Your top 5 all time lightweights and a little of why...

I have Gans, Leonard, Armstrong, Duran and Whitaker in my Tier 1. Never can decide who should be on top, the only one who I can´t put at number one is Sweet Pea but I often put him above one or another of the rest so, he has to be up there.

 

Well when looking at it from an accomplishments point of view Armstrong can't be anywhere near that high. If you're talking purely ability than a case can certainly be made, but the same case has to be made for Whitaker in that case. When taking everything into account, here's my list:

1. Benny Leonard
2. Joe Gans
3. Roberto Duran
4. Pernell Whitaker
5. Ike Williams

Carlos Ortiz would rank at #6. Whitaker above Williams based on consistency and dominance, though his wins resume pails in comparison admittedly and I have no problem with Williams ranking higher.

 

1 Joe Gans
2 Ross
3 Leonard
4 Armstrong
and 5 perhaps Duran or Williams.

 

There's no way Ross can rate above Leonard. Unless you're basing it off his win over a shot Leonard at the very end of his career. Leonard's body of work at the weight far outdoes Ross's.

 

Based on what they accomplished at the weight and overall ability

#1. Benny Leonard
#2. Roberto Duran
#3. Joe Gans
#4. Ike Williams
#5. Pernell Whitaker

Ortiz and probably Canzoneri come in next.

 

1. Roberto Duran
2. Joe Gans
3. Benny Leonard
4. Ike Williams
5. Pernell Whitaker

 

Leonard never fought the Canzi's, and the Armstrongs, Ok Ross never did defend the belt when he won it. But he beat other guys that held the title.

 

In that case, Ross never fought the Lewis's, the Britton's, the Kilbane's, the Welsh's, the Tendler's, The Kansas's, the Bartfield's, The Dundee's, the Cline's, etc. Probably because the two fought in a different era for the most part chief. And FYI, Ross never fought Armstrong at LW.

Leonard's body of work work and legacy at the weight far surpasses Ross's, though Ross has his own legacy in being the first simultaneous 3 weight champ(though not as impressively as Armstrong's feat).

 

1. Roberto Duran
2. Benny Leonard
3. Joe Gans
4. Pernell Whitaker
5. Ike Williams

If you make your decision based on ability and achievement (as opposed to solely on achievement), then Duran must be number 1 IMO.

 

1. Roberto Duran
2. Pernell Whitaker
3. Ike Williams
4. Henry Armstrong
5. Joe Gans

 

As big of an edge that Duran's overall ability is over Leonard, Leonard's edge in resume at the weight is probably even bigger. But I won't argue too much with Duran at #1, he was so dominant and at his best was the overall most impressive fighter I've ever seen. My all-time favorite.

 

You have to take into account the different eras when taking into account ability and skill-set though. Leonard was just as big a phenom for his time as was Duran for his, in different ways.

 

1 Benny Leonard
2 Joe Gans
3 Roberto Duran
4 Pernell Whitaker
5 Ike Williams

Same as SP's list. Though on a p4p scale, I have it Duran, Leonard, Gans, Whitaker, Williams.

 

I'm not familiar with you ,but I would like to compliment you on your post,good choices.imo.You are a welcome addition to our merry throng.