How good was the early 2000s lightweight division

[LacedUp]

The division sucks right now,,, has some potential, but this is the first time i can remember in 25+ years that the 135 division has no p4p talent, and not one big name

Maybe if Mikey Garcia moved up there would be a good name.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Maybe if Mikey Garcia moved up there would be a good name.

yeah, if and when he moves up,,, currently though, the division sucks,, would probably be alittle better if the top guys fought each other but until then the division sucks,,,, crawford-burns is a step in the right direction.......

literally look at it now, and think back a few years ago with jmm, diaz, or 10 years ago with floyd, casamoyer, or the 90s with shane, and oscar or the 80s with chavez and pernell.....

division is sorely lacking in starpower

[LacedUp]

yeah, if and when he moves up,,, currently though, the division sucks,, would probably be alittle better if the top guys fought each other but until then the division sucks,,,, crawford-burns is a step in the right direction.......

literally look at it now, and think back a few years ago with jmm, diaz, or 10 years ago with floyd, casamoyer, or the 90s with shane, and oscar or the 80s with chavez and pernell.....

division is sorely lacking in starpower

It's unquestionably poor. It's also a sign of weakness when Gavin Rees was ranked #5 a year ago.

Crawford-Burns is a decent fight, nothing more in my opinion. I like Burns a lot, but I don't rate him. Would have been better if Broner was in the mix and Garcia moved up and Gamboa would join the mix as well.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

It's unquestionably poor. It's also a sign of weakness when Gavin Rees was ranked #5 a year ago.

Crawford-Burns is a decent fight, nothing more in my opinion. I like Burns a lot, but I don't rate him. Would have been better if Broner was in the mix and Garcia moved up and Gamboa would join the mix as well.

yeah you add broner, gamboa and garcia,,, then you have a solid division

[Humean]

2000-2005/06 was a very good era, the period after it did look like it was bubbling up well but it fizzled out without it being as good as it could have been because Valero died, Pacquiao and Marquez merely passed through, Diaz retired a little early and the other fighters just fizzled away for a variety of reasons. The last few years the division has been one of the worst in the sport but it looks like it is slightly on the up now particularly when Mikey Garcia joins it and maybe a couple of others.

As for Mosley's run at lightweight, the opposition was mediocre to good, mostly mediocre, but he did dominate and stop them all bar Holliday. Holliday may have been the best of the bunch but I wouldn't read much into this being his poorest performance. After all Mosley showed what he could do at higher divisions and levels suggesting that the Holliday performance was not very representitive of his abilities. I'm sure Mosley would have performed very well in the 2000-2005 period.

I'm not sure if the lightweight division has ever had one really stand out era, it has simply been consistently good and very good throughout, the last two or 3 years being the obvious exception.

[RubenSonny]

I think there are a few guys at lightweight that would beat Garcia.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

I think there are a few guys at lightweight that would beat Garcia.

Crawford Abril and Vasquez, and also gamboa,, those are the only guys with legit chance to beat Garcia IMO

[RubenSonny]

Crawford Abril and Vasquez, and also gamboa,, those are the only guys with legit chance to beat Garcia IMO

Yeah I agree, I really can't imagine him beating the first three at all, Gamboa I'm not sure of, both can punch and don't have the best of chins.

[Anthony342]

I think Mosley would have struggled in this LW era and wouldn't be as overrated as he is today as a LW.

A definite good era for 130-135.

Mayweather-Johnston is a fight that should have happened. I have no idea why Mayweather didn't take that fight.

There were a lot of fights he didn't take so I'm guessing because he wanted to stay undefeated and keep his 0?

[Anthony342]

yeah, if and when he moves up,,, currently though, the division sucks,, would probably be alittle better if the top guys fought each other but until then the division sucks,,,, crawford-burns is a step in the right direction.......

literally look at it now, and think back a few years ago with jmm, diaz, or 10 years ago with floyd, casamoyer, or the 90s with shane, and oscar or the 80s with chavez and pernell.....

division is sorely lacking in starpower

So even with Gamboa fighting at lightweight recently, it's no good, he doesn't do it for you haha, yeah don't blame you there. I wish he would take more risks against more top opponents like he was starting to do early on.