The Greatest Lightweight Champion Ever

[Underboss]

muhammad ali, without a doubt

you're a ****ing idiot.

[Underboss]

I dont think many boxing fans have seen enough of most of those fighters to judge properly.
I know for a fact many posters here havent seen Duran as lightweight, and therfore dont rate him.

Anyway, its either Duran, Leonard or Gans, who ive never seen.

duran is obviously the better lightweight.

[Panamaniac]

Weak Argument...

I dont think many boxing fans have seen enough of most of those fighters to judge properly.
I know for a fact many posters here havent seen Duran as lightweight, and therfore dont rate him.

Anyway, its either Duran, Leonard or Gans, who ive never seen.

I would counter that many people have not seen Abe Lincoln as president either, but his life is well documented by HISTORY. (Is this the "Boxing History" forum, or am I disoriented?) With regard to Duran as lightweight, there's this thing called "youtube." (See example above).

[Brassangel]

Joe Gans makes many p4p lists, let alone Lightweight greats. I would select either him or Roberto Duran. Gans is documented as having been an expert on human anatomy. Not just the makeup of a person, but also on how the tendons and muscles moved while throwing a punch, and how every part of another body would react to receiving certain levels of punishment. He spent time practicing perfect punching (ie: timing, speed, force, etc.) moreso than perhaps any other fighter in history. He defeated men much larger than him, though there's really nothing to watch to compare him to other fighters.

[Nostromo]

Joe Gans makes many p4p lists, let alone Lightweight greats. I would select either him or Roberto Duran. Gans is documented as having been an expert on human anatomy. Not just the makeup of a person, but also on how the tendons and muscles moved while throwing a punch, and how every part of another body would react to receiving certain levels of punishment. He spent time practicing perfect punching (ie: timing, speed, force, etc.) moreso than perhaps any other fighter in history. He defeated men much larger than him, though there's really nothing to watch to compare him to other fighters.

Duran also defeated men larger than himself - Bizarro, Moore and Barkley immediately comes to mind - way past his prime.

[Verstyle]

arturo gatti, hands down

co-sign............

[crold1]

Duran with Leonard a close second. However, if Joe Gans is not in the top ten, then the poll is invalid.

[StarshipTrooper]

Duran with Leonard a close second. However, if Joe Gans is not in the top ten, then the poll is invalid.

You're right about Gans. I also have Duran as number one, there's no question in my mind.

Poet

[StarshipTrooper]

I dont think many boxing fans have seen enough of most of those fighters to judge properly.
I know for a fact many posters here havent seen Duran as lightweight, and therfore dont rate him.

Anyway, its either Duran, Leonard or Gans, who ive never seen.

I've seen Duran at Lightweight. Which fight would you like to see? Buchannan? Bizzaro? Viuret? DeJesus I, II, and III? I have all of them.

Poet

[Panamaniac]

Duran with Leonard a close second. However, if Joe Gans is not in the top ten, then the poll is invalid.

Sorry, Pal... Leonard's not invited to this party. If he ever fought as a lightweight - which I doubt - he was never champion. Don't be mislead by "The Brawl in Montreal," Duran abdicated the lightweight throne to fight for Leonard's welterweight title and seized the 2nd. of 4 career championships.