To clarify, not necessarily the weightclass in which their greatest achievements lie, but where you thought they were at their absolute peak as fighters. Erik Morales Roy Jones Manny Pacquiao Felix Trinidad Tommy Hearns Pernell Whitaker Oscar De La Hoya Shane Mosley Julio Cesar Chavez Floyd Mayweather IMO... Morales - Super-Bantam Jones - Super-Middle Pacquiao - Jr. Welter Trinidad - Jr. Middle Hearns - Jr. Middle Whitaker - Light De La Hoya - Jr. Welter Mosley - Light Chavez - Light Mayweather - Jr. Light Thoughts?
None that I strongly disagree with. It's kind of hard to pick some due to the lack of fights for certain fighters at a weight class. Particularly Pacquiao and 140. I thought that Trinidad might've actually been best early in his WW reign, in 1994 against the likes of Carr and Campas, where he was a little better on his feet and didn't load up as often on his punches. Tito was never going to be some super-skilled boxer but I thought he was a little more intelligent back then. Mosley can go for either 135 or 147. Although he was dominant at 135, that was also because of the opposition. I thought the Mosley of 147 from the Wise fight to the Stone fight looked brilliant, especially against DLH. Mayweather looked great at 140, but it's a little hard to compare if he was better there or at 130 since his opposition at 140 was poor. Definitely agree with Chavez, I think he peaked in the fight with El Chapo.
whitaker might have been at his peak at 140 when he beat up pineda. financially it made more sense for him to move up to 147. even the chavez fight took place at some catchweight although whitaker's welterweight belt was on the line. not sure if it would've made any difference at 140, but that was a fight that chavez nor king wanted during whitaker's brief stint at 140.
Erik Morales -- 122 Roy Jones -- 168 Manny Pacquiao -- hmmm... 130 Felix Trinidad -- 147, but he was always in love with his power and always stupid, my Puerto Rican friends Tommy Hearns -- 154 Pernell Whitaker -- 135 Oscar De La Hoya -- 140 Shane Mosley -- 135 Julio Cesar Chavez -- 130 Floyd Mayweather -- 130
So you think the Manny that got hurt and couldn't KO Larios is better than the current Manny? :dunno:
I think he's clearly at his best at 140-147. Which may lead us to open a new question. Is Pacquiao the only fighter in history to be at his best when he moved up to his biggest weight class?
If you truely believe he's his best @ 147 then i'd have to think he'd be the only one with that distinction. Most fighters hit a wall at some point whereas Manny keeps looking better and better. Unreal.
Im still not sure the current Manny isnt a product of some sort of massive drug binge, so I am a little bit hesistant to rate him if he is for real, I would have to say the current Manny is the best, agreed
Surely not? There are loads of fighters who drained weight in the lower divisons before settling into a weightclass they never left. Admittedly, plenty went up further in weight & were weakened, but I would have to think there'd be more than just one in this category. Top of my head, what about Michael Moorer? He was a devastating force at Light-Heavy, & not anywhere near as destructive at Heavyweight, but up in that heavier class, he developed skills, experience & big-fight know-how he never had a chance to at Light-Heavy. Likewise, Evander Holyfield, who some might also consider for this.
