History's Most Impressive Weight-Jumper?

Thoughts on these rare men? The types who shunned the dividing lines so many fear to tread? There are some truly gargantuan examples...

Manny Pacquiao, Henry Armstrong, Mickey Walker, Georges Carpentier --- all tremendous offerings.

 

Sam Langford should've been no bigger than a Junior Welterweight by today's standards and yet fought and KO'd heavyweights.

 

I'll bet he is in the Hall of Fame.:stir:

 

Did those old guys have to go through similar PED accusations like Pacquiao did?

 

dingaan thobela

 

De La Hoya covered a lot of ground, but it was clear even early on he'd never be able to stay at some of those smaller weight classes.

 

I read American Son about two years ago, & he made mention of the fact he was reduced to, "two egg whites & a couple of oranges," per day, while making Jr. Light & Lightweight.

 

I read for the last three days before his fight with Jimmi Bredahl, DLH had ice chips and nothing else. He could barely make 130.

 

Naturally pacman immediately springs to mind.

Armstrong is good.

Don't sleep on either Mayweather or De La Hoya. :nono:

 

The Orchid Man comes to mind. He fought in all 8 original weight divisions.

Hammerin' Hank...3 world titles at one time.

Pacman

Leo Gamez wasn't the most impressive, but he was the first ever flyweight to win titles in 4 weight divisions.

Dingaan Thobela was a lightweight who became a fat supermiddleweight and won a world title.

 

Roy was the first in 100 years to go from 160 to heavyweight and win a title.

 

Floyd

Roberto Duran

Iran Barkley from 160 to heavyweight. He even won a "title" at heavyweight, the WBB belt which is apparently a grade below the WBA belt.

 

Stanley Ketchel. He was a brave man, even though I've not really seen him fight.

 

With

 

I agree.

 

James Toney.

 

That claim was never really fair though, since it wasn't possible for most of the previous 100 years to beat a Ruiz-level guy for a paper belt.

 

If he's on, I guess Guillero Jones is on too.

 

Chris Byrd didn't start much above that.

 

9 pounds. I looked it up, and it's forcing me to start a new thread...

 

Very true, but on the flip side there weren't many guys who started at 160 that could have moved up and defeated even a Ruiz calibre fighter.

 

Agreed. I'm a big supporter of Jones ability. He's the best fighter I've seen since I started watching by far.

But that particular achievement needs an * as far as I'm concerned.

 

Chris kicked off at 169 and within a few fights was in the HW's.

 

Right, which also means he fought a lot more heavyweights.

 

That's a fair point, & one I would've made as well. An asterisk would seem appropriate.

 

not too let my Irishmans bias show too much, but lets not forget Jimmy McLarnin

 

I think most knowledgeable boxing fans already have the *.

Lennox was clearly the man, and if Roy actually beat him that would probably have put him in the all time top 10 P4P list on the spot. That's even if his career followed the same downward trajectory it eventually did. The fact is he didn't, and 99% of people know/believe that Lewis would have killed Roy.

I'm not trying to elevate or downplay Roy's win. It just is what it is.

It's just that the odd time there are weak lineal champions too. Baldomir is a clear example. Floyd deserved to be called the true champ after beating him. No question at all. Timing played a part though.

I just see it that Jones victory would be tainted no matter what, simply because the opponent was Ruiz. If Ruiz beat Rahman fresh after the Lewis KO and Jones defeated him? (Ruiz)

Roy would have been considered the legit lineal champion, but still never to this day would have the true recognition of a heavyweight champion of the world until beating Lewis.

 

Agreed, except I have to say, if Roy had managed to pull off the miracle and dethrone Lennox legitimately and without controversy, Mr Robinson would be giving up his seat. In my eyes anyway.

 

It's Hammerin' Hank and then everybody else, my brothers.

Honey Melody stands alone as Number One.

Karl

 

John Ruiz was a LEGITIMATE Top 5 Heavyweight, "Paper" Champion or Not...



REED:Lok: