Each Wt Classes Golden Era

[DeeMoney]

Am wondering what were the ‘Golden Era’ for each of the original 8 wt classes? Whatever criteria you want to use, use (topline talent, quality of matches made, etc). Just try to keep the eras contained, I hate that we tend to define the Golden Era for heavyweights as the mid 1960s through the 1970s- that’s really two eras.

Provide explanations if you like, I’ll try my hand.

Heavy- Early 70s (Runner Up: Mid to late 90s)
Lt Heavy- Late 40s (Runner Up: Late 20s/Early 30s)
Middle- Mid 60s (Runner Up: Late 40s/Early 50s)
Welter- Early 80s (Runner Up: Late 90s/Early 00s)
Light- Mid 30s (Runner Up: Mid 60s)
Feather- Early 00s (Runner Up: Late 40s)
Bantam- Early 1920s (Runner Up: Early to mid 60s)
Fly- Late 1910s early 20s (Runner Up: Mid 2010s)

Your picks, what did I miss?

[Willow The Wisp]

I like it.

[Willie Pep 229]

Lightweight 1980s

Arguello
Mancini
Bramble
Camacho
Rosario
Pryor
Paul
Haguen
Pazienza
Ramirez
Crawley
Arroyo
Davis Jr.
Blake
Chacon
Boza-Edwards
Viruet
Watt
O'Grady
Alli
Taylor
Whittaker
Chavez
Lockridge
Nelson
Pendleton

[DeeMoney]

Lightweight 1980s

Arguello
Mancini
Bramble
Camacho
Rosario
Pryor
Paul
Haguen
Pazienza
Ramirez
Crawley
Arroyo
Davis Jr.
Blake
Chacon
Boza-Edwards
Viruet
Watt
O'Grady
Alli
Taylor
Whittaker
Chavez
Lockridge
Nelson
Pendleton

Thats pretty good, I'd agree it definitely at least is runner up, if not top spot. But I think its probably two different eras. The early 80s, with Arguello, Prior, Mancini, etc. And the latter part of the decade with Chavez, Paz, Pea, Haugen, etc. I'd probably lean more towards the late 80s on that.

[Biledriver]

Am wondering what were the ‘Golden Era’ for each of the original 8 wt classes? Whatever criteria you want to use, use (topline talent, quality of matches made, etc). Just try to keep the eras contained, I hate that we tend to define the Golden Era for heavyweights as the mid 1960s through the 1970s- that’s really two eras.

Provide explanations if you like, I’ll try my hand.

Heavy- Early 70s (Runner Up: Mid to late 90s)
Lt Heavy- Late 40s (Runner Up: Late 20s/Early 30s)
Middle- Mid 60s (Runner Up: Late 40s/Early 50s)
Welter- Early 80s (Runner Up: Late 90s/Early 00s)
Light- Mid 30s (Runner Up: Mid 60s)
Feather- Early 00s (Runner Up: Late 40s)
Bantam- Early 1920s (Runner Up: Early to mid 60s)
Fly- Late 1910s early 20s (Runner Up: Mid 2010s)

Your picks, what did I miss?

For light-heavy, the late 1970s early 1980s needs a hard look: The division was loaded then.

[GhostofDempsey]

HW is toss up between 70’s and 90’s.
LHW is toss up between ‘45 - ‘55 and ‘75 - ‘85.
MW 40’s
WW 60’s
LW 40’s
FW toss up between 40’s and 80’s

[DeeMoney]

For light-heavy, the late 1970s early 1980s needs a hard look: The division was loaded then.

Thats a good call, I can see that era being better than the early 30s, especially with its depth. Though I would still say late 40s is the top of the heap.

[DeeMoney]

HW is toss up between 70’s and 90’s.
LHW is toss up between ‘45 - ‘55 and ‘75 - ‘85.
MW 40’s
WW 60’s
LW 40’s
FW toss up between 40’s and 80’s

What am I missing in the '60s welters? Griffith was a stud, Napoles emerges by the end of the decade, and Cokes was good. Seems good but not great, but i'll admit not knowing much else- lemme know who else made it the best.

[Willie Pep 229]

I too like the late 70s to early 80s as a bright spot for the LHWs.

I'm not a resumé guy but the LHWs dominated the drama during that period. Lots of pick-'um fights that actually happen and didn't disappoint when they happened.

They filled the gap with Ali gone and Holmes never really gelling with the fans.

Saad Muhammad was a joy to watch.

Ad at least another dozen more names and than came Spinks.

Great fights; no ducks.

[GhostofDempsey]

What am I missing in the '60s welters? Griffith was a stud, Napoles emerges by the end of the decade, and Cokes was good. Seems good but not great, but i'll admit not knowing much else- lemme know who else made it the best.

Luis Rodriguez, Ralph Dupas, Billy Backus, Virgil Atkins (end of career), Benny Paret, Ernie Lopez (brother of Danny “little red” Lopez), Hedgemon Lewis, all would have been competitive in any era. Rodriguez is highly underrated.