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Who was the best junior welterweight of the last twenty-five years? Below is my take on a mythical tournament between who I think were the eight best fighters at junior welterweight. The numbers in the brackets indicate the fighter’s record at junior welterweight from 1980. Note that it is the achievements at junior welterweight that I am looking at here, not at any other weights at which the fighters below may have fought.
Quarter Finals.
Julio Cesar Chavez (33-3-1) versus Oscar de la Hoya (3-0).
De La Hoya briefly visited the division in 1996-1997, and one of the three fights he had was against Chavez; a fight in which Chavez choose to step into the ring knowing he was badly cut in sparring ten days before the fight. Sadly for everyone concerned, the eye opened up again in the very first minute, ultimately causing the fight to be stopped in the fourth. Chavez by this time was coming to the end of the road, indeed, from the moment he moved to 140-pounds and beat Roger Mayweather in a rematch, he never quite looked the force he was as a 130 and 135-pounder. By contrast, De La Hoya was perhaps coming into the prime of his career. So, although Chavez was a better fighter in 1989-1990, I still do not think the 140-pound version of Chavez beats Oscar at this weight. De la Hoya wins a fairly unanimous decision.
Aaron Pryor (12-0) versus Roger Mayweather (28-7).
Pryor had to move up to 140-pound division in 1980 to get a shot at a world title, after being avoided for a number of years by the best 135-pounders (Pryor’s preferred and best weight). But that said, Pryor’s most notable wins against Cervantes and the epic first bout with Arguello built a reputation as perhaps one of the most underrated fighters of the 1980’s. Sadly, Pryor’s career would fall apart when he became hooked on cocaine. Mayweather was the premier fighter at junior welterweight from the end of Pryor’s reign, until Chavez’s arrival at the division. Mayweather was a very special fighter, but unfortunately for him, Pryor from 1980 to 1982 was awesome. Mayweather would win some of the early rounds, as Pryor sometimes was a bit of a slow starter, but “The Hawk” would find his range by the third or fourth, and have Mayweather out of there in the seventh.
Meldrick Taylor (10-1) versus Pernell Whitaker (4-0).
These two friends, like Frazier and Norton, said they would never fight each other, but what a match-up it could have been. The only man faster than Whitaker in his era was Taylor. But Taylor, unlike Whitaker choose to use his great speed as an offensive tool rather than purely defensive. Because of this, Taylor at his best was an amazing sight, and we all know how close he came to becoming a true boxing superstar; about two seconds away! The fight also favors Taylor as it is set in his preferred weight division; Whitaker, much like Chavez was a smidgeon past his best as a 140-pounder. So, I take these two to match and cancel each other out for much of the fight, but Taylor’s more eye-catching offensive work and slight edge in size to be the difference as Meldrick gains the majority nod over the twelve-rounds.
Kostya Tszyu (31-1) versus Frankie Randall (21-3).
Randall will forever be remembered as the first man to floor and beat the great Julio Cesar Chavez, and he did go on to put a good run of form together before old age finally caught up with him. Tszyu seems to actually be getting better with age; indeed, it could be argued that his recent victory over Mitchell was his finest performance. I’m sure Randall’s ring savvy and craftiness that comes with being a fifty-fight veteran, would cause Tszyu a bit of a headache, but in the end, Tszyu would figure Randall out, and his vicious assaults would overwhelm the veteran in the tenth.
Semi Finals.
Aaron Pryor versusMeldrick Taylor.
This truly would have been a spectacle. Taylor would jump into an early lead, but Pryor’s bombs would start getting though in the middle rounds. However, I just think Taylor could hold on in a twelve-rounder to gain what I suppose would be considered the upset split twelve-round win.
Kostya Tszyu versus Oscar de la Hoya.
This is one of those fights akin to a Bowe-Lewis showdown that should have been, but for whatever reason did not happen. If they met in 1996-1997, I would have taken De La Hoya to gain the points decision, but as I previously stated, Tszyu has gotten better as he surpassed his thirtieth birthday. De La Hoya’s speed, size and power would still give him an excellent chance of winning, but I think Tszyu’s edge in experience over the 1996 vintage of “The Golden Boy” would be the telling factor in this fight. Tszyu by a majority decision.
Final.
Meldrick Taylor versus Kostya Tszyu.
Another very intriguing encounter. If Tszyu is to win this, he is going to have to beat Taylor’s body mercilessly to neutralize Taylor’s speed. And I think Tszyu has the ability to do that. He is a slightly better boxer than the 1990 version of Chavez, who caught up with Taylor. But it would not be easy, and if Taylor decided to box on the back foot, he probably could outpoint Kostya. But that was not Taylor’s way, he would eventually start trading with Tszyu and Tszyu would start breaking Taylor down. Taylor certainly did not lack heart, but I think by the twelfth round, behind on points, and taking a ferocious beating, Taylor’s corner would signal their charges surrender. Tszyu by TKO in the twelfth.
