Who would have beaten a prime Whitaker?

[IamInuit]

Pep was a small featherweight and watching those two fight would not garner high expectations.

Lots of people could and many would beat Whitaker. I’m not even going to touch 147 because Whitaker has no business being in the conversation. 135 and 140 can be combined for this as most of the lightweights in history could have campaigned there if the weight class existed and many of them did when it did.

Sam Langford Yup, that Langford.
Joe Gans
Eddie Perkins
Benny Leonard
Carlos Ortiz
Henry Armstrong
Beau Jack
Wilfredo Benitez
Niccolino Locche and the bonus would be its use as a sleep aid.
Shane Mosley
Duilio Loi
Roberto Duran
Ike Williams
Barney Ross
Antonio Cervantes
Juan Coggi
Jack Berg
Floyd Mayweather bit of another sleeper
Tony Cazoneri
Ricky Hatton
Alexis Arguello
Freddie Welsh
Jose Louis Castillo
Joe Brown
Ken Buchanan

[ElTerribleMorales]

Pep was a small featherweight and watching those two fight would not garner high expectations.

Lots of people could and many would beat Whitaker. I’m not even going to touch 147 because Whitaker has no business being in the conversation. 135 and 140 can be combined for this as most of the lightweights in history could have campaigned there if the weight class existed and many of them did when it did.

Sam Langford Yup, that Langford.
Joe Gans
Eddie Perkins
Benny Leonard
Carlos Ortiz
Henry Armstrong
Beau Jack
Wilfredo Benitez
Niccolino Locche and the bonus would be its use as a sleep aid.
Shane Mosley
Duilio Loi
Roberto Duran
Ike Williams
Barney Ross
Antonio Cervantes
Juan Coggi
Jack Berg
Floyd Mayweather bit of another sleeper
Tony Cazoneri
Ricky Hatton
Alexis Arguello
Freddie Welsh
Jose Louis Castillo
Joe Brown
Ken Buchanan

IMO he was too slick for a bunch of the guys on that list, especially Hatton and Castillo

[THE THIRD MAN]

The best chances

At 135lb
Duran -Late stoppage win for Duran
Arguello- Whitaker wins a close decision
Mosley- Mosley was at his best at Lightweight, can Sweet Pea withstand the power?

At 140lb
Pryor- It is almost hard to imagine the frustration Pryor would have trying to catch him?
Tszyu- He had ring smarts, was experienced and handled southpaws better than most, i think he lands one?
Mayweather - I just don't see Whitaker beating him?

Whitaker is an all time great, certainly a top 3 Lightweight of all time, it gets more difficult for him as he moves up in weight.

Can you imagine Whitaker V Loche?

Would Salvador Sanchez have made it to Lightweight by the late 80's had he lived? They almost certainly would've met sometime 1987-88 as Sanchez wouldn't have turned 30 until 1989.

[IamInuit]

IMO he was too slick for a bunch of the guys on that list, especially Hatton and Castillo

That is fair. Hatton was something else around the time of Zu and Castillo might be one of the most over looked Mexican fighters ever.

[ElTerribleMorales]

IMO he was too slick for a bunch of the guys on that list, especially Hatton and Castillo

That is fair. Hatton was something else around the time of Zu and Castillo might be one of the most over looked Mexican fighters ever.

I understand that but at 135 or 140 IMO Whitaker would have just pot shotted Hatton all night and would just pick Castillo apart, Whitaker had more pop than what most people like to admit

[chinchekked]

IMO he was too slick for a bunch of the guys on that list, especially Hatton and Castillo

That is fair. Hatton was something else around the time of Zu and Castillo might be one of the most over looked Mexican fighters ever.

I understand that but at 135 or 140 IMO Whitaker would have just pot shotted Hatton all night and would just pick Castillo apart, Whitaker had more pop than what most people like to admit

Exactly, I think alot of those guys on that list don't have a chance vs Sweet Pea at 135 or 140. As you move up in weight he is at more of a disadvantage.