew Saad Muhammad 15. Marvin Hagler No particular order
Ike Williams is a favorite of mine, as well, M. The picture of Ike in your avatar hangs on the wall at the Wild Card Gym. It freaks-out some who see one of trainers, Sammy Stewart, who's a dead-ringer for Williams.
I rate Williams the #3 lightweight of all time and favour him over Roberto Duran and Henry Armstrong (though losing to the better boxer types such as Benny Leonard and Pernell Whitaker). Do you think this is justifiable, based on what you saw back in ye olden days? If you wouldn't mind, please explain the impression Williams left on you as a youngster - what did you think of him in the ring?
I never get into rating fighters, M; I can only reflect on who were my favorites. At lightweight, Duran and Williams were the gold standard, an incredible amalgam of punching power, speed, skill, ferocity, electricity, and every intangible. Face them and you were in against the perfect storm. Bob Montgomery is largely overlooked, but he was a helluva fighter.
Michael Spinks Marvin Hagler Davey Moore Donald Curry Milton McCrory Aaron Pryor Ray Leonard Thomas Hearns Ray Mancini Alexis Arguello Roberto Duran Edwin Rosario Hector Camacho Jeff Chandler Salvador Sanchez
I've never seen Montgomery in action - too young to have seen live, and no tapes exist to my knowledge. I've seen his most famous rivals, Beau Jack and Ike Williams, obviously, but not the man himself. We know Williams was top dog in the end, but who do you think achieved more out of Jack and Montgomery? I lean towards Jack. I get the feeling Montgomery was the better fighter at his best; more complete; but that Jack's sheer dedication meant he was a bit more consistent at the top level.
I'm not sure if I underdstand your question, M. But, if it's who was better between Jack and Montgomery? Montgomery was far better in every department, but Jack could match heart with anyone that's ever fought. His should've campaigned as "The Wolverine."
