I think my criteria is gonna weigh heavily on H2H. The only givens are that Floyd and Arguello are the top 2, which order you wanna place them in is debatable. I went Floyd, just because I would pick him over Arguello (bad style for Alexis). 1. Floyd 2. Arguello 3. Chavez 4. Pac 5. Camacho 6. Nelson Then after that it gets tough - you have Elorde, Casa, Loma, Mitchell, Villaflor, Corrales, Genaro Hernandez, Marcano, Molina, Escalera, Tony Lopez, Frietas, lots of guys. But im comfortable with my top 6.
I'm also gonna do H2H, since I have no idea how to rank the old guys like Dundee, but I can't leave them out. So first of all, Mayweather is #1. I don't like it, but I just don't think there's anyone with the style who was good enough to implement it with the effectiveness to beat Floyd at 130. Hot take: Fenech from Nelson I had the best chance of beating him. I don't buy that Arguello is a lock for second place. There's a few guys I think could beat him, and I'd give them good odds. Elorde, Pacquiao, Canzoneri, Dundee, Chocolatito, Camacho to name. I'd pick Canzoneri and Elorde to turn the trick. I'd pick Canzoneri over just about everyone who isn't PBF. Elorde and Camacho being stiff tests stylistically, but Canz figuring them out like he did Chocolate and Ambers. Chavez is pretty much tailor made for Canzoneri at 130, and in general. I think Nelson was proven to be a level below that true great. As shown vs Sanchez and Whitaker. Someone like Elorde, Camacho or Pacquiao is his level, I'd take him over all three. Guys like Chavez, Arguello, Floyd, Canz, etc; are all too good for him IMO. Pacquiao is an enigma. His skills, athleticism and mentality are that of one the very best ever, but his style has plenty of foils. It's too revolved around risk for my liking, and I think Arguello makes him regret said risk. Same with Nelson, Canzoneri, Floyd etc. Chavez & Elrode are the guys I can see him beating. Tough fights for sure. I think he'd put Camacho into survival mode after a few rounds. One guy who Xplosive didn't mention, but I think could possibly warrant it, is Marquez. Morales too, but I don't think he belongs near ten, just above guys like Loma, Hernandez, Corrales etc. Marquez can hang with almost anyone. I don't think he'd beat any of the fighters above him, but I think he's not too far behind them. Same with Fenech from Nelson I. My list, H2H, probably looks like this: #10. Juan Manuel Marquez #09. Hector Camacho #08. Jeff Fenech #07. Flash Elorde #06. Manny Pacquiao #05. Azumah Nelson #04. Julio Cesar Chavez #03. Alexis Arguello #02. Tony Canzoneri #01. Floyd Mayweather GOAT: Michael Gomez
I dunno about Fenech at 130. Jeff is a H2H beast from 118-126... not so much 130. I would take Corrales to take Fenech's head off at 130, even though Fenech was better P4P.
I'm not too sure about him either, to be frank. I just think from that first Nelson fight, he can take a lot of guys. Normally, I'd stutter at picking a smaller guy who swarms over bigger punchers, but Nelson is essentially as big a puncher as you can get, and Fenech - in the first fight, at least - handled his power well. But I think he gives Camacho, Nelson, Marquez and Floyd hard fights, beating three of them. Although he did lose to Nelson, he also clearly beat him IMO, and I think he'd beat Camacho and Marquez comprehensively. Could go to someone else, like Mitchell or Loma. I'd pick Jeff over both of those too. I'd have to revisit Dundee before I take judgement of him. Chocolate could also make the list. Maybe Shibata, too.
1960s onwards (title reigns in brackets) 1. Alexis Arguello (1978-80) 2. Floyd Mayweather (1998-2001) 3. Azumah Nelson (1988-93; 1995-97) 4. Manny Pacquiao (2007) 5. Flash Elorde (1960-67) 6. Julio Cesar Chavez (1984-87) 7. Genaro Hernandez (1991-95; 1997-98) 8. Brian Mitchell (1986-91) 9. Alfredo Escalera (1975-78) 10. Tony Lopez (1988-89; 1990-91) Top 6 are rock solid; 7-10 I could happily switch out for others.
