When was the last time the welterweight division went through a barren spell?

[KO'er]

For the past 6/7 years it has been THE division in boxing. Pacquiao and Mayweather box there, it has loads of fresh talent on the way up. It is very competitive.

But when was the last time it was in a state like the heavyweight division is in ATM? Or the light-heavyweight division up to recently.

[SBleeder]

Not "barren", but the late 70s and late 80s had less talent than is typically found in the welterweight division.

[rightsideup]

Not "barren", but the late 70s and late 80s had less talent than is typically found in the welterweight division.

Did not the late 70's have Leonard, Benitez , Hearns, Duran , Palimino and Cuevas?

[violaandme]

I was gonna say late 80's But I got beat to it Marlon Starling, Simon Brown, Mark Brealand, Lloyd Honeyghan, Buddy Mcgirt, Tyrone Trice,Glenwood Brown, Aaron Davis, Maurice Blocker,Nino LaRocca in no particular order were the top ten or so at the end of 1989 not the strongest of divisions but considering Meldrick Taylor, Hector Camacho were less than a year away it still beat the hell out of todays Light heavyweight and about par with the heavies of today maybe a little better but its hard to find any division of any time as poor talent wise as those divisions of today