Who's The Best

[GaMo]

Leonard benefited and thrived in a legendary era, cliché but he clashed with like minded greats and that tips it for me.

Leonard will win this poll, boxing fans are very nostaligic
in reality he would lose to both jones and mayweather by some margin

As I said, you could argue that he lost to Hagler and Hearns (the return)
So his record against the big three could actually be 3 wins and 3 defeats.

I believe that Hagler is very overrated. He couldn't stop Duran over 15 rounds
And Duran was a blown up lightweight. He lost to Leonard who was really a welterweight
(who had not fought in almost three years) and he never moved up to 175
He could have fought Matthew Saad Muhammad, Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Or Michael Spinks but instead he waited for the smaller men to move up
And then struggled with them when they finally did fight him.

Roy was a reflex phenome and superb athlete but as has been mentioned he really did have a silver platter and a very very cushy network contract at the time

Yeah, Roy did fight his fair share of bums to be fair
And HBO were happy for him to do that unfortunately.
It’s a shame he didn’t stay at heavyweight after he beat Ruiz
He could have fought Byrd, Holyfield, Tyson or Toney
Those would have been huge fights for him at the time
I believe a fight with Byrd would’ve been a unification fight.

so many now say 'well he would have cruised Benn or Eubank or Michalczewski. I'm not so easily convinced and we'll never know.

Well, Eubank never chased big fights and was happy to stay at home
How many American fighters did Eubank actually fight?
Benn said he was happy being second best to Roy Jones
Benn has some decent wins but let’s be honest he wasn’t an elite fighter
He was like the black British version of Arturo Gatti.
Jones should have fought Michalchewski for sure but where?
Neither man wanted to travel so both are to blame for it not happening.

[Spicoli]

Leonard benefited and thrived in a legendary era, cliché but he clashed with like minded greats and that tips it for me.

Leonard will win this poll, boxing fans are very nostaligic
in reality he would lose to both jones and mayweather by some margin

As I said, you could argue that he lost to Hagler and Hearns (the return)
So his record against the big three could actually be 3 wins and 3 defeats.

I believe that Hagler is very overrated. He couldn't stop Duran over 15 rounds
And Duran was a blown up lightweight. He lost to Leonard who was really a welterweight
(who had not fought in almost three years) and he never moved up to 175
He could have fought Matthew Saad Muhammad, Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Or Michael Spinks but instead he waited for the smaller men to move up
And then struggled with them when they finally did fight him.

Roy was a reflex phenome and superb athlete but as has been mentioned he really did have a silver platter and a very very cushy network contract at the time

Yeah, Roy did fight his fair share of bums to be fair
And HBO were happy for him to do that unfortunately.
It’s a shame he didn’t stay at heavyweight after he beat Ruiz
He could have fought Byrd, Holyfield, Tyson or Toney
Those would have been huge fights for him at the time
I believe a fight with Byrd would’ve been a unification fight.

so many now say 'well he would have cruised Benn or Eubank or Michalczewski. I'm not so easily convinced and we'll never know.

Well, Eubank never chased big fights and was happy to stay at home
How many American fighters did Eubank actually fight?
Benn said he was happy being second best to Roy Jones
Benn has some decent wins but let’s be honest he wasn’t an elite fighter
He was like the black British version of Arturo Gatti.
Jones should have fought Michalchewski for sure but where?
Neither man wanted to travel so both are to blame for it not happening.

They really went overboard affording Jones with what I believe was "a record contract" at the time and once Merchant started harping on a p4p set up with of all people Pernell Whitaker became a bit much. Think that was during the Antoine Byrd fight. The thing with post Ruiz and Jones is it always felt like they never planned for it realistically, it was all about getting that 'big' heavyweight name-fight initially hence all of the early Tyson talk. You're right about Byrd. Actually think that would have been a tremendous style clash and in spots just like looking in the mirror though Byrd was more straight ahead and seemed to do better against squat power house type heavy's. For all the fast sharp pop he had Jones could match it, but Jones would also be facing someone with similar reflex speed. I'd pay to see that one.

Eubank to be honest never impressed me and for more reason than he was Benns rival. Said it before and definitely in the minority but remember watching the Thornton fight and blown away at how wide the cards were. He could be out hustled and I thought he was in large gaps there. Never expected Eubank to jump at a Jones fight but Benn said on a couple of occasions that while Jones was a cut above he would be willing to mix it up as champions should. There was a small window after he beat McClellan but Jones and promotion had zero interest. Benn also traveled and rebuilt his career in the States after loss to Watson. Benn and Gatti while the same rapid passion I don't see. If anything Gatti fought smarter and boxed early namely with Patterson and became face first as career and damage went on. Physically the poor guy looked like someone wrapped a bag of feral cats over his head even after his wins and he seemed to be either with weight advantages many times or on the other end at welter where he didn't belong. Benn was a caveman early and did show improved boxing when rising to 168 and found a jab. He was never brought in as an opponent to make another look stellar or propel them save for one time and he turned those plans on their head beating p4p ranked G Man. Thought he also deserved rematch with Eubank.

