Vargas doesn't cut as much weight to fight either the Taylor of the Hopkins fights or the one that won a UD over Sam Soliman for the IBF belt.
Vargas kicks the shit out of him. Taylor's right hand is a threat early but I doubt he can stop Vargas early. Vargas TKO between 10 and 12.
The only world class success Taylor had was against guys that just weren't as "frisky" as him and he was able to outwork them. Vargas is on another level technically, he could fight through damage and come back from being hurt and he was busy with heavy hands. He's the logical choice.
Vargas in his prime never fought at 160 but both at their absolute best?? I have NO DOUBT that Vargas is the better fighter. Much better. If he could be as effective at 160 as he was at 154, I'd take him to outwork Taylor and win a clear UD, with a shaky moment or two in between.
Taylor wins PURELY on size, because Vargas was definitely the better fighter. But Taylor would be too big and Vargas never proved himself at 160.
you guys really fell hook line sinker for these ridiculous weight categories. Th'ere's barely any size difference between a natural light MW and a natural MW. Can't help but laugh when some claims Vargas is definitively better, yet would lose cause he so much smaller
Jermain Taylor was a LEGIT 6' 1/2 - 6'1 and UNLIKE Vargas, the Bulk of Taylor's Training Camps WEREN'T Dedicated Solely to WEIGHT LOSS... Taylor was a Naturally BIGGER Man than Vargas...Vargas had More Skill, Talent and a MUCH Higher Boxing IQ, but he was Undoubtedly SMALLER... REED Ain't Saying 'Nando Loses, but if he Did, SIZE Would Be the Biggest Reason Why... REED
Sorry, but REED Disagrees... Is There a "Negligible" Difference btwn a BIG Welter and a BIG Jr Middle???...A BIG Welter and a BIG Jr Welter???...A BIG Jr Welter and a BIG Jr Middle???...Of Course There is... BIG is BIG, Bruh... Taylor was BIGGER than Vargas, and Again, Taylor DIDN'T Allow Himself to Blow Up to Nearly 2oolbs btwn Fights...Vargas' Camps were Almost ALWAYS Dedicated to LOSING Weight, Whereas Taylor Comfortably Walked Around in the High 170's-Low 180's... Size WOULD Be a Factor... REED
I think that all the classes besides the original 8 are nothing more than a marketing scheme to have more champions and fees, hence for me the difference is negligible
If Vargas was a BIG puncher it'd be different, but he wasn't. He wasn't even a big puncher at 154, let alone 160.
Taylor would have 4 or 5 rounds to plow Vargas with a right hand and finish him. After that, during, and before, Vargas kicks his ass. Vargas wasn't as big, but he wasn't old and lazy like Hopkins. Vargas wasn't fast, but he wasn't clunky like Froch. Vargas didn't hit as hard, but he wasn't as mechanical and upright as Pavlik. He could push Taylor back and land, he could counter Taylor's sloppy punches and combos and he'd get more effective as the fight went on.
Froch might be a clunky oaf, but he's a MUCH bigger, physically stronger, and physically more durable man than Vargas, it isn't even close. And Vargas might have been more fluid than Pavlik, but he had NOTHING like the firepower Pavlik had, nor the physical strength. What you neglected to mention is, both Froch and Pavlik had MUCH better chins than Vargas. I doubt Taylor could stop Vargas, because he was the worst finisher we've ever seen, but I have no doubt he could hurt and drop Vargas, which would be enough on the cards. Vargas would have his moments, especially late, but I think Taylor builds up enough of a lead to win.
Pavlik and Froch needed to be bigger and tougher to beat Taylor because they had limitations Vargas didn't have. Vargas wouldn't be a big dumb sitting target waiting to do big damage like those guys were. He wasn't super fast but he had the skills and activity to be a lot more dynamic than those guys.
I think you're overrating Vargas' skills just a bit. He wasn't exactly Mike McCallum as a technician - he had limitations of of his own.
I think you're underestimating how crude and crappy Taylor was. He was nothing but a jab, a right hand and whole lotta sass that ran out against every good opponent he fought that could punch.