Welterweight-Middleweight Division 1970s

[Trebuh]

Hey Guys! I really want to learn more about those divisions in 1970s so could you name the best fighters of that era? Thanks Alot!

[rightsideup]

Carlos Monzon was clearly the best middle weight of the 70's with Marvin Hagler fighting the best contenders losing some but avenging the losses he was the up and coming fighter but gained a title in 1980.

The best welter was Jose Napoles in the early part of the decade with Pipino Cuevas and Carlos Palomino having lengthy reigns in the middle of the decade. It is a shame they never unified the title. The Later part of the decade saw the emergence of Wilfred Benitez, Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran.

[Welsh Jon]

Best welterweights of 1970's: Jose Napoles, Carlos Palomino, Pipino Cuevas

Best middleweights of 1970's: Carlos Monzon, Rodrigo Valdez, Vito Antuefermo

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Best welterweights of 1970's: Jose Napoles, Carlos Palomino, Pipino Cuevas

Best middleweights of 1970's: Carlos Monzon, Rodrigo Valdez, Vito Antuefermo

That's a great selection to start with..


Helpful tip on researching guys is to read say Carlos monzon wiki page, then every fighter he fights with a wiki page, click on them and read about them..
Wiki isn't 100% accurate but for the most part it's a good start to learn

[Humean]

Hey Guys! I really want to learn more about those divisions in 1970s so could you name the best fighters of that era? Thanks Alot!

Middleweight

1970-1977 ******* years

Monzon started his domination by defeating reigning champ Nino Benvenuti in a great fight in 1970 and then smashed him up a lot easier in the 1971 rematch. Monzon was the dominant middleweight with only Rodrigo Valdez from 74-76 (his WBC reign) offering any real doubt on that but Monzon answered that doubt by defeating Valdez twice in 76 and 77.

The top contenders in these years were:

• Emile Griffith - Perhaps not in his 'prime' but was still a top contender, perhaps fought the most top middleweights of the early to mid 70s.

• Alan Minter - European champ 77 and 78 and then world champ in 80

• Vito Antuofermo - Straddled 154 division, was briefly European 154 pound champ, became world champ at 160 in 79

• Kevin Finnegan - Perhaps best contender of this era not to get world title shot, known for his wars with Minter.

• Jean Claude Bouttier - European champ, lost twice to Monzon

• Juan Carlos Duran - Also straddled 154 division, was European champ at 154 and 160, also never got a world title fight, however two fighters that he lost to did - Bogs and Bouttier.

• Tom Bogs - European champion at 160 and 175

• Gratien Tonna - European champ at 160, Monzon knocked him out with a punch to the back of his head, he looked like he was relieved that the fight was over. Also sparked out by Valdez.

• Benny Briscoe - Hard as nails, the classic contender if ever there was one.

• Tony Mundine - Was briefly a top contender at 160, lots of power but little else.

• Nessim Max Cohen - Fought some of the top contenders, unfortunately I know next to nothing about him.

• Tony Licata - Developed a strong record in the States until Monzon battered him in the Garden in Monzon's first and last fight in the US.

1977-1980

The period between the end of Monzon's reign and the start of Haglers. Hagler might have actually been the best middleweight during this period. However the actual champions in this period were Rodrigo Valdez, Hugo Pastor Corro, Vito Antuofermo and then Minter in 1980 before Hagler smashed him up in London.

Top Contenders:
Briscoe, Finnegan and Tonna were all still around
Ronnie Harris is probably the best new contender to emerge in this short period. He narrowly lost to Corro in Argentina for the world title.

Welterweight

1970-1975

Jose Napoles was fairly dominant, lost on cuts to BIlly Brackus (Carmen Basilio's nephew) in 1970 but set the record straight 6 months later. His era finished by losing on cuts again but this time against John H. Stracey in Mexico City. He did lose to Monzon as well in 74 when trying to become the middleweight champion but Monzon was too big and too good. Napoles' successful defences were against pretty much the best welterweight condenders of this period, Hedgemon Lewis, Adolph Pruitt, Ernie Lopez, Roger Menetrey, Clyde Gray and Armando Muniz.

1975-1980

Stracey's reign as WBC champ only last a year to 1976 when he was defeated by Palomino. Angel Espada reign as WBA champ was similar, he won the vacant belt and then also lost it in 1976 to Pipino Cuevas. So from 1976 to 1979 Palomino was dominant as the WBC champ and from 1976-1980 Cuevas was dominant as the WBA champ. Both Palomino's and Cuevas' runs came to an end against better fighters, Palomino lost to Wilfred Benitez and was then battered by Duran moving up from lightweight and Cuevas was destroyed by Tommy Hearns. Benitez lost his belt by the end of 79 to Sugar Ray Leonard.