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Who was the best lightweight of the last twenty-five years? Below is my take on a mythical tournament between who I think were the eight best fighters at lightweight. The numbers in the brackets indicate the fighter’s record at lightweight from 1980. Note that it is the achievements at lightweight, which I am looking at here, not at any other weights at which the fighters may have fought.
Quarterfinals.
Julio Cesar Chavez (6-0) versus Jose Luis Castillo (13-2-1).
Chavez was at the pinnacle of his great career on the night in 1987 when as an underdog, he destroyed Edwin Rosario to win a world title at lightweight. Castillo as a lightweight has only dropped two close/controversial decisions to Floyd Mayweather Jr. The problem Castillo has against Chavez is that he lacks the firepower to war with him, and he lacks the speed that gave Chavez trouble. Castillo is brave and seems to have a very solid chin, but Chavez would be far too good for him, pounding out a unanimous decision.
Oscar de la Hoya (7-0) versus Floyd Mayweather Jr. (4-0).
De La Hoya started to come of age as a lightweight while Mayweather seemed to fall back from his superb career as a 130-pounder. De La Hoya was at his most powerful as a lightweight, and Mayweather seemed to struggle in his fights against Castillo and Sosa. Mayweather’s movement would undoubtedly cause De La Hoya headaches but in the end, Oscar’s edge in power and physical size would mean he could bully Mayweather enough to gain a close but unanimous decision.
Shane Mosley (32-0) versus Alexis Arguello (6-0).
Mosley showed flashes of his brilliant best as a lightweight, but could also fight down to his opponent’s level, and give his opposition too much respect. As a lightweight, Arguello was coming to the end of his great career, and was very flaky, getting knocked down by fighters who would not have touched him in his pomp, and yet showing his superb skills in beating a solid champion in Jim Watt and an up-and-comer by the name of Ray Mancini. I think Mosley’s speed would win him this fight, I do not think Arguello had the discipline at this stage of his career to keep to a plan to neutralize Mosley’s advantages. Mosley by unanimous twelve-round decision.
Pernell Whitaker (27-1) versus Edwin Rosario (22-4).
Edwin Rosario was the one world class lightweight Whitaker did not meet in his era at lightweight. Whitaker at 135-pounds was amazing, he seemed almost untouchable, a defensive genius, and the only defeat he suffered (against Ramirez) was one of the worst decisions seen in modern boxing history. Rosario had his right hand, as Livingstone Bramble and Hector Camacho found out, and I guess there was always the chance that Rosario could have gotten lucky and landed it against “Sweat Pea,” but I seriously doubt it. Whitaker by a unanimous twelve-round decision.
Semi Finals.
Julio Cesar Chavez versus Shane Mosley.
I see this fight going the same way as Chavez-Taylor I, but in less controversial circumstances, as Chavez was a lot better as a 135-pounder compared to 140-pounds. Mosley would pick up the first few rounds, but slowly, Chavez would start to crowd Mosley, battering him into submission. Maybe Mosley could get it to the final bell, but I reckon Chavez would get to him late. Chavez by a TKO in eleven rounds.
Pernell Whitaker versus Oscar de la Hoya.
Of course, they met as welterweights, and Pernell, way past his best, gave Oscar one hell of a fight, dropping the close decision. This time, Whitaker would be fighting at his best weight, in his prime; he would just be too cute for De La Hoya. But the fight would not be a total mismatch, because De La Hoya was fast enough to catch Whitaker with his right hand every now and again, and although I take Whitaker to win the unanimous decision, it would not surprise me if he had to get off the canvas once or twice, particularly early in the fight, to do it.
The Final.
Pernell Whitaker versus Julio Cesar Chavez.
They met in their controversial draw of 1993 at welterweight, but that would have little to do with a match-up at 135-pounds when both were at or near their best. Whitaker, unlike Meldrick Taylor would use his speed to dodge and parry punches while standing in front of his opponent rather than running and boxing on the back foot; this style meant that Whitaker did have to be very strong, even though he was feather fisted. Chavez at lightweight was a classic box/puncher with underrated technical skills and he was a murderous body puncher. Whitaker would have to be at his very best to stand up to Chavez for the full twelve rounds. Chavez could be a slow starter, and would give many of the early rounds away, but slowly, he would wear down Whitaker, landing more and more punches as the fight went on. Whitaker would desperately cling on to his early advantage to gain a razor thin split-decision win over Chavez…..but, if the fight was a fifteen-rounder, that would have been a different story.
