The Mythical Super Featherweight Tournament.

Who was the best super featherweight of the last twenty-five years? Below is my take on a mythical tournament between who I think were the eight best fighters at super featherweight. The numbers in the brackets indicate the fighter’s record at super featherweight from 1980. Note that it is the achievements at super featherweight that I am looking at here, not at any other weights at which the fighters below may have fought.

Quarterfinals.

Julio Cesar Chavez (57-0) versus Oscar de la Hoya (13-0).

Chavez put in some of his finest performances as a 130-pounder while De La Hoya was learning his trade. Chavez had legitimate one punch power as a 130-pounder while De La Hoya struggled to make the weight, and showed only an average chin. Their two meetings at higher weights would in no way dictate how this fight goes; Chavez to pound the young and brave De La Hoya to an eighth round retirement.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (27-0) versus Hector Camacho Snr. (22-0).

A very intriguing match-up. Anyone who saw Camacho in the early-mid eighties as a 130-pounder knows how good he should have been. He was lightning quick, and believe it or not, had a fair punch. Mayweather too, was a phenomenon at the start of his career as a 130-pounder, and just gets the edge in this match-up, as he showed it in big fights at this division, while Camacho, although meeting some good opposition did not really have a super-fight as a 130-pounder. Mayweather by twelve-round split decision.

Brian Mitchell (43-1) versus Roger Mayweather (20-3).

Mitchell is possibly the most underrated fighter of the eighties, he reigned undefeated as a 130-pound titlist for six years (86-92) traveling the world, as he was (quite rightly) banned from fighting in his home country of South Africa. Roger had the look of something special at this division in the mid eighties until he unfortunately fought a near prime Chavez, and was blown away in two rounds. Mayweather had the speed and cute style to cause Mitchell problems, but in the end, Mitchell would find a way to win, as he always seemed to do. Mitchell by twelve round majority decision.

Azumah Nelson (12-2-2) versus Alexis Arguello (4-0).

Arguello qualifies as he had four fights at the weight right at the start of the eighties, before moving up. He was probably at his best as a 130-pounder, but his prime was in the late seventies. Nelson was a little past his best as a 130-pounder, but still quite some fighter. Arguello’s unique mix of methodical, disciplined boxing and occasional manic desperate assaults would faze the professor, causing him, despite having his moments, to be out-boxed over the twelve-rounds. Arguello by a unanimous decision.

Semi Finals.

Julio Cesar Chavez versus Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Mayweather had great potential as a 130-pounder, but could he upset the finished article that was Chavez? Chavez’ one weakness was that he hated speed, and Mayweather had plenty of that. But as a 130-pounder Chavez was not slow, he had punching power to frighten anyone (Floyd only has to ask Uncle Roger, to confirm that), and his chin was as solid as an Aztecan pyramid. Chavez would lose some of the early rounds getting to grips with Mayweather’s speed, but in the end, as Taylor found out, the brutal body assault would slow Floyd down, and Chavez would methodically break Mayweather down to an eleventh round stoppage.

Brian Mitchell versus Alexis Arguello.

A fight for the purists. Arguello was maddeningly inconsistent, while Mitchell was the model of consistency. Arguello gets the edge here because Mitchell would work as hard as he did in the first, in the twelfth, but Arguello’s flashes of brilliance would be the difference in a razor close decision. Arguello by split decision.

Final.

Julio Cesar Chavez versus Alexis Arguello.

These two missed each other by about five years or so, but what a fight it would have been. The problem with the stipulations in this tournament is that it runs form 1980, and Arguello was past his best by then, and Arguello would have had to have been at his very best to stand a chance in this fight. I am sure Arguello would have his moments, but in the end, Chavez was just as fast as he was at 130-pounds, but hit harder, was stronger and had the better chin. Arguello was brave, but all that means is that in the end, he would go the distance. Chavez by unanimous decision.

Stay tuned to SaddoBoxing.com for more of Simon Harrison’s exclusive mythical tournament articles coming soon.