If anyone dominated the 90's it was Tito Trinidad.
Undeafeted with names like
Blocker
Camacho
Whitaker
DelaHoya
Campas
Reid
Carr
Vargas
Reid was undefeated at the time, but very inexperienced. Tito was a much more polished fighter when he fought Reid.
Everyone knows Tito lost to DLH you can't even say he didn't.
Vargas isn't a legend like most of those names either.
Evander won the Championship 3 times in the 90's vs. Buster (who conquered Tyson), Bowe (who was considered a God after he beat Vander in the 1st fight), and then Tyson (who's mystique and power were thru the roof for their fight)
Sweet Pea and Jones won paper-titles vs. non-world-class opponents
Oscar picked on little guys
HANDS DOWN, EVANDER!
Evander was never a consistent heavyweight champion. He beat past prime legends in Tyson, Foreman, and Holmes, and went 1-2 vs. Bowe, 1-1 vs. Moorer, 1 loss and a draw vs. Lewis but should of been 2 losses.
I would say Pernell Whitaker.
The thing people forget about Pernell Whitaker is he was 5'6', which most featherweights are. Whitaker was an undisputed champ at 135, and was able to win a title at 154. Thats unreal. He had the best defense since Willy Pep, and never truly lost a fight until he lost to Trinidad and DLH. He was out of his prime when he fought DLH and Trinidad. He was the slickest and technically better then everyone P4P...Yes even Roy Jones.
Despite having a weak chin, and no power he won titles, and he won them his way. He wouldn't be forced into a brawl like other fighters, he boxed, and won his titles his way. During his career he faced punchers like DLH, Nelson, and Trinidad but was still never stopped.
At first when I thought of this fight, I thought of Roy Jones but I don't think he should be the fighter of the 90's. Roy Jones wouldn't face such fighters as Collins, Benn, and Liles, although I think he would of beat them.
My vote is Roy Jones Jr. for the known fighters but I think Ricardo "Finito" Lopez was the best fighter in the 90's. His fights against Alex "El Nene" Sanchez and Rosendo Alvarez were classics! Nobody could beat him in the 105 and 108lb divisions.
Honorable mentions: Chavez (early 90's), Holyfield, Trinidad, and DLH.
GREAT CALL with Finito, I'd put him a close 2nd to Vander based on his consistency and dominance of 2 divisions
God willing, if I have a son, & he wanted to box, I'd make him watch Ricardo Lopez tapes all day & night, the guy had impeccible technique and could throw any punch at any time (his right-upper-cut KO on the Bruno-Tyson 2 undercard stole the show IMO)
My vote is Roy Jones Jr. for the known fighters but I think Ricardo "Finito" Lopez was the best fighter in the 90's. His fights against Alex "El Nene" Sanchez and Rosendo Alvarez were classics! Nobody could beat him in the 105 and 108lb divisions.
Honorable mentions: Chavez (early 90's), Holyfield, Trinidad, and DLH.
Evander won the Championship 3 times in the 90's vs. Buster (who conquered Tyson), Bowe (who was considered a God after he beat Vander in the 1st fight), and then Tyson (who's mystique and power were thru the roof for their fight)
Sweet Pea and Jones won paper-titles vs. non-world-class opponents
Oscar picked on little guys
HANDS DOWN, EVANDER!
Jones was #1 lb4lb in 95/96 (despite fighting fighters outside of the 168 top 10), but then it was Oscar and Trinidad above Jones until 01/02/03 when Jones took over again.
Whitaker was the best of the 90's, followed by Chavez and Holyfield (then Oscar, Trinidad, Mosley, Hamed, Tszyu).
hmm
Roy was voted best fighter of the 90's by RING I believe and I think he was p4p the highest ranked of all fighters in the 90's, as in he held number one for the longest.
DLH, Holyfield, nor Roy should be judged in the 90's based on what happened to them in the 2000's. That's just stupid.
Definitely Sweet Pea...started out at 126 and somehow got belts up to 154 lb division. Guys were bigger and stronger and he still made up for it by his amazing defensive skills, speed and stamina. Was, in my opinion, second best lightweight ever behind Duran. Even after coming out of rehab, gave a very young Tito a hard fight.
You were on a roll until you mentioned Whitaker-Trinidad. Trinidad dominated that fight. Scores were 118-109, 118-109, 117-111.
Whitaker was well, well past his prime, but I think when Trinidad outboxed Whitaker, it raised a few eyebrows. Then he got back into the gym with his dad and made some 'adjustments' :(
To the original question, Whitaker is one name in the running. RJJ, ODLH, Holyfield, ... Hard to say.
definitely NOT Tyson. how can you say that? he lost to Holyfield twice in the 90's and never beat a name in the entire decade other than Razor Ruddock! Tyson was 1986-1989 and that's where the buck stops
Tyson was a star for 20 years win, lose or DQ. :D
definitely NOT Tyson. how can you say that? he lost to Holyfield twice in the 90's and never beat a name in the entire decade other than Razor Ruddock! Tyson was 1986-1989 and that's where the buck stops