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I can't get over how brutal Lou Ambers competition was, and how well he held his own. Going by the record books, Whitaker and Duran's lightweight runs pale in comparison in my opinion. What are we judging fighters by when we decide on greatness? surely not just the "eye test" when some fighters have little no footage, and it's grainy - and some fighters had their entire careers documented.
Lou Ambers Lightweight Prime Run (1935-1940)
1935
Summary of Lightweight Prime (1935-40)
Roberto Duran had 36 fights as a lightweight, and his best wins are over Buchanan (which he stopped via low blow, otherwise its a UD) and De Jesus (De Jesus beat him once), 2 fighters we wouldn't remember had they not lost (and beat) Duran. I understand Duran had a more dominating run, but what does this matter when he fought far fewer opponents, and much weaker competition?
Lastly, Ambers is considered just an elite contender, the real great of this era was Armstrong. IMO Armstrong beats Duran everytime, if we dropped them in the ring together as is. As for Whitaker, I don't even think he should be considered in the same league at all.
Lou Ambers Lightweight Prime Run (1935-1940)
1935
- Harry Dublinsky UD 10 (Jan 11)
- Sammy Fuller UD 15 (Mar 1)
- Tony Canzoneri L UD 15 (May 10) (vacant LW title)
- Fritzie Zivic UD 10 (Jul 1)
- Honeyboy Hughes TKO 4 (Apr 24)
- Frankie Klick PTS 10 (Jan 3)
- Baby Arizmendi UD 10 (Feb 7)
- Tony Scarpati TKO 8 (Mar 17)
- Joey Greb PTS 10 (Jul 6)
- Tony Canzoneri UD 15 (Sep 3) (won LW title)
- Eddie Cool L SD 10 (Oct 28)
- Jimmy McLarnin L UD 10 (Nov 20)
- Stumpy Jacobs TKO 7 (Dec 29)
- Enrico Venturi D PTS 10 (Jan 8)
- Davey Day SD 10 (Feb 10)
- Al Roth UD 10 (Feb 22)
- Roger Bernard PTS 10 (Mar 23)
- Pedro Montanez L UD 10 (Apr 5, non-title)
- Phil Baker PTS 10 (Apr 19)
- Tony Canzoneri UD 15 (May 7) (defense)
- Howard Scott PTS 10 (Aug 16)
- Howard Scott PTS 10 (Sep 1)
- Pedro Montanez MD 15 (Sep 23) (defense)
- Charley Burns MD 10 (Nov 16)
- Frankie Wallace UD 10 (Dec 6)
- Lou Jallos KO 4 (Feb 21)
- Jimmy Vaughn PTS 10 (May 6)
- Jimmy Garrison PTS 10 (May 11)
- Baby Arizmendi D 10 (Jun 7)
- Jimmy Vaughn PTS 10 (Jun 21)
- Henry Armstrong L SD 15 (Aug 17) (lost LW title)
- Steve Halaiko TKO 3 (Oct 28)
- Tommy Cross UD 10 (Nov 28)
- Frankie Wallace RTD 6 (Dec 5)
- Joey Silva PTS 10 (Jan 16)
- Paul Junior UD 10 (Jan 27)
- Baby Arizmendi TKO 11 (Feb 24)
- Honey Mellody TKO 4 (Apr 25)
- Jimmy Vaughn PTS 10 (May 8)
- Paul Junior TKO 8 (May 26)
- Henry Armstrong UD 15 (Aug 22) (regained LW title)
- Jimmy Vaughn PTS 10 (Nov 16)
- Wally Hally UD 10 (Jan 29)
- Al Bummy Davis UD 10 (Feb 23)
- Wally Hally PTS 10 (Apr 17)
- Lew Jenkins L KO 3 (May 10) (lost LW title)
Summary of Lightweight Prime (1935-40)
- Total Fights: 50
- World Title Fights: 6 (3x Canzoneri, 2x Montanez, 2x Armstrong, 1x Jenkins)
- Hall of Famers Faced: Tony Canzoneri (3), Baby Arizmendi (3), Jimmy McLarnin (1), Pedro Montanez (2), Henry Armstrong (2), Lew Jenkins (1) and Fritzie zivic
- Other strong contenders: Davey Day, Enrico Venturi, Paul Junior, Al Bummy Davis.
Roberto Duran had 36 fights as a lightweight, and his best wins are over Buchanan (which he stopped via low blow, otherwise its a UD) and De Jesus (De Jesus beat him once), 2 fighters we wouldn't remember had they not lost (and beat) Duran. I understand Duran had a more dominating run, but what does this matter when he fought far fewer opponents, and much weaker competition?
Lastly, Ambers is considered just an elite contender, the real great of this era was Armstrong. IMO Armstrong beats Duran everytime, if we dropped them in the ring together as is. As for Whitaker, I don't even think he should be considered in the same league at all.