In the last 50 plus years, the Middleweight division has witnessed some of it's greatest and longest reigning Champions. Since Sugar Ray Robinson won the Middleweight Championship from Jake LaMotta back in 1951, there have been three Middleweight Champs who set themselves apart from the others, Carlos Monzon, Marvin Hagler, and Bernard Hopkins. Since Robinson, it is these three who have been the standard bearers at 160. Not to mention the fact that they rank 1, 2, & 3 in most successful Middleweight title defenses, (Hopkins-1, Monzon-2, Hagler-3).

Hagler and Hopkins have both been on the receiving end of one common dart. That dart questions how come they never moved up in weight and fought the Light Heavyweight Champ or a bigger fighter. Which is actually a tough question and very hard to answer.

Since 1952, only Sugar Ray Robinson challenged the Light Heavyweight Champion as Middleweight Champ. Robinson lost when he couldn't come out for the 14th round versus Champ Joe Maxim, due to heat exhaustion. Although Robinson was a trend setter, he certainly didn't set the trend for Middleweight Champs fighting Light Heavyweight Champs. However, many of the top Middleweight Champs since Robinson made at least one defense versus a former or current Welterweight Champ, but never fought the Light Heavyweight Champ. [details (http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=903)]

Moving up in weight is never an easy thing with fighters. Some do seem to take it in stride but for others it is a great challenge. Rising in weight by even 10 lbs does not sound like much but when you are dealing with professional fighters, that 10lbs can add alot to the force of a blow.

I see it like this. Would you rather be good in 2 or 3 divisions or would you rather be an all time great in 1.

I love hagler, that man is the classic model of what a fighter should be, from the inside atleast. Some may have not liked his style or plodding agression but inside that man was a fighter to the end............Rockin'

Most of the Big Paydays for Hagler and Hopkins have been with lesser wieght division opponents. Never has there been a worthy opponent "Moneywise" or with KO punching attraction to fit the bill.
Look at Toney and Jirov no real big sell but both chmapions. If there ever was a time for a serious match-up to happen it would Calzeche and hopkins to solidify his legacy or a Roy Jones rematch if it would have happened years earlier befor Roy's first KO lost.

Nice article. Those middles careers aren't tainted in the least by not fighting lt hvy's and those bouts are basically side shows hence the attraction for most fans. They risk absorbing beatings and ruining their legacies as well as demeaning their accomplishment in their own weight classes in my opinion.

Nice article. Those middles careers aren't tainted in the least by not fighting lt hvy's and those bouts are basically side shows hence the attraction for most fans. They risk absorbing beatings and ruining their legacies as well as demeaning their accomplishment in their own weight classes in my opinion.


i agree on this one, that's why we have weight classes, so a man can be THE BEST AT A GIVEN WEIGHT, no one can look down on hagler or monzon because they didn't move up to 175 or hw, these guys were some of the baddest mother****ers ever at 160 lbs...look at the great sugar ray robinson, after he moved up to 175 to fight joey maxim and then back down to middle he was never the same fighter as he was before

i agree, but word on the street is that hopkins might fight jeff lacy after bernard takes on taylor. but thats just something i heard.

oh and for those of you who dont know jeff lacy is a supper middle weight