[GaMo]

thought we were talking lb4lb?

We are talking pound for pound
Obviously, a former heavyweight champion
Would destroy a former super featherweight champion.

You're right about Byrd. Actually think that would have been a tremendous style clash and in spots just like looking in the mirror though Byrd was more straight ahead and seemed to do better against squat power house type heavy's. For all the fast sharp pop he had Jones could match it, but Jones would also be facing someone with similar reflex speed. I'd pay to see that one.

It would have been a great fight and it’s a shame it never happened
Nobody really called for Jones to move back down to 175
I think we all wanted to see him fight the heavyweights.

He probably would have beat both Tyson and Holyfield
But unfortunately, didn’t push for those fights.
Byrd was underrated and probably would have beaten Jones
Especially when you consider Tarver (a southpaw) ended up beating him.

Never expected Eubank to jump at a Jones fight but Benn said on a couple of occasions that while Jones was a cut above he would be willing to mix it up as champions should. There was a small window after he beat McClellan but Jones and promotion had zero interest. Benn also traveled and rebuilt his career in the States after loss to Watson. Benn and Gatti while the same rapid passion I don't see. If anything Gatti fought smarter and boxed early namely with Patterson and became face first as career and damage went on. Physically the poor guy looked like someone wrapped a bag of feral cats over his head even after his wins and he seemed to be either with weight advantages many times or on the other end at welter where he didn't belong. Benn was a caveman early and did show improved boxing when rising to 168 and found a jab. He was never brought in as an opponent to make another look stellar or propel them save for one time and he turned those plans on their head beating p4p ranked G Man. Thought he also deserved rematch with Eubank.

I can’t see Benn beating Jones. He would’ve had a punchers chance
But Benn didn’t have the best chin and Jones could hit too.
Benn was too easy to hit and the speed would’ve ruined him
I like Benn, he’s fun to watch but he wasn’t an elite fighter IMO.

[Gandalf]

Leonard benefited and thrived in a legendary era, cliché but he clashed with like minded greats and that tips it for me.

Leonard will win this poll, boxing fans are very nostaligic
in reality he would lose to both jones and mayweather by some margin

As I said, you could argue that he lost to Hagler and Hearns (the return)
So his record against the big three could actually be 3 wins and 3 defeats.

I believe that Hagler is very overrated. He couldn't stop Duran over 15 rounds
And Duran was a blown up lightweight. He lost to Leonard who was really a welterweight
(who had not fought in almost three years) and he never moved up to 175
He could have fought Matthew Saad Muhammad, Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Or Michael Spinks but instead he waited for the smaller men to move up
And then struggled with them when they finally did fight him.

Roy was a reflex phenome and superb athlete but as has been mentioned he really did have a silver platter and a very very cushy network contract at the time

Yeah, Roy did fight his fair share of bums to be fair
And HBO were happy for him to do that unfortunately.
It’s a shame he didn’t stay at heavyweight after he beat Ruiz
He could have fought Byrd, Holyfield, Tyson or Toney
Those would have been huge fights for him at the time
I believe a fight with Byrd would’ve been a unification fight.

so many now say 'well he would have cruised Benn or Eubank or Michalczewski. I'm not so easily convinced and we'll never know.

Well, Eubank never chased big fights and was happy to stay at home
How many American fighters did Eubank actually fight?
Benn said he was happy being second best to Roy Jones
Benn has some decent wins but let’s be honest he wasn’t an elite fighter
He was like the black British version of Arturo Gatti.
Jones should have fought Michalchewski for sure but where?
Neither man wanted to travel so both are to blame for it not happening.

Nice posting. Are these in sonnet form?

[Gandalf]

I don't know about these hypothetical playoffs really. The only certainty I have is that Joe Calzaghe was not only the best looking fighter, but also the best fighter of all time. Then it is James Toney.

Out of these three I would say Leonard as he could do a bit of everything and fought the best. Then it would be Mayweather as he can also do everything, but he picked and chose so he is below. Then it is Jones Jr as I have erased the Toney fight from my memory and he too picked and chose a little. In his prime he wouldn't get tagged much, but against a hypothetical Mayweather or Leonard he would get tagged and I'm not sure the chin holds up. Leonard and Mayweather have great chins.