Highest Level of Opposition Per Decade?

Which fighters had the higher levels of opposition per decade? Start wherever you feel comfortable.

 

50s - Gavilan
60s - Griffith or Ortiz
70s - Duran or Ali
80s - Leonard
90s - Whitaker
00s - Pac
2010s - Actually, I would give credit and say Canelo.

 

This is a good topic. Trying to figure out where ODH fits but he definitely comes to mind.

 

Double couldn't wait for a topic where he could chime in w/Oscar.

 

I don't even see how Duran comes close to Ali in the 70s.

 

I have a sneaky suspicion you wanna replace Duran with Olivares .

 

1900s: Sam Langford (?)
1910s: Soldier Bartfield
1920s: Harry Greb
1930s: Tony Canzoneri
1940s: Archie Moore
1950s: Kid Gavilan
1960s: Emile Griffith
1970s: Muhammad Ali
1980s: Roberto Duran
1990s: Evander Holyfield
2000s: Oscar De La Hoya
2010s: Manny Pacquiao

I so wanted to give the 30s to Risko, but he was too inactive.

 

Now that you mention it....

Nah, I just think Ali's opposition was wayyyyyy higher than Duran's in the 70s. I'd still take Ali even if Duran had fought Leonard in the 70s.

 

Holyfield is a good call. Wish he'd faced Golota, Tua and some others. But that's just because he was such an entertaining fighter - not because he didn't consistently fight top comp.

 

Spinks for the 80s. Crazy names on his resume

 

Spinks is a great shout.

 

He would be the only one with an argument over Leonard.

 

Given that Duran fought Hagler and Hearns and the Leonard himself three times but also Benitez, I don't see why Duran doesn't have an argument over Leonard.

 

1980s i vote for juan laporte.

he fought: sanchez, lockridge, pedroza, castillo, gomez, mcGuigan, chavez among others.

 

I was just looking at Laportes record due to Pea's mention on ESB.

I think Hagler, Leonard, Hearns and Benitez - all centre of their prime - is more impressive. Not only are they better fighters on the whole than Chavez, Pedroza, Sanchez and Gomez, they were all closer to their best IMO. Gomez at 126 wasn't close to as great as he was at 122, but he was very good still. Same with Chavez to a degree, he was great at 130, just not anywhere near as great as he was at 135.

 

Yeah, I wanted to mention Laporte regardless of my realization that the Nelson fight occurred in 1990. If that had made it under the cut off he’d have been my standalone choice. As it is, you’re probably right. Duran and Hearns for me. Leonard fought one of his big 4 in the previous decade, so he’s already behind them. Then you factor in how little he actually fought in the decade and he’s out of the picture altogether.

 

The revised list:


1890s: George Dixon
1900s: Philadelphia Jack O’Brien
1910s: Soldier Bartfield
1920s: Harry Greb
1930s: Baby Arizmendi
1940s: Archie Moore
1950s: Kid Gavilan
1960s: Emile Griffith
1970s: Muhammad Ali
1980s: Thomas Hearns
1990s: Evander Holyfield
2000s: Manny Pacquiao
2010s: Saul Alvarez

 

I'd argue Lloyd Marshall for the 40s.