Best Middleweight era

[Humean]

What was the best era at Middleweight?

I think a case could be made for the period between the end of Hagler's reign (1987) and the emergence of Hopkins as a champion (1995).

The following won portions of the middleweight championship from Hagler's defeat by Leonard until Hopkins became a champion:

Kalambay, McCallum, Johnson, John David Jackson, Castro, Leonard, Hearns, Barkley, Duran, Julian Jackson, McClellan, DeWitt, Benn, Eubank, Pyatt, Collins, Tate, Nunn, Toney, Jones jr.

If you add some of the contenders that were around but that failed to win a belt then it is a very strong period of time for the middleweight division.

One of the main weaknesses of this era is the number of guys that did not stay at middleweight for long, but went up to super middleweight, and often had more success at that weight.

What do people think, was this not as strong as i'm suggesting? Name a better era at middleweight that this.

[SBleeder]

Late 40s and early 50s for me. Robinson, Williams, Burley, Cerdan, Basilio, Gavilan, LaMotta, Fullmer, Olson, Graziano, Zale, Sands, DeMarco, Giardello...

[SCtrojansbaby]

Late 80s early 90s and its not even close

[Bodyshot3]

Agreed Sbleeder....but Turpin deserves a place in the list as well?

[SBleeder]

Agreed Sbleeder....but Turpin deserves a place in the list as well?

Yes, and there are plenty of others who I failed to list.

[SBleeder]

Late 80s early 90s and its not even close

The question asked was which middleweight era was the best, not "which middleweight era that you've bothered watching was best".

[SCtrojansbaby]

The question asked was which middleweight era was the best, not "which middleweight era that you've bothered watching was best".

Has nothing to do with what I watched. the late80s/early 90s is the most talented era of MWs by a mile

Eubank Benn Jones Hopkins Toney McCallum Nunn Kalamby Jackson etc

[SBleeder]

Has nothing to do with what I watched. the late80s/early 90s is the most talented era of MWs by a mile

Eubank Benn Jones Hopkins Toney McCallum Nunn Kalamby Jackson etc

Doesn't even compare to the late 40s and early 50s.

[Humean]

Late 40s and early 50s for me. Robinson, Williams, Burley, Cerdan, Basilio, Gavilan, LaMotta, Fullmer, Olson, Graziano, Zale, Sands, DeMarco, Giardello...

I agree that the late 40s and early 50s is a strong candidate but you need to narrow down the years because I think you have unfairly loaded the dice for this period with some of your names.

1. Holman Williams retired in 1948 and seems to have been well past his best in the last 2 or 3 years of his career. He was last ranked in the top 10 at middleweight in 1945.

2. Charley Burley retired in 1950 and likewise seemed to be well past his best in the last few years, he was last ranked in the top 10 at middleweight in 1946 (on a sidenote, both he and LaMotta were more deserving of the Zale title shot than Graziano was in 1946).

3. Basilio didn't become a middleweight until 1957.

4. Fullmer only became really formidable by around 1955 or so, thus at the end of your era. He didn't become middleweight champ until 1957.

5. Tony DeMarco was a welterweight

6. Giardello best work was late 50s and early 60s but he was a top contender in the early 50s.


But to bolster your opinion you could add the names of Belloise, Mitri, Turpin, Humez, Villemain, Hairston, Castellani, Lausse.

[rightsideup]

I agree that the late 40s and early 50s is a strong candidate but you need to narrow down the years because I think you have unfairly loaded the dice for this period with some of your names.

1. Holman Williams retired in 1948 and seems to have been well past his best in the last 2 or 3 years of his career. He was last ranked in the top 10 at middleweight in 1945.

2. Charley Burley retired in 1950 and likewise seemed to be well past his best in the last few years, he was last ranked in the top 10 at middleweight in 1946 (on a sidenote, both he and LaMotta were more deserving of the Zale title shot than Graziano was in 1946).

3. Basilio didn't become a middleweight until 1957.

4. Fullmer only became really formidable by around 1955 or so, thus at the end of your era. He didn't become middleweight champ until 1957.

5. Tony demarco was a welterweight

6. Giardello best work was late 50s and early 60s but he was a top contender in the early 50s.


But to bolster your opinion you could add the names of Belloise, Mitri, Turpin, Humez, Villemain, Hairston, Castellani, Lausse.

great post could a case be made for the late fifties?