Thread: Is Kostya Tszyu really the greatest 140 pounder ever?

I am not asking this in a tongue in cheek way,I thought he was a great fighter,wonderful right cross,unified the division and beat soom good fighters along the way.But I never really considered him to be THE best at 140 ever. I don't know,I don't have great knowledge, so I'm asking you guys,was he really the best?There must be other contenders! Maybe I'm being harsh but to me personally, he doesn't have the signature win and his losses weren't to 2 legends or anything(although Hatton can still make a mark imo) I know at the time,Mitchell and Zab in particular,where very very highly rated,maybe I'm being harsh. Thoughts peeps?

Tszyu is highly regarded by all and respected universally.
At 140lbs his power was hard to equal and he trained hard to accompany that natural gift with stamina speed and boxing ability. His case for being thee best 140lber of all time is a strong one and perhapsI wouldn't hesittae so much in granting him this staus if it were not for the great level of competition at this weight.
Julio Caesar Chavez was great at this weight. Aaron Pryor had a short brutal reign exclusively at 140. Roberto Duran resided here long enough to make his case. Gavin Rees....just kidding!

For me Tszyu very well may be the best 140lb fighter of all time, but until I study his numerous competitors thoroughly first I hesitate to brand him the best.

I dont think so , he failed himself there a bit by not avenging his first loss.
That was a great fight and Vince Phillips deserved that win, he beat it out of Kostya which is the only way you could ever win against him. Chavez got caught at the end of his time, soooo ?

I think he was a bit overrrated! Yes he was a fantastic fighter, but I don't think his opposition was amazing by any means and he got owned by Philips and busted up by Hatton.

Best of his time, not best ever imo

When KT was an amature he was probably the most skilled ever.
That Fight against Vernon Forrest is still used as the pinnacle to reach for all amatures.

Originally Posted by BIG H

I think he was a bit overrrated! Yes he was a fantastic fighter, but I don't think his opposition was amazing by any means and he got owned by Philips and busted up by Hatton.

Best of his time, not best ever imo

I thought Philips just out gunned him later on,was a great fight up to that point (must dig that one out)

Great Point Andre, tszyu was an incredible amateur! That fight was just amazing!

No Chavez is its not even debatable.

Originally Posted by Ice Cold Boxing

No Chavez is its not even debatable.

i think from what we have heard it is...


from my point of view theres kostya, chavez and pryor but if hatton came bk down to unifiy ( i dont think he can personaly, but i really hope so) he could also make the claim, knocking out castillo, retireing kostya, beating the slick boxer puncher witter and the slick paulie. but like i said i think ricky may be poast his prime

Yeah my man Ricky has the opportunity on front of him, but with the masive booze up he's had the past month or so, coupled with his ticking body clock I fear he may never grasp the title.

As for the Kostya V Chavez question, would Chavez in his prime have handled Tszyu? Probably, but Tszyu still holds the upper hand.

I would agree Tszyu is the best 140 pounder

Originally Posted by oakleyno1

Originally Posted by Ice Cold Boxing

No Chavez is its not even debatable.

i think from what we have heard it is...


from my point of view theres kostya, chavez and pryor but if hatton came bk down to unifiy ( i dont think he can personaly, but i really hope so) he could also make the claim, knocking out castillo, retireing kostya, beating the slick boxer puncher witter and the slick paulie. but like i said i think ricky may be poast his prime

Julio Cesar Chavez made 12 defenses of Jr Welterweight title, 17 in total and he beat names like.

Chavez's best wins

Meldrick Taylor x2
Frankie Randall
Greg Haugen
Hector Camacho
Marty Jakubowski
Angel Hernandez
Roger Mayweather
Tony Lopez
Alberto de las Mercedes Cortes

Kostya Tszyu made 8 defenses, 13 in total.

Kostya Tszyu's best wins

Sharmba Mitchell x2
Diosbelys Hurtado
Jesse James Leija
Roger Mayweather
Julio Cesar Chavez
Diosbelys Hurtado
Miguel Angel Gonzalez
Rafael Ruelas
Zab Judah

Looking at the records its more debatable than i first thought.

The Phillips loss hurts his legacy unfairly IMO, he should have pulled out of that fight due to illness but being the champ he is he went ahead with it. If you watch that fight Tszyu was pounding Phillips for the first 3 rounds and very nearly stopped him, he lost all energy as the fight went on, he went into the ring at 138lb and did not gain lbs after the weigh in. Hatton got him at the end of his career, happens to everybody. Is he the best ever 140lb fighter? I go for Pryor just ahead of Tszyu and Chavez. I remember there was talk of Tszyu wanting to fight Chavez after he beat LaPorte in his 4th fight! I think he would have won.

No.


Pryor is the best, followed closely by Chavez then Tszyu.

But I don't think that if they fought each other any of them would have an easy night with the others.

I've thought for a while that his resume was overrated.

He doesn't have a great win, he has some good wins.

Doesn't mean he's not a good fighter, I think he was a great fighter but he never had that elite win. Maybe for a time Judah looked like a great win but does anybody really think that's a great win now? You can say it wasn't his fault that he never had that big fight win but that's not really the point.

And he didn't avenge his losses, although the Hatton one is understandable cause he was getting up there and just decided to retire.

So I would say no.