Top ten list of "rolling stone" Fighters

[billeau2]

I want to thank Pep and Dee Money for inspiring this thread. I want a top ten of fighters who fought in at least two divisions and who cannot be easily put into one weight category. So, for example, to use Dee Money's question about Sam Langford: was he a light heavy/Heavy? Was he a middle weight? or how about Archie Moore, Fitzimmons?, hopkins? Grebb....even Toney?

Fighters who we cannot put into any weight class that shows their dominant status.

Im going to think my list a bit... all the guys above are probably on it so will start with them:

1) Grebb
2) langford, Moore
3) Hopkins the orginal Barbados Joe Walcott
4) Fitzimmons

10) Toney

So far...

[GhostofDempsey]

Canelo and Tank will fit that bill for current fighters. Historically I would consider Fritzie Zivic, Armstrong, Griffith, Basilio, who saw equal success in multiple weight classes.

[DeeMoney]

Dempsey nailed Armstrong, his holding 3 belts at once when thee was only 8 has to put him in this category. Canelo too is a good call. His is so weird, he was 'too small for MW" for so long, then barely fought 3 fights at 160, and is now too big for it.

Of more recent vintage I would say Floyd and Manny.

[JAB5239]

Billy Conn needs to be on it. His middleweight resume is excellent but overlooked because of his status at light heavyweight. Had a number of wins over contenders at heavyweight as well

[billeau2]

Canelo and Tank will fit that bill for current fighters. Historically I would consider Fritzie Zivic, Armstrong, Griffith, Basilio, who saw equal success in multiple weight classes.

its complicated though. Does success in multiple weight classes make a rolling stone? Hard to say with the lower weight classes... We could go so far as to call welters and light weights categorically similar enough that we call a great fighter in any of those divisions "a great light weight." This is different than when a fighter fights lightweight, then middle weight. Then it gets complicated. You still could do it... Robinson was a great lightweight... perhaps greatest, and a great Middle weight.

Then we get Archie Moore who fought all the way up in three general divisions. meaning: Middle weight, light heavy and heavy.

Im leaning to a criteria using: General categories... Light, Middle, light heavy and Heavy... Furthermore at least two of these categories for a fighter, ideally 3. Finally, the fighter should not be equally great in two divisions... because some fighters are just great at two general weight classes... Like Robinson. As opposed to Tunney who was clearly greatest at Light heavy.

Again, this is subjective lol. So Hopkins was a great Middle weight who added to his accolades by fighting light heavy. Maybe a rolling stone? langford definitely because he was not great in any division... he fought great at Middleweight on up to heavyweight.

[billeau2]

Dempsey nailed Armstrong, his holding 3 belts at once when thee was only 8 has to put him in this category. Canelo too is a good call. His is so weird, he was 'too small for MW" for so long, then barely fought 3 fights at 160, and is now too big for it.

Of more recent vintage I would say Floyd and Manny.

But Floyd was so much obviously greater at 135 and below... Records may not reflect this though... Canelo makes a lot of sense

[DeeMoney]

But Floyd was so much obviously greater at 135 and below... Records may not reflect this though... Canelo makes a lot of sense

I agree Floyd was better at his lighter weights (the PBF version better than Money), but what specific weight class let him show his "dominant status"? He was probably best at LW, but spent so little time there. Welter has his best scalps, but I agree he was better at a lighter weight.

[Marchegiano]

Unordered as I'm not sure I get it but I'm pretty sure I can drop names

Tommy Ryan - Welter through Heavy depending on who he's fighting

Kid McCoy - Middle through Heavy



Kid Norfolk - MW - HW

Panama Gans - MW- HW

Tunney - Greatest LHW to never be LHW champion, Greatest HW to have almost no HW resume.

Byers - Mw to HW

All I can think up right now.

Loads of the earlyier black fighters fought where ever they could get a fight so I'm damn sure there's more there but I can't remember their names atm or I'd just be repeating someone else.

[Rockin']

I couldn't leave this thread with out suggesting Thomas Hearns be added this list. Yes, he got stopped a few times but Thomas Hearns was exciting.

WW to Lt. HW ..............Long Live the Hit Man!! And thank you for representing Detroit..........Rockin'

[billeau2]

Some great responses. this is a tough category, if it is one... to suss out lol